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How-To: Migrate Switchboard RSS Feed to Another Feed Location / Provider

Backtracks Support

To migrate your Switchboard RSS feeds to another provider, etc. please follow these steps. If you use only the Switchboard enclosure URL prepend or prefix to your URLs then the steps will be abbreviated.

 

Switchboard Prefix/Prepend Enclosure URL Migration

Overview 

There are a few steps few steps that must be completed:

  • Remove Switchboard prefixes/prepends from your enclosure URLs in your RSS feed
  • That's It!

 

1) Determine Your Prefixes/Prepends

 

If you used this method of utilzing Switchboard functionlaity your RSS feed (which is not hosted by Backtracks), there is a field/data called an enclosure URL. If you have added a Switchboard prefix then this will need to be removed from your RSS feed.

 

2) Remove Your Prefixes/Prepends

If the system that delivers of hosts your RSS feed (this is not Backtracks if you are using this method), then you will just remove your Switchboard prefix from any series/RSS feeds and save or publish changes in that system. That's it!

 

3) Replace Embedded Players On Your Website Or App

If you have embedded Backtracks players in your website or app, they will need to be replaced.

Switchboard RSS Feed URL Migration

Overview 

There are a few steps few steps that must be completed:

  • Sign up for a hosting account at a podcast hosting service/provider that fits your needs or an analytics provider with a custom feed. You will need a new RSS URL to redirect your old/current Switchboard RSS feed to
  • Redirects and RSS feed location updates will need to be put in place in your old RSS feed to point to your new hosting provider's RSS feed URL. Most directories like Apple Podcasts will be automatically updated.
  • For the few directories of podcasts that need to be manually updated, those services/platforms will need to be updated manually by contacting that directory or logging into their management portal for your series
  • Replace embedded players on your website or app

 

1) Determine Your New RSS Feed URL

 

Signup for a podcast hosting account service/provider or analytics provider with a custom feed that fits your needs. They will provide a new RSS feed URL for your series/shows.

 

2) Setting Up Redirects In Switchboard

To migrate your listeners and the official RSS feed for your podcast to another location, you will need to enter a 301 permanent redirect into Switchboard for each series. This will point your old feed URL for that series or show to the new feed URL. When you complete this redirect step, traffic for your podcast episodes will start to go to your new hosting location and directories and listening platforms will start to update within the hour of you entering the redirect.

 

When your new podcast hosting provider or analytics feed service generates an RSS feed for you and you are ready to migrate your listens to be served by that provider, then you will enter your new RSS feed URL into the Switchboard series settings to redirect listeners from the old RSS feed URL to the new RSS feed URL. This will be seamless for the listeners and audience.

 

Most destinations (especially those that base their directory of podcasts from the Apple Podcasts listing, which is most) will update automatically once you put the redirect in place (i.e, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, PocketCasts, etc.). 

 

Steps to Enter 301 Redirect of RSS Feed To New Location

  1. Login to your Switchboard account
  2. Navigate to the list of series in the account
  3. Locate the series that you will enter the RSS feed URL redirect for in the list of series
  4. Navigate to the series settings for the series by clicking Settings in the row for that series
  5. Scoll down to the field 301 Redirect URL
  6. Enter the new RSS feed that your wish to use (this will be provided by your new hosting provider or feed service)
  7. Save changes to implement the redirect

 

3) Address Directories that Need to be Manually Updated

Some directories do not follow standard redirects for their updates. If your podcast is listed there, you will need to manually update them via their podcast or partner portal (i.e. Spotify for Podcasts, Stitcher Partner Portal, etc.). These manually updated directories include: iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Spotify, Pandora, Stiticher, and others.

 

4) Replace Embedded Players On Your Website Or App

If you have embedded players in your website or app, they will need to be replaced with a player that utilizes the audio location of your new host. If your Backtracks account ceases to function, i.e. is canceled, etc. then your audio will stop playing from Backtracks. Typically a podcast host will provide their own player or you may have a custom player. 

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