What is Feed Validation?
Feed validation is the process of checking your RSS feed against technical specifications to ensure it's properly formatted, contains all required elements, and will be accepted by podcast directories.
What Validation Checks
Structural Validation
- Valid XML syntax (proper encoding, closed tags, escaped characters)
- RSS 2.0 specification compliance
- Required elements present (channel, items)
- Correct element nesting and hierarchy
Podcast-Specific Validation
- Enclosure tags with valid URLs, file sizes, and MIME types
- iTunes tags properly formatted
- GUIDs present and unique
- pubDates in correct RFC 822 format
- Artwork URLs accessible and properly sized
Content Validation
- Title and description not empty
- Audio file URLs accessible (return 200 status)
- No broken image links
- Text properly encoded (UTF-8)
Common Validation Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid XML | Unescaped & or < |
Encode special characters |
| Missing enclosure | No audio link | Add enclosure tag |
| Invalid pubDate | Wrong date format | Use RFC 822 format |
| 404 on enclosure | Audio file missing | Fix URL or re-upload |
| No GUID | Missing identifier | Add guid element |
| Invalid artwork | Image too small | Use 1400×1400 minimum |
Validation Tools
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Podbase | Comprehensive podcast validation |
| Cast Feed Validator | Quick syntax checking |
| W3C Feed Validator | RSS specification compliance |
| Apple Podcasts Connect | Apple-specific requirements |
Why It Matters
An invalid feed doesn't just look bad—it can prevent your podcast from appearing in directories entirely. Regular validation catches problems before they affect your distribution.
Why validation matters:
-
Directory acceptance: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories reject invalid feeds during submission.
-
Episode delivery: Invalid enclosure tags or XML errors can prevent episodes from downloading.
-
Display issues: Missing or malformed metadata causes episodes to appear incorrectly in apps.
-
Migration safety: Validating before and after migration ensures nothing breaks.
Impact of common errors:
| Error Type | Impact |
|---|---|
| Invalid XML | Feed completely unparseable |
| Broken enclosure | Episode won't download |
| Missing artwork | Generic placeholder in directories |
| Bad pubDate | Episode ordering problems |
| Duplicate GUIDs | Unpredictable episode behavior |
Validation timing:
- After initial feed setup
- Before submitting to new directories
- After major changes (new hosting, redesign)
- When troubleshooting distribution issues
- Periodically as ongoing maintenance
How to Use This in Dispatch
Your feed is automatically validated with real-time issue detection:
Continuous validation:
- Feed structure validated on every update
- Enclosure URLs checked for accessibility
- iTunes tag compliance verified
- Podcast 2.0 tags validated when enabled
Issue reporting: Any validation issues appear in your dashboard with:
- Specific error description
- Which episode or element is affected
- Recommended resolution steps
- Severity level (error vs. warning)
Pre-publish checks: Before an episode goes live, validation confirms:
Manual validation: For additional peace of mind, you can copy your feed URL and check it with external validators like Podbase or Cast Feed Validator.