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Why you need a secure RSS feed for your podcast featured image

Why you NEED a secure RSS feed for your podcast

Podcasters everywhere! We’d bet our bottom dollar that many of you received an email from Apple recently suggesting that you use a secure RSS feed with an SSL certificate for your podcast.

This has likely bought up many questions – mainly, what on earth is an SSL certificate? Why do I need one? What does it mean for my podcast?

Well as always, we’re here to answer all these questions and more in our latest blog post and video.

So what are SSL certificates?

SSL certificates are one of those many acronyms on the internet that you’ve likely read 1000 times, but don’t actually know what they mean in practice.

SSL certificates allow secure connections from a web server to a browser, domain name, server name or hostname. They’re used to secure data, be that analytics, data transfers or logins.

Why do I need one?

At the minute, secure RSS feeds are optional BUT Apple has announced that in the near future, you won’t be able to access analytics nor submit podcasts in Podcasts Connect without a secure feed.

So a bit like when teachers give you “optional reading” they’re not really optional at all.

It’s all about making the internet a safer place – and that’s something we can all invest a little time in.

How do I get a secure SSL feed?

The good news is that when you’re a Podcast Websites member, we will install a secure RSS feed for members free of charge.

Just head to support to request one and guess what, yours is likely already secured anyway as we’ve been providing SSL secured feeds for AGES now!

Knowing that your podcast’s data is being stored safely and that you can access your analytics is super important.

Yet according to PodNews, of the top 10 trending podcasts in the US, only 40% have secure RSS feeds!

Don’t know if your podcast’s RSS feed is secure or not?

Podnews has created this handy tool to help you check.

I want to work with Podcast Websites and make my show secure, too.

Make your RSS feed secure NOW – else your site will be marked as not secure

On July 24th Google launched their new version of Chrome – Chrome 68.

As part of this update, starting in October 2018 all websites that are not encrypted with HTTPS will show a ‘Not Secure’ sign when you browse the site to encourage all website owners to make their site secure.

Podcasts with a secure RSS feed will have a secure website so it’s important you request a secure RSS feed if you haven’t already.

Ready to monetize your audience & become an audio influencer?

Podcasters all across the world are transforming from simply producing audio to becoming a monetised, influential brand with Podcast Websites. When you're ready to become an audio influencer in your niche, we're here for you.

Rachel Smith

Rachel is the Marketing Coordinator at Captivate, the podcast hosting platform. Rachel works closely with podcasters to ensure that the content that Captivate creates is genuinely helpful and easy to understand.

Ready to monetize your audience & become an audio influencer?

Podcasters all across the world are transforming from simply producing audio to becoming a monetised, influential brand with Podcast Websites. When you're ready to become an audio influencer in your niche, we're here for you.