The beauty of podcast distribution is that your followers have numerous choices with regards to consuming your content material. Most individuals have already got a most well-liked app or platform the place they get their podcast repair. These are generally known as “Podcatchers”. One among your jobs as a creator is to be sure you meet your viewers the place they’re. So, you could be asking, “The place ought to I submit my podcast?”
The excellent news is… you’ve come to the fitting place. With a few clicks, I’ll allow you to record your present in podcast directories and apps you didn’t even know existed. Let’s get into it.
Fast-Begin Podcast Distribution
For those who’re brief on time and simply trying to get began as shortly as potential, right here’s the factor. Submitting your present to Apple (which I cowl in additional depth beneath) means you’ll additionally routinely seem in most different locations podcasts are consumed.
Then, take one other second to submit your podcast to Spotify. Internet hosting large Buzzsprout typically shows Spotify because the primary place podcasts are consumed. Having your podcast on Apple and Spotify will cowl round 72% of the market, and keep in mind, your Apple itemizing will get you right into a load of smaller apps, too.
That’s the majority of the work performed already. Simple, eh?
So, in abstract, do a gentle launch of your podcast by publishing a trailer or Episode Zero. This provides you the “one printed episode” podcast directories require earlier than you possibly can undergo them. Then, inform Apple and Spotify about it.
Bookmark this Greatest Podcast Listing Listing information to return again to as soon as the mud has settled. There are nonetheless just a few gaps to fill in the place you possibly can record your podcast.
After all, in the event you’re able to study extra about them proper now, then learn on…
Podcast Distribution Should-Is aware of
Simply in case this isn’t fairly clear but, let’s make certain we perceive the way it all ties collectively. There are two phases to podcast distribution, and a few readability could be wanted in the event you’re completely new to all of it:
- YOU add your episode recordsdata to a podcast hosting platform. That’s the place they’re saved on the net.
- YOU, with the assistance of your internet hosting platform, register your podcast with the directories, apps, and platforms podcasts are discovered.
- These apps and directories deal with distribution, whereas your host handles supply.
Consider your internet hosting platform because the central hub the place you add your content material, and the next apps and directories because the locations the place it may be consumed.
And the excellent news is that submitting your podcast to directories or apps is a one-time course of. As soon as it’s performed, your entire episodes will seem in them routinely, so that you solely ever have to add content material to your internet hosting supplier.
Greatest Podcast Listing, App, & Podcatcher Listing for Most Distribution
So now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get that podcast distributed far and large…
1. Apple Podcasts / iTunes
Apple Podcasts (previously iTunes) is and has all the time been one of many high podcasting platforms. You’ll virtually definitely discover it, together with Spotify, is the place your podcast is most listened to.
To undergo Apple Podcasts, it’s worthwhile to undergo the Apple Podcast Connect system and navigate to My Podcasts.
Yow will discover a full information on how to get into Apple Podcasts / iTunes right here.
Being listed in Apple Podcasts additionally will get you into Overcast, Podcast Addict, and Castbox (and tons extra on high of that!) by default. For those who’re severe about your podcast, submitting to Apple is ESSENTIAL.
2. Spotify
Apple had a seemingly unassailable lead on podcast distribution till Spotify entered the sector. Now, it’s frequent to see podcasts that do higher on Spotify than on Apple. That was unthinkable six or seven years in the past.
One among Spotify’s strengths is that you would be able to use it to host your podcast—and it’s free!
Spotify for Podcasters was not too long ago rebranded as Spotify for Creators. You may log in right here to submit podcasts hosted elsewhere or add content material on to Spotify by way of its internet hosting and distribution instruments.
Spotify is absolutely pushing video podcasting proper now, and if in case you have a visible part to your podcast then it’s a superb place to publish these, alongside YouTube.
Here’s our full guide on how to get your podcast on Spotify
3. YouTube
Video streaming large YouTube helps podcasting, even in the event you don’t document a video aspect to your present.
Assuming you have already got a YouTube/Google account, go to YouTube Studio and click on the ‘create’ button within the high proper nook. Then, choose ‘New Podcast’. You’ll see three choices:
- Create a brand new podcast
- Set an present playlist as a podcast
- Submit RSS feed
Submitting the RSS feed of your audio-only podcast means new episodes can be printed to YouTube with static picture backgrounds of your cowl artwork because the “video”. Some internet hosting suppliers (Transistor, RedCircle, Libsyn) even have devoted instruments for publishing episodes to YouTube on this method.
You may mark any YouTube playlist to be categorised as “a podcast”, and you’ll set any YouTube-uploaded content material to be marked as episodes inside that podcast, too.
Take a look at our full information on how to put a podcast on YouTube for extra particulars.
4. Amazon/Audible
Amazon has its finger in each pie, and podcasts are not any exception. Amazon, together with its audiobook wing Audible, is turning into an more and more well-liked place to seek out and take heed to podcasts. For a full walkthrough, take a look at How Do I Get My Podcast on Amazon and Audible?
5. iHeartRadio
iHeartRadio is a podcast and streaming audio platform with round 250 million energetic month-to-month listeners. In case your podcast already exists in Apple Podcasts, it’s seemingly already displaying on iHeartRadio, however there’s no hurt in ensuring. Here’s where you can check the directory, and if it isn’t there, here’s how to get your podcast in iHeartRadio.
6. The Podcast Index
The Podcast Index is an open-source podcast listing. Which means anybody can add to it, very similar to Wikipedia. As of mid-November 2024, it was effectively over 4 million podcasts massive. And it’s rising quick.
The excellent news is that your present might be displaying right here already, however, if for some purpose it isn’t, right here’s our full information on find out how to submit your podcast to The Podcast Index.
7. What About Stitcher, TuneIn, & Google Podcasts?
Think about podcast distribution as a Excessive Road or procuring centre. Some locations are busy, thriving hubs, however you’ll see the odd boarded-up retailer right here and there.
Stitcher
The once-mighty Stitcher previously occupied second place on this record, with a share of round 5% of complete podcast downloads. Sadly, the platform pale in recent times and was closed for good in August 2023.
Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts was one among Google’s half-hearted forays into podcast distribution, however the platform was a moist squib and suffered a reasonably drawn-out closure between mid-2023 and 2024. It’s secure to say Google’s podcasting eggs are actually firmly within the YouTube basket.
TuneIn
TuneIn Radio was all the time a tiny % of the pie for complete downloads, however fell below the “no hurt in” class when it got here to podcast distribution. Nonetheless, they maintained a reasonably archaic guide submission course of and presumably buckled below the pressure in mid-2024. Presently, you can’t add new podcasts to TuneIn, however the platform isn’t really lifeless, so who is aware of what the long run would possibly maintain.
The Subsequent Steps of Podcast Distribution
It’s essential for listeners to have the ability to discover and comply with your present wherever they wish to. Nonetheless, there are various different proactive and progressive methods to develop your viewers, too.
You’ll discover our Growth Mastery course inside The Podcraft Academy, and it’s packed filled with ideas and techniques to get extra eyes and ears in your present. On high of that, you’ll discover our suggestions and accountability instruments, downloadable sources, and a bunch of like-minded indie podcasters so that you can develop alongside!
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