Starting a podcast is one thing. Keeping it going as your ideas, schedule, and audience grow is another.
A hosting plan that works perfectly when you publish one short episode every other week might not be the right fit once you start releasing longer episodes, adding video, launching bonus content, or managing multiple shows.
That’s why it’s worth thinking about not just what you publish today, but how you expect your podcasting workflow to grow.
For creators managing multiple podcasts, teams, or more complex publishing needs, Pro Hosting can provide the additional flexibility needed to manage a larger podcast operation without having to juggle separate hosting setups for every show.
The goal isn’t to choose the biggest hosting plan available. It’s to choose a setup that matches the way you actually publish—and gives you enough room to grow without making your workflow unnecessarily complicated.
1. How Often Are You Planning to Publish?
Your publishing schedule is one of the biggest factors to consider.
Are you planning to release:
- One episode a month?
- A weekly show?
- Multiple episodes every week?
- Regular bonus episodes between your main releases?
Publishing frequency matters because every episode uses part of your available publishing time.
For example, a weekly podcast with 30-minute episodes uses roughly:
30 minutes × 4 episodes = 2 hours per month
But if you publish twice a week, that same format becomes:
30 minutes × 8 episodes = 4 hours per month
And that’s before adding bonus episodes, trailers, or special releases.
Your checklist:
- Decide how many episodes you expect to publish each month.
- Estimate your average episode length.
- Add extra time for bonus episodes or special releases.
- Make sure your hosting plan gives you enough publishing time for your schedule.
Planning for your typical month—not just your first month—can help you avoid outgrowing your plan too quickly.
2. How Long Are Your Episodes?
Not every podcast needs the same amount of publishing time.
A 20-minute weekly interview show has very different hosting needs from a two-hour weekly conversation.
Consider your average episode length and how often you publish.
For example:
| Publishing Schedule | Episode Length | Approx. Monthly Time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 30 minutes | 2 hours |
| Weekly | 60 minutes | 4 hours |
| Twice weekly | 30 minutes | 4 hours |
| Twice weekly | 60 minutes | 8 hours |
| Weekly | 90 minutes | 6 hours |
These are estimates, but they give you a useful starting point when comparing hosting plans.
Your checklist:
- Estimate your average episode length.
- Calculate your expected monthly publishing time.
- Leave some room for longer episodes.
- Account for bonus content and special releases.
If your episode length changes frequently, having some extra room in your plan can make your publishing workflow much easier.
3. Are You Publishing Audio, Video, or Both?
Podcasting isn’t limited to audio anymore.
Many creators are recording video alongside their podcast and publishing their shows in multiple formats. Others are starting with audio and planning to add video later.
If video is part of your plans, make sure your hosting setup supports the type of publishing you want to do.
With Blubrry, hosting plans support both audio and video podcast publishing, giving creators the flexibility to build their shows around the formats that make sense for them.
You can also use tools such as Vid2Pod to turn existing video content into podcast episodes.
Your checklist:
- Decide whether you’re publishing audio only.
- Consider whether you’ll add video later.
- Check whether your hosting plan supports your desired format.
- Consider how video fits into your existing production workflow.
You don’t have to publish video just because it’s available. But if it’s part of your future plans, it’s better to choose a hosting setup that won’t force you to rethink your workflow later.
4. Will You Publish Bonus or Special Episodes?
Your main publishing schedule isn’t always the whole story.
You might eventually want to publish:
- Bonus episodes
- Trailer episodes
- Q&A episodes
- Limited-series content
- Behind-the-scenes recordings
- Seasonal specials
- Guest episodes
- Replays or extended conversations
These episodes can quickly add up.
A plan that gives you exactly enough time for your regular schedule may leave little room for experimentation.
Your checklist:
- Estimate your regular monthly publishing time.
- Add time for bonus content.
- Consider seasonal or limited-series episodes.
- Leave room to experiment with new formats.
If you know you’ll be creating additional content, include it in your hosting plan from the beginning.
5. Are You Planning to Run More Than One Show?
One podcast can eventually turn into two—or three.
Maybe you want to launch a second show. Maybe your company has several podcasts. Or perhaps you’re working with a team that manages multiple programs.
Your hosting setup should make it practical to manage your publishing workflow as your podcast operation grows.
Your checklist:
- Are you managing one show or multiple shows?
- Will other team members need access?
- Do you need to separate different podcast projects?
- Could you launch another show in the future?
Thinking about this early can save you from having to rebuild your workflow later.
6. What Features Will You Need as Your Podcast Grows?
Hosting isn’t just about getting an episode online.
As your podcast develops, you may need more tools to understand your audience, manage your content, publish consistently, and grow your show.
Ask yourself what you’ll actually need six or twelve months from now.
You may eventually want:
- More publishing time
- Audio and video support
- Podcast analytics
- Listener insights
- Episode performance comparisons
- Audience trends over time
- Podcast website options
- Monetization tools
- Additional publishing or production tools
- Support when something goes wrong
The right hosting setup should support your workflow—not get in the way of it.
7. Don’t Just Plan for Your First Episode
One of the easiest mistakes new podcasters make is choosing a hosting plan based entirely on what they need today.
Your first few episodes might be short.
You might only publish once a month.
You might have no plans for video.
But what happens if your podcast takes off?
What if you decide to publish every week? Add video? Bring on guests? Start a second show? Release bonus episodes?
Your hosting needs can change quickly.
That’s why the best plan isn’t necessarily the cheapest plan. It’s the one that gives you the right amount of room for the way you actually plan to publish.
The Podcast Publishing Checklist
Before choosing your hosting plan, run through these questions:
Publishing
- How many episodes will I publish each month?
- How long will my typical episodes be?
- Will my publishing schedule change?
Content
- Will I publish bonus episodes?
- Will I create trailers or special episodes?
- Am I planning a limited series?
Format
- Am I publishing audio?
- Will I publish video?
- Could I add video later?
Growth
- Will I launch additional shows?
- Will I need more publishing time as my audience grows?
- What analytics or audience insights will I need?
Workflow
- Will other people help manage my podcast?
- What tools will I need as my production process becomes more involved?
- Does my hosting plan give me enough room to grow?
Is Your Hosting Plan Ready?
Your podcast hosting plan should fit the podcast you’re actually trying to build.
If you’re publishing occasionally, you may not need a large amount of publishing time. If you’re publishing long episodes every week, producing video, adding bonus content, or managing multiple shows, you’ll want to make sure your plan can keep up.
The good news is that you don’t have to guess.
Take a look at your expected publishing schedule, estimate how much content you’ll produce each month, and compare that with the features and publishing time available in each plan.
Ready to Find the Right Fit?
Take a look at Blubrry’s podcast hosting plans and find an option that matches how you publish today—and where you want your podcast to go next.
Review Blubrry’s Hosting Plans →
Your podcast may start with one episode.
Your hosting setup should be ready for everything that comes after it.