Sunday, July 11, 2021

Brief Description of Audio and Video Hosting Services

So you want to make money doing a podcast or via YouTube. And you notice that you are supposed to do something but you are not quite sure what to do.

For those that just like to skim, here you go...

Gif Animation of Uploading to Media Host Process


Long winded version...

You go to a podcast forum or watch videos to find the answer to question 1 - what do I need to do?

Then you ask question 2 - what is a good audio or video hosting company? 

Not a bad question. It is legit respectable one.

What often happens is that people give the answer according to their personal experience.

Sometimes with actual knowledge of other services. More often just repeating what others have said.

Then there are those with incentives - the helpful person provides an affiliate link to the services. This is known as a kickback. If they don't disclose it, it is an un-ethical kickback.

I think that long before the hosting questions folks should ask:

  • Who are you and why do you want to do this? 
  • What do you want to do?
  • What is your skill or tech level?
  • What is your budget?
  • What are your expectations and hope to get out of this?
Very few people want to think about that kind of stuff. They get a little bit of info and just asked the question about hosting.

But if you know the above answers, it could help you choose your media hosting company. 

I'll try to be a simple as possible.  I think it is important to know what the process is before you make a decision about choosing a hosting service. 

Because there is some high tone flimflam mischief going on. 

Some by opportunists. Some by major corporations. 

Free isn't always free and there are people who want to convince you to rob yourself for their benefit.

I think you should avoid that. One way to do that is understanding the media hosting process. 

Step 1 - You make a recording. 


You want other people  to view or listen to your recording. You will need a service to host your media file. Is this an absolute statement?

No.

There are people that trust no person or any business with their content. These folks host their media files on their own servers that they maintain and protect. They write their own RSS feeds. 

There are other people that figure out how to game the system. Doing things they should not be doing. And are smart enough not to brag about it.

You are not them. You need a media hosting company. Your web or blog hosting company probably will insist upon it. They don't want to host your media files. Or charge you extra and that is only to host your media files. 

Keep reading.

Step 2 - RSS and Distribution




You've uploaded the media file to the hosting service. You have also provided essential information about the file, like the name, type of show, cover art and descriptions of the content.

An RSS feed is generated by your hosting company. Think of it as a roadmap of the route identifying where your media file can be located. The RSS feed will be sent to podcast and media distribution companies.

These companies will make a space at their site to display your media file on a specific page with the cover art, description and all of your prior and future episodes.


Step 3 - Information if you please...

The other services most reputable services provide you as the creator is information about who is consuming your content, when are they listening or watching or even when they are bugging out. If you have a 30 minute show and they are tuning out by minute five, that can be very helpful to know.

Other distribution services allow their users to make comments about what they like and don't like about the show. They can rate it. They can gush over it. 

Or in the case of YouTube comments, things can head south very quickly.

Step 4 - Additional Services



For the consumer the distribution company can provide other shows that are similar that the consumer would enjoy. Or make it easier to find and play the content.

For creators, some distribution companies can provide their own statists on usage. You hosting company would be able to draw information from all of the companies that are using the RSS feed. 

If you want more of the technical or want to know more about RSS feeds then you can't go wrong by checking out the 2016 version on Transom.org


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