Do you want to start a podcast on Spotify for free? It’s easy! In this guide, we’ll show you how to get started. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, we’ll help you share your ideas and stories with the world.
Let’s begin your podcasting adventure on Spotify, and it won’t cost you a thing!
What is Spotify Podcasts?
Spotify for Podcasters is a free and simple platform. It’s good for new and experienced podcasters to host, make, and share their podcasts.
When you use it, you get lots of tools to help your show grow, connect with your audience, and make money from your content. Here are some cool features:
When you use it, you can access a bunch of cool stuff to help your show grow, connect with your audience, and make money from your content. Some great features include:
- Detailed show and episode stats.
- Tools to make money.
- Record and edit right in the app or platform.
- Q&A and polls to engage with your audience.
- “Video episodes” for a unique viewing experience.
You can use Spotify for Podcasts as your main platform, or you can upload episodes to Spotify using an RSS feed from your current hosting provider.
How RSS Feeds Work on Spotify
An RSS feed is like an ID card for your podcast. It’s kind of like a house address, and just like a house address, each podcast has only one RSS feed.
Your podcast host gives you a special code that you can copy and paste into different places to share your episodes on other platforms, such as from Apple Podcasts (your host) to Spotify. The great thing is that the RSS feed updates itself automatically, so you don’t have to keep sharing the link with other places more than once.
How to Meet Spotify’s Podcast Requirements
To begin your podcast on Spotify, the first thing is to make sure you meet their podcast rules. Here’s a quick summary:
- Your podcast should have a title and important information like its category and main language.
- You need cover art that’s square-shaped, like 1:1, and in PNG, JPEG, or TIFF format. The higher the quality, the better.
- Use MP3 format for your podcast, with a high bitrate (at least 128 kbps), or MP4 with AAC-LC.
- Keep your episodes under 12 hours long.
Once you’ve checked off all these things, you’re all set to upload your podcast on Spotify. Follow the steps below to get it done.
How to Start a Podcast on Spotify
1. Create a Spotify for Podcasters account
Of course, you’ll require a Spotify for Podcasters account to put your podcast on Spotify. You can sign up using this form and choose either “I want to begin a podcast” or “I already have a podcast.”
If you pick the second choice, you can select your current podcast hosting service from the list and take ownership of your show. To do this, you’ll need to add your RSS feed and enter a verification code sent to you via email.
2. Add information about your podcast
After you’ve created your account, you’ll provide details about your podcast, such as:
- Podcast name
- Description
- Cover art
- Category
- Language
- Content type (clean or explicit)
3. Upload your files
If you already have a podcast, you can add your old audio or video episodes to Spotify for Podcasters. You can even make new episodes right there.
To add a ready episode, press “Quick Upload” and put your audio or video file there. If you want to make a new one, just click “Create an episode.”
When you’re making an episode on the platform, you’ll see a dashboard. It helps you record or put up audio, use files you’ve already added, and do editing with special effects.
There’s also a simple drag-and-drop tool to put your episodes together. You can check how it looks as many times as you need while you’re editing.
4. Add episode information
When you’re all set to share your episode, just give it a title, description, and decide when you want it to be available. You can also mention if it’s part of a series, what type it is, and whether it’s suitable for all audiences or has some explicit content.
5. Share your podcast on other directories.
Once your podcast is live, anyone around the world can listen to it on Spotify. To share it on other platforms, you’ll need to use a special link called your RSS feed.
Here’s how to get that link on podcasters.spotify.com:
- Go to Settings.
- Click on Podcast Availability.
- Choose RSS Distribution to find your unique link. You can then paste this link in the right place in other directories to share your podcast there too.
Switch to Spotify for Podcasts Hosting
If you’re using another podcast host but want to move to Spotify for Podcasts, it’s not too complicated, and you won’t lose your old episodes or profiles on other sites. Here’s how to do it in three steps:
- Go to the Spotify for Podcasters switch page and use the search to find your special RSS link or your podcast name.
- Create a Spotify for Podcasters account or bring your podcast into your existing account.
- Change your RSS feed so it points to your new Spotify URL. The exact way to do this might be different depending on your hosting provider, so follow their specific instructions.
Once you’ve made the switch successfully, you can use all the features on the platform. You can upload audio or video and even make new episodes using the tools they have.
Conclusion
Starting a podcast on Spotify for free is a fantastic way to share your thoughts and ideas. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned podcaster, you now have the tools and knowledge to get started. So, go ahead, create your podcast, and let your voice be heard worldwide. Best of luck on your podcasting journey!