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Libsyn’s VP of Podcaster Relations, Rob Walch, was part of a podcasting panel at the Radio Show in Dallas, Wednesday morning, and he rattled off a ton of great advice for every podcaster who now has a show, or anyone thinking about launching a show.
Walch said 60% of all podcast listens are still going through Apple’s podcast app so you have to make sure your show is on Apple podcasts. “If you don’t you don’t have a podcast.” Although Spotify is making gains in the space, it is still a distant second, with only 13% of podcast listening.
Walch also said to make sure you have search value in your episodes. Pay special attention to your artwork. The more creative the artwork, the better chance you have of getting noticed by Apple. “New & Noteworthy is curated by people. You cannot game that system. Your artwork must be unique. And, do not put text in the bottom 20% of your artwork.” Walch said text in that area of your artwork is an automatic no from Apple.
Other advice Walch had for podcasters: - Make sure your podcast is everywhere, on any device podcasts can be played. - Give listeners a way to interact with you. - There is no ideal length for a podcast. “People do like longer shows. It’s not radio….it’s endless.”
He also advised podcasters to be wary of ad insertion companies that claim they can track listeners. “In podcasting, there is no opt-in. You cannot be tracked. So be careful who you use for ad insertion. Tracking is illegal because there is no place for the podcast listener to opt in.”
Walch co-hosts The Feed, the official Libsyn podcast, with Elsie Escobar. On the show, Walch always gives out great stats about podcast listening.
Note: This corrects an earlier story which stated Apple did not want any text in podcast artwork. That was incorrect. It is the lower 20%.