Help and Frequently Asked Questions (For Podcasters)
Note: This page is for podcasters interested in adding their podcast to the directory. If you are not a podcaster, but are looking for tutorials on how to use this site to get audio and video podcasts, please go to our How to Use this Directory page.
Why Join - Does it Work?
Joining the Directory
Getting Ranked in the Directory
The User Control Panel
Godcasting Community - Be a Part of It!
Stay Connected - Newsletter
PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS: Announcing SermonCast - New Podcasting ServiceHelp us Spread the Word! - Do you blog, have a website, or myspace?
Yes! We've had testimonies of lives being changed from the podcasts they've found on this site, and podcasts have seen their audience grow.
If you have a podcasts that Christians will be interested in, this directory will help you find an audience, or more specifically, help your audience find you! We are consistently ranked high on Google for key search term "Christian podcast". Plus many more directory users may have used the iTunes 1-click feature or RSS feed to subscribe without ever visiting his site (we don't track that). This directory has been and will continue to be a valuable resource to connect any podcaster with new listeners and viewers.
Secondly, even if you never have a top-ranked podcast, by adding your podcast it is always available for Christians and non-Christians alike to find. Maybe your church has a podcast, and you are in Witchita, Kansas, and someone visiting the directory next month searches the podcasts for "Witchita" and finds your church...they might just start listening to your sermons, and one day come on Sunday morning to check you out!
And finally, besides helping connect "podders" to your podcast, this directory serves another purpose. We want to connect "godcasters" with each other, and start building community where we can learn from one another and support one another.
So if you are ready to get started, please read on about how to join the directory...
If you received an email indicated that we have added your podcast to the directory, you do not need to add it again. Instead, use the Username and Password supplied in the email, and login to your User Control Panel. Read this page to understand what you should do to complete your User Profile settings and enhance your listing in the directory...
If you haven't added your podcast to the directory, start by going to the Join Directory page. A few instructions regarding the fields on this page:
- Username: your username will be displayed on your Profile Page to site visitors, so use something that you are OK that others see. If the username you choose is already taken, you will be alerted when you click the Add your Podcast button to submit the form.
- Password: something you'll remember, or record it somewhere so you can log-in to your Member Profile later on.
- URL of Podcast Homepage: if you have a webpage for your podcast, then use that, or if you prefer, you can enter your church or related website address. Users to this directory will go to this webpage when they click on your podcast name.
- RSS URL: enter your RSS feed. If you do not know what this is, ask the technical person who set up your podcast. If you just have audio MP3s on-line on your website, but no RSS feed, then you are not really "podcasting". If you are a church, then perhaps our SermonCast service can be of assistance, or if you want to learn on your own, we recommend using Google Safesearch on Christian.com and search for "how to podcast".
- Podcast Title: brief title of your podcast.
- Podcast Description: here's a tip....when users to this directory use the search tool, the search results will only show podcasts with the keywords you enter in the title and in the description, so put key search terms in your description! We recommend including topics you cover often, and also your location. If you are in the U.K. for example, you might be sure your description includes U.K. and also United Kingdom, or if you are a church in Dallas, Texas, you'll want to include that in your description for anyone searching for churches in Dallas.
- Category: select the appropriate category for your podcast. If video podcast, please add to the Video category.
- URL of Banner
to display: if left blank, the following image will display...
One of the best things you can do to improve your ranking and the subscribers to your podcast will be to add a banner graphic. You do not need to upload anything to our server. You will just need to have a graphic on-line somewhere (a permanent location), and then enter the URL to that graphic here. A banner size of 468x60 is preferred, but if all you have is your 144x144 graphic (standard size for iTunes), then you can use that size. If you try to link to a graphic that is too large, it will not be accepted when you submit the form.
- Your Email address: we will only email you with announcements pertaining to your membership in this directory, and will not share your email with anyone. This does NOT automatically add you to our newsletters, so please sign up for the Godcasting and other newsletters separately.
- Enter Image Text: a safeguard against form spammers.
- Click the Add Your Podcast button to submit the form. We will review your site/podcast and approve or reject your membership to the directory. Because of our Christian audience, we reserve the right to refuse membership to any podcast for any reason, or to remove your podcast from the directory at any time if we receive complaints from our directory users regarding your podcast content. In general, if you are submitting a Christian podcast- Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Orthodox, etc., and are not promoting anything that goes against the Bible and teaching of Christ, then we will approve your podcast.
Next, you will need to add the appropriate code to your site to get ranked...
Getting Ranked in the Directory
After you submit the Join form, a page will display with your podcast-specific code for your site. There are three image options to choose from, and any will get your ranked in the directory. We appreciate it if you use one of the larger images to help us get the word out about this directory, but this will not improve your rankings.
Rankings are calculated based upon unique pageviews of your podcast homepage (or whichever page you put the code/graphic on). It is also based on an average of your daily totals over the past 10 days. The rankings are updated each day, automatically.
Remember that every category has a ranking as well, so even if you are not in the top 100 overall on the homepage, you still may be in the top 100 for your category.
Place the code on your site, then check back to see your podcast move up in the Rankings!
If you have lost the code to put on your site, log-in to your Member Control Panel and click on the "Get Code" link. You can also update your setting here (same form as above), and see your statistics.
New Christian Podcasting Community
- Be a Part of It!
Our newest project, ChristianPodcasts.com is in beta right now. Will you help us build your godcasting community?
Right now, we need articles on podcasting. Please consider contributing. We need articles on how to use iTunes, reviews of MP3 players, and interesting articles about specific podcasts. If your podcast is unique, please send us an article about it, and we'll consider featuring it in the newsletter.
We also need articles on tips and tricks, techie stuff, how to set up a studio, promoting your podcast, etc., etc. Share what you have learned with other Godcasters!
If you are a decent writer and would like to help, please consider making a contribution by joining ChristianPodcasts.com. For any article selected and used, you will receive credit and a link to your podcast or website in the header or footer of the article, or you choose to remain anonymous if you prefer.
To stay connected and be a part of the "godcasting" community, please sign up for our Godcasting newsletter to get the latest announcements, resources, and podcasting tips and tools delivered to your inbox.
PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS: Announcing SermonCast -
New Podcasting Service
We are launching new service to easily convert your sermons into podcasts. If you are already recording your sermons to audio tape, then let us worry about the technology and podcast promotion. For more information, visit SermonCast.com
Do you blog, have a website, or myspace? Help us tell others about this directory. Check out our graphics on our Link To Us page
