Podcasting and RSS the Importance of the RSS Feed

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In the evolving landscape of podcasting, one technology remains a constant linchpin—RSS (Really Simple Syndication). Despite its pivotal role, a growing number of podcasters and their teams lack a fundamental understanding of RSS and its significance. This knowledge gap presents risks that could impact the openness and accessibility of podcasting itself.

Understanding RSS

RSS is essentially a web feed that allows syndication platforms like Apple Podcast to access updates to online content in a standardized format. For podcasters, an RSS feed is like the broadcast signal for your podcast, syndicating your episodes to various platforms when they pull your feed.

RSS is Expanding with Podcasting 2.0

The Podcasting 2.0 initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of podcasting through the evolution of the RSS feed. This includes:

  • Enhanced metadata to include more detailed episode information.
  • New tags to support features like transcripts, funding links, and chapters.
  • Decentralized control to keep podcasting free from monopolistic control by any single entity.

Why Open RSS is Essential

Open RSS ensures that no one company, whether Spotify, YouTube, or any other media giant, can monopolize podcasting. Here’s why this matters:

  • Freedom and Flexibility: Open RSS allows you to publish your podcast anywhere and ensures your content is accessible across multiple platforms.
  • Ownership and Control: You retain ownership of your content and the syndication channels, avoiding the risk of having your content locked into proprietary platforms.
  • Innovation: Open standards foster innovation by allowing the entire community to contribute to and benefit from new features and improvements as happening with Podcasting 2.0

The Risks of Platform Dependency

Focusing solely on platforms like Spotify or YouTube can be incredibly risky for several reasons:

  • Limited Reach: Dependence on a single platform limits your audience potential.
  • Vulnerability: Changes in platform policies or algorithms can negatively impact your podcast’s visibility and accessibility. Spotify and YouTube are well known for censoring and deplatforming podcasts.
  • Data Control: Proprietary platforms often control listener data, preventing you from gaining valuable insights into your audience. They instead market to your podcasters.

Educate Yourself on RSS

The decline in RSS knowledge is concerning. Here’s what you can do:

  • Learn the Basics: Understand how Podcast RSS feeds work and how to manage your feed.
  • Stay Updated: Keep up with developments in the Podcasting 2.0 initiative.
  • Utilize Resources: Leverage tutorials, forums, and communities dedicated to open podcasting.