What is an embeddable podcast player?
An embeddable podcast player is a widget that you include on a website to let visitors to that website listen to your show in their web browser, instead of using a podcatcher app. It will often be a small inline audio player that shows the episode and show information, and sometimes your cover art.
Shortwave’s embeddable player does much more than other podcast hosting platforms’ because it also includes both a collapsed mode with standard information, and an overlay mode, which lets website visitors explore your show notes, share links, and subsribe to your podcast.
How do I generate my embed code?
Your embeddable podcast episode player’s code is generated for you in your podcasts dashboard. On the main page of any episode, you’ll see copy-able links to both the simple player, which can be embedded on any site, and the embed widget, which provides additional JavaScript functionality to allow your embeddable player to share your show notes, provide links to all of your social pages, and let listeners subscribe to your show on their podcatcher of choice.
Which type of embeddable player should I use on my website?
This question often depends on what your website provider allows you to include on your website. We always recommend using the embed widget code since it provides both a collapsed an overlay mode, lets listeners browse show notes and other episodes, and includes links to subscribe to and share your podcast. However, it requires that you include HTML, JavaScript, and CSS on your website, which some platforms do not allow.
If you are having trouble including the embed widget code, we recommend using your website platform’s embed (or iframe) widget, and providing the simple player link as its URL. This will have all the same functionality and style as the embed widget, but will include a link to your podcast player website, instead of an overlay mode.
Simple Player Link
The simple player link is a URL to the Shortwave inline embeddable episode player. It looks just like the embed widget in its collapsed mode. This is for websites that allow you to add embeddable players, but don’t let you copy in full HTML, JavaScript, and CSS widgets. This player will work best with website providers like Squarespace and Wix.
To use the simple embeddable player, copy the entire URL using the copy button on your episode’s page, then paste the link into the URL field of an embed (sometimes called iframe) widget on your website dashboard. You should be able to preview the player in its collapsed mode immediately. The simple player does not have an overlay mode, and will instead include a link to your Shortwave player website. You can find out more about customizing and using that website here: Your Shortwave Podcast Player Website.
Embed Widget Code
The embed widget code is for websites where you are able to copy and paste full HTML, instead of a link to a player. The widget includes all HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to provide both an inline and overlay player that lets your listeners not only listen to the episode you embed, but interact with show notes, links, and other episodes.
We always recommend using the embed widget code instead of the simple player if your website host allows it. The embed widget has much more robust functionality than a simple player, and provides you a greater chance of getting web listeners to interact with your social channels, explore more episodes, and subscribe to your podcast.
To use the embed widget, copy the entire code using the copy button on your episode’s page, then paste it where you want the player to show up on your website. You should be able to preview it in both its collapsed and overlay mode immediately. If you have any problems specifically with the expand and collapse functionality, it likely means that your website provider does not allow pasted JavaScript, and that you should try using the simple player link instead.
Do embeddable player listens still count toward my show analytics?
Yes, they do! Using the Shortwave embeddable player on any website tracks impression analytics just as if a listener was using a podcatcher app to listen to your show. It also has the added benefit of tracking what website your show was embedded on, to help you better analyze which places you share your podcast episodes have the biggest reach.
How do I customize my embeddable player?
You can customize your embeddable player from your podcast’s settings page. Settings like whether or not the simple player directly links to an episode, or your Shortwave player are automatically generated from your podcast’s settings. Adding links to your show’s listings on different podcatchers (Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, etc.), social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), and patron/donation programs will also add them to the corresponding menus in the embed widget.