Apple supplies a portal so that you can submit and handle your personal podcast in Apple Podcasts. It is referred to as Podcasts Join. Plus, numerous different podcast apps and podcasting instruments depend on Apple’s information by means of their free API. Whether or not your podcast has been in Apple Podcasts for years, otherwise you’re simply beginning out, I recommend you examine these 8 issues straight away!
1. Verify that you’ve got agreed to Apple’s phrases of service
Apple normally updates their phrases of service once they launch main new options. For instance, Apple began producing transcripts for all podcasts in February, 2024. And that requires your settlement to their phrases of service in order that they will make these transcripts, which they will not do till you agree.
Apple makes it simple to know whether or not you’ve got agreed to the newest phrases. Merely log into podcastsconnect.apple.com! If you happen to’re let into your account, then you definitely’ve already agreed to the newest phrases. If not, you may be prompted to learn and comply with the phrases earlier than you are allowed to handle your podcast(s).
And should you’re providing a paid subscription to your viewers by means of Apple Podcasts, examine the Enterprise tab to see if there are any actions you might want to take. There is perhaps further new phrases you have to comply with, otherwise you would possibly want to offer authorized or monetary data. (This web page will even show your invoices and tax data if in case you have any gross sales.)
2. Verify that your podcast is in your Apple Podcasts Join account
Many podcasters do not really management their very own catalog itemizing for their very own podcast! It is because they both submitted their podcast earlier than Podcasts Join existed, or they allowed another person to submit their podcast for them. This might need been a podcast-hosting supplier or somebody serving to them with their podcast.
However at the least the method to reclaim possession is pretty simple!
- Ensure you’ve checked all your potential Apple ID accounts.
- Log into the account you wish to maintain your podcast(s) and get in touch with Apple by means of this manner and choose the “Lacking podcast(s)” possibility (which ought to already be chosen with this hyperlink).
- Fill in all the opposite kind fields fully.
- Await after which observe Apple’s directions, which may have you enter a particular code someplace in your podcast RSS feed to confirm your possession or management of that feed.
That is essential to do with all your podcasts, particularly any duplicate podcast listings you might need (which might be extra doubtless should you’ve ever switched podcast-hosting suppliers).
The remainder of these things to examine require that you’ve got entry to your podcast in your personal Apple account.
3. Verify that your podcast data is appropriately loaded in Apple Podcasts Join
Click on into your podcast(s) and look over your the “Present particulars” data. This contains your title, cowl artwork, artist, descriptions, and extra.
You possibly can’t change these particulars in Podcasts Join! As an alternative, you’ll change these within the podcast-publishing software that’s creating your RSS feed. However viewing these particulars right here enables you to affirm that every thing is correctly loading out of your feed into the Apple Podcasts system.
And should you’re having hassle, the very first thing I recommend doing is validating your podcast RSS feed by means of all of the next instruments:
Particularly look ahead to issues together with your podcast cowl artwork.
4. Verify the elective Apple Podcasts data fields
On this identical “Present Data” web page are a number of elective fields that you must populate or confirm. Presently, these embody:
- Replace frequency
- Content material rights
- Present contact data (particularly vital should you’ve eliminated your e mail tackle out of your RSS feed)
This data is proprietary to Apple Podcasts and thus—at the moment—not pulled out of your RSS feed.
5. Verify your Apple Podcasts distribution availability (impacts different apps)
Swap to the “Availability” web page and there are two vital choices to make sure your podcast may be found by as many individuals as potential:
- Nations or Areas: I like to recommend setting this to “Make this present accessible in all nations or areas.” You possibly can click on into the Edit view to make sure all 175 nations are chosen. Regardless of this selection, some nations nonetheless block specific content material, and it looks like communist China blocks virtually every thing anyway.
- Distribution: I like to recommend enabling “Make this present accessible for distribution.” This ensures that the numerous different podcast apps and podcasting instruments utilizing the catalog API from Apple Podcasts will have the ability to see your podcast.
These are the default choices for podcasts, however I recommend you confirm they’re set appropriately anyway.
But when, for some odd cause, you do not need your podcast accessible to as many individuals as potential, then you’ll be able to change these choices to restrict your attain.
6. Swap the transcript default to make use of your supplied transcripts
On this identical “Availability” web page is a 3rd possibility that I really feel defaults inappropriately. It is the Transcripts possibility.
For some unusual cause, Apple’s (present) default is to make use of solely their auto-generated transcripts in your podcast. So no matter whether or not you already utilizing Podcasting 2.0 transcripts, I recommend switching this selection to “Show transcripts I present, or auto-generated transcripts by Apple if one is not supplied.”
I feel that is the best way apps ought to behave anyway! They need to use what you provide first and by default and generate their very own transcripts provided that you do not present your personal (by means of the Podcasting 2.0 transcript characteristic).
However you must also observe that there isn’t a method to disable all transcripts in your podcast. That is a part of the phrases of service you have to settle for in your podcast to stay in Apple Podcasts. If you happen to actually wished to disable transcripts, you would need to both edit each episode in Podcasts Join to make use of a customized episode-specific setting to not use any transcripts, or present an almost empty transcript file for all episodes by means of your RSS feed (you possibly can share this identical file for all episodes).
However as a result of podcast transcripts are vital for accessibility and value, I extremely suggest retaining them enabled. However simply change this setting so Apple will default to your transcripts should you present them, after which fallback to their very own transcripts if you have not supplied any.
7. Verify your Apple Podcasts scores and evaluations
There’s additionally a “Scores and Evaluations” web page that permits you to see your Apple Podcasts (and solely Apple Podcasts) scores and evaluations. Nonetheless, this requires you to change between all 175 nations, earlier than figuring out should you even have any scores or evaluations in these 175 nations; it would not present your distinction of scores versus written evaluations; and you’ll’t search, type, or filter your scores and evaluations. You additionally do not get notified everytime you get a brand new ranking or overview, so you would need to come again to examine all 175 nations. You can obtain your evaluations, however you would need to try this one nation at a time.
Cumbersome, proper?
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(Or you’ll be able to proceed doing issues the guide means, particularly clicking hundreds of instances inside Podcasts Connect with see your scores and evaluations from Apple Podcasts!)
8. Verify your Apple Podcasts analytics
Lastly, however most likely most enjoyable, are the podcast stats you may get from Apple Podcasts!
Keep in mind that these stats measure consumption solely in Apple Podcasts. So any numbers you see can be of a smaller subset of your viewers. Nonetheless, since Apple Podcasts is the #1 podcast app, I think the odds and engagement ranges you see can be near an correct—albeit smaller—reflection of your complete viewers.
Listed below are some of the helpful (and probably addictive) information factors you’ll be able to see!
- Whole followers
- Engaged listeners
- Common consumption / completion charges
- The place your viewers skipped or stopped listening inside your episodes
- Efficiency comparisons throughout your episodes
- And extra!
As I hope you’ll be able to see, even should you do not use Apple merchandise or dislike their ecosystem, there are nonetheless many benefits to retaining your Apple Podcasts account present and particularly studying from its information!
Group Nook
- Leslie Martin identified that 7,777§ is a Stryper increase, not a Rush increase (which might have been 2,112§). As I’ve stated beforehand, laborious rock is just not really my model, so I do know nothing about these bands!
- 1,701§—a quantity I do acknowledge because the Star Trek Enterprise!—from Bryan Entzminger, saying, “Ugh! Mythinformation… wow.”
- Streaming satoshis from Bryan Entzminger, Dave Jackson, and Dwev
- 5-star overview from Josh Liston, in Australia, saying, “A Excellent Mixture of Enjoyable and Experience in Podcasting. Daniel J Lewis delivers a concrete, and effectively thought out Podcast about Podcasting. He hardly ever if ever goes off subject, and at all times recommends merchandise and equipment that work …and never simply the services that return essentially the most in commissions! DJL additionally manages to do what many others cannot – in making usually dry technical topics plenty of enjoyable – with out losing peoples time. Lastly, he’s a part of the Podcasters’ Roundtable core trio, which is shortly turning into my #1 present about Podcasting!”
Interact your viewers and develop your podcast!
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Disclosure
This submit could include hyperlinks to services or products with which I’ve an affiliate relationship. I’ll obtain compensation out of your actions by means of such hyperlinks. Nonetheless, I do not let that corrupt my perspective and I do not suggest solely associates.
