Podcasting is the 21st-century form of storytelling—you don’t have to buy expensive equipment or be rich and famous to create quality, professional-sounding content that people want to listen to.
Apple has created a great podcasts app for users of its iOS, macOS, and tvOS devices. And one of the helpful features it has is the ability to create podcast stations.
And listen they do: Podcast listenership continues to grow by leaps and bounds each year, with Edison Research reporting that, as of 2019, 51 percent of Americans over the age of 12 have listened to a podcast, with 32 percent having listened in the last month. And in the Podcasting World, there’s only one king: Apple.
How to change the order episodes get played in the Podcasts app; How to play a podcast in the Podcasts app. Playing a podcast, whether you already have it downloaded, or are just browsing new ones, is just a click away. Launch the Podcasts app from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications Folder. Click on the podcast photo of the podcast you want. The new apps would reportedly be Marzipan applications, similarly to Apple News on the Mac, and it’s possible that Books would also get an update in addition to Music, TV, and Podcasts. The biggest of the bunch and the one with arguably the largest share of listeners.
Apple recently updated its podcast app to include transcript search. Get ahead of the curve and transcribe your podcast audio and include a full transcript in your show notes for each episode so you can attract new listeners searching for the content topics you’re covering.
Easily the most popular podcast directory on the planet, Apple Podcasts (or iTunes) is historically important to the medium. Think about it: For people with iPhones, this was likely their introduction into the wide, wonderful world of podcasts.
In other words, if you’re a podcast host, Apple is where you want to be. https://btnew485.weebly.com/blog/how-to-use-ios-app-on-macos. Here’s how to get your show hosted, and ultimately published on the Apple store—plus tips on how to get people to actually listen.
1. Create Your Podcast and RSS Feed
So, you’ve recorded your first episode and exported the file to MP3. Now, it’s time to find the right podcast host for your show, establish your RSS feed, and finally, learn how to upload your show to Apple:
Podcast Hosting
Finding the right place to host your MP3 file is crucial. Then, you can start distributing your show to podcast directories and apps, like Apple, via RSS feed (more on that later). While, technically, you can use your existing website platform (like WordPress or Squarespace) to host your podcast, this isn’t the best platform in terms of speed and user-friendliness. Rather, here are some of the best (free!) podcast hosting platforms out there:
Podbean. Podbean provides multiple tiers of hosting, which includes a free option. This platform also has its own podcast app for iOS and Android, as well as analytic tools.
SoundCloud. The ultimate in user-friendly podcast hosting sites, SoundCloud offers free podcast hosting (as well as two competitive paid options) and allows you to distribute your podcast via RSS feed. You can also opt to have your podcasts instantly publish to SoundCloud, which makes it easy to share your show on social media. (That being said, listens on SoundCloud are relatively insignificant compared to Apple.)
LibSyn. One of the biggest and oldest podcast hosting sites, LibSyn’s lowest price plan is $5 per month. Offerings aren’t as robust as some other hosts, but this podcast veteran is still around for a reason.
https://btnew485.weebly.com/blog/macos-change-app-languate. Especially if you’re new to podcasting, trying out each host’s free services is a great idea. Then, once you’ve found a platform that you like, you can start paying for hosting.
Create a Podcast RSS feed
https://btnew485.weebly.com/blog/soundview-app-mac-slow. You need a podcast RSS feed to submit your podcast to iTunes (or any other podcast directories). Here are the major Apple Podcast RSS feed requirements, as outlined by Podcast Insights:
Title
Description
Artwork (min 1,400 x 1,400 px, max 3,000 x 3,000 px at 72 DPI)
Category (at least 1, but using 3 is best)
Language
Explicit rating
(Here is an example of what your podcast RSS feed should look like for iTunes Connect.)
Some hosting sites have a built-in validator for RSS feeds, so it’s already ready to go. But, if for some reason you built your own feed, use Podbase (Apple’s recommended podcast validator) to test out your feed and make sure it’s Apple Podcast-ready.
2. Submit Podcast to iTunes Connect
Check out the official Apple Podcast requirements here, to ensure that your podcast is ready for submission.
Make sure you have at least three episodes recorded and uploaded to your podcast host. (If you submit just one episode, Apple likely will not feature you as something noteworthy.)
Download iTunes and create an account—yes, you should do this even if you have an existing account. Don’t use your personal Apple ID; create an ID that’s specifically for podcasting.
Go to iTunes Connect to submit your podcast.
Review all your podcast information and make sure it’s correct; click on the iTunes Store tab, scroll to the bottom and click the Podcasts link under Explore, and then click Submit a Podcast.
You’ll then need to log in, click the “+” on the left side of your dashboard, and enter your RSS feed URL. A Feed Preview will load if you don’t have any validation errors; or, you may receive a few validation warnings if your feed doesn’t have all the required tags. In the latter case, you’ll just need to update these tags in your feed click validate again.
Once your feed has been validated, you’re ready to officially submit your show; click the Submit button and prepare to wait for approval (which usually takes anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks). Apple will email the address you entered as your iTunes email.
Then, once Apple approves your show, you can start sharing it with others! It helps to have a launch promotion plan and content strategy already in place, so you can draw in as many listeners as possible.
How To Get Apple Podcast App On Macbook
Which brings us to…
3. Promote Your Podcast
After you’ve successfully uploaded your first podcast episode to Apple, you can access and manage it from the iTunes Connect section. The benefits of iTunes connect include the ability to manually update your RSS feed and keep your subscribers if you do so, via the Mirror URL feature, which allows you to keep a static URL for each podcast listing.
Now, it’s time to focus on how to grow your audience should be your next step. First, you should learn how to check and track your analytics, since they give information about listener locations and where listeners may drop off listening in specific episodes. This will help you improve your content and expand your audience.
To check your listener behavior data, simply log in using your Apple ID and select Podcast Analytics from the dropdown menu; from there, you’ll be able to check out all your listener data.
And, here are some other tips on how to increase your reach:
Reviews and subscribers. Asking your listeners to leave a review on Apple/iTunes and subscribe to your podcast is one of the best ways to promote your show.
Promote on social in a myriad of different ways. Once your first episode goes live, be sure to share an update across your networks—and then keep sharing. Share a plethora of soundbites, video, images, and other creative content; don’t just Tweet out the URL.
Submit your podcast to aggregators. Podcatchers, or apps that play podcasts, are a great resource when you’re trying to promote your show. For instance, PodcastLand has a featured podcast of the month; both Stitcher and Overcast are popular, as well. Get to submitting!
Include a full transcript in your show notes
If you’re not already, consider transcribing your podcast show. You can include the transcript in your show notes or description, and repurpose your spoken words as text for social media, blogs, videos, and other content.
With Rev, you can transcribe your podcast episode for only a $1.25 per minute of audio. If you’re on a budget, you can also try the auto-transcription service.
Apple’s in-built Podcasts app is feature-rich and a great way to enjoy shows from your favorite creators. The app lets you subscribe to a podcast, download episodes for offline listening, enable Sleep Timer, change playback speed, and much more. In this beginner’s guide, let us look at all the basics on how to use the Podcasts app on iPhone and iPad running iOS 14 or 13.
How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone
Open the Podcasts app and tap on Browse on your iPhone or iPad.
Here you will see relevant shows. Tap on one. Or, you may also tap Search and type in a name
Tap on an episode. It will start playing.
How to Control Podcast Playback
After you play an episode, tap on the second bottom row to see the now playing screen
Here you have two buttons to skip 15 ahead or 30 back. You may change this in the Settings app → Podcasts → SKIP BUTTONS.
1x in the bottom left lets you increase or decrease the playback speed.
Want more options? Tap the three dots in the lower right. From here, you may share the podcast, add to the library, and more.
When you swipe up this now playing card, you have the option for Sleep timer, Description, Chapters, etc.
How to Subscribe to a Podcast on iPhone
Tap on Browse or Search a podcast
Now, tap on a show or tap See All next to Top Shows or Top Episodes.
Next, tap on Shows and then tap on an individual show
Tap on Subscribe.
How to Unsubscribe from Podcasts Shows and Episodes
To unsubscribe from a show, tap on Library → Shows.
Tap on Individual show and then tap on three dots icon and then tap Unsubscribe.
How to Download Podcast Episodes from iPhone
Go to a show or episode.
Scroll down and tap on the plus icon to add it to your podcasts library
Tap the download icon.
You can also control podcast download options in the Settings app → Podcasts.
Under EPISODE DOWNLOADS tap on Download Episodes. From here, you may choose to download Only New episodes or the All Unplayed ones automatically.
How to Remove Downloaded Podcast Episodes
Tap Library inside the Podcasts app.
Tap Downloaded Episodes.
Touch and hold and tap Remove.
You can also swipe right to left on Episodes and tap Remove.
You can also remove played episodes automatically. Open the Settings app → Podcasts → enable the toggle for Delete Played Episodes.
How to Delete Podcast Show and Episodes
Tap Library inside the Podcasts app.
Tap Episodes.
Swipe right to left and tap Delete.
To delete a show, tap Shows, tap on Edit.
Now, tap the red minus icon and then tap on Delete.
How to use Sleep Timer in Podcasts app
Apple Podcast App For Mac
Sleep Timer is fantastic. For example, you play an episode while you are on bed and set it to stop playing the podcast after a certain time automatically or after the current episode or chapter ends.
When a podcast episode is playing, tap on the second lower row to go to Now Playing screen
Swipe the card up and tap Sleep Timer.
Choose an option, and that’s it. You will see a diminishing timer.
How to Share Podcast Show and Episode
How To Get Apple Podcast App On Mac Desktop
You can share an episode from various screens in the Podcasts app.
In Now Playing screen, tap on the three dots icon, and choose Share.
Or, anywhere in the Podcasts app, press and hold an episode and choose Share Episode or Copy Link.
How to Skip Ads in Podcasts App
To skip ads in a podcast, you have to use the button that skips forward. Tap it once, twice, or more depending on the ad length.
Use Siri to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone
Siri integrates well with the Podcasts app. You can ask it things like play an episode, skip, pause, play, jump back, etc. Some commands you can say are:
Play ‘Clublife by Tiesto’
Play my newest podcasts
What podcast is this?
Play the first episode of Sadhguru’s podcast
Pause
Jump back 30 seconds
Play it twice as fast
Skip ahead 10 seconds
Subscribe to this show
That’s all for now, folks!
These were the basics if you are just getting started with the Podcasts app.
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Have a suggestion or question? Use the comments section below.
The founder of iGeeksBlog, Dhvanesh, is an Apple aficionado, who cannot stand even a slight innuendo about Apple products. He dons the cap of editor-in-chief to make sure that articles match the quality standard before they are published.