If you’re new to podcasting, or a veteran returning to the craft, then you’ve probably heard all about the importance of distributing your show to audiences far and wide. But what does “distributing your show” even mean?
Put simply, distributing your show means sharing your RSS Feed with platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more. These platforms ‘read’ (also known as crawl) your RSS Feed and publish the information found there. This is how podcasts are made widely available on all types of platforms and devices.
Distributing sounds complicated, but it’s really very easy (especially on RedCircle!)
Top 5 Places to Distribute
Let’s start with what everyone wants to know – what listening platforms are the most popular? It’s fair to say that these platforms can help you to reach a wide audience, but don’t discount smaller places!
1) Spotify
Spotify has been building their podcasting arm over the past few years and is the most frequently viewed article in our Help Center!
Be careful not to confuse distribution with hosting though! While you need to create a Spotify for Podcasters/Creators account to add your podcast to their platform, you do not need to import your podcast or create a new version of your show. Follow the on-screen instructions below and you’ll be golden!
2) Apple Podcasts
The term “podcast” was originally coined by a reporter from The Guardian meant to describe an internet broadcast show that you could listen to on iTunes, and subsequently iPods. Apple has been a part of podcasting for almost its entire history, so it makes sense that it’s among the most popular listening platforms!
Like Spotify, you do need an Apple account/ID to add your show to their platform. But unlike Spotify, you don’t need to be cautious about accidentally creating a duplicate version of your show!
Check out our Help article for step-by-step instructions!
3) Amazon Music
A sleeper hit in the industry, placing your show on Amazon Music is a fantastic way to reach a wider audience. Their platform makes it super simple to add your show (and you can sometimes even be added to a collection on their homepages!)
See our Help article for in-depth details on how to add your show.
4) Podcast Addict
A beloved indie addition that has been around for more than a decade! Almost entirely ran by one developer, this podcast listening platform is a gem not to be missed. Be sure to get your show listed on their app!
You can learn more in our Help Center here.
5) Castbox
Another classic indie that has become a favorite among podcast fans! They focus more on discoverability which is essential for newer shows. The bigger platforms aren’t the best at highlighting niche podcasts but Castbox is a great resource for more hardcore listeners.
See how to add your podcast to their platform in our Help Center here.
Go Beyond
Don’t just stop at the Top 5 recommended listening platforms, though! The key is growth is to make sure your podcast is made widely available to all potential listeners. Think outside of your local region! Explore popular listening platforms all over the world – you never know who you might reach.
You can see a bigger list of podcast directories in our Help Center.
Common Problems & Their Solutions
Of course, nothing is as picture-perfect as we hope. While it’s super easy to add your show to pretty much any listening platform, you could run into these common issues. Not to worry, though, we have the solutions right here!
1) New Show Isn’t Populating
This can be a bit alarming for some, especially in today’s world when most things are instantaneous.
Some listening platforms can take up to a day to review and approve new shows. Additionally, every platform requires a published episode (so no uploading an episode as a draft and then distributing!)
Some have even stricter requirements in order for the show to be listed. For example, Apple Podcasts requires a full episode rather than a trailer episode in order to be approved and added to their platform.
If you don’t see your show populate within 24 hours after distribution, then the best course of action is to reach out to the platform itself to help. See our Help Center for information on how to contact each platform.
2) New Episodes Are Not Populating
Similar to your new show not populating, the various listening platforms can often take a few hours to a day to publish your episode.
Podcasting is a distributed medium, meaning that each individual podcasting app and directory is responsible for pulling content from your RSS Feed when new content is released. If you already confirmed that the episode published, then that means the episode is visible in your RSS Feed and ready for the apps to pull! Most apps refresh within minutes, but both Apple Podcasts and Spotify frequently take up to an hour to refresh with new content. Some places may even take 24 hours!
There isn’t much RedCircle, or any other hosting platform, can do to speed up this process. Of course, if you don’t see the episode within 24 hours, then we recommend reaching out to the specific listening platform to get some more information.
3) There Are Two Versions of My Show on the Platform
This issue typically happens if you accidentally import or create a new version of your podcast on the listening platform rather than distributing your RedCircle version. This can easily be solved by deleting/removing the duplicate version on the listening platform and starting over again.
If you run into any trouble with duplicate versions of your show, it’s always best to get in contact with the listening platform as they’ll be able to investigate for you.
Podcasting is an exciting medium! And the best way to share your passions with a wider audience is to add your show to as many listening platforms as you can.
RedCircle can help you grow, distribute, and monetize your podcast. The best part? We offer unlimited hosting, hours, storage, etc. even on our Free plan. Sign up today and get a 7-day Free Trial!