FAQ : Podcast migration

I've got a podcast running on another hosting provider. How do I go about migrating it to Podcastics?

In practice, moving a podcast 📦🧳🚚 is a very simple process. Nevertheless, you can count on Podcastics to support you every step of the way :

• To get started, simply choose the “Pro”, “Max” or “Extreme” subscription on this page. Do not choose the “Premium” subscription, as this does not include hosting for your audio files.
• Once you've created your account, Podcastics will prompt you to import your podcast. You can choose to import it from Apple Podcasts, or give the address of your RSS feed directly. The result is the same: simply choose the method that suits you best.
• You'll then be able to access your Podcastics interface, while your episodes are still being imported. Once this has been done, check all the information on your podcast (texts, episodes...). Podcastics offers infinitely more options than your previous host, and you'll be able to enhance your descriptions with rich text, images, videos, emojis...
• Don't be afraid to look around the Podcastics interface: this will not only help you to familiarize yourself with the platform, but also to check that all the settings for your podcast and its episodes are correct. Don't be afraid to make changes! For the moment, Podcastics is not yet officially your new host, so any changes you make will not be passed on to your listeners. You can test anything you like, without any risk to your podcast!
• When you feel your podcast is ready for the big jump, go to the “Distribute” tab in your Podcastics interface. This will enable you to transfer your podcast from your previous host to Podcastics. The aim of this operation is twofold: to inform the listening platforms that you've modified your RSS feed (so that they update themselves correctly), and to ask your old host to redirect your old RSS feed to your new one. To do this, Podcastics provides detailed step-by-step wizards.
• Start with the blue box, which invites you to ask your previous host to redirect your RSS feed. It's very simple: just follow the steps in the wizard.
• Then, for each distribution platform (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer...), click on the “Distribute to...” button. Here again, wizards will guide you step by step; you'll see, it's very easy, just follow each step carefully.
• Depending on the listening platform (Apple, Spotify...), the update time will vary, generally taking a few hours.
• Once this is done: congratulations 🎉🍾🌈🚀 You will have completed your migration to Podcastics. In future, any changes you make on Podcastics will be reflected on the listening platforms. Nevertheless, we advise you to keep your subscription with your old host for another week or so, so that all your former subscribers are properly redirected to Podcastics.

I often read that changing host is a quick and easy process. Are there any risks or disadvantages involved?

Changing host is indeed a quick and easy process. First of all, Podcastics can import your current RSS feed, and retrieve all your podcast and episode data. You don't have to do a thing: Podcastics will retrieve your audio files, titles, descriptions, covers... This complete import takes just a few clicks, so you'll find your entire podcast in Podcastics 👍

What's more, migration to Podcastics will have no impact on your podcast:

• It will continue to be accessible without interruption on listening platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts...).
• You'll keep your subscribers on these platforms, as well as all the comments and ratings that have been posted there.
• You'll also be able to keep track of your statistics on these platforms via their own websites, such as Podcasts Connect, Spotify for Podcasters, Google Podcasts Manager...

Please note, however, that you will no longer have access to the statistics provided by your previous host if you cancel your current subscription. We therefore advise you to back them up (e.g. with screenshots or as data files). Podcastics won't be able to re-import them into your new interface, as each host has different technical standards. What's more, Podcastics respects the international IAB standard, which isn't necessarily the case with your old host.

Migrating to Podcastics sounds simple, but migrating to another host afterwards? I'm not going to end up a prisoner, am I?

Just think, if podcasters were mercilessly sequestered 🔒 on Podcastics, you'd have heard about it on the news by now.

The process of migrating from Podcastics is pretty much as simple as to Podcastics. Indeed, most hosting providers offer you the same steps, even if not all of them do it with as much thoughtfulness and availability as our teams 👼

No, no, we're not launching into a last ditch (and charming) effort to hold you back. We even think that if you're asking us this question, it's because you haven't yet tried the Podcastics experience. Because once you've discovered the full extent of our services and assets, you won't want to leave us 💖. But hey, we're still fair-players, so in the article that follows we'll give you a comprehensive overview of the process of migrating from one host to another.