RSS feeds are a great way to get your podcast out there into the world. In this article, we’ll show you how to set up an RSS feed for your podcast and submit it to various directories. We’ll also talk about some of the benefits of using RSS feeds for your podcast. So, whether you’re just starting out with your podcast or you’ve been doing it for a while, this article is for you.

What is an RSS feed? Let's clarify.

Before we get into how to set up an RSS feed for your podcast, you need to know exactly what we're referring to. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's a way to easily distribute content, and it's often used for things like blogs or podcasts.

When you subscribe to an RSS feed, you’re essentially subscribing to a feed of content that is updated regularly.

Why should you set up an RSS feed for your podcast?

Most Acast podcasters want to grow their listener base, and this is critical for maximizing how you can monetize your podcast. Equally, if your listener enjoys your content, they’re also going to want to find an easy way to come back.

The RSS feed is the solution to both of these challenges, allowing content creators to reach listeners, and allowing listeners to find their favorite podcasts on their favorite podcast platforms.

The RSS feed is the foundation of your podcast, and it contains all the information you'll need to syndicate your show to podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and others.

In its simplest form, RSS is a text file containing all the information about your podcast episode. This includes things like the title, description, link to the audio or video file, and any other information you want to include.

You can think of RSS as the behind-the-scenes workhorse that helps deliver your content to your listeners. RSS is what makes it possible for people to subscribe to your podcast and get new episodes automatically.

RSS feeds also make it possible for your podcast to be listed in directories.

Now that you know what RSS is and why you need it, let's get into how to set up an RSS feed for your podcast. The process is actually very simple — all you need is a text editor and an internet connection.

Podcast RSS feed requirements

Besides the audio file itself, here’s a list of recommended tags for most popular podcasting platforms:

• Title
• Description
• Show Notes
• Category
• Author
• Email
• Image
• Summary
• Language
• Explicit Rating

Many podcasts also make transcripts of their episodes available for accessibility. It’s easy to get your podcast transcribed, and Acast even offers this service as part of its 'Ace' plan.

Formatting your podcast RSS feed

Most podcast hosting platforms — including Acast — will take these fields and automatically code them into an RSS feed for you. You don't really need to do much else.

However, if you'd rather, you can hand-code your RSS feed using a simple text editor like TextEdit or Notepad. We recommend using a tool like Podcast RSS Builder to help you generate your RSS feed.

Podcast RSS Builder is a free online tool that takes all of the guesswork out of coding your RSS feed. All you need to do is enter in your podcast information, and the RSS Builder will generate the code for you.

Submitting your podcast RSS feed

Once you have your RSS feed set up, you'll need to submit it to directories so that people can find and subscribe to your podcast. Some of the most popular directories are Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.

You can submit your RSS feed to these directories by following the instructions on their websites. In most cases, all you need to do is enter your RSS feed URL and some basic information about your podcast.

Find your Acast RSS URL

To find your Acast RSS feed URL, simply go to your show and click the Distribution button in the Share panel on the left. It displays a variety of apps, as well as your RSS feed URL at the bottom.

Your Acast RSS feed URL will look something like this:

https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/5d28ef74d3cc3f013778b13b

That's it, you've now set up an RSS feed for your podcast. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our support team. We're always happy to help.

Check out our blog for more information on how to start a podcast and recording tips.