How to Submit Your Podcast to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google

Publishing your first episode feels like shouting into the void until it appears on major platforms where 95% of podcast listening happens. Yet many beginners either submit incorrectly, causing weeks of delays, or miss platforms entirely, limiting their potential audience by millions. This chapter provides step-by-step submission guides for every major platform, reveals approval timelines and requirements, and shares insider tips to get featured in New & Noteworthy sections that can jumpstart your growth.

Why Can't Listeners Find My Podcast Yet?

Understanding how podcast distribution works prevents panic during the submission waiting period and helps set realistic launch expectations:

The Distribution Chain:

1. You upload to your host 2. Host generates/updates RSS feed 3. You submit RSS to directories 4. Directories review submission 5. Approval triggers indexing 6. Podcast becomes searchable

Total time: 2-14 days depending on platform

Why Manual Submission Matters:

- Claim ownership of your show - Access platform analytics - Enable platform-specific features - Update show information directly - Monetization opportunities

Common Discovery Issues:

- Podcast too new (indexing delay) - Generic title (poor search ranking) - Missing platform submission - RSS feed errors - Incorrect category selection

Pro tip: Submit to all platforms BEFORE publishing episode 1. This ensures maximum reach from day one.

How Do You Submit to Apple Podcasts (iOS Ecosystem)?

Apple Podcasts remains crucial with 40% market share and influence over other platforms. Their approval process is the most stringent but worth mastering:

Prerequisites:

- Apple ID (free) - Completed podcast artwork (3000x3000px) - At least one published episode - Valid RSS feed - No copyrighted content

Submission Process (15-20 minutes):

1. Access Apple Podcasts Connect - Visit: podcasters.apple.com - Sign in with Apple ID - Accept terms and conditions

2. Add Your Show - Click "Add a Show" - Paste RSS feed URL - Validate feed (automatic) - Review extracted information

3. Complete Metadata - Verify/edit show title - Select primary category - Choose up to 2 subcategories - Set content rating - Add show-level tags

4. Submit for Review - Review all information - Submit for approval - Receive confirmation email - Wait 24-72 hours typically

Approval Best Practices:

- No misleading titles/descriptions - Avoid keyword stuffing - Original content only - Professional cover art - Accurate content ratings

Post-Approval Tasks:

- Claim Apple Podcasts profile - Enable listener reviews - Submit to Apple Charts - Set up Apple Podcasts Subscriptions - Monitor Apple Podcasts Analytics

Rejection Reasons:

- Copyright violations - Inappropriate content marking - Poor audio quality - Misleading metadata - Spam-like behavior

How Do You Get Your Podcast on Spotify?

Spotify commands 30% market share and offers unique discovery features. Their submission process is simpler than Apple's:

Two Submission Methods:

Method 1: Direct Submission (Recommended)

1. Visit: podcasters.spotify.com 2. Sign up/log in (free account) 3. Click "Get Started" 4. Paste RSS feed URL 5. Verify ownership via email 6. Add show details 7. Submit (instant approval usually)

Method 2: Through Your Host

- Anchor: Automatic - Others: One-click integration - Less control over profile - Delayed analytics access

Spotify-Specific Optimizations:

- Add video podcasts (if applicable) - Enable Spotify Canvas - Submit episode chapters - Use Spotify Polls/Q&A - Create playlist submissions

Spotify for Podcasters Features:

- Detailed demographics - Listener location data - Episode performance - Follower growth tracking - Playlist inclusions

Growth Tactics:

- Optimize for Spotify search - Encourage follows vs subscribes - Share Spotify links primarily - Engage with Music + Talk format - Submit for editorial playlists

Approval time: Usually instant, max 24 hours

How Do You Submit to Google Podcasts and YouTube Music?

Google's podcast strategy shifted in 2024, making YouTube increasingly important for podcast discovery:

Google Podcasts (Being Phased Out):

- Still worth submitting during transition - Visit: podcasts.google.com/submit - Enter RSS feed - Verify ownership - Immediate availability

YouTube Music (The Future):

1. Create YouTube channel 2. Verify channel (phone number) 3. Enable podcasting features 4. Upload via RSS or manually 5. Optimize video thumbnails 6. Add podcast playlist

YouTube Podcast Benefits:

- Massive discovery potential - Video option increases engagement - YouTube SEO advantages - Monetization through ads - Community features

RSS to YouTube Setup:

- Use podcast distributor - Headliner.app (free tier) - Anchor's video feature - Podcasts.google.com RSS ingestion - Manual upload (most control)

What Other Platforms Should You Never Skip?

Beyond the big three, these platforms offer significant audiences and unique benefits:

Amazon Music/Audible (15% share):

- Submit via: amazonmusicforpodcasters.com - Instant approval typically - Access to Alexa ecosystem - High-income demographic - Audible cross-promotion potential

iHeartRadio (8% share):

- Email: [email protected] - Include RSS feed and details - 1-2 week approval - Radio cross-promotion possible - Strong drive-time audience

Pandora/SiriusXM:

- Submit through AMP (Podcast Genome Project) - Detailed categorization required - Algorithm-based discovery - Satellite radio potential - Curated stations inclusion

Platform-Specific Requirements:

| Platform | Cover Art | Episode Minimum | Approval Time | |----------|-----------|-----------------|---------------| | Apple | 3000x3000px | 1 episode | 24-72 hours | | Spotify | 1400x1400px | 1 episode | Instant-24hrs | | Google | 1400x1400px | 1 episode | Instant | | Amazon | 1400x1400px | 1 episode | Instant | | iHeart | 1400x1400px | 3 episodes | 1-2 weeks |

Niche Platforms Worth Considering:

- Castbox: Strong international presence - Stitcher: Comedy/entertainment focus - TuneIn: Live radio integration - Overcast: iOS power users - Pocket Casts: Tech-savvy audience

How Can You Optimize for Platform Algorithms and Discovery?

Each platform uses different signals to recommend podcasts. Optimize for discovery without gaming the system:

Universal Optimization Tactics:

Consistent Publishing Schedule

- Same day/time weekly - Never miss scheduled releases - Batch record to ensure consistency - Communicate breaks to audience

Engagement Signals

- Encourage ratings/reviews - Ask for follows/subscriptions - Drive complete listens - Create shareable moments

Metadata Excellence

- Descriptive episode titles - Keyword-rich descriptions - Accurate categorization - Relevant tags/keywords

Platform-Specific Algorithms:

Apple Podcasts:

- Values subscriber growth rate - Weights recent reviews heavily - Considers completion rates - Rewards consistent publishing

Spotify:

- Emphasizes follower engagement - Tracks skip rates - Values playlist additions - Considers social sharing

YouTube:

- Watch time paramount - Click-through rates crucial - Comments and likes matter - Subscriber bell notifications

Discovery Optimization Checklist:

- [ ] Compelling first 30 seconds - [ ] Clear value proposition - [ ] Consistent branding - [ ] Platform-specific links - [ ] Cross-promotion strategy - [ ] Guest swapping plan - [ ] Review request system - [ ] Social proof gathering

New & Noteworthy Strategies:

- Launch with 3-5 episodes - Drive reviews week 1 - Maintain daily uploads initially - Leverage existing audience - Time launch strategically - Focus one platform first

Getting your podcast onto major platforms is just the beginning of your distribution journey. While the technical process is straightforward, success comes from understanding each platform's unique culture, optimizing for their algorithms, and consistently delivering value to listeners wherever they prefer to consume content. Remember that platform featuring and algorithmic promotion follow quality and engagement – focus on creating excellent content and serving your audience, and the platforms will amplify your reach. With your podcast now discoverable across all major platforms, it's time to ensure people can actually find it. In the next chapter, we'll dive deep into podcast SEO strategies that transform your show from hidden gem to search result favorite.