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How It Works for Readers

This guide explains the reader experience — what your visitors see when they use Earpocket on your site.

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You can link to this page to help readers understand how to listen to your articles.

What Readers See​

When you install the Earpocket widget, readers see one of two options:

Floating Button​

A button fixed to the corner of the screen (typically bottom-right). Clicking it opens a popup with listening options.

Inline Bar​

A horizontal bar within your article content that says "Listen to this article" with an estimated duration (e.g., "8 min").

The Listening Flow​

Here's what happens when a reader clicks the Earpocket button:

1. Article Queued​

The article is sent to Earpocket for audio conversion. This happens in the background — readers don't need to wait.

2. Popup Appears​

A popup shows subscription options:

  • On desktop: A QR code to scan with their phone
  • On mobile: Buttons for popular podcast apps

3. Subscribe to Feed​

Readers subscribe to their personal podcast feed using their preferred app. This is a one-time setup.

4. Audio Delivered​

Within minutes, the article appears as a podcast episode in their app. They can listen immediately or save it for later.

Personal Podcast Feeds​

Each reader gets their own private podcast feed. This feed:

  • Contains only articles they've requested
  • Works with any podcast app that supports custom RSS feeds
  • Updates automatically when they add new articles
  • Is private to them — no one else can see their feed

The feed URL looks like this:

https://feeds.earpocket.com/abc123xyz.xml

Subscribing on Desktop​

When readers click the Earpocket button on a desktop browser:

  1. A popup appears with a QR code
  2. They scan the code with their phone's camera
  3. Their phone opens the podcast app with the feed ready to subscribe
  4. They tap "Subscribe" or "Follow"

After subscribing once, all future articles they request appear automatically in their podcast app.

Subscribing on Mobile​

When readers click the Earpocket button on a mobile device:

  1. A popup appears with podcast app buttons
  2. They tap their preferred app (Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, etc.)
  3. The app opens with the feed ready to subscribe
  4. They tap "Subscribe" or "Follow"

After Subscribing​

Once subscribed, the experience is seamless:

  1. Reader visits your site and clicks "Listen" on an article
  2. Article is converted to audio (usually within 2-3 minutes)
  3. Episode appears in their podcast app automatically
  4. They can listen anytime — on their commute, at the gym, wherever

Readers don't need to scan QR codes or tap app buttons again. New articles just appear in their feed.

Audio Quality​

Articles are converted to natural-sounding speech using AI voice technology:

  • Clear, professional narration
  • Proper pronunciation of names and terms
  • Natural pacing and pauses
  • Consistent voice across all articles

Privacy​

Earpocket respects reader privacy:

  • No account required — Readers don't need to sign up
  • Private feeds — Each reader's feed is unique and private
  • No tracking — We don't track what readers listen to
  • No ads — Audio contains only your article content

Common Reader Questions​

"How long until the audio is ready?"​

Most articles are converted within 2-3 minutes. Longer articles may take a bit more time.

"Can I listen in my browser?"​

Yes! The popup includes a "Listen in browser" option for readers who prefer not to use a podcast app.

"Do I need to subscribe every time?"​

No. After subscribing once, all future articles appear automatically in the podcast app.

"Can I use Spotify?"​

Unfortunately, Spotify doesn't support custom RSS feeds. Readers need to use a different podcast app. See Podcast Apps for alternatives.

Next Steps​