iTunes allows you to display your podcast by giving a free "space" for a iTunes "store". iTunes is not really holding or hosting your files it is only reading your RSS feed in other words it is looking to your blog's RSS feed and every time you add a podcast to your weblog it will automatically update your iTunes store.

Why would you want to register or "publish" your podcast in iTunes?

Well, it gives your audience another place to subscribe to your content and is a good place to publicize your podcast. They will probably use iTunes to manage and download your podcast anyway so it makes a lot of sense (in my opinion).

In order to fully take advantage of the iTunes store you need to enhance your weblog's rss feed. Our server automatically creates the rss feed, but if you register it without RSS enhancements your "store" will not have a picture and no author name. It will look like this in iTunes:

If you enhance your RSS feed your iTunes store may look like this:

Notice the art or picture as well an author name and more extensive description. To accomplish this the RSS feed or xml file needs to be enhanced or changed to carry the additional information like the picture, author, and the extra podcast description. We can't enhance the RSS feed or xml file from our server, because it is created automatically, so you will have to use an external service like feedburner that offers iTunes enhancements. Feedburner is free and offers many other services bloggers and podcasters.

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How to enhance the RSS feed using Feedburner

  1. Get your weblog's RSS feed:
    1. Go to you weblog @ http://teachers.ocps.net/weblog/username
    2. Scroll all the way to the bottom of your weblog and right click on the podcasting button and select "Open Link in New Window" . (That might prompt iTunes to open if is already installed in your computer, but ignore it.)
    3. Now you will have a new browser window with your weblog's RSS feed in the address bar. Make sure the address is highlighted, right click and select copy.
  2. Go to http://www.feedburner.com
  3. Paste the address you copied earlier in to the feed box in the page.
    1. Delete "itpc" and type "http" in its place.
    2. Click on Next.

  1. That will prompt you to create an account.

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  1. Complete the account registration form:
    1. Feed Tittle : This is the name of your weblog.
    2. Feed Address: This is the name you would like to give your feedburner RSS feed (all lower case and no spaces)
    3. Username: Pick a username for your feedburner account.
    4. Password: This is to create your feedburner account password. Repeat it to confirm it.
    5. Email Address: Type your email
    6. Click on "Activate Feed" to create your feedburner RSS feed.
  2. On the next window you will see your new feed.

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  1. Click on next
  2. On this window enter all the information to enhance your new feed for iTunes.
    1. Enter the web address to the picture that like to show in your "iTunes store". Before this step you must upload a 100X100 pixels picture in your web space.
    2. Complete the rest of the information.

  1. Click on next.

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  1. Click on next.

  1. Highlight and copy your new RSS feed.
  2. Now open iTunes and go to the Music Store >click on Podcasts

  1. Click on Submit a Podcast.

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  1. Now right click on the text box to paste the RSS feed you copied from feedburner.

  1. Click on continue
    1. After this step you will be prompt to enter your Apple account id to continue.
    2. If you don't have one you will have to enter a credit card to be able to get one, but it will never be charged. This is just in case you want to buy music from iTunes.
    3. It takes one or two days for your podcast store to show in iTunes.

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