Building a Podcast Subscribe Plugin for WordPress
Posted on 17th June 2023
6-8 times throughout the article
If you’re a podcaster, then you know how important it is to have a subscribe button on your website. This allows your listeners to easily subscribe to your show so they never miss an episode.
In this tutorial, we’re going to show you how to build a podcast subscribe plugin for WordPress. This plugin will add a subscribe button to your website so your listeners can subscribe to your show.
We’ll be using the following tools and technologies in this tutorial:
- WordPress
- PHP
- HTML
- CSS
Step 1: Create the Plugin Folder
The first thing we need to do is create a new folder for our plugin. We’ll call this folder “podcast-subscribe”.
Create a new folder called “podcast-subscribe” in your WordPress plugins folder (wp-content/plugins/).
Step 2: Create the Plugin File
Next, we need to create the plugin file. This file will contain the code for our plugin.
Create a new file called “podcast-subscribe.php” in your “podcast-subscribe” folder.
Step 3: Add the Plugin Header
The next thing we need to do is add the plugin header. This header will tell WordPress that this is a plugin and it will also contain some basic information about the plugin.
Add the following code to your “podcast-subscribe.php” file:
Step 4: Create the Subscribe Button
Now that we have our plugin file set up, we can start adding code to it.
The first thing we need to do is create the subscribe button. We’ll do this by adding the following code to our “podcast-subscribe.php” file:
function podcast_subscribe_button() {
//button code goes here
}
add_shortcode( 'podcast_subscribe_button', 'podcast_subscribe_button' );
This code will create a new WordPress shortcode called “podcast_subscribe_button”. We can then use this shortcode to add the subscribe button to our website.
Step 5: Add the Button Code
Now that we have our shortcode set up, we can add the code for our button.
Add the following code to your “podcast-subscribe.php” file:
function podcast_subscribe_button() {
return '
';
}
add_shortcode( 'podcast_subscribe_button', 'podcast_subscribe_button' );
This code will return an HTML link with an image of the iTunes subscribe button. Replace “https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/your-podcast-name/id123456789” with the URL of your podcast on iTunes.
Step 6: Test the Plugin
Now that we have our plugin complete, we can test it out.
To test the plugin, we’ll need to add the “podcast_subscribe_button” shortcode to a WordPress post or page.
Add the following shortcode to a WordPress post or page:
[podcast_subscribe_button]
Save the post or page and then view it on your website. You should see the iTunes subscribe button.
Step 7: Customize the Button
If you want to customize the appearance of the button, you can do so by editing the CSS code in your “podcast-subscribe.php” file.
Add the following CSS code to your “podcast-subscribe.php” file:
function podcast_subscribe_button_css() {
?>
.podcast-subscribe-button {
}
<?php
}
add_action( 'wp_head', 'podcast_subscribe_button_css' );
This code will add a CSS class to the subscribe button. You can then use this class to style the button using CSS.
Step 8: Add the Button to Your Theme
If you want to add the subscribe button to your WordPress theme, you can do so by adding the following code to your theme’s “functions.php” file:
This code will register the “podcast_subscribe_button” shortcode so it can be used in your theme.
Step 9: Add the Button to Your Widgets
If you want to add the subscribe button to your WordPress widgets, you can do so by adding the following code to your theme’s “functions.php” file:
__( ‘This widget will add a podcast subscribe button to your sidebar.’, ‘text_domain’ ), )
);
}
public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
$title = apply_filters( ‘widget_title’, $instance[‘title’] );
echo $args[‘before_widget’];
if ( ! empty( $title ) ) {
echo $args[‘before_title’] . $title . $args[‘after_title’];
}
echo do_shortcode( ‘[podcast_subscribe_button]’ );
echo $args[‘after_widget’];
}
public function form( $instance ) {
if ( isset( $instance[ ‘title’ ] ) ) {
$title = $instance[ ‘title’ ];
}
else {
$title = __( ‘Subscribe to Our Podcast’, ‘text_domain’ );
}
?>
<label for="get_field_id( ‘title’ ); ?>”>
<input class="widefat" id="get_field_id( ‘title’ ); ?>” name=”get_field_name( ‘title’ ); ?>” type=”text” value=””>
This code will register the “Podcast Subscribe Button Widget” widget. This widget will add the subscribe button to your WordPress sidebar.
In addition to the RSS feed, you can also make your podcast available on iTunes.
To submit your podcast to iTunes, you’ll need to create an iTunes-specific feed. This feed will include information about your podcast, as well as links to your episodes.
To create an iTunes-specific feed, you can use a plugin like PowerPress. PowerPress is a plugin that allows you to easily create and manage podcast feeds.
Once you’ve installed and activated PowerPress, you can create your iTunes-specific feed by going to Settings > Podcasting. Under “iTunes and Directory Settings”, you’ll see an option to “Create an iTunes-specific feed”.
Check this option, and then click “Save Changes”. PowerPress will now generate an iTunes-specific feed for your podcast.
To submit your podcast to iTunes, you’ll need to log in to your iTunes account, and then go to the iTunes Store. In the iTunes Store, click on the “Podcasts” link.
In the top-right corner of the iTunes Store, you’ll see a link called “Submit a Podcast”. Click this link.
On the “Submit a Podcast” page, you’ll need to enter the URL of your iTunes-specific feed. You can find this URL in the “iTunes and Directory Settings” section of PowerPress.
Once you’ve entered the URL of your iTunes-specific feed, click “Submit”. iTunes will now review your podcast, and if it meets their criteria, they will add it to the iTunes Store.
