What are the most common mistakes when submitting your podcast to Spotify?

1 Mistake 1: Not having a clear and consistent podcast name

Your podcast name is the first thing that potential listeners will see on Spotify, and it should reflect your content, tone, and niche. A vague, generic, or misleading name can confuse or deter your audience, and make it harder for them to find you. Additionally, Spotify requires that your podcast name matches the name you use on other platforms, such as your website, RSS feed, and social media. If you have different names, you risk losing your verification status, your ratings, and your followers.

2 Mistake 2: Not using a valid RSS feed

Your RSS feed is the link that connects your podcast host to Spotify, and it should contain all the necessary information about your podcast, such as your title, description, cover art, categories, and episodes. If your RSS feed is invalid, incomplete, or outdated, Spotify will not be able to process your podcast submission, or update your podcast when you publish new episodes. To avoid this mistake, you should use a reliable podcast host that provides a valid RSS feed, and check it regularly for errors or changes.

3 Mistake 3: Not following the technical specifications

Spotify has some specific technical requirements for your podcast audio files, cover art, and metadata. For example, your audio files should be in MP3 format, with a bitrate of 96 kbps or higher, and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz or higher. Your cover art should be a square image of at least 1400 x 1400 pixels, in JPEG or PNG format, and less than 20 MB in size. Your metadata should include accurate and relevant information about your podcast and episodes, such as titles, descriptions, categories, and keywords. If you do not follow these specifications, Spotify may reject your podcast or display it incorrectly.

4 Mistake 4: Not claiming your podcast on Spotify for Podcasters

Spotify for Podcasters is a dashboard that allows you to manage your podcast on Spotify, access your analytics, interact with your listeners, and monetize your podcast. However, to use this dashboard, you need to claim your podcast on Spotify for Podcasters, using the same email address that you use for your podcast host. If you do not claim your podcast, you will not be able to access these features, and you will miss out on valuable insights and opportunities.

6 Mistake 6: Not optimizing your podcast for discovery

Spotify uses an algorithm to recommend podcasts to its users, based on their listening habits, preferences, and interests. To increase your chances of being discovered by new listeners, you need to optimize your podcast for Spotify's algorithm, as well as for human search. Some ways to optimize your podcast for discovery include choosing relevant and specific categories and keywords for your podcast and episodes, using clear and catchy titles and descriptions that include your main topic and keywords, updating your podcast regularly with fresh and engaging content, and encouraging your listeners to follow, rate, and share your podcast on Spotify.