How to Publish your Podcast on iTunes

Even though you don't need iTunes or an iPod to be exposed to podcasting, many people happen to find the podcasts they listen to through the iTunes Store. So, if you have made your own personal podcast and want to have a platform for many potential listeners, why not try to publish your own podcast on iTunes?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a completed, recorded, edited podcast that is ready for an audience
• a valid iTunes account
• a computer
• internet connection

1. You have your first episode recorded. Make sure it's in one of these formats that iTunes supports: .m4a, .mp3, .mov, .mp4, .m4v, and .pdf.

2. Make sure your files are on a server with a publicly accessible URL, that you've created your RSS feeds properly, and put the URL of your RSS feed onto your server.

3. 

   Open up iTunes and the iTunes Store, and click on Podcasts.

4. In the middle of the screen, amongst the numerous podcasts, there will be a button called "Submit a Podcast."

5. 

   This will take you to a screen where it will request the URL for the podcast RSS feed that you would like to consider adding into the iTunes Store.

6. Next, you will see a summary page. Depending on whether you have added tags already, a second screen might come up, asking you for more information--such as language, category, and whether the podcast requires explicit tags.

7. Now, the final steps involves getting the iTunes staff approval. Soon, you should be able to find it via Search or Browse, and later, you can add more episodes if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you submit it, you should test that your RSS feed works. You can do that by either dragging the URL into the podcast playlist or going to the Advanced menu in your Toolbar, clicking on Subscribe to Podcast, and typing it in.
• If you are asked to add summary information after you submit your URL (because your RSS feed didn't have tags), you can always go back and change them by including tags on your feed. The information on the RSS feed is what is going to be the definitive source of information for your podcast.
• Think hard about what you're putting out there in your podcast before you submit it. The iTunes staff's job is to make sure that there aren't any technical problems, copyright issues, offensive materials, or other problems. Some of that can be prevented.

[MicheleLTune]

on 2/8/2009 I came upon your article from a Google search for how to publish a podcast using iTunes. I'm so glad I happened upon your article--and from a fellow eHow writer, no less! Thanks for the info. 5*!

*smiles*
Michele