How to Set Up a Podcast Page on Spotify

Setting up a podcast page on Spotify is an excellent way to reach a global audience and grow your podcast’s listener base. Spotify is one of the largest platforms for podcast discovery, making it essential for podcasters to have their content available there. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up a podcast on Spotify, from creating a podcast to submitting it to the platform.

Step 1: Create Your Podcast

Before submitting your podcast to Spotify, you need to have your podcast created and hosted on a platform that generates an RSS feed. Spotify doesn’t host podcasts directly; instead, it pulls your episodes from your hosting service via an RSS feed.

Popular Podcast Hosting Platforms:

• Buzzsprout
• Anchor (by Spotify)
• Podbean
• Libsyn
• Transistor

Each of these platforms provides an RSS feed, which is required for submitting your podcast to Spotify.

To get started:

1. Sign up for a podcast hosting platform.
2. Upload your podcast episodes (audio files) and enter the required metadata such as podcast title, description, and cover art.
3. Obtain your RSS feed URL from your hosting platform. You’ll need this to submit your podcast to Spotify.

Step 2: Prepare Your Podcast for Spotify Submission

Spotify has some specific requirements for submitting podcasts. Make sure your podcast follows these guidelines:

• Audio Format: MP3 files with a bit rate between 96 and 320 kbps, or M4A format.
• Cover Art: The podcast cover image should be a square (1:1 ratio) and at least 1400 x 1400 pixels (up to 3000 x 3000). Use high-quality visuals, as this will represent your podcast across Spotify.
• Metadata: Ensure your podcast title, description, and episode titles are accurate and well-written. These will appear to users when they browse podcasts on Spotify.

Step 3: Sign Up for Spotify for Podcasters

Spotify provides a dedicated portal called Spotify for Podcasters for submitting and managing your podcast. Here’s how to sign up:

1. Go to Spotify for Podcasters.
2. Log in using your Spotify account. If you don’t have a Spotify account, click “Sign Up” to create one.
3. After logging in, click “Get Started” to begin the process of submitting your podcast.

Step 4: Submit Your Podcast RSS Feed

Once you’ve signed up for Spotify for Podcasters, you’ll need to submit your podcast’s RSS feed.

1. Copy your RSS feed URL from your podcast hosting platform.
2. In Spotify for Podcasters, click on “Add Your Podcast”.
3. Paste your RSS feed URL into the provided field and click “Next”.

Spotify will automatically pull the information from your RSS feed, including your podcast title, description, and episodes.

Step 5: Verify Podcast Ownership

Spotify will send a verification code to the email address associated with your podcast's RSS feed (this is typically the email you provided when setting up your podcast hosting account).

1. Check your email for a message from Spotify.
2. Copy the verification code from the email.
3. Paste the code back into the verification field on Spotify for Podcasters.

This step ensures that you are the rightful owner of the podcast.

Step 6: Customize Your Podcast Page

After verifying ownership, you’ll be able to customize your podcast’s page on Spotify. Although much of the information is pulled from your RSS feed, you can make some additional customizations.

1. Podcast Description: Ensure your description is clear, concise, and includes keywords to help users discover your show. This is the text that appears in your podcast profile on Spotify.

2. Social Links: Add links to your podcast’s website, social media accounts, or other platforms. This helps build a community around your show and gives listeners more ways to connect with you.

3. Cover Art: Double-check that your cover art appears correctly. Spotify uses this image in its podcast directory and on listeners’ devices.

Step 7: Submit Your Podcast for Approval

Once everything looks good, click “Submit”. Spotify will review your podcast to ensure it meets their guidelines. The approval process typically takes a few hours to a few days.

Step 8: Monitor and Promote Your Podcast

After your podcast has been approved and is live on Spotify, you can start promoting it to your audience. Spotify for Podcasters provides several tools to help you track your performance:

1. Analytics: Use the Spotify for Podcasters dashboard to monitor your podcast's performance. Track metrics like total streams, episode popularity, and listener demographics.

2. Promotion: Share your podcast’s Spotify link on social media, your website, and any other platforms you use to engage with your audience. Encourage listeners to follow your show on Spotify and leave reviews.

3. Create Playlists: If you have multiple podcast episodes or other related content, you can create custom playlists on Spotify to engage your audience further.

Step 9: Keep Your Podcast Updated

Once your podcast is live on Spotify, it will automatically update every time you publish a new episode through your hosting platform. You don’t need to manually update your Spotify page—Spotify pulls new content from your RSS feed.

1. Add new episodes regularly: Keep your audience engaged by publishing content consistently.
2. Update metadata: If you change your podcast description, cover art, or other metadata in your hosting platform, Spotify will automatically reflect those changes the next time it pulls your RSS feed.

Podcasting on Spotify

Setting up a podcast page on Spotify is a straightforward process that involves creating your podcast, preparing it for submission, and using the Spotify for Podcasters portal to get your show live. With Spotify's extensive reach, your podcast can grow its audience quickly and effectively. By following these steps and optimizing your content, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful podcast on Spotify.