Please note: the username that you choose for your account will also be in the domain name for your blog page. So, if you choose the username “awesomepodcast” your url will be http://awesomepodcast.libsyn.com and if you choose the username “janesmith” your blog url will be http://janesmith.libsyn.com
Libsyn gives you the option to point domains at your blog page and RSS feed. If a Libsyn customer were to register a domain (for example, mypodcast.com), then their Libsyn blog could be found at http://mypodcast.com and their RSS feed could be found at http://mypodcast.com/rss.
To accomplish this, you must set the nameservers for the domain to be NS1.LIBSYN.COM and NS2.LIBSYN.COM. You can set this setting either while registering the domain (using a domain registrar such as godaddy.com) or can be edited after it's already been registered. (For advanced users, who want to manage their own DNS, but still have a domain name resolve to their libsyn account, check out this description of how to set up a CNAME record).
You can either do this upon sign up, using the section that we provide in the sign up form, or after you've already registered the account with us. If you choose to wait until your account is set up, fire off an email to support@libsyn.com with the domain name, and username that it's to be associated with. (This will be automated in the future, but for now it's still a manual operation for us at support). There is a one time fee of $5 that accompanies setting this service up.
Additionally, be aware that mail can still be forwarded to the inboxes at the registrar. Godaddy and register.com (two common registrars) give instructions on how to set things called “MX Records”. If mail to these domains is desired, be sure to email Hoopes at hoopes@libsyn.com.
You can upload any type of file to your Libsyn account; image, audio, video, text, pdf. However only certain types of files will work as podcast media files (files enclosed and syndicated by your feed). Here is a list of file types supported by the iTunes directory taken from Apples podcast specs page at [http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststechspecs.html Apples specs page]- Supported file formats include .m4a, .mp3, .mov, .mp4, .m4v, and .pdf.
The Service Level that you choose should be enough to support the amount of data that you roughly plan to upload in a normal 30day period. This is because files work against your quota/storage level for the first 30 days that they exist in your account. During this time they are labeled 'current media'. After 30days they automatically move to the Archives and off of your quota see [http://docs.libsyn.com/archiving the Wiki Archiving article].
So lets say you plan to upload a 50MB file about every week. Then you'd most likely want the 250mb plan, because your normal upload amount would be about 200mb within a four week span.
Paypal is currently the only method that we can use to accept credit card payments. When viewing the Paypal screen during your initial sign up, be aware that when Paypal asks 'Don't have a Paypal account?' and you check that box, you will be taken through the steps to set up a Paypal account.
Upon your first login, you will be prompted to fill in all of the basic settings. If you haven't filled out all of them, you will not be allowed to post yet (because we wouldn't have enough information to fill in your RSS feed!)
Once you do this, the first thing you'd probably like to do is delete the default Libsyn generated feed. To accomplish this goal, click on the 'publish' tab, followed immediately by clicking on the 'previous posts' link. Here is where you will be able to click on the trash can icon next to the default libsyn post, which will remove it.
From here, you will most likely be best served by going back to the 'settings' tab, and filling in the 'advanced' settings, followed by the 'itunes' settings. This will allow your show to appear as you'd like it in iTunes (by far, currently the most popular 'podcatcher').
Now, you're off and running, and can upload shows, and create posts from them!