Choosing a Podcast Hosting Site

• In order to determine which site to choose, one must first address the following:
• Determine the amount of storage needed for the podcast.
• The amount of audio storage and content that will be uploaded monthly.
• Determine if there is need for a site to align each episode to a blog post. 
• Determine if there is need for video podcasts and the format.
• The analytics that would be relevant to view.
• The ease in adding advertisements and sponsorship into an episode.
•  The financial investment that one would be willing to spend on hosting services.

Factors to Consider

Episode Restrictions

• Some podcasts are free but for a limited upload amount. Once this limit has been reached, users may opt to get into a paid plan.
• Most podcast sites are structured as a subscription service. It is important to determine if there is a limit in the length of each episode.
• Others may be unlimited for a small monthly fee.
• It is highly recommended that one chooses a service that offers unlimited bandwidth. This is essential in ensuring that one is not inconvenienced along the way.

Free vs. Paid Podcasts Hosting Sites

• When choosing to go with a free podcast site, it is of paramount importance that one reads through the terms and conditions, especially as pertains to the ownership of the podcast content. Most sites offer a variety plans based on the features.

Podcasting Analytics

• It is important to ensure that the site chosen is compliant with the IAB guidelines. These standards are critical in improving the accuracy of the statistics and encouraging a transparent culture with sponsors and advertisers. 
• When choosing a podcast hosting site, it is important to select those that comply with industry regulations as a high priority.

File Alterations

• Some hosting sites alter the files after they have been uploaded. These alterations may include adding some metadata, converting file types from WAV to .mp3, and tagging artwork.