Ways to Utilize Spotify for Podcasters for your Podcast

If you’re into podcasts, whether as a listener or a podcast host, it’s highly likely that you’ve encountered Spotify in some capacity.

They are a huge player in the game with millions of listeners and podcasts on the platform. According to Spotify, they have “over 100 million regular podcast listeners” and “over 5 million shows, with podcasts available in more than 170 markets.”

This gives podcasts an opportunity to enhance their discoverability and gain new insights into their shows. Even further that, Spotify for Podcasters is continuously evolving, providing podcasters with a new whole new way for podcasters to connect with their audience and expand their reach through the platform.

So, if you haven’t already added your show to Spotify or utilized their incredible features, then come along with me as we explore how to make the most of Spotify for Podcasters for your podcast!

How to get started with Spotify

Before you are able to get started utilizing all of Spotify for Podcasters features, you’ll need to sign up.

Note: Spotify and Spotify for Podcasters are different. If you have a Spotify account already though, you can sign up using your existing account.

To get started, you will go to https://podcasters.spotify.com/, and from there you will click “sign up”

Once you’ve hit that button you will be able to sign up either by…

1. Starting a fully new podcast and hosting through them
2. You already have a podcast (different hosting) and would like to sign up for the features
3. You want to switch your host over to Spotify for Podcasters

Depending on what you choose, how you will continue on the next step will vary.

• If you select “I want to start a new podcast”, you will be taken to either log in with your existing Spotify account or sign up for a new one.
• If you are already hosting elsewhere and select “I have a podcast”, you’ll be taken to another page to choose your hosting platform. Then you’ll be asked to log in to your Spotify (or sign up) again.

• And if you are switching hosts to move TO Spotify for Podcasters, here is their instructions for that.

After registering and logging in, if your podcast isn’t already hosted on Spotify for Podcasters, the next step is to claim your podcast. To be able to do that, once you are in go to “add or claim your podcast” and you can insert your RSS feed.

• If you are struggling to connect the two, here are Spotify’s tips for that.

Once you’ve claimed your show, you are able to access Spotify’s features (whether you host with them or not!)

Get to Know Your Audience Better

Now that you can access all these features, how do you get started? Well, one great way to utilize Spotify is to get to know your audience better. You are able to connect, engage, and interact with your Spotify listeners.

A few ways to do this…

• Engage with your listeners using Q+As and the polls feature. This allows you to ask them questions and hear their thoughts on episodes and guests.
• Access and analyze your listener analytics. This will help you get a better idea of who your audience is! You can learn more about what they enjoying (and not enjoying) such as guests or episode topics, where they are located, and how they discovered you.

Being able to know more about your audience as well as get their feedback, will help you gear your podcast to better serve them. Remember, in the end, the show is for them!

Increase Podcast Promotion Through Spotify

Another great way to use Spotify for your podcast is to explore the features available both in Spotify and within Spotify for Podcasters. By accessing these features one thing you can do is increase your podcast’s promotional efforts.

Such as…

Create playlists for your podcast within the Spotify app either by a theme, topic, or something specific to your niche. Then share it with your followers or within your episode to make it easier for them to binge that information.

Going back to Spotify for Podcasters, they have some new features that can help you have a little more choice in what’s being promoted on your page. For example,

• The recommendations feature. This is a great place for you to help promote shows you love. You can also promote playlists, so consider promoting the playlist you created above. Additionally, this is a perfect time to see if shows that are in a similar niche as you would be willing to collaborate or do a recommendation swap!
• The “best place to start” option. From the get-go, it does default to your latest episode, but if there’s a specific episode you wish to promote or feature on your podcast’s ‘About’ tab for your audience, this is a great place to do it.
• Episode previews. You also have the option to turn this on and select a quick clip (under a minute) to help showcase what that episode is about and help people discover your show.

To access any of these features you will again, get back into your Spotify for Podcasters account. Click on the Catalog” tab at the top.

This will take you to your podcasts — select your show. From there you will scroll down and select the “Details tab” where you can access/change all of these items.

Finally, for those who produce video podcasts (and are hosted on Spotify for Podcasters), don’t forget to include your video content there. This is an additional way to promote your podcast using video snippets and engage with a broader audience, recognizing that not everyone prefers to listen but watch as well!

Access Monetization Options

When it comes to monetization through Spotify, these features unfortunately are only going to be accessed if you host through them. But they still have some awesome options if you are on there.

For starters they have ad programs, these include…

• Ambassador Ads which are host-read ads
• Automated Ads (currently invite only) which are ads from other sponsors through the Spotify Audience Network. These are automatically inserted into ad breaks that you can choose.

Or tools where your fans can support you, such as…

• Setting up subscriptions (they even have a partnership with Patreon) — where you can create a monthly subscription plan allowing your listeners to subscribe for some additional content or perks.
• Donations — similar to the “buy a coffee” concept, Spotify offers an option for listeners to support their favorite shows by donation.

So, if you host on Spotify for Podcasters and are looking to dip your toe into monetizing your show, these features are a great place to get you started.

Conclusion

Whether you’re currently hosted on Spotify or not, getting your show on this platform is important to be able to help you connect with your audience, explore new promotional strategies, and potentially discover more avenues for monetizing your podcast.

Plus, the Spotify for Podcasters team is constantly growing and making changes. Even within their recent features update, they’ve hinted at even more exciting features on the horizon. So, tapping into Spotify will only lead to new potential in the future.

Aleea