PowerPress Plugin 10th Anniversary



The PowerPress plugin is officially 10 years old as of August 2018. The free WordPress .org plugin created and offered by the Blubrry Podcasting team has had many iterations over the years and the main developer, Angelo Mandato, joined MacKenzie to chat about these developments. RawVoice Inc, Blubrry's parent company, started in 2005 right after podcasting began, and we've focused on paid and free services for podcasters ever since.

With over 60,000 active installs, Blubrry's plugin is essential in the podcasting world and will continue to be for years ahead. If you're not already using PowerPress, you can read up about it and download below. The past few years have been vital for podcasts and they chat about what people should be paying attention to for their shows in the future.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe via your favorite podcast app. If you’d like to be a guest on the show reach out to MacKenzie. She’s always looking for fun, new podcasters that use Blubrry services, specifically PowerPress.
Fan of PowerPress? Leave us a review here.

Show notes:
PowerPress: Download, reviews, read.me, etc.
Learn more about the plugin on our site.

History of why PowerPress was created.
The future of the plugin.
Achievements made.
Features of the plugin.
What to expect out PowerPress and the podcasting industry.

Reach out to MacKenzie if you'd like to be a guest, have questions, comments, etc. Email mackenzie@blubrry.com.


The Power of RSS – YP38



There is always something happening in the podcasting world and the tail end of summer 2018 has been no different. Apple has been cracking down on stuffing multiple keywords into RSS tags, listen in to learn how to deal with the issue a bit, and that they have fixed the Podcasts Connect issue. Even though Alex Jones is not listed in most podcast directories or apps, his show is still online due to the power of RSS.  Lots of traveling for the team; Mike is back from vacation and Todd is heading out on a road trip.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe at PowerPressPodcast.com.

We love our PowerPress users, please leave us a review.
News:

According to Apple, they've fixed the issues with Podcast Connect logins with Apple IDs. This is yet another example of the importance of owning your RSS feed.
More on Apple, they're dealing with an issue concerning Title and Author RSS tags. They're currently cracking down on keyword stuffing, and have even been de-listing shows for replacing GUID tags.

Topic:

The infamous Alex Jones and his content is still online, because he owns his domain and RSS feed. Learn more about the Power of RSS here.
Submitting your podcast to Apple: Why we do not submit shows for customers (Apple, Google, etc).

Support:

As a podcast company, putting podcast hosting on hold: Why Blubrry can’t do that.

To ask questions or to comment on the show, you can contact Todd and Mike here: yourpodcast@blubrry.com.


Google Podcasts Adds Landing Pages – YP37



Your Podcast is back in action after Todd and Mike returned from Podcast Movement 2018 in Philadelphia. With much to talk about concerning announcements at the conference, they dive right in to some topics of discussion concerning Google, events, team members and a new giveaway. Google's new landing pages for podcasts are a new addition for non Android devices and browsers, they explain why this is important. Not to leave other events out in the dust, they talk about OzPod in October happening in Australia. Last but not least, Blubrry has a new team member, Aaron. Don't forget to participate in #PlantYourBlubrry, a month long giveaway of equipment.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe at PowerPressPodcast.com.

We love our PowerPress users, please leave us a review.
News:

Google adds landing pages for non-android devices and browsers.
OzPod on October 17th in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Welcome Aaron McQuade to the Blubrry/Rawvoice Team!
#PlantYourPodcast prize giveaway.

Topic:

Podcast Movement recap: Todd and Mike give you their personal opinions on how the event went this year.

Support:

Email addresses: Be sure to give tech support the email address you use to log in to Blubrry when you contact us. Many people use a different email address than the account email they use at Blubrry, but the account email is how we find your show on our system. If we have to ask you for that, it delays us in helping you.
Spotify, Spotify, Spotify! 4 out of 10 contacts this week so far have been Spotify related.
To get on or stay on Spotify via Blubrry you must:
1. Have your Apple Category selected (the first one).
2. Have a description for the overall show and for each episode (show notes/blog post).
3. Be hosted on Blubrry.com for EVERY media file.
4. Be in mp3 format (no m4a or mp4).
Adding the Spotify link to your PowerPress subscribe links (2 steps).
1. Enable the Spotify link in the Website Tab of PowerPress.
2. Copy the Spotify link from the blubrry dashboard and paste it into the Spotify listing box in Destinations in PowerPress.

Phone support may be offline or slow next week (August 9th – 16th). For fastest service, use the contact form at blubrry.com/contact/

To ask questions or to comment on the show, you can contact Todd and Mike here: yourpodcast@blubrry.com.


So, What Happened At Podcast Movement



Another year, another whirlwind at Podcast Movement, this time in Philadelphia. In attendance as always was Tim McGowen, not a podcaster – yet – but a huge podcast junkie. A friend of the Blubrry team he's prepared to start a podcast but hasn't done so just yet, but he knows all about the podcasting community. He joined MacKenzie on this episode of the PowerPress Podcast to help her recap and give his opinion on how the event went, what stood out to him, etc. Check out the blog post on our website as well that gives a great overview of how we were involved. Looking forward to seeing everyone next year.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe via your favorite podcast app. If you'd like to be a guest on the show please reach out to MacKenzie. She's always looking for fun, new podcasters that use Blubrry services, specifically PowerPress.
Fan of PowerPress? Leave us a review here.

Show notes:
Podcast Movement: Philadelphia – Orlando next year, get your ticket already.


Podcast Movement 2018 is on! – YP36



Todd, Mike and MacKenzie are in Philly this week for Podcast Movement 2018. If you are in Philly, drop by the booth, say hi, tell them about your show and grab some swag while you're at it! Meantime, in this episode of the PowerPress Podcast, they talk about NPR's Smart Audio Report with Edison Research, the makers of S-Town being sued by the estate of John McLemore, the relaunch of TalkShoe and lots about Podcast Movement — why you want to be there and what we'd love to show you. Of course, we beat some dead horses in the support section.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe at PowerPressPodcast.com.

We love our PowerPress users, please leave us a review.
News:

NPR  and Edison research release “Smart Audio Report”
The estate of John B. McLemore (the main subject of S-town) is suing the makers of S-town. (This American Life and Brian Reed) 
TalkShoe is relaunching at Podcast Movement.  Many of us used TalkShoe back in the day. Good to see an iconic brand back. Not sure yet if it will be a good place for your podcast.

Topics:

Podcast Movement 2,200 attending!
Podcast Movement Panels / Sessions not to miss. Todd is on 3 of them and MacKenzie is on 2.
Some good reasons to make it to conferences / meet-ups about Podcasting AND in your niche subject.
Blubrry Dev team is growing!

Support:

The speed of updates for various apps and directories. When you publish your new episode. People (mostly new podcasters) think it should be instantly visible in every platform. That is not how RSS works. These places/apps/directories PULL your RSS feed when they want, not when you want (in most cases). Best thing you can do is subscribe in a podcast only app (not Stitcher, Google Play or Spotify) and you should get your new episode right away (few minutes normally). Also, check to make sure the episode made it in your RSS feed. The RSS feed is the key. Look at in https://CastFeedValidator.com or the Firefox Browser.
Phone support is going to be slow this week (or non-existent). If you call, leave a message and the team will do its best to get back to you, otherwise, the quickest way to get help this week will be the contact form at blubrry.com/contact/.

To ask questions or to comment on the show, you can contact Todd and Mike here: yourpodcast@blubrry.com.


Repeat: Everyday Superhumans



Everyday Superhumans was the featured podcast last fall and with the recent office move, MacKenzie decided to go ahead and share a great past episode as opposed to releasing a lackluster new one. Who knew an office move could cause so much disruption to a podcast schedule? Read below to find out about Everyday Superhumans and catch their episodes from 2018 as well.

Non-profit organizations – have you ever thought about how many there are just in your neighborhood? Kyle Smith of the podcast, Everyday Superhumans, shares his experience as co-host of the show and how it evolved into focusing solely on non-profit organizations, and highlighting those that are trying to bring a little more humanity to the world. Give it a listen to hear about passionate humans in the Austin area.

See all of you soon at Podcast Movement!

Thanks for listening and please subscribe. If you’re interested in being on the show or have any comments, reach out: mackenzie@blubrry.com.
Fan of PowerPress? Leave us a review here.
Government Agencies Try Podcasting: Only seems fitting they give the audible medium a try, audiences are bound to show up soon.
Everyday Superhumans: Restoring your faith in humanity. One episode at a time. Hosted by Kyle Smith and Charlie Hilton, based out of Austin, Texas.
Advertising for the future: Learn why you should start advertising before an advertiser reaches out to you.
Podcast Movement: July 23-26 in Philadelphia. Learn about what we'll be up to. MacKenzie and Todd will be speaking on multiple occasions. Use the code BLUBRRY to get 10% off your ticket.


Moving On and Taking Ownership – YP35



There comes a point that every podcaster must ask themselves: am I doing the best things possible I can for my audience and the growth of my show? Sometimes it is appropriate to move on to a different network, platform, format, etc. It's important to consider the factors and amount of work necessary for a quality show. Todd and Mike discuss some shows moving on and why podcasters should take be seriously considering taking ownership of their podcast and shows.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe at PowerPressPodcast.com.

We love our PowerPress users, please leave us a review.
News:

Freakanomics is moving on: They're leaving WNYC and starting a new partnership with Stitcher.
Podcast Awards open for listener nominations: Podcasters interested in being part of the awards need to register their show(s). You cannot participate if you don't register your show.
Podcast Movement coming soon!: Todd, Mike and MacKenzie will be there from the team here at Blubrry.

Topics:

Hijacking feeds: Castbox.fm has been fielding this dilemma for a while, here is their statement.
Google Podcasts: Todd’s take since he was gone when the news came out.
SSL Certificates: We now recommend that you think about moving your site to HTTPS if you are using PowerPress on your own WordPress site. We will have some helpful articles on Blubrry soon (It’s a work in progress, so please be patient).
PowerPress 7.3: We've replaced the Google Play subscribe link with Google Podcasts and added a Spotify subscribe link.
Our Subscribe on Android feature now includes Google Podcasts.
Multiple podcasts: Do you really need to do more than one show right off the bat? When you are new at podcasting in general, we suggest you start one, get used to the workload and it functions, and most importantly how much work it is, and then decide if you really want to do another one. As Mike always says, “1 is X amount of work and 2 or more is 4X.”

Support:

“My show isn’t updating on (insert directory here)”

Include the account email, especially if you are contacting us from a different email address.
Your website link.
Episode (which one?): Episode name, because numbers don't always make sense.
Give direct links so we can see exactly where the problem is.
Screenshots, please don’t send them. Links are much more helpful, send those instead (unless we ask for a screenshot). Also, videos generally will not help.
Please, specify WHERE they are not showing up / updating. It’s not always iTunes/Apple Podcasts App.
Remember 24 hours is NOT abnormal for update times on directories.

Apple Podcasts is no longer iTunes, make note of this. Apple's team is getting very serious about rebranding “iTunes”. When it comes to podcasting, it's Apple Podcasts, not iTunes.

To ask questions or to comment on the show, you can contact Todd and Mike here: yourpodcast@blubrry.com.


Google Podcasts App is here! – YP34



The awaited Google podcast app is here and available in the Google Play store for download. Mike Dell and special guest host Dave Clements, from the Blubrry Support team, and host of the GeekThis Podcast, talk about the new Google Podcasts app for Android. There are some upcoming updates to PowerPress, so be on the lookout for an update in the future. Dave and Mike discuss how it is working for the Blubrry technical support team and some other support issues.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe at PowerPressPodcast.com.

We love our PowerPress users, please leave us a review.
News/Topics:

Google’s podcast “app” released this last week. How it works — it might not be what people expected.
How to make sure you are in the Google search. Another directory, another set of requirements you have to follow.
Coming to PowerPress soon: Subscribe on Google Podcasts and Listen on Spotify. PowerPress 7.3 is in internal beta right now and should be released very soon.
Subscribe on Android will also support Google Podcasts.

Support:

What is it like working at Blubrry in technical support?
Spotify Update – They have “started” on the backlog of submissions. It’s still going to be a while before shows are accepted and added to the platform. The Blubrry team has no way to speed up the process, sorry!
Blubrry Player: How to get the images to show on your site. Give Blubrry your RSS feed for the directory.

To ask questions or to comment on the show, you can contact Dave here: dave@blubrry.com and contact Todd and Mike here: yourpodcast@blubrry.com.


Expanding From Blogging to Podcasting



Managing your finances is a challenge that must be met on a daily basis, but Gwen and J from Fire Drill Podcast – Financial Independence, Real Estate, have taken this to a whole new level. Gwen from the podcast joined MacKenzie to talk about the growth from two bloggers to a podcast and the challenges and new opportunities that stem from it. The episode begins with a quick discussion on new Google Podcast app in the future, that is essentially a shortcut.

Next up they talk about why Gwen and J wanted to create a podcast and the success they've seen so far. Being in two different states and time zones can make things difficult but it's all part of the process. You can learn more about their show and backgrounds on their in the show notes below.

Podcast advertising revenue hit another big year, with 2017 overall bringing in 314 million. There was an increase of 86% from the year prior, which displays the attitude change that many media buyers, companies, and large organizations have had. There is an expected increase of 110% growth in the years 2017 – 2020. Podcast advertising is certainly nothing to ignore.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe via your favorite podcast app.
Fan of PowerPress? Leave us a review here.

Show notes:
New Google Podcast App: Will a shortcut really change the the number of people that use the Google Play Music app for listening to podcasts?
Fire Drill Podcast – Financial Independence: From Gwen and J, learn how they took control of their finances and are taking the careers in their own hands.
314 Million in Advertising Revenue for 2017: That's a huge increase from years prior.
Podcast Movement: Use the code Blubrry and get 10% off your ticket. See you in Philly!

 


Podcast Ownership Agreements — YP33



The Apple community has been making suggestions recently, and we think it's important that podcasters resolve any ownership debates before they turn into issues. This episode also mentions some best practices when creating an account and getting started with your show.

Accidents do happen even to longtime podcasters and Todd and Mike had to record this episode twice. Recording files don't turn out the way you hope they will.

Thanks for listening to the show and please subscribe at PowerPressPodcast.com.

We love our PowerPress users, please leave us a review.
News:

Apple has 'suggested' that podcasters use secure feeds. Aka https feeds, which Blubrry has been offering for several years at this point.
The 2018 Podcaster Hall of Fame inductees has been announced this year. We see some very deserving and familiar faces on this years list. Congrats to all of the podcasters and we're looking forward to seeing you this summer at Podcast Movement.
IAB Standards: What are they, who is following them and who is not? Blubrry will be IAB certified later this year.

Topics:

Partner agreements: Make sure you and your host have a plan on who owns the show, whether that is 50/50, an employee, etc.
Show decisions: There are lots of opinions out there, but as show host you have to decide what you want for your show.
We sometimes think all podcast producers are the same, but there seem to be 3 types.

Hobbyist: Might not care much, they're doing this for fun.
Semi-pro/advanced hobbyist (most common): Serious, but not trying to make a living from podcasting.
 Professional: They want to make money with ads or using podcasting as a marketing outlet for their business. Also, some universities are using podcasting (see latest PowerPress episode).

Even if you are not a professional podcaster, you should still protect your brand and do as much as possible to keep your intellectual property because you never know what could happen.

Support:

When you delete your account at Blubrry, it is deleted. Do not do this to change something. We can help you change just about anything about your show, so please contact us instead of deleting your account. The team will show you the best way to get your issue resolved.
Spotify: We know it stinks that they're not taking new shows right now, but it's out of our control.
Keyword stuffing: Don't do it. Titles, author tags and other places with long titles are not necessary.
Be careful when creating your account. Double check your email address (make it one you check). Often times a podcaster will sign up with an email that they rarely use or doesn't exist. We need a good email address; and if you don't hear from us and think you should have, check your spam!

To ask questions or to comment on the show, contact Todd and Mike here: yourpodcast@blubrry.com.