[FAQ]

Hi,

I’m in the final stages of launching my podcast, and I’ve hit a bit of a wall with the final technical step: choosing a hosting provider.

I understand that this is the service where my actual MP3 files will “live,” but I’m completely overwhelmed by the options. They all seem to offer “unlimited” everything, but the prices are all over the place. I’m trying to figure out what actually matters for a new podcast that I hope to grow.

Should I be more focused on storage limits? Or is it all about the analytics they provide? And how important are the built-in monetization features versus just being able to get my show onto Spotify and Apple Podcasts easily? I just want to make a smart choice now so I don’t have to go through a painful migration process in a year.

Any advice on the non-negotiable features I should be looking for would be a huge help.

Thanks!

[Jeff Bullas]

This is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make.

Short Answer: The most important factors are your long-term content format, your need for compliant audience data, and your future monetisation strategy.

Choosing a host is a foundational business decision, not just a technical one, as it dictates the future capabilities of your show.

You must first evaluate your audio content format; a simple, 30-minute mono podcast has vastly different storage and bandwidth needs than a 90-minute, high-production stereo audio format, so your provider’s plan must align with your show’s publishing ambitions without punishing you for growth. The second factor is the analytics format, which must be IAB-certified. This ensures the text-based data and graphs you receive are accurate and standardised, giving you a true picture of your content’s performance. The third factor is your monetisation format; you must select a host that supports the revenue streams you plan to use, whether that’s a premium subscription audio format, a dynamic ad insertion format, or simple text links in your show notes. The most common mistake is choosing a “free” host, only to discover later that their terms lock you out of these critical monetisation formats, costing you far more in the long run.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Author]

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