jdw21

Q: How to change RSS Feed without losing subscribers

I'm currently using blubrry to upload my podcasts. I'm not hosting it through them but rather on my own site and using my feed to submit to iTunes (http://racingdudes.com/feed/podcast/). However, I have switched to SoundCloud to start hosting my podcasts. I have added my latest three podcast episodes on SoundCloud and embedded them onto my website. However, how do I change the RSS feed from my original feed to my new SoundCloud feed without losing all my subscribers and ratings?

 

My first thought was to login to iTunes Connect and where my current RSS feed is listed, swap that out for my new one. Will that work? Is it as simple as that? It seems like I've read a lot of outdated, complicated ways to do this process so just making sure if this is the newer, simpler way?

 

Appreciate your help. Thanks!

iPhone 6, iOS 8.1

Posted on Aug 4, 2016 1:06 PM

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Q: How to change RSS Feed without losing subscribers

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  • by Roger Wilmut1,Solvedanswer

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Aug 6, 2016 12:29 PM in response to jdw21
    Level 9 (77,925 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 6, 2016 12:29 PM in response to jdw21

    jdw21 wrote:

     

    So if I understand you correctly, the method I just showed you on PowerPress is the same as adding the 'itunes:new-feed-url' tag like you describe above? Only working with iTunes Store and applications. The 301 applies to all feed readers but more extensive on getting done. Correct?

    Yes.

    So if I wanted to go the simpler route to transfer the feed AND keep all my subscribers I could do the following:

    1. Complete the iTunes Connect with changing the RSS URL to new one at SoundCloud

    2. Complete the "iTunes New Feed URL" in PowerPress and leave that there for up to four weeks and I would ensure that my subscribers (iTunes only) would remain intact.

    3. "Optional" Implement the 301 Redirect and leave in place for up to four weeks as well.

    Is that right?

    Yes; you don't really need to do 1., the tag will cover it. 1. comes in in useful for people who are using podcast creation methods that don't allow them to edit the feed, and who aren't in a position to set up the 301.

  • by jdw21,

    jdw21 jdw21 Aug 6, 2016 1:30 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Publishing
    Aug 6, 2016 1:30 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Alright cool. I think I understand it all. I know I asked a lot of questions but it bothers me when I don't known how things like this work. I appreciate you being so responsive and helpful to my questions.

     

    My current feed is: http://racingdudes.com/feed/podcast/

     

    I assume that I will be bale to edit this? I will just have to have my developer take care of it.

     

    As far as waiting 4 weeks or so to give it enough time for people to catch on to new feed... After the 4 weeks can I just remove PowerPress completely and the 301 redirect as well?

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Aug 6, 2016 1:52 PM in response to jdw21
    Level 9 (77,925 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 6, 2016 1:52 PM in response to jdw21

    As you're using Blubrry and according to the image you posted above it provides a method for adding the 'itunes:new-feed-url' tag it should be quite straightforward.

     

    Four weeks should certainly be enough for subscribers to get round to checking the feed. After that you can delete the original feed and remove the 301. Incidentally before you do the redirect you should subscribe manually in iTunes (from the 'File' menu) to the feed you are moving to, just to be absolutely sure that it works properly.

  • by mgdell,

    mgdell mgdell Aug 8, 2016 6:36 AM in response to jdw21
    Level 1 (53 points)
    iPad
    Aug 8, 2016 6:36 AM in response to jdw21

    I still think you are better off NOT changing your RSS feed and just relink your posts to the files on Soundcloud.  That way when you want to change it again, you don't have to get them to redirect your feed.   Stick with the PowerPress feed and just use soundcloud to host your files. 

     

    That leaves you in 100% control over your RSS feed and your subscribers will know no difference.

     

    -Mike

     

    PS.  OR switch to a real podcast host such as Blubrry

  • by jdw21,

    jdw21 jdw21 Aug 8, 2016 2:42 PM in response to mgdell
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Publishing
    Aug 8, 2016 2:42 PM in response to mgdell

    I'm wondering about the stats that SoundCloud keeps. They appear to be rather extensive and something I'd like to take advantage of. However, if my limited understanding of this setup (NOT changing the RSS feed and relinking to the files on SoundCloud) is correct, the stats via SC would really only work for people listening to the pod via SC and NOT iTunes or anything like that. Is that correct? And if so, do you find that as a problem? I've never really liked the way Blubrry keeps their stats all that well. Thanks.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Aug 8, 2016 2:54 PM in response to jdw21
    Level 9 (77,925 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 8, 2016 2:54 PM in response to jdw21

    The stats would be for access to the media files, which would log each time anyone at least started to listen to them. Logging hits on the feed is meaningless, since every subscriber's iTunes application checks the feed at intervals as long as the program is running; so there's no way of knowing how many subscribers you have, only how many people have accessed each episode file. Although many things are theoretically possible I don't see SC being set up to log access from non-iTunes/iTunes Store sources and not from iTunes and the Store.

  • by jdw21,

    jdw21 jdw21 Aug 9, 2016 8:30 AM in response to mgdell
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Publishing
    Aug 9, 2016 8:30 AM in response to mgdell

    I'm leaning towards just doing what you said here. Seems like easiest route without question.


    My biggest concern is the stats. Can you confirm that because I would still be linking to SC media files, that iTunes plays, etc would still be tracked?


    I know subscribers can't be tracked (which is just amazing to be considering all we can track these days). I just would like to be able to log on to SC stats and see ALL my plays. No matter from where.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Aug 9, 2016 8:45 AM in response to jdw21
    Level 9 (77,925 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 9, 2016 8:45 AM in response to jdw21

    I can't see any reason why Soundcloud wouldn't show plays through the iTunes Store and the iTunes application - any normal login system would show all hits, so they would have to take steps to detect the 'user agent' and block it, which would seem pointless. It's irrelevant where the feed is hosted; it's the URLs in the 'enclosure' tags that matter.

  • by mgdell,

    mgdell mgdell Aug 9, 2016 11:26 AM in response to jdw21
    Level 1 (53 points)
    iPad
    Aug 9, 2016 11:26 AM in response to jdw21

    If you continue to use your PowerPress feed, all plays / downloads in iTunes will be tracked by blubrry (if you are using blubrry stats).  Where the file comes from has nothing to do with it. 

     

    If you would like to discuss your optoins, contact me.  mike@blubrry.com or 231-715-1366 during US Eastern time business hours.

     

    -Mike

    Blubrry Support

  • by jdw21,

    jdw21 jdw21 Aug 9, 2016 12:49 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Publishing
    Aug 9, 2016 12:49 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Roger,

     

    What I ended up doing was going the traditional route.

     

    1. Completed the iTunes Connect with changing the RSS URL to new one at SoundCloud (Even though I know it wasn't totally necessary). Once I submitted it now says "scheduled for refresh".

     

    2. Completed the "iTunes New Feed URL" in PowerPress and will leave that there for up to four weeks to ensure that my subscribers (iTunes only) would remain intact. This was rather easy. Using PowerPress you just simply click that option and then submit your new feed.

     

    3. Implemented the 301 Redirect and will leave in place for up to four weeks as well. This was also pretty easy.

    Old Feed: http://racingdudes.com/feed/podcast/

    New SoundCloud Feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:245100688/sounds.rss

     

    How does all that sound? Good to go?


    Just to be clear, here in about a month, I can completely remove the 301 redirect AND the PowerPress stuff as everything will now be going through SoundCloud?

  • by jdw21,

    jdw21 jdw21 Aug 9, 2016 1:00 PM in response to jdw21
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Publishing
    Aug 9, 2016 1:00 PM in response to jdw21

    It actually looks like it has already gone through. I (intentionally) only uploaded our last 4 episodes on SoundCloud. Our podcasts are rather time sensitive so once they are over they are pretty useless. I just checked the iTunes page and it's switched over, https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blinkers-off/id883918649.

     

    I subscribe and I'm still getting these episodes on my iPhone. Think it worked!

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Aug 12, 2016 10:30 PM in response to jdw21
    Level 9 (77,925 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 12, 2016 10:30 PM in response to jdw21

    Yes, you can remove them after four weeks.

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