Choosing a Domain for Your Podcast

Podcasting is becoming very popular. Tens of thousands of people start podcasts every month covering everything from politics to food to tiny niche topics.

In previous articles, we’ve explored how podcasts can benefit your business and we’ve talked about getting started with podcasting.

This time, let’s look at why your podcast domain name is important.

Every podcast needs a website to go with it. This site controls the distribution of the podcast to Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms, serves as a repository of episodes, and allows listeners to connect with the podcaster.

A Separate Website?

Podcasters can choose between adding a podcast section to their existing site or creating a new site dedicated to the podcast.

Using an existing website makes sense if the podcast is an extension of the brand and the site is fairly simple and easy to navigate.

Otherwise, podcasters should create a podcast-specific web site with its own domain name.

A separate site and domain help showcase the podcast so it stands out more.

The most important thing about a podcast site is that it has a memorable, easy-to-spell domain name. Likewise, use a podcast name generator to make sure that your podcast’s branding is just as impactful. When you tell listeners to go to the website, they must pass the radio test. After all, a podcast is basically a form of recorded radio!

If you want to make your podcast part of your main site and your domain name isn’t very simple, register a second domain name and forward it to the podcast section of your website.

Great Domains for Podcasts

Many podcasters choose .com domains for their podcast site. They just add a suffix like -podcast or -show to their podcast name.

But because podcasts are an edgy and new form of media, podcasters sometimes choose fun and unique domain names.

Here are some popular choices:

• .FM – .FM is the country-code domain name for the Federated States of Micronesia, an island nation in the Pacific. About 20 years ago a company commercialized the domain extension by marketing it to radio stations. That didn’t take off, but podcasts have adopted the .FM domain in droves. It’s a simple, short, and relevant domain extension for podcasters. There are many great names still available to choose from in this extension.
• .Show – Some podcasters refer to themselves as a show rather than a podcast, so .show is a popular domain extension for podcasts.
• .Live – Podcasts aren’t live; they’re recorded. But many podcasters also have live shows that they distribute as podcasts. .Live is a popular name for YouTubers and other streamers who have podcasts.
• .Today – Current events podcasts and news-based shows might like the .today domain extension, which suggests that the podcast is timely.
• .Report – .Report makes for a good extension for news podcasts.

There are hundreds of other topical extensions that podcasters should consider. A technology podcast can choose .tech, medical podcasts can select .health, and financial podcasts might like a .money domain.

Podcasts are creative, and choosing a domain name can be a creative process. Choose something that identifies with your podcast and its style. Most importantly, choose something that your listeners will remember.

And when you come up with a great idea for your podcast, be sure to search domain name at Namecheap.