MonkCMS Help

For official Apple podcasting documentation, please visit:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html

Adding your podcast to the iTunes Podcast Directory

The CMS updates an iTunes-compatible XML file of your sermons (and/or articles) whenever a sermon is edited. The URL to this file must be submitted to iTunes for your podcast to be indexed by Apple.

1. In the CMS, navigate to Outreach > Feeds.
2. Select the feed you wish to use and click the adjacent pencil icon to edit the feed.
3. Copy the URL of the feed. (Ex: http://www.yoursite.com/mediafiles/sermons.xml)
4. Visit the podcast submission screen in iTunes and submit this URL as your podcast.

Adding podcast artwork

Artwork for the podcast directory

iTunes prefers square JPG images that measure at least 600 x 600 pixels. Other supported specifications are:

• JPG or PNG (The file must end in ".jpg" or ".png")
• RGB color space (CMYK not supported)

To specify the logo in the CMS:

1. Go to Outreach > Feeds > and edit your sermon feed.
2. Select an image file for the logo dropdown option.
3. To set the artwork for a specific episode of your podcast, this requires embedding the artwork in your MP3 file. Here is a short walk through on how to do this in iTunes. Make sure that you do not check the "optimize mp3" option when you upload the MP3 into the CMS; the optimization process does not retain embedded artwork.

Updating podcast artwork for the podcast directory

To update your podcast artwork for the podcast directory, Apple prefers that you give the updated image a new file name to help iTunes know that the image has changed. If you simply replace the image with one of the same name, iTunes may never know that your logo image needs updating.

Artwork for individual podcast files

The podcast artwork that appears on the user's device (iPhone/ iPad) when playing the media file is not automatically set as the podcast directory image. The artwork for individual podcast files needs to be set by embedding images into the podcast's media files themselves.

You can do this in iTunes by:

1. Selecting your podcast file in the iTunes library.
2. Right-clicking on the item and selecting "Get Info" from the context menu.
3. In the Artwork tab, add an image and OK. The image is now embedded in the media file.

How long will it take for my podcast to be listed?

Please note this information from the Apple podcasting documentation:

Normally, podcasts that are added to iTunes will appear first in iTunes search, and later in iTunes browse. Appearing in the browse category that you specified can take up to five days. The image associated with your podcast may also require additional time to appear, because images are edge-cached by iTunes and must propagate across the caching servers.

How users can subscribe to your podcast

Depending on your site design, a sermons podcast link is usually available in your sermons list template or homepage, or both. With that, users can subscribe...

Via the XML file URL

The XML file URL can be used in iTunes to manually subscribe to the podcast, like so:

1. Click the podcast link on your website and copy the URL.
2. Open iTunes and navigate to Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast.
3. Paste in the URL. The podcast is now added to the Podcasts list in iTunes.

Via iTunes direct link

By using a special link provided by Apple, the iTunes application will open on the user's computer and automatically direct them to your podcast listing in the Podcast Directory.

If your podcast is available on iTunes and you'd like to create this direct link, visit iTunes Link Maker, find your podcast and copy the direct link. If you need help implementing this link on your site, contact MonkDev Support.

Via RSS

The podcast XML feed is also compatible with any RSS reader. Users can download the media files directly from the RSS feed if using and RSS reader like Apple Mail or Google Reader.

Changing an existing podcast feed to a new feed

If you have an existing podcast at one URL, and would like it updated in iTunes by another feed at a new URL, you may need to create an HTTP 301 redirect to transfer the podcast. Often this is necessary when launching a new site. Contact MonkDev Support for help or see Apple's documentation for changing a feed URL.

Removing an old podcast from iTunes

If it is not possible to transfer or redirect an existing podcast feed, you may want to remove the feed from iTunes and submit another.

Podcasting Best Practices

We suggest creating a Podcast page on your site that explains how to subscribe to your podcast using the iTunes application. Check out a good example of this page.

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