Many music streaming services have been created, but the world of audio content is still fragmented. Despite this, Google Podcasts and other major podcast directories have emerged as popular podcast platforms, alongside Spotify which is the top podcasting platform with more than 389 million monthly active users worldwide.
As a podcaster or someone looking to start a podcast, it’s important to make sure your show is available on multiple popular podcast platforms to reach your target audience and keep your content organized and easy to find.
With Spotify’s growing popularity, it’s a no-brainer to make sure your podcast is launch-ready on the platform and gain some recognition in the process. So, if you are reading this, it’s time to take the leap with our step-by-step guide on how to start a podcast on Spotify and get your voice heard.
Read on to discover how to make your podcast stand out and ensure success on the platform.
Benefits of Starting a Podcast on Spotify
It is amazing that you have the opportunity to speak your mind and share your passion with a potential audience of millions on Spotify. Spotify has more than 180 million paying subscribers, on top of the 389 million people who use it every month.
- Hosting your podcast on Spotify, a popular podcast hosting platform and hosting service, is also a crucial component in expanding your reach and gaining new listeners. Users can easily find your podcast by looking through their favorite podcast categories or by getting suggestions from the platform as they listen to similar content.
- The platform makes it easy to organize and group episodes, including your episode title, podcast title, and episode description. It also keeps track of how many people are listening and gives them a direct link, like the feed URL, to follow and subscribe to your podcast. This is really helpful for growing your podcast audience and keeping them engaged with new content.
- It also has a feature that automatically transcribes your episodes so that more people can understand them. This can help you get more listeners in the long run. Even better, Spotify offers monetization options for podcasters to start earning income from their content, making it a great platform for both beginners and experienced podcasters to showcase their work.
Podcasting is getting more and more in demand, and with the platform’s user base and resources, now is a great time to start your podcast on Spotify. Stay tuned for the steps you need to take to make your podcast stand out on the platform.
Prepare Your Podcast Ready for Upload
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In order to ensure a smooth and successful launch, there are several key components you’ll want to consider before getting a Spotify account opened for your podcast, like;
- Creating a unique and catchy name
- Designing cover art that catches the eye,
- Preparing a short summary or description of your podcast’s content.
All these are the first things a potential listener will see, so make sure they give a good impression and draw in your audience.
Preparing several episodes in advance of launching your podcast is an essential step for podcast production. This ensures that your content is ready to be enjoyed by your podcast audience as soon as they find it, and it also helps you test the quality and flow of the content before putting it out there.
In addition, make sure to choose a consistent release schedule for your episodes and include relevant keywords in your podcast title and episode title. This helps listeners know when they can expect new content and allows them to easily follow along and stay engaged with your podcast.
When creating your podcast description and episode description, be sure to use relevant keywords and phrases that accurately describe your podcast concept and episode content.
Keep in mind that Spotify has rules about podcast content as well, like not allowing hate speech or explicit language, including not allowing hate speech or explicit language. To avoid future issues, make sure your podcast episodes abide by these guidelines prior to uploading them to your podcast hosting service.
Meeting Up With Spotify’s Requirements for Your Podcast
Spotify has certain requirements that podcast content must meet in order to be eligible for inclusion on its platform. See the following requirements to double-check that your podcast meets them before proceeding to the next steps;
- Mp3 files with bitrates between 96 and 320 kilobits per second, and must be in ISO/IEC 11172-3 MPEG-1
- The maximum size for each episode file is 200MB, which is approximately 83 minutes of audio at 320Kbps encoding or over 200 minutes at 128Kbps encoding.
- Podcast feeds must have an image, title, and qualifying details for at least one episode
- The title must not be more than 20 characters
- The dimensions of the artwork image must be 1400 x 1400 pixels at least in the format of JPG or PNG and cannot be larger than 3000 x 3000 pixels. RGB color space must be used and have a file size of no more than 0.5MB (500kb).
Now that your podcast is ready, you can go on to choose your hosting provider.
Choose Your Podcast Hosting Provider
Similar to how a website needs hosting to be live on the internet, your podcast also needs a reliable podcast hosting site to be published and accessed by listeners. When choosing a hosting service, consider the podcast platforms you want to target to reach your podcast audience.
There are several popular hosting providers out there, like Podbean, Buzzsprout, Anchor, and Libsyn. Be sure to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs in terms of storage space, pricing, and any additional features they may offer.
However, we recommend using Anchor as your hosting provider, as it offers a wide range of easy-to-use features and distributes your podcast to all major listening platforms, including Spotify.
Creating an Anchor Account And Uploading Your Podcast
As was already said, you need a hosting provider to share your podcast on any platform. To create an Anchor account,
- Simply go to anchor.fm and click on the “Get Started” button.
- You’ll be prompted to create a username and password to sign up and as well as verify your account through the Email sent to you.
- Select the “Upload an Episode” or “Browse” option and choose your mp3 file from your computer to upload it to Anchor. You can also record and edit episodes directly through the Anchor platform if you prefer.
- After uploading or recording your episode, you can add a title and description, as well as any necessary tags or explicit content warnings.
- Once you’re finished, click “Save and Publish” to make your episode live on Anchor.
Since you have your podcast hosted on Anchor, the next step is to get it live on Spotify.
Get your Podcast Live on Spotify
Since you have your podcast hosted on Anchor, the next step is to get it live on Spotify. In order to do so, you’ll need a podcaster’s Spotify account. Follow the steps below to set one up and get your podcast on Spotify:
- Grab your phone, computer, or tablet and head to podcasters.spotify.com to create an account.
- Then hit on the “Get Started” button and follow the prompts to set up your account. Fill in all relevant details and click “Sign up”.
- Agree to the terms & conditions and click on the “I Accept” button.
- Enter your RSS feed link and tap on the “next” button. You can easily find this link in your Anchor account by clicking on the “Distribution” tab and then selecting “Spotify.” Your RSS feed link will be listed under the “Podcast Page URL” section.
Then, verify your account by following the on-screen prompts. This includes entering a verification code sent to your email address.
- You will then be taken to where you can add your podcast info, including a title, category, language, and description.
- Finally, hit the “Submit Podcast” button to submit your podcast for review. It usually takes a few days for Spotify to review and approve your submission.
Once approved, congratulations! Your podcast will now be live on the Spotify platform for listeners to tune in and enjoy.
Promoting Your Podcast
Once your podcast is live on Spotify, you can start promoting and growing your listenership. This is one important aspect of podcasting that you shouldn’t overlook, and it is a way to make your podcast stand out among the rest.
This is done by developing a promotion strategy for your podcast that will help you build a loyal and engaged audience. With a good promotion plan in place, you can expect to get more downloads, listens, and shares. Here are some tips to help you out:
- Utilize social media networks like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can use these platforms to share your podcast, create contests, and engage with your followers.
- Reach out to influencers in the same niche as you and collaborate with them for joint podcast episodes or cross-promotions.
- Use tools like Buzzsprout, which will allow you to create a link to your podcast and share it with your followers.
- Create a website for your podcast and feature an “About Me” page to give listeners more information about you and the podcast.
- Reach out to popular blogs in your niche and ask them to feature or review your podcast.
- Host giveaways or contests to generate more interest in your podcast.
- Create youtube videos related to your podcast and link them to your podcast page.
- Participate in online forums and share helpful advice related to your niche topics.
- Use email newsletters and email campaigns to spread the word about your podcast.
- By following these tips and developing a good promotion plan, you can be sure to get more eyes and ears on your podcast.
Monetizing Your Podcast
Imagine that your podcast has grown in popularity, and you now have a substantial listenership. Now what? You can start monetizing your podcast to bring in some extra cash. There are different ways you can monetize your podcast; you just have to find the right one that works for you. Okay! Let’s take a look at the different ways to monetize your podcast.
- Sponsorships
This is a popular and effective way to monetize your podcast. You can partner with brands or businesses and offer them sponsorship opportunities on your show. This means that you will provide them with advertising and promote their products or services in exchange for a fee.
- Accepting Donations
Another way to monetize your podcast is by accepting donations from listeners. This can be done through a third-party donation platform like PayPal or Patreon. You can also create a donation page on your website so that it is easy for listeners to donate to your show.
- Affiliate Marketing
You can also monetize your podcast by promoting affiliate products and services. All you have to do is sign up as an affiliate for a product or service through an affiliate network, and then promote it on your show, telling listeners why they should try it. You will be paid a commission for each successful sale you make through your recommendation. This might not necessarily be a huge moneymaker, but it can help you generate some extra income.
- Selling Merchandise
Selling merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, mugs, and stickers with your podcast’s logo is a great way to make some extra cash. This product can also help you promote your podcast to a wider audience. You can also create and sell digital products related to your podcasts, such as eBooks, online courses, and printables.
These are just a few of the ways that you can monetize your podcast, and if you want to know more, check out our article on how to monetize your podcast.
Know that it all boils down to getting creative and finding what works best for you. To successfully promote and monetize your podcast, you’ll have to find a way to stand out from the crowd.
FAQ
You can start a podcast with no audience by focusing on the quality of your content, networking, and promoting your podcast. Start by creating engaging content that is worth listening to. Then, network with other podcasters and industry professionals who can help promote your podcast.
Yes, it is free to publish podcasts on Spotify. All you need to do is create an account and upload your podcast audio file. Spotify will review your submission and then publish it on the platform. Once your podcast is live, you can promote it to your followers and other users through the Spotify app.
No, Spotify podcasts are not paid. They are free to listen to and available on the platform for anyone who wants to find them. However, if you are a content creator on Spotify, you can monetize your podcast through the platform’s advertising program or through its subscription service.
The cost to start a Spotify podcast varies depending on what kind of equipment, software, and hosting services you use. Generally speaking, it can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars, depending on your needs. You can also use free tools, such as Anchor or Spreaker, to create and publish podcasts on Spotify.
Choosing a name for your podcast is an important decision, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start by using puns, rhymes, or alliteration to create an eye-catching name. You can also use words that describe the topic of your podcast or use a combination of words that evoke a certain emotion.
Spotify pays roughly $0.04 per 10 streams, so for 1000 plays, you would make around $4. However, this amount can vary depending on your region and the type of music or podcast you are creating. It is also important to remember that this amount is only for the artists or content creators who have opted into Spotify’s audio advertising program.
Conclusion
Spotify is a community of millions of listeners and potential fans for your podcast, which is why getting your show on the platform is a crucial step in growing your audience. But before you can do that, make sure you have your podcast hosted by a podcast host like Anchor and get a Spotify podcaster account to submit your show for review.
Once your show is live, utilize Spotify’s promotion tools like the “Artist Pick” feature to get more exposure. And don’t forget to keep track of your analytics and interact with listeners through comments and podcast reviews, as this will enhance the growth of your show. Happy broadcasting!
