How to Start a Podcast on Spotify for Free [+ Expert Insight]

I’ve acquired excellent news for you: Spotify is the podcast vacation spot, commanding 35.8% of listeners within the US alone and over 40 million month-to-month listeners.

And I’ve acquired even higher information: Spotify for Podcasters makes it simple to begin a podcast and attain that viewers — no fancy tools or superior expertise required. And, when you begin your present, you’ll find alternative ways to advertise and market your podcast to maximise your attain.

Right here, I will cowl every little thing it’s essential learn about podcasting on Spotify, the best way to add your subsequent episode to the platform, and listen to their ideas from seasoned podcasters on the platform.

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Inserting your podcast on Spotify offers you entry to a number of options to boost your present, have interaction together with your viewers, and monetize your content material. Some stand-out options embody:

• In-depth present and episode evaluation.
• Monetization instruments.
• In-app or platform recording and modifying.
• Quiz or ballot to share with viewers to generate engagement.
• “Video Episodes” for a singular viewing expertise for followers.

You’ll be able to both use Spotify for Podcasters as your internet hosting platform or add your episodes to Spotify with an RSS feed out of your present host.

And in order for you some professional suggestions that can assist you create a profitable podcast, I’ve acquired you lined there too.

How RSS Feeds Work in Spotify

An RSS feed is a singular ID card to your podcast. I like to consider it as a house tackle, and like the house tackle, there is just one RSS feed per podcast.

Every host offers you a code that you may copy and paste into varied directories to share your episodes on different platforms, from Apple Podcasts (the host) to Spotify. RSS feeds are up to date robotically, so you do not have to share your hyperlink a number of occasions with different distributors.

How you can Meet Spotify’s Podcast Necessities

Step one to beginning a podcast on Spotify is to ensure you meet its podcast necessities. This is a fast rundown.

Your podcast ought to have:

• A title with related particulars (eg, class and first language).
• 1:1 side ratio and canopy artwork in PNG, JPEG, or TIFF format. The upper the decision, the higher.
• A high-bitrate MP3 format (128 kbps+) or MP4 with AAC-LC.
• Episodes that don’t exceed 12 hours.

As soon as you have met the situations on this guidelines, you are formally able to add your podcast to Spotify. See the steps under.

1. Create a Spotify for Podcasters account.

Surprisingly, your podcaster will want a Spotify account to add your podcast to the platform. You should utilize this manner to enroll and choose “I wish to begin a podcast” or “I’ve a podcast”.

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For those who clicked on the primary choice, log in together with your present Spotify account or create a brand new one For those who select the second choice, choose your present podcast host from the listing and declare your present by including your RSS feed and getting into a verification code acquired by way of e mail.

If you have already got a podcast however wish to transfer to Spotify, observe the steps outlined right here.

2. Add details about your podcast.

As soon as you have arrange your account, you will add details about your podcast, together with:

• Podcast title.
• description
• Cowl artwork.
• the category
• the language
• Kind of content material (clear or clear).

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3. Add your file.

If you have already got a podcast, you possibly can add present audio or video episodes or create and edit an episode inside the Spotify for Podcasters platform.

Earlier than importing your audio file, I like to recommend following some finest practices:

• Be certain your episode is formatted as both an MP3, M4A, or WAV file
• Small information add quicker.
• Episodes have to be lower than 12 hours (though most both, That is the utmost size that Spotify recommends).

Click on to add an episode able to be revealed Quick add and add an audio or video file. If constructed from scratch, click on Create an episode.

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When creating an episode inside the platform, you will land on a dashboard that allows you to document or add audio, add beforehand uploaded information to your library, and edit and add results.

I feel the drag-and-drop builder is a simple option to create all of your episodes, and you’ll preview as many occasions as you need throughout your modifying course of.

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4. Add episode info.

When you’re able to publish, add an episode title, description, and publishing timeline. You can even be aware whether or not the episode is a part of a sequence, the kind of episode and whether or not the content material is obvious or apparent.

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Do not forget your cowl artwork! It ought to be formatted as a high-resolution PNG, JPG, or TIFF with a 1:1 side ratio (or as a sq. picture).

5. Share your podcast on different directories.

As soon as revealed, your podcast will probably be obtainable to Spotify customers worldwide. You could use your RSS feed hyperlink to share on different platforms. At podcasters.spotify.com:

click on on settingsthen podcast availability, Then click on RSS distribution Get your distinctive hyperlink to stick into designated distribution spots in different directories.

Change to Spotify for Internet hosting Podcasters

If you have already got a podcast host however wish to swap to Spotify for Podcasters, I feel the method is comparatively simple and you will not lose your present episodes or profiles on different platforms.

There are two methods to change your podcast to Spotify. Each are three simple steps.

Possibility 1: Including by way of your RSS feed.

1. If you have already got a Spotify account, go to the Spotify For Podcasters web page and click on get beganThen observe the steps to log in

2. Then choose “I have already got a podcast”.

3. Kind in your RSS feed. If you do not know your RSS feed, I feel choice two is perhaps simpler.

Possibility 2: Including your podcast by way of Spotify’s switching web page.

1. I merely went to Spotify for Podcasters and used the search area to enter the title of my podcast. You should utilize a feed URL, however you possibly can simply sort within the title.

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2. I confirmed that I personal the podcast.

3. Lastly, I signed up for a Spotify account for podcasters (or you possibly can import your podcasts into an present account after which redirect your RSS feed so it factors to your new Spotify URL). The precise course of for this last step varies by internet hosting supplier, so it is a finest follow to observe their distinctive steps.

As soon as you have efficiently migrated, you need to use the platform for all it has to supply and add audio or video or create a brand new episode with its built-in options.

Spotify for Podcasters: Knowledgeable Insights

I do know that there are a number of podcast internet hosting platforms obtainable, however I needed to know what Spotify thinks for present customers of podcasters, so I talked to some specialists. This is what they needed to say:

“A Honest Path for Creatives”

“Spotify affords a plethora of inventive instruments and options for podcasters to share your podcast episodes,” mentioned Troy Sandys, host of the iGrace podcast.

Sandys shared that Spotify for Podcasters is particularly helpful for minority-led podcasters, with packages just like the “Making Area” initiative that “actually helps podcasters discover free areas the place they will document episodes.

It is a unbelievable option to make issues extra accessible to those that haven’t got the monetary means to begin, however it additionally offers an fairness pathway for extra creatives to step up.”

“Large advantages for podcasters”

Al and Leanne Elliott, hosts of Fact, Lies and Office Tradition, use Spotify for podcasters:

“We have had Spotify as a part of our podcast distribution combine for the reason that starting of the Fact Lies and Work podcast, and whereas it isn’t a ‘silver bullet’ to achieve podcasts, we have seen large advantages in utilizing it and see a brilliant future. For podcast distribution.”

A few of these advantages embody:

• Spotify’s analytics (they are saying it offers sharper insights than platforms like Apple Podcasts).
• Openness of the event workforce to obtain suggestions and concepts.
• A simplified monetization course of for integrating paid placements or advertisements
• Frequent releases of recent options that “assist podcast creators and encourage listeners to change from extra established apps to the platform.”

“A turnkey answer”

“From packages to group analysis and extra, Spotify is working to supply a totally streamlined turnkey answer mixed with coaching and alternatives to assist creatives thrive and develop,” Sandys mentioned.

What in regards to the downsides?

As with all instruments, there are at all times potential faults. Whereas the specialists I spoke with gave largely constructive suggestions, they shared a couple of challenges:

• The podcast part is a comparatively new addition, so it might take a while to achieve visibility in search outcomes. However even with that, there’s nonetheless excellent news — improved algorithms imply your viewers has a greater probability of discovering you one way or the other.
• Spotify is not at all times clear about how new options work. For instance, the Elliotts say the Q&A panel is a singular function, however they have not found out the place the responses will seem.

Again to you

I discover podcasting an effective way to achieve my viewers, and Spotify is a good choice for podcasters to create and host episodes.

In 5 simple steps, you possibly can share your podcast on right this moment’s largest podcasting platform. As soon as your podcast is stay, do not forget to share it far and broad.

I like to recommend making this an everyday follow with every episode to develop your viewers.

Editor’s be aware: This put up was initially revealed in August 2022 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.