Podcast Platform Updates, August 2019

In an effort to continue making it easier than ever for you to produce and grow your podcast, Blubrry is constantly tweaking, developing, and redeveloping our industry-leading podcasting platform: from Podcast Hosting, to IAB Certified Podcast Statistics, to PowerPress. Going forward, we’ll post periodic updates about our progress, and some of the major releases we think you might find interesting & helpful. Read on for some bright shiny podcast platform release from Blubrry for August 5, 2019.

Cast Feed Validator, Revitalized!

There’s always more you could do to produce and promote your podcast. Beyond curating and creating killer content, you have to actually publish your podcast and make sure it’s out there and accessible to your listeners–all listeners. You can breathe a little easier today, though. Blubrry has made that last part easier for you with our free service, Cast Feed Validator.

Cast Feed Validator checks to see if your podcast RSS feed is working properly. It’s really that simple. And it’s really free, too. All podcast directories have to read and play your podcast; and some of them–including Apple–will accept a feed that isn’t actually working the way you want it to.

Run your feed through our Cast Feed Validator and we’ll tell you what needs improvement and what is flat out broken; quick results for podcast necessities. Fast, free, and reliable assessment for your podcast feed.

We thought it was such a great service that we acquired it in 2017. We also knew it needed a bit of TLC and some updating which we’re excited to announce today. Some of the new goodness is listed below:

  • Mapping of Apple’s old and new categories. Learn more about that here.
  • SSL certificate tests
  • More in-depth tests on server behavior and metadata
  • Feed tests that look for hard-to-find bugs

But wait, there’s more! This isn’t just limited to Blubrry users, any podcaster can check their feed. We are keeping it free because a properly working directory is better for the entire podcasting community. Take a look at the new site and test your feed here

Play and Partial Download Reporting Now Fully Available

Earlier this year, we released Play and Partial Download Reporting as part of our IAB Certified Podcast Statistics platform for our Advanced Stats customers. It’s been great seeing more and more podcasters use this valuable service during our free trial period. Today, that service is still available, and it’s only $5 additional per month. Make sure to double check yours if you want to retain access to partial download reporting in your Advanced Stats.

More podcast platform updates coming soon

Every couple weeks or so, we’ll post another update, detailing some of the things we’ve been hard at work on, trying to make it easier for you to podcast.