New to podcasting - Need startup help.

[voice903fm]

I new to podcasting and I host a 4 hour show on the radio that's divided into 1 hour sets. Previously the listeners would goto a page with the links to the shows and right click them to save them to their pc. I want to make the shows available for listeners with iPods to download them through iTunes et....

I have my own domain and server space already.

I created a RSS feed which is loaded at: http://www.mauricewatts.com/ipod/rss.xml

When I goto the feed page and click the file it opens in my windows media player not iTunes. How do I set this up to open in Itunes under the Podcast directory?

Am I missing something?

[dpeach]

Am I missing something?
Yes.

First off (I don't mean to be condescending, I am just reading into what you have said), podcasts are separate animals from iPods and iTunes. You don't need an iPod nor iTunes to listen to a podcast, though you can used that device and software.

A podcast is just an MP3 file that is served through an RSS feed. Apparently you understand that. But if your computer is set to open MP3 files through Windows Media Player, then it will use WMP, not iTunes even if it is a podcast.

To get your show listed in the iTunes podcast directory you will have to use iTunes to tell Apple where your feed is. But you can also tell anyone else where your feed is and they would not have to use iTunes to download the show, nor have to use an iPod to listen to it.

I am totally clueless on how to make an RSS feed. I just tried to load yours in my podcatching software and your show did not load in. So I would assume something is wrong with it. Someone else will have to chime in and tell what may be the problem.

But, to answer the question, it is fine that the show opens in WMP since that plays MP3 files like iTunes does. But you will have to use iTunes to "register" your show in the iTunes directory. I am not at my computer that has iTunes on it, otherwise I would tell you how, but if I remember right, it is not too difficult. Your RSS feed will have to be working right first though.

Hope that helps.

[swingercast]

Hi,

There is nothing majorly wrong with your feed.

Follow this link to submit your podcast to iTunes. https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/publishPodcast

It may take a few days for them to list you in their directory.

In the meantime you (and your listeners) can:
1. Open iTunes
2. At the top of the page look for the "Advanced" pull down menu.
3. Choose "Subscribe to Podcast".
4. Type in your feed http://www.mauricewatts.com/ipod/rss.xml where it asks for the URL.

One last thing you might look at. Your feed is valid but it is missing a "guid" tag. Take a look here:
http://feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mauricewatts.com%2F ipod%2Frss.xml

I hear from other music podcasters that it is difficult to get listed with iTunes but I have no direct experience with a music show. Although I do like the "Love Zone" very much. :)

Still, even if you don't get listed in the iTunes directory, your listeners will still be able to subscribe to your feed and receive your shows there.

Best of luck,

John

[voice903fm]

The guide tag is not coming easy with me. Based on the feed I submitted can you tell me what the guide tag should say?

Also Is there a way I can inclued the Song listing of each song featured in the podcast. So that subscribers can tell which show to download?

If yes what line would I add the text to.

[C100]

Also if you dont want to go with the hassle of submitting and waiting for apple to validate your podcast you can change you stream address ever so slightly and it will automatically open your podcast in itunes - simply change the http:// bit to itpc://

so your feed is now -: itpc://www.mauricewatts.com/ipod/rss.xml (http://www.mauricewatts.com/ipod/rss.xml)

however this will only work if the listener has itunes loaded onto there pc.

[voice903fm]

Ok, thanks to all great posts here on this forum. I'm up and running.

You said to use itpc://

I was told to use pcast://

what's the difference?

My feed is official at http://www.mauricewatts.com/podcast/?feed=rss2 [/URL]

and I have it posted on Podcast alley at [URL]http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=45149 (http://www.mauricewatts.com/podcast)