Use ID3 tags and iTunes to make your podcast heard in more places
So you have a podcast about your ferret. Good for you! How many listeners and subscribers do you have? If you don’t use tagging to help people find you, I’m guessing not many.
Podcasts can be about anything you want them to be, but if you don’t have a way to get people to hear what you are saying, what is the point? That is where ID3 tags come in. Think of them as SEO for your Audio.
What is an ID3 tag? Those are where the information about an audio file is stored. You can edit these using iTunes on a Mac (you can edit them for songs as well as podcasts, in case you didn’t know).
The ID3 tag gives you a place to put the Artist, Album, a web site link, key words, and more into each audio file. By making sure these are filled out as completely as possible with your information, how to find you, and key words, you are maximizing your return on your podcasts.
Having ID3 tags also makes sure you reach noon-Mac users as well. They are not only readable by iTunes and many HD radio systems, but by Windows Media Player as well. This opens your podcast up to a whole new audience.
What is so important about new ears listening and subscribing to your podcast? Two things: community building (you could finally meet people who liked ferrets as much as you do) and marketing. If you have a monetized blog, linking to it from your free podcast is a sure way to drive traffic, especially if your podcast is actually interesting or entertaining.
To edit the tags in iTunes, either highlight the file name and click “Get Info” in the File menu up in the toolbar, or right click on the file and select “Get Info”. Some Macs are configured to require you to hold the mouse button down for a bit to fake “right click”. I have mine set to see two fingers on my trackpad as a right click. Enter your information and save.
Once you have your ID3 tags entered you are ready to link your podcast up on your blog and to distribute it on iTunes and in other places online. Make sure that the link you use takes people to a working landing page on your site. You don’t want people to leave in frustration after you took the time to get them there! Now, go make some noise.
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