This is part two of a two-part series. To read part one, click here.

How do I podcast?

There are two basic avenues you can explore, and should consider, in making your podcast available online. Depending on your view and depending on what you already have available online, one is easy, and one is hard. Another way to look at it is that one is fairly automatic, and the other requires some manual work.

The automatic, or easy, method may actually require more time. But there are some payoffs, as well. This involves setting up a weblog (or "blog") for your church. This can be called the easy or automatic method because many of the most popular and widely used blogging systems automatically create the RSS feeds that visitors can subscribe to, and these systems can also be set up to recognize whenever you've linked to a file, automatically modifying your RSS feed for you. So all you have to do is upload your MP3 file, create a post (a short article-like entry describing the program, service, or podcast you're linking to that day), link to the file with the right URL, and publish the article. You're done.

On the other hand, if you already have an extensive archive of sermon audio online, the manual method of providing an RSS feed may be the least time consuming for you. There's no blog, no article to write, no post to publish. You just get your MP3 file ready, modify the RSS file, and upload both to your Web server, and then you're done.(If this method appeals to you, see Dave Clark's article, "The ABCs of Podcasting.")

Setting up your podcast blog on your own Web host
If you already have a website, you may already have most of what you need in place. If your Web host offers you a "control panel" that allows you to create e-mail accounts, view your traffic logs, check your e-mail, and upload files, you may already have the ability to simply click a few buttons to create a new weblog. If you do have a control panel (especially the "cPanel" with the "Fantastico" installer), browse around and look for "Applications." Once you've found this option, read any documentation or help files available online before proceeding. It's possible your Web host will charge you extra for the service, and there may be some weblog tools that require a licensing fee.

If reading this already makes no sense to you, talk to your webmaster or your hosting firm. Ask what it will take to set up a weblog that allows you to podcast. Make sure your blog supports at least RSS 2.0 or Atom 1.0 for the RSS format. Most blogs support at least one, or both.

If you get to choose which blog tool to use, there are two that are most widely used and come highly recommended: Moveable Type, and WordPress. Both weblogging tools have active developer communities, but Moveable Type has been around longer, supports multiple weblogs on one installation, and the commercially licensed version includes technical support. WordPress is widely installed, has a constantly new stream of "plugins" generated by an active user community to extend the functionality of your blog, but doesn't come with paid technical support, and modifying the templates and design (apart from the themes which can be installed easily) should be left to people proficient in HTML editing. Both Blogging tools have enthusiastic supporters, so consult your favorite geek, talk to your hosting provider, and take your pick.

Setting up your podcast blog on a hosting service.
If you don't already have a Web host or a church Web site, and you aren't sure you want to go that route, you can still get your podcasts online using a weblog hosting service. Two of the most well-known and widely used weblog hosts are Blogger.com (owned by Google) and TypePad.com. Blogger accounts are free, but TypePad accounts range from $5 a month, to $15. TypePad supports podcasting very well, but Blogger requires you to host your MP3 files on another Web server. Other widely used blogging communities are LiveJournal, Xanga, Yahoo 360, AOL Journal, MSN Spaces, BlogDrive, GreatestJournal, and DiaryLand. Some podcasters have used these hosted weblog communities successfully, but they are far from ideal. Not only are the tools not optimized for podcasting, but these are considered "entry level" communities where the most common activity is personal journaling.

Putting your MP3 files online
If you have your own Web host, either for your church Web site or your new podcast weblog, you already have a place to store and deliver your sermons and podcast audio files. Just prepare your audio files as normal and upload them to the proper directory on your website.

However, if you are using a hosting service for your podcast blog, you will need a place to host your audio. One option is to simply buy space on a normal Web host, and upload your files to your website using the tools your host provides (through the control panel) or by using an FTP (file transfer protocol) tool. To find the Web host that suits you, refer to Web Host Magazine & Buyer's Guide, NobleHosts.com, or find some other hosting directory at DMOZ's directory of hosting directories. If you find a good host here, they may be able to host your podcasting weblog and podcast feed as well. Some hosts will also promote your podcast to various search engines, podcast directories, and weblog directories—which is valuable for building traffic to your site.

Also be sure to check out two highly regarded services: Liberated Syndication, created for the express purpose of inexpensively hosting the MP3 audio files podcasters generate. And Ourmedia.org, which offers free hosting (for life) of any audio content you generate. You may want to consider these options even if you already have a Web host for your content, since they are so inexpensive. (There is always a risk in using any free hosting service. The support may be nonexistent, or not timely, and there is no guarantee you will retain control over your content or that the service will survive.)

Produce your show
Once you've recorded your podcast in high-quality WAV file format, you'll need to edit it on your computer so you can make sure your recording levels weren't too high, too low, or too noisy. If you want to record your podcast on your computer, these software packages will record as well as edit. If you're using a Windows PC, Adobe Audition is the best commercial editing package available. On the Mac many podcasters recommend Audio Hijack Pro, but GarageBand is being used to good success as well, if you can master it. On either platform, the free, open-source tool Audacity is used by many, but it is not as feature-rich as the commercial packages, and it is unsupported. You'll need to consult the help documentation for tips on compression, noise reduction, equalizing the audio, pop elimination, and normalization. If you find you have a lot of noise in your recording, check out this article on "Seven Steps to Noise-Free Recording."

Upload your show
Once you've got a file you're happy with, you'll need to upload it to your favorite Web host. To do this, you'll need a file transfer application, called an FTP client. On Windows machines, WS_FTP Pro and Beyond Compare (both commercial packages) come highly recommended. Many Mac users recommend Fetch (free license for educational or charitable use) and Captain FTP (commercial package)

There is a lot of information here to process all at once. Remember, you can start with a really simple setup and add technology and skills as your knowledge and familiarity with the medium increases. Every new medium has a learning curve, and podcasting is no different. Just remember that the most important goal is getting the Word out, and not getting worn out. Search out the people in your congregation with expertise in these areas, and rely on them for advice and assistance. Just get started, it's the only way to learn.

Rich Tatum is online-media managing editor for Christianity Today International and was the original webmaster for PreachingToday.com.