Adding Audio Files and Podcasts to Your Hostinger Website
TL;DR:
- Upload audio files directly through Hostinger's Audio element in the page editor
- Customise the player's appearance to match your website design
- Check your hosting plan for file size limits before uploading large audio files
- Use analytics tools to track how visitors engage with your audio content
Adding audio to your Hostinger website is straightforward once you know where to find the right tools. Whether you're sharing podcast episodes, music samples, or audio testimonials, the built-in audio element handles most of what you need.
Getting Your Audio Files Ready
Before you start uploading, make sure your audio files are in a web-friendly format. MP3 works best for most situations since it's supported by all browsers and keeps file sizes reasonable. WAV files offer better quality but take up more space, which might hit your storage limits faster.
Check your Hostinger plan's storage allowance. Audio files can be hefty, especially if you're uploading multiple podcast episodes or high-quality recordings. If you're running low on space, consider hosting large files elsewhere and linking to them instead.
Adding Audio to Your Pages
Here's how to get audio onto your Hostinger website:
Access your page editor by logging into your Hostinger dashboard and selecting the page where you want the audio to appear.
Find the Audio element in the media section of your page builder. It's usually grouped with other media elements like images and videos.
Upload your file by clicking the audio element and choosing your file from your computer. You can also paste a URL if your audio is hosted somewhere else.
Position the player by dragging it to where you want it on your page. The audio player will appear as a control bar that visitors can use to play, pause, and scrub through your audio.
Preview your page before publishing to make sure everything plays correctly and looks right on both desktop and mobile.
Customising the Audio Player
The default player works fine, but you can tweak it to fit your site better:
Player appearance can be adjusted through the audio element settings. You can usually change colours, button styles, and control visibility.
Autoplay settings are worth considering carefully. Most browsers block autoplay anyway, and it can annoy visitors. It's usually better to let people choose when to start listening.
Control visibility lets you hide or show different parts of the player interface. You might want to hide the download button if you don't want people saving your audio files.
This is the bit most people miss: test your audio player on mobile devices. Audio controls can behave differently on phones and tablets, so make sure your content is accessible across all devices.
Tracking Audio Performance
If you want to know how your audio content is performing, you'll need to set up some tracking:
Hostinger's built-in analytics might show basic information about page views, but won't tell you much about audio engagement specifically.
Google Analytics can be integrated with most Hostinger plans and will give you more detailed insights about how visitors interact with your audio content.
Third-party audio hosting services like SoundCloud or Anchor often provide detailed analytics about plays, listener locations, and engagement patterns.
The data helps you understand which audio content resonates with your audience and where you might need to make improvements.
Common Issues and Solutions
Audio not playing usually means there's a format issue or the file is corrupted. Try re-exporting your audio in MP3 format and uploading again.
Slow loading happens when audio files are too large. Consider compressing your audio or using a lower bitrate for web playback.
Mobile playback problems are often related to file size or format. Test on actual devices, not just browser developer tools.
Missing controls might mean your theme is hiding parts of the audio player. Check your customisation settings or try a different player style.
FAQs
Can I upload any audio format to Hostinger?
MP3 is your best bet for compatibility. WAV and OGG might work but aren't supported by all browsers.
What's the maximum file size for audio uploads?
This depends on your specific Hostinger plan. Check your account dashboard for current storage limits and individual file size restrictions.
Can visitors download my audio files?
By default, yes. You can hide download buttons in the player settings, but tech-savvy visitors can still access files if they really want to.
How do I add multiple audio files to one page?
Add separate Audio elements for each file, or consider creating a playlist using third-party tools if you need more advanced functionality.
Jargon Buster
Audio element: The tool in Hostinger's page builder that lets you add audio files to your website pages.
Bitrate: How much data your audio file uses per second. Higher bitrates mean better quality but larger file sizes.
Embed: Placing audio content directly into your webpage so it appears as part of your site rather than linking to an external player.
Autoplay: When audio starts playing automatically as soon as someone visits your page.
Wrap-up
Adding audio to your Hostinger website opens up new ways to connect with your audience. Whether you're sharing podcast episodes, music samples, or spoken testimonials, the built-in audio tools handle the technical side so you can focus on creating great content.
Start with simple uploads and basic customisation, then explore analytics and advanced features as you get more comfortable with the platform. Remember to test your audio on different devices and browsers to ensure everyone can enjoy your content.
Ready to take your website skills further? Join the Pixelhaze Academy for more hands-on tutorials and expert guidance.