Best Places for Free Podcast Hosting - Making the Switch from Libsyn to Spotify

Article by guest author Peter Brooker

I've been podcasting for 6 years, using Libsyn as my host and paying the basic tariff of $15 a month. Small beer really in the grand scheme of things. Podcasting is a hobby I enjoy, and like any hobby you have to spend money from time to time. But I recently had a couple of issues with Libsyn where the podcast would publish, but not go live for another 24 hours. This happened once and it infuriated me because I have a little OCD and pride myself on delivering content on time.

Consistency is key in podcasting. So I started shopping around for other platforms, and heard that Anchor offer free unlimited uploads. Once I did some digging I saw that Spotify had bought out Anchor, and was not only offering podcasters a platform to distribute their podcasts for free, they also provide analytics and editing tools (although I still use GarageBand).

So I decided to make the switch. In doing so, I also decided to rebrand my channel, giving it a new name although keeping the main theme (James Bond Reviews) so that I could still convince my core audience to make the switch.

This has been, so far, the best decision I've made. I did consider doing a complete switch of all my old podcasts to the new Spotify platform, as this is a service that they provide. However, I wanted to cut free from the old stock and simply downloaded the key interviews I'd done previously for safe keeping.

Why should you go to Spotify? 

It's free, the layout on the dashboard is easier to use on Spotify. I was never a fan of the analytics board on Libsyn, especially when they upgraded from 4 to 5. Spotify even give you the amount of subscribers to your channel, or Spotify Followers, something Libsyn never did. I personally think Libsyn's days are numbered, how can they compete with Spotify giving away free server space.

The benefits of starting new

Since creating a new podcast on a new platform, it's given me the opportunity to re-engage with my audience. I've left voice notes in my friend's DM's, telling them my new podcast is now live. I send them a link ask them personally to give it a bump, a couple of stars (preferably 5) in a way of review to give the show a kick start.

I've even asked people to put forward some ideas for a new company logo, and I've had a terrific response. The show is very much the same, although I hope bring more quality to it, continue to improve it, and broaden out from the shackles of strictly talking about the clothing or costuming of James Bond. As was my previous podcast From Tailors With Love.

Downside

To give some balance to this, Spotify for Podcasters is a new thing, and who knows what they plan for in the future. If they change the goalposts even slightly that could affect me in many ways. Will they bring in a subscription fee? Will they honour their word and keep all my old downloads live on their platform?

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash