The history of podcasts started with the release of the first iPod in 2001 that made it possible to download audio files to portable audio devices or simply add them to RSS feeds. Thereafter, podcasts caused the “Audible revolution” and became an integral part of the lives of millions of people around the world.
Currently, podcasts, used for different purposes (entertainment, learning, etc.) are available on many services Squarespace integrates with. However, I’d like not only to describe the most widely-used Squarespace’s templates for podcasts but also to go deeper into this topic and point out the following:
- steps to create a podcast on your Squarespace’s website;
- the platform’s limitations towards podcasting;
- podcasts’ analytics.
Also, you can learn more about Squarespace’s e-commerce, marketing, web building features from the following articles:
Squarespace description:
Squarespace Review & Pricing [2021]
How to back up a Squarespace website
How to add AdSense to Squarespace
How to add favicon to Squarespace
How to embed PDF into Squarespace
Methods to add a responsive table to Squarespace site
Squarespace comparisons:
Overview of Squarespace podcast feature
Due to the embedded RSS feed, the platform allows you to create and manage podcasts.
Currently, Squarespace supports integration with a lot of podcast services, namely: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, etc. It’s worth mentioning that Apple Podcasts (iTunes Podcasts before rebranding) is the most widely used service and Squarespace automatically sets up feeds according to the Apple Podcasts’ standards.
Using a podcast feature, your website visitors can easily get access to the podcasts’ details like archived episodes, notes, etc. They can automatically download them to any type of device without the need for visiting the source website.
3 steps of creating a podcast on Squarespace
- Create a blog page with audio blocks.
- Add a blog post with your podcast episode.
- Allow the subscription to your RSS feed.
Squarespace podcast limitations
- It’s impossible to submit the podcast to Apple Podcast if the website is on trial. To fix this issue, you need to get a paid subscription.
- Your podcast episodes can’t be submitted to the Apple Podcasts service if your web resource is private. This applies to websites with a site-wide password or a password for a blog page.
- You can work only with audio podcasts.
- The available number of podcast episodes is limited: you may only add up to 300 of them.
- Audio blocks on the blog page have restrictions as well: the maximum file upload size is 160 MB.
Podcast analytics
Using the RSS analytics, you can get the data about the traffic from Apple Podcasts.
If using another service, just add an URL prefix to the audio block to receive the information about the number of total downloads, listens, etc.
Top 20 templates for podcasting
Paloma
As for me, Paloma is the best choice among the others since it’s highly customizable and already set up to host a podcast. Plus, it’s integrated with YouTube, SoundCloud, and various podcast services like Buzzsprout, Podbean, Castos, etc.
The Paloma template allows you to connect Stripe and PayPal payment systems to your website, so your listeners can easily send you donations without going to third-party services.
Brine
Brine is one of the most popular templates not only for podcasting but for blogging in general. Using this template, you can easily build a website that combines a powerful electronic commerce feature with audio and text content.
This template can be a preferable option for those who want to create a podcast to promote a webstore, blog, etc.
Ready
Using the Ready layout, Squarespace’s users can create podcasts focused on finance-related topics. The template is fully responsive and displayed equally well on smartphones, computers, and tablets.
Due to the embedded interactive scheduling system, you can easily book meetings with guests directly on the platform, manage episodes release, and many more.
Horizon
This template is widely used among companies connected to multimedia production. Using Horizon, you can create and set up audio playlists, manage different media content, add an online store, and many more.
Like the previous template, Horizon comes with an embedded calendar that can help you inform your podcast listeners about the upcoming episodes.
Bedford
Bedford layout can be a powerful tool to convert your podcast listeners into paid supporters.
You can add banners, CTA buttons, and various design elements to attract the attention of your listeners, interest them in joining your membership program, and many more.
Bedford has a professionally designed blog page with a customizable image slider and a set of social sharing buttons. Also, you can add a comment section where your listeners can give you feedback and share their impressions about your web project.
Wav
As in the case of Paloma, Wav is oriented towards digital audio content. It has a podcast section by default that allows you to host the project on any podcast platform.
The template’s header has the “Events”, “Artists”, and “Releases” buttons. You can also find the buttons for quick access to your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, YouTube accounts on the footer.
The Wav template also features a full-fledged webstore that you can use for selling physical as well as digital products.
Impact
If your podcast is connected to a nonprofit organization, Impact layout is what you need. The Impact template is designed to attract the attention of your listeners to volunteer work, social programs, coaching, etc.
On the template header, your listeners can find “Volunteer”, “Partners”, “Programs”, and other buttons. By clicking on them, your visitors can learn more about your mission, the ways to support it, etc.
Colima
Colima template can be an option for those who want to create a podcast for a business with a physical location. It’s a highly customizable layout that offers many different styles. The Colima template supports the Google Maps integration that can be connected to blog pages and podcast sections to show your location.
Suffolk
Using the Suffolk template, it’s possible to create a simple web resource that can combine audio podcasts with other media and text content. Suffolk supports social sharing buttons, which you may utilize for publishing podcasts and expanding your audience (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook).
It also has a feature-rich contact page that you may customize to keep in touch with your listeners and get their feedback.
Rally
The Rally template isn’t overloaded with elements and has advanced design features like parallax scrolling and a grid-style layout at the same time.
Using this template, you can create a personalized web resource for a lifestyle podcast. It also includes a custom subscription page, which can be used to get people on your email list and increase the number of your podcast subscribers.
Sophie
This template can be an option for those who don’t have any idea of how their podcasting website should look like. Sophie combines minimalist design, mild natural shades, and deep tones.
The customization of this template is simple as well since you’re provided with a detailed step-by-step guide, video tutorials, etc. The Sophie template allows you to modify colors and graphics; choose from a wide range of fonts and styles; customize subscription and contact pages, etc.
Besides, it’s a fully responsive template that was designed to be displayed on any type of screen.
Avenue
The Avenue template was created for podcasters, photographers, designers, and other creative individuals who post a large amount of information. Avenue comes with an adaptive grid-based index that allows you to organize multiple podcast episodes.
You can edit spacing between episodes, change the color of metadata, add “Read more” links to episodes’ descriptions, etc. The template allows you to set up individual pages by adding a page header, background, borders, footer.
As for Avenue’s page footers, they contain customizable areas with columns of blocks and an area for social networks and share buttons, links to the related web resources, etc.
Iris
Iris is one of the multipurpose templates for those who are just starting a podcaster career and are looking for a striking & bold design with ease of customization.
Thanks to the included video tutorials, you can quickly learn how to edit fonts; change styles and graphics; customize headers, footers, content area, and many more.
Background images are displayed full-width, giving the effect of repositioning while scrolling the page. The template comes with collage-style sections, which allow you to arrange your podcast episodes in a form of a mosaic.
Clean Freak
The name of this template accurately reflects its appearance: Clean Freak isn’t overloaded with design elements and contains only the necessary buttons like “Home”, “About”, “Offerings”, “Events”, “FAQ”, “Connect”.
This allows your listeners to focus on your podcast brand.
Due to highly customizable graphics, you don’t need to use additional editor software like Photoshop.
After purchasing this template, you additionally get detailed guides about graphic setting up, SEO, coding, and podcast tips.
Pacific
Pacific is a one-page template that combines a scrolling index page and text overlays, which can help you arrange and organize your podcast’s episodes.
For easier navigation through episodes, you can add filters by category, which will be displayed at the top of the page. You can also add excerpts for each episode, which will be shown as “Read more” links.
This template focuses on the use of banners: you can utilize page thumbnails or videos to create ones. Keep in mind that if you have no pictures in your gallery, the system will use the first image for the banner.
Using banners, you can set the tone for your web resource and attract the attention of your website’s visitors.
Farro
The Farro template is a multipurpose solution for those who publish a large amount of information.
The template’s main page has several bright and catchy design options to impress and engage new visitors. On the main page, you can add an intro area for individual episodes with a brief description of the content. It’s possible to attach a thumbnail for each episode and change their position on the page due to the customizable grid option.
In the blog section, you can also add information about yourself as a podcast author, links to the related resources, and share buttons.
Anya
The Anya template is a perfect solution for creating a blog, news, or podcast website. Among the template’s features, I’d like to highlight large style controls and a massive header with a big content area.
You can customize your blog section, create a grid or a slideshow from your podcast episodes, and edit the style for each of them individually. Unlike most of the templates I’ve listed above, Anya doesn’t provide an option to add excerpts or thumbnails on the blog section.
Wexley
If you’re looking for a template to showcase your works dynamically, you’d pay attention to Wexley.
During the customization of the gallery layout, you can arrange your content in a form of an adaptive mosaic. In case your pictures are too large, they’ll be organized vertically.
If your visitors are using a browser with a reduced grid width, then the gallery will be switched to a slide show mode. You’re allowed to use gallery lightboxes and customize fonts, styles, colors of their content. If you want to highlight a certain block of the lightbox slideshow, you may set up deep link URLs. But keep in mind that this option isn’t available on mobile devices.
Hatch
This template is minimal, focused on typography, and photo-heavy. Due to such features as 3D scrolling and customizable navigation, Hatch improves the user experience and attracts the attention of your website visitors. The template comes with a long-scrolling homepage that you can use to highlight separate episodes, place promo banners, images, and other content.
Using embedded mobile styles, you can easily manage the way your website looks on smartphones and tablets.
Skye
The current template offers a wide range of layout options, which can help you to highlight the content and make your website catchy. Skye has a content inset option that allows you to create a layout with various margins, site-wide, and indented blocks.
You can also modify the size, color, styles of share buttons and add them to the footer with a flexible content area.
All your podcast episodes may contain thumbnails with content descriptions, text excerpts and can be structured using the blog grid option. The Skye template allows you to modify the width of the sidebar that scrolls together with the webpage and may contain information about the author.
