As we saw in Publishing a Podcast Episode, the PowerPress plugin makes podcasting super easy. Of course, it would make sense that for everything to work just right, you’ll need to provide the plugin with some information, configure it, set it up or whatever you want to call it. For example, in the plugin settings, you’ll provide the name of your show, whether it’s explicit and how it should be categorized by the various podcast directries. It’s not a big deal.
Here’s a video by Blubrry that explains the process in detail. I recommend going through the plugin settings and carefully reading the information there.
Fill in what you can. When in doubt, let the defaults stand. Then watch the video and follow the various links to learn more about the settings.
PowerPress Tips
Before you get started with PowerPress…
- Keep the website simple.
- Do not use Feedburner.
- WordPress Settings – Sometimes the solution to the problem is a WordPress setting as opposed to a PowerPress plugin setting:
- In your WordPress SETTINGS-PERMALINKS – choose “Post Name”. This will generate a podcast RSS feed that’s easy to read as opposed to one that has question marks and equal signs in it.
- If you’re show notes are having issues with line breaks in iTunes/Apple Podcasts like mine were, in your WordPress SETTINGS-READING under “For each article in a feed, show”, choose POST SUMMARY
- In your WordPress SETTINGS, set READING – “Syndication feeds show the most recent”, set the number up to 300. I’ve heard that 150 is a good number as it makes an ample number of podcasts available on the various applications without bogging down the RSS feed. Also set a feed number in the PowerPress plugin under the FEEDS tab. You heard that right. Two places. You’ll need to set this number in a WordPress setting and in the PowerPress setting.
PowerPress…
- Find “Power Press” next to the blue plug in the left menu of your WordPress Admin page.
- Remember to save your changes.
- When in doubt, stick with the default setting.
- The plugin is organized in tabs. After switching to “advanced mode” go through each tab and take the time to read through them. Then fill in the fields with the required information.
- Note that the plugin also installed a widget that creates subscribe buttons for your website. These buttons are created using the information you provide in the main settings. You can select which buttons to display (subscribe using iTunes, Google Play, etc) in the settings.