How to Submit Your Podcast to Major Platforms: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Podcast Distribution Podcast Marketing Apple Podcasts Spotify

How to Submit Your Podcast to Major Platforms: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Learn exactly how to get your podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms with this comprehensive step-by-step guide. No technical skills required!

By Tsvetan - Podcast Host and CEO PodClips •

Getting your podcast out there can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Once you’ve recorded your first few episodes, the next big step is getting them on the major podcast platforms where people actually listen.

The good news? Submitting your podcast to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular apps is easier than you might think. You don’t need any special technical skills – just a little patience and the right steps to follow.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to get your podcast on the biggest platforms, step by simple step. By the end, your show will be available to millions of potential listeners around the world.

Step-by-Step Guide

Before You Start: What You Need

Before submitting to any platform, make sure you have:

  • At least 1-3 published episodes
  • A podcast RSS feed (created through your podcast host like Anchor, Buzzsprout, or Libsyn)
  • Podcast cover art (1400x1400 pixels minimum)
  • A clear podcast title and description
  • All episodes properly tagged with titles and descriptions

Apple Podcasts

Step 1: Create an Apple ID

  • Go to appleid.apple.com
  • Click “Create Your Apple ID”
  • Fill out your information and verify your email
  • If you already have an Apple ID, you can use that instead

Step 2: Access Apple Podcasts Connect

  • Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com
  • Sign in with your Apple ID
  • Click “Get Started”

Step 3: Add Your Podcast

  • Click the ”+” button or “Add a Show”
  • Paste your podcast’s RSS feed URL in the box
  • Click “Validate” and wait for Apple to check your feed

Step 4: Fill Out Your Information

  • Add your podcast description (keep it under 4,000 characters)
  • Choose your categories (pick your main category first)
  • Select your language
  • Choose if your content is explicit or clean
  • Add any additional hosts or contributors

Step 5: Submit for Review

  • Double-check all your information
  • Click “Submit for Review”
  • Wait 5-7 business days for Apple’s response
  • You’ll get an email when it’s approved or if changes are needed

Spotify

Step 1: Go to Spotify for Podcasters

  • Visit podcasters.spotify.com
  • Click “Get Started”

Step 2: Sign Up or Log In

  • Create a new Spotify account or use your existing one
  • You can also sign up with Google, Facebook, or Apple

Step 3: Add Your Podcast

  • Click “Add Your Podcast”
  • Paste your RSS feed URL
  • Click “Next”

Step 4: Verify Ownership

  • Spotify will ask you to prove you own the podcast
  • You can either:
    • Add a special code to your RSS feed, or
    • Upload a short audio file saying a specific phrase
  • Follow the instructions they give you

Step 5: Complete Your Profile

  • Add a detailed podcast description
  • Choose your categories
  • Add social media links if you want
  • Upload additional images if needed

Step 6: Submit

  • Review everything one more time
  • Click “Submit”
  • Your podcast usually appears within a few hours to 2 days

YouTube Music (Replacing Google Podcasts)

Important Note: Google Podcasts Manager is no longer available. Google now recommends uploading your podcast RSS feed to YouTube Studio to make it available on YouTube Music and YouTube.

Step 1: Access YouTube Studio

  • Go to studio.youtube.com
  • Sign in with your Google account
  • If you don’t have a YouTube channel, create one first

Step 2: Upload Your RSS Feed

  • In YouTube Studio, look for podcast upload options
  • Enter your RSS feed URL
  • Follow the prompts to import your podcast

Step 3: Complete Your Podcast Details

  • Add descriptions and categories for your show
  • Set up your channel branding
  • Configure your podcast settings

Step 4: Submit for Review

  • Review all information
  • Submit for approval
  • Your podcast will appear on YouTube Music once approved

Amazon Music/Audible

Step 1: Go to Amazon Music for Podcasters

  • Visit music.amazon.com/podcasters/access-request
  • Sign in with your Amazon account

Step 2: Request Access

  • Fill out the form with your podcast information
  • Include your RSS feed URL
  • Wait for Amazon to approve your request (this can take several weeks)

Step 3: Add Your Podcast (once approved)

  • Sign into the Amazon Music for Podcasters portal
  • Click “Add Content”
  • Enter your RSS feed URL
  • Fill out your podcast details

Step 4: Submit for Review

  • Review all information
  • Submit your podcast
  • Wait for final approval (usually 1-3 business days)

Stitcher:

  1. Go to partners.stitcher.com
  2. Click “Submit Your Podcast”
  3. Fill out the form with your RSS feed and details
  4. Wait for approval (usually 1-2 weeks)

iHeartRadio:

  1. Visit creators.iheart.com
  2. Sign up for an account
  3. Submit your RSS feed
  4. Wait for review and approval

TuneIn:

  1. Go to tunein.com/broadcasters
  2. Click “Add Your Content”
  3. Fill out the submission form
  4. Include your RSS feed URL
  5. Wait for approval

Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, and others:

  • Many smaller platforms automatically find podcasts from Apple Podcasts
  • Once you’re on Apple Podcasts, you’ll likely appear on these platforms automatically
  • Some platforms allow direct submission through their websites

Pro Tips for All Platforms

Double-Check Your RSS Feed:

  • Test your RSS feed URL in a web browser first
  • Make sure it loads properly and shows your episodes
  • Use a feed validator tool to check for errors

Keep Information Consistent:

  • Use the same podcast title, description, and categories across all platforms
  • This helps with discovery and looks more professional

Be Patient:

  • Each platform has different review times
  • Don’t resubmit multiple times – this can delay the process
  • Check your email regularly for updates

Update Your Website:

  • Once approved, add links to all platforms on your website
  • This makes it easy for listeners to find you wherever they prefer to listen

Monitor Your Submissions:

  • Keep track of which platforms you’ve submitted to
  • Note the submission dates so you know when to follow up
  • Save confirmation emails for your records

The whole process usually takes 1-2 weeks to get on all major platforms. Once you’re approved, new episodes will automatically appear on all platforms when you publish them through your podcast host!

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have everything you need to get your podcast on all the major platforms. Yes, it might seem like a lot of steps, but remember – you only have to do this once. After you’re approved, all your future episodes will automatically show up on these platforms.

Start with Apple Podcasts and Spotify first, since that’s where most people listen to podcasts. Then work your way through the other platforms when you have time. Don’t worry if some take longer to approve than others – that’s totally normal.

The most important thing is to be patient and double-check your information before submitting. Once you’re live on these platforms, millions of potential listeners will be able to find and enjoy your show.

Now stop worrying and start submitting. Your podcast deserves to be heard by the world!

Ready to maximize your podcast’s reach? Once your show is on all platforms, consider turning your best episodes into engaging video clips with PodClips to attract even more listeners across social media.

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