Six Steps on How to Upload Podcast to Spotify

Are you thinking of starting a digital show and want to know how to upload podcast to Spotify? You are on the right track since it is one of the best listening online platforms. It allows you to list and distribute your show despite lacking the technical know-how.

Quick Checklist

Before learning more about how to upload podcast to Spotify, make sure that you’ve got the following covered:

• You already have a clear idea of how to create a podcast – from writing, recording, projecting, editing, and transcribing.
• You have the right tools and an excellent-sounding mic that will make you sound like a pro.
• You have finished recording at least an episode of your podcast. But it is better if you have more than one before the launch.
• The first episode is of high quality.

As they say, first impression lasts, and this is your chance to impress your listeners. This way, they’d be encouraged to tune in to the next show, and the next, and the upcoming ones.

Listing Your Podcast on Spotify

Spotify is like a phonebook of podcasts; it serves as a directory for listeners to quickly find what they want to tune in to. It streams your podcast from your host, but it doesn’t host your digital files.

Why is it important to get your podcast listed on the site? Since it’s a popular platform, it will give your show a big boost to be heard and capture the attention of your intended audience.

It also makes it easier for your digital show to get new traffic while adding points to make you sound legitimate and boost your reputation.

Preparing Your Podcast for Spotify

Here are the general rules for your files to get uploaded on Spotify:

Audio format

You can upload MP4s with AAC-LC. You can also save your show in MP3 format with a high bitrate (128kbps+).

Each episode can have a maximum length of around 12 hours at 320 Kbps or 2GB.

Image format

The podcast cover art you can use must be saved in the highest resolution possible with a 1:1 ratio. It can be in formats, including TIFF, PNG, or JPEG.

Metadata

You must have a unique title of your podcast in your RSS feed, along with other files and info. They include an audio file uploaded in the host you’re using, a description of at least an episode, and your cover artwork.

Except for the episode and podcast descriptions, all elements that the consumer would see must not go beyond 20 characters.

Now you’re ready to find out more about how to upload podcast to Spotify. Before you do, check your podcast host first to see if they have a partnership with Spotify. Many of them do, including BuzzSprout and Podbean.

If your host is a Spotify partner, you can upload directly from the host. It will also allow you to retrieve stats from your host.

How to Upload Podcast to Spotify

Make sure that you have accomplished all things listed above. Once done, you can perform the following steps on how to upload podcast to Spotify:

1. Create an account. If you already have a personal account, don’t use that one but instead create another. To make it easier for you, especially as you last in podcasting, use the email you’re using with your podcast host. This will limit the errors you’ll encounter when uploading.

Like any sites requiring a sign-up, go through the Spotify terms and conditions. Once you agree, try logging in to your new account. You also have to add your RSS feed to the site.

2. Go to the site of the Spotify podcast. When you get to the page, click Get Started.

3. You will get to the page asking for the link to your RSS feed. Simply paste the link in the designated box and click Next. You will see the preview of your description, artwork, and podcast title on the page’s right side.

There are instances when you encounter an error message when you try adding your RSS feed. This may be due to an unverified or missing email address.

It can also happen when your RSS feed is empty. Your digital show needs a GUID or globally unique identifier. Make sure that you have uploaded at least one episode on your host so that Spotify can accept your feed.

4. To make the process secure, the site will ask you to verify your podcast. This will ensure them that you, the owner of the email, are logging in. This will also avoid having other people create Spotify accounts using your email.

Spotify will send a code to the email address you used upon sign-up. You have to check your email and paste the code to the designated space once you have gotten back to Spotify’s site.

5. You can add details or put your video in categories, including country, language, and a wide list of categories.

6. Review everything and once you’re satisfied, click Submit.

After uploading your podcast, you have to keep an eye out for when the show is going to be live. You won’t get a notification when your show is live, so it is best to be constantly tuned in.

When you catch your podcast is live, start sharing it on all your social media accounts. Before getting discovered for a job well-done, you must do your own marketing by letting the word out that your podcast is up and about.

If you’re wondering how to upload new episodes of your podcast to Spotify, this is now easier after you are done uploading the first episode and linking your RSS feed. You only need to upload the new episodes to your hosting provider.

Using your RSS feed, Spotify can pull it from the host. So you don’t have to do anything more on Spotify once you have submitted your RSS feed. This is what the platform does. It plays media you have uploaded from your host, but it doesn’t store them.

Frequently Asked Questions about Uploading a Podcast to Spotify

How long before a new podcast episode appear on Spotify?

It takes about a day. Spotify performs updates on your podcast’s data every day. So when you add new episodes, the data will be made available after a day.

How long should I wait before my podcast goes live on the platform?

It can be surprising at times but can also be frustrating on certain days. Spotify doesn’t notify users when their shows are live. They won’t send messages or emails.

Keeping watch is the only chance to catch when your show is live. The waiting period is not the same all the time. There are times when it can last for a week, and there are also times when it lasts only a few hours.

Can I monetize my podcast on Spotify?

It wasn’t an option before April 2021. By then, the platform had launched its monetization tools. You can access the tools through the podcast creation app of Spotify, the Anchor.

Among the included tools is the subscription. This will allow you to earn revenue from the number of your listeners while giving you a chance to expand your reach and grow your audience. 

You can also earn outside of the platform in various ways. You can make exclusive content for your Patreon account or expand your business by offering e-books or merchandise. You can also read ads during the show and take sponsorships.

It is easier to tap into these options once you have a loyal following. It will make sponsors and other businesses interested in a tie-up or collab, or they may even offer to list your show exclusively on their site.

How do I know how many are listening to my digital show?

If you have uploaded the show on your host, you can go there to access the podcast’s stats. If you have submitted to Spotify, you only need to log in, go to the podcasting page, and check your stats.

Where is the “Listen on Spotify” badge can be found?

Upon accessing your Spotify dashboard, you can download the “Listen on Spotify” badges on the “Details” tab. You can add an image to your website when creating a “Listen on Spotify” button. You only need to hyperlink the image to the URL of your Spotify digital show.

Conclusion

Before you think about how to upload podcast to Spotify, you first have to think big no matter what you are doing. You need to capture a broad audience to make more people listen to your podcast. It will help if you have subtitles available for each episode. You can add real-time transcripts or audio translations.

This will give you a boost in targeting the foreign market. You can also indulge people with hearing disabilities to listen. If you are interested in getting this done, make sure that you hire a pro like GoTranscript to do the job for you. Only a reliable company like them can make you sound and look like a pro.