Distributing Your Podcast

The idea of creating a podcast can seem daunting to those who want to give it a try but don't know where to start. At Auxbus, we're here to clear up the confusion and help you start podcasting right away. One question many new podcasters have is how their podcast episodes will reach their listeners. Distribution is actually pretty simple and Auxbus is working on making it even easier for you. Here we will break down the details of how it works:

Finish your first episode

Once you publish your first episode, your RSS Feed URL will be automatically generated. This sounds technical, but just think of it as an address for your podcast. It contains all the information that the podcast listening apps (Google, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.) will use to automatically update each time you publish or update an episode. It is not the same link that you share with your listeners on social media, it is only for setting up your show on podcast listening apps.

Google indexes your podcast automatically

The good news is that you don't have to do anything for your podcast to appear on Google Podcasts. Google's web crawlers love to index new podcasts and once you have published your first episode, it should take around five days for your podcast show to be listed without you needing to do a thing. You can take an additional step to claim your podcast on Google, but it isn't required.

Spotify and Apple require a few quick steps

Two of the major podcast listening apps require that shows be submitted by their owner, which is typically the podcaster or their production team. The process for getting your podcast listed is pretty quick and simple:

Submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts

• First lookup your Apple ID (what you use to log in to iTunes, Apple Music, iCloud, etc.) and create an account if you don't already have one.

• Make sure that your Apple ID is logged into at least one device (iPhone, laptop, iPad)

• Log in to Apple Podcasts Connect or click the 'Submit to Apple' button on your Show tab while logged into your Auxbus account.

• If you clicked the 'Submit to Apple' button from your Show tab, your RSS feed will automatically be pasted for you. If you went to Apple Podcasts Connect first, copy your RSS Feed URL from Auxbus (you will receive this in an email or it can be found under your Show tab when logged into your account).

• Validate your podcast. This makes sure that all the information supplied in your RSS Feed URL can be accessed by Apple.

• Submit your podcast!

• It can take up to ten days for your podcast to show up, but in most cases, it won’t take more than three days.

If you run into any issues, you can review Apple's podcast submission help overview.

Submit your podcast to Spotify

• Click the 'Submit to Spotify' button on under your Show tab while logged into your Auxbus account.

• Log in to Spotify or create a new account.

• Copy your RSS Feed URL from Auxbus (you will receive this in an email or it can be found under your Show tab when logged into your account).

• Click 'Get Started' and paste your RSS feed into the box then hit 'Next'

• Add your podcast info.

• Submit your podcast!

• Podcasts are usually live on Spotify within a few hours.

If you run into any issues, you can review Spotify's FAQs.

Most of the other listening apps like Overcast get their podcasts from Apple’s directory, so you don’t need to do anything to make your podcast available there.