Podcast Importer

Are you looking for a Podcast Importer review to see if it’s the right podcast plugin for your WordPress website?

With this plugin, you can import podcasts as blog posts or custom post types. Podcast Importer can also sync any podcast RSS feed, so it’ll import new episodes automatically and display them using a a media play fetched directly from your podcast provider.

In this Podcast Importer review, we’ll look at this popular podcast helper tool to see whether it’s right for you.

Podcast Importer Review: Why Use It in WordPress?

Podcast Importer Pro can import episodes into your WordPress website using the podcast feed URL. It will then publish each episode as a blog post or custom post type.

This plugin works with all the best podcast hosting services and tools including PowerPress, Seriously Simple Podcasting, and Simple Podcast Press. It can even import podcasts from iTunes feed URLs. In addition, Podcast Importer can sync those podcast RSS feeds, so new episodes appear on your site automatically. This is ideal if you publish your podcast episodes somewhere else first.

Do you run multiple podcasts? Then you can create several schedules and import the episodes at different times.

If you’re just getting started or have a limited budget, then you can download the lite version of Podcast Importer from WordPress.org.

With this free plugin, you can import a single podcast automatically and publish each episode as a blog post. However, if you want to import multiple podcasts then you’ll need to upgrade to the premium plugin.

The premium plugin can also publish episodes as custom post types, use a global featured image for all your episodes, and more.

Podcast Importer Review: Is It the Right Podcast Plugin for You?

By embedding podcast episodes in WordPress, you can promote your show to the people who visit your website. This can get you more listeners, social shares, and engagement.

If listeners like what they hear, they might even start following you on different podcasting networks, or recommend your episodes to friends and family. With thats said, let’s see if Podcast Importer is the right podcasting plugin for your WordPress website.

1. Easy to Set Up

Podcast Importer is easy to set up and use. To start, you can install and activate it just like any WordPress plugin. You can then open the plugin’s settings, to configure your import.

Here, you can type in some basic information about the podcast including its feed URL, the post type you want to use, and whether it should publish the episodes automatically.

When you’re happy with how the plugin is configured, simply go ahead and click ‘Import.’

The plugin will now import all the podcast episodes and configure the new posts based on your settings. Even better, you can manually run the importer as many times as you want, as it will never import the same episode twice.

2. Import Episodes Manually or Automatically

Podcast Importer can sync episodes once every hour, so visitors can always access the latest episodes. To do this, simply check the ‘Ongoing Import’ box, and the plugin will handle the rest.

Alternatively, Podcast Importer has a ‘Sync’ button that allows you to trigger a sync manually.

3. Create an Import Schedule

With Podcast Importer, you can import episodes automatically based on a schedule set by you. You can import as many episodes and podcasts as you want, and even create unique schedules for different podcasts. This is ideal if you run multiple shows, and want to promote them all on the same WordPress blog.

You can also set specific import intervals and times, to control exactly when this content appears on your blog, website, or online store.

Finally, you can see all scheduled imports in the WordPress dashboard, and delete specific imports if needed.

4. Global Featured Image

When it fetches each episode, Podcast Importer can grab the featured image automatically.

Alternatively, you can add a global featured image that the plugin will use for all your imported episodes. For example, you might use your podcast’s custom logo or a photo of the presenter.

5. Customizable Post Titles

By default, Podcast Importer will use the episode’s title as the post title. If you want, then you can add the episode’s number or even some custom text to this automatically-generated title.

By tweaking the post title in this way, you can help visitors find episodes they want to listen to.

6. Custom Audio Player

Rather than using the default WordPress media player, Podcast Importer can fetch and embed the audio player provided by your podcast hosting provider.

Assuming you’re using a supported host, Podcast Importer will then display the host’s native player, rather than the built-in WordPress audio player.

7. Assign Categories Automatically

Do you want to assign all your episodes to the same category? This might be a general WordPress category, such as ‘Podcast.’

Alternatively, if you run multiple podcasts, then you might create a different category for each show. This can help visitors filter your content, and find exactly the episodes they want to play. When configuring the import, simply select the category you want to use, and Podcast Importer will handle the rest.

8. Add Episodes as Custom Post Types

Do you use custom post types on your WordPress website? For example, you might have created a ‘Podcasts’ custom post type.

In that case, you can import your episodes into this existing custom post type. In the plugin’s settings, simply open the ‘Post Type’ dropdown menu and choose the custom post type you want to use.

9. Integrates with 15+ Podcast Providers

Podcast Importer can fetch episodes from over 15 hosting providers including BuzzSprout, Transistor, and PodBean. In fact, it can import any podcast that’s in RSS/XML format.

This is ideal if you publish your podcast to another location, and want to cross-post to your WordPress website automatically.

10. Community and Professional Support

As we’ve already seen in this Podcast Importer review, this plugin makes it easy to import their podcasts directly into WordPress as posts or custom post types. You can import posts automatically based on a schedule set by you, or sync your episodes with a single click.

However, at some point you may need extra help to keep everything running smoothly. In that case, there’s online documentation that you can access 24/7.

Here, you’ll find detailed guides on how to set up and use the plugin’s more advanced features. There’s also step-by-step guides on how to use WordPress themes with Podcast Importer, including how to create a child theme.

Beyond that, there’s a blog where the Podcast Importer team covers a range of topics. This includes how to market your podcasts using an email newsletter, and how to get helpful social proof such as listener reviews.

If you’re using the free plugin, then you can post to the Podcast Importer forum on WordPress.org, and get answers to basic questions.

When posting to support forums, you should include as much information as possible, as it helps the experts understand your problem quickly and post a helpful response. For more on this topic, please see our guide on how to properly ask for WordPress support.

Finally, if you upgrade to the premium plugin, then you’ll also get professional support so you can submit a ticket. According to the Podcast Importer website, they aim to respond to all questions within 24 hours, although delays may occur on weekends.

Podcast Importer Review: Pricing and Plans

If you’re just getting started or have a limited budget, then you can download the lite version of Podcast Importer from WordPress.org. However, if you want to import episodes from multiple podcasts, then you’ll need to upgrade to a premium plan.

Unlike some other podcasting plugins, you’ll get access to the full set of features no matter what plan you buy. This means you can import unlimited episodes, from unlimited podcasts. You can also import episodes into any custom post type, add tags and categories from the podcast RSS feed, and set a global featured image.

However, the price will vary depending on the number of websites where you want to use Podcast Importer. If you own a single website, blog, or online marketplace, then you can purchase a $24 annual license.

Do you run multiple sites, such as several blogs in an affiliate marketing network? Then you can install Podcast Importer on up to 5 websites, for $49. This may also be a good option for WordPress development agencies that have a smaller portfolio of clients.

Podcast Importer Review: Is It the Right Podcast Plugin for You?

After looking at the features, support options, and pricing, we’re confident that Podcast Importer is a great podcast plugin. It allows you to sync with any podcast RSS feed and import episodes automatically. In this way, it can keep your content fresh, even for regular visitors.

Podcast Importer can also promote your latest episodes, without you needing to add each release to WordPress automatically. This can save you a ton of time and effort.

If you upgrade to the premium plugin, then you can import an unlimited number of podcasts, so it’s also a great option if you want to aggregate multiple podcasts on a single site.

We hope this Podcast Importer review helped you decide whether it’s the right podcasting plugin for you. You can also check out our guide on how to boost WordPress speed and performance, or see our expert pick of the best email marketing services.

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