What is an RSS Feed?
RSS feeds are XML files that contain the title, description, and link for each episode of a podcast. Podcasters can submit their RSS feed to directories like Apple Podcasts and Stitcher, which will then make the episodes available for people to subscribe to.
RSS feeds are an essential part of podcasting. They allow podcasters to syndicate their content, and make it available for others to subscribe to. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and that's exactly what it is – a simple way to syndicate content.
When you subscribe to a podcast in Apple Podcasts, for example, Apple Podcasts will check the RSS feed for new episodes and automatically download them. This is why it's important to keep your RSS feed up-to-date – if you add a new episode, you need to update the feed so that iTunes knows to download it.
RSS feeds are also how podcasters track stats like downloads and subscribers. Each time an episode is downloaded, the RSS feed is accessed and this information is recorded. This is how podcasters know how many people are listening to their show.
So, in short, an RSS feed is a simple way to syndicate content – it's the backbone of podcasting. Without an RSS feed, your podcast wouldn't be able to syndicate its episodes and reach a wide audience.
RSS feeds are necessary for podcasting because they provide a way for people to subscribe to your podcast. Without an RSS feed, people would have to manually check your website or other platform for new episodes.
RSS feeds make it easy for people to keep up with your podcast. They can add your RSS feed to their preferred podcast app and every time you release a new episode, it will show up in their app.
If you're a podcaster, you need an RSS feed. If you're not sure how to create one, there are plenty of resources available online. Once you have your RSS feed set up, you can start syndicating your content and making it available for others to subscribe to.
