How to build a profitable podcast.
This guide will show you EXACTLY how to start a podcast with Google Podcasts!
Podcasts are hot right now, and as someone who wants to start a podcast of their own, you have tons of options for picking the exemplary service to use.
Apple Podcast, Spotify, bCast, Google Podcasts, and that’s just to name a few…
The options are endless!
We provided a comprehensive guide on starting a podcast on Apple Podcasts, bCast, YouTube and Spotify in some of our previous posts.
On the other hand, listening to podcasts is easy with these endless options.
However, this ease of access has led many podcast listeners to wonder how to start a podcast and make their voices heard.
If you’re one of these people wondering how to start a podcast of your own, don’t worry — we have you covered with this guide on creating a successful podcast on Google Podcasts!
This guide to Google Podcasts will help you learn how to start a podcast on Google Podcasts, get the most out of Google Podcasts, and take your podcast from zero listeners to success!
Today, there are more than two million podcasts available worldwide. And you’ve probably heard of at least one of these — Serial, This American Life, The Joe Rogan Experience... all great shows that have successfully built large audiences through podcasting.
Google podcasts represent one of the most sought-after directories for every podcast that hopes to have a successful show. Although not as successful or, let us say, widespread as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it's starting to gain traction and fame.
Presently, there are more than one million podcasts registered on Google Podcasts, and the number will continue to increase – one of the reasons every new or old podcaster should put theirs on the platform.
And here’s some more good news: you don’t need much money or experience to start your podcast! All you need is a phone and some free software.
But if you’re looking to start your podcast today, you might be asking yourself the following questions:
We responded to these questions in our recent posts on starting a podcast.
Be that as it may, with so many questions swirling around in your head, it can feel pretty overwhelming when you’re just starting.
We created this guide for starting a podcast on Google Podcasts.
We’ll walk you through setting up your account, uploading audio files, adding cover art and descriptions, and editing episodes after they go live.
By following these steps carefully (and maybe enlisting some help along the way), you should be able to launch a successful podcast by next week!
Adding your podcast to Google Podcasts is one of those little things that can make a big difference in your podcast’s visibility and growth.
The five reasons below will get you interested in putting your podcast on Google Podcasts. Here are five reasons why you need to place your podcast on their platform
Let's dive into each of these reasons...
You don't have to pay anything to get your podcast listed with Google Podcasts.
It is great because we all have limited resources when starting with our podcasts.
As you grow, they offer paid options, but they're not necessary.
Once you've created an account with them, adding your podcast is super simple!
Go to their site, click Add a show, and follow their instructions.
They'll ask you questions about your podcast, such as what name people should search for, how many episodes you plan to release per week/month, etc.
Then once you've filled everything out, just click submit, and voila! Your podcast is live on Google Podcasts.
Not only does your podcast appear on Google Podcasts, but it also appears on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, bCast, and more.
If you want to expand beyond Apple users (which is fine!), you want to add your podcast to many platforms. By using Google Podcasts, you're able to accomplish that goal easily!
When you add your podcast to Google Podcasts, it automatically gets added to their directory, which means it shows up in searches.
People can find your podcast by searching through keywords or clicking on categories such as Arts & Entertainment or Business & Technology.
Millions of potential listeners could find and listen to your podcast through Google Podcasts, so give yourself some exposure!
Another reason why you might want to consider adding your podcast to Google Podcasts is if you already use other services from them.
For example, if you already use Gmail or Drive, having a presence on their podcasting platform gives your brand even more credibility.
Additionally, they offer analytics tools that allow you to see how well your content is doing across all of their different platforms.
These insights can help you decide where to focus your efforts to reach new audiences.
Now that you know why you should put your podcast on Google Podcasts let's talk about how…
Ensuring that your project meets Google’s requirements for including in its podcast catalogue is crucial for attracting new listeners.
Be sure to read over these terms and conditions closely before you start recording.
Do not skip any steps or misspell any words; Google Podcasts could remove your work from the listing if you do.
Note that even if your content is approved, it may take some time before it appears on search results, so don’t overthink getting immediate feedback.
Instead, focus on creating a great product.
To start publishing your podcast on Google Podcasts, you’ll first need to get your RSS feed link.
The RSS feed allows your content to be shared and published in podcasting apps and websites, giving your audience access to your material.
When creating an RSS feed, ensure that you have entered all of your episode descriptions to display on other sites where Google Podcasts can access it.
The only thing to do here is to wisely choose your hosting platform as it could make or break your business, and it's a huge factor contributing to the success of your show: There are many different platforms available for podcasters. However, one of our favourites is bCast.
When putting your podcast on Google Podcasts, we recommend using bCast as your podcast hosting partner because they make getting into Google Podcasts super easy.
Here are the steps to get your RSS feed link from bCast:
Check out our comprehensive guide on starting a podcast on Apple Podcasts. We provided a more comprehensive step-by-step direction on how to get your podcast on bCast so you can generate your RSS feed link.
And if you don’t feel comfortable with the Apple Podcasts process, you can consider starting a podcast on Spotify or even starting a podcast on YouTube.
Or you can start your podcast on all of these platforms.
We have it all covered.
So back to uploading your podcast on Google Podcasts…
Embed options and copy your RSS feed URL. The next step is to submit your podcast for it to be reviewed by the Google Podcasts team.
The process can take up to two weeks, but once approved will allow listeners in over 100 countries access.
The next step is to go to Google Podcasts manager to sign up for an account with your google email and click start now.
At that point, you’ll get to a new page requesting that you add your RSS feed link you receive from your podcast hosting partner, which in this case is bCast.
To have your podcast featured in Google Podcasts, you must submit the RSS feed link you received from bCast.
Like we earlier said, while starting your podcast on bCast, we are sure to input a show's unique name, title, description, and author name, and you have at least one episode of your show on your hosting partner platform.
After entering your podcast RSS feed link, the next step is to verify ownership of your show and make sure that someone else wouldn't come and claim it in the future.
We recommend that you use the email you used to open your podcast with your hosting partner - that’s how Google verifies that it belongs to you.
Google Podcasts manager will send you a mail through the email you provided. Also, make sure you have access to the email and that it is up to date.
To verify ownership after the email has been sent, you need to copy the code sent to you and paste it into the verification box of Google Podcasts manager and proceed to the next step.
Now that you have uploaded your RSS feed link and verified that the podcast belongs to you – you need to wait for Google to review your podcast manually.
Once it has been reviewed and approved, your podcast will go live. Approval usually takes a few days, but this can also vary.
Your show is now live and ready for listeners. There are several ways to promote your show, and different tactics will work better than others, depending on whom you’re targeting.
If you have previous experience in marketing or advertising, you may already know what tactics will be most effective.
However, if you don’t have much experience promoting products or services online, it can be tricky to determine which strategies will help get your podcast off the ground.
Here are some 27 tips to promote your show:
You created your podcast because you love doing it, right?
The best part about podcasting is that there are no limits on what you can do or how far you can go with your show.
You have complete control over everything, including your content, monetisation strategy, and promotion tactics.
Should you need extra tips and tricks in getting your podcast up and running, here are some other things you can do to help.
Finally, never underestimate how much work goes into making a good podcast. It may seem like a lot of fun at first, but it requires dedication and hard work to excel at what you are doing truly.
If you aren’t willing to put in at least 10 hours per week into making your show great, then maybe think twice before starting one altogether.
Once you get started, though, we wish you nothing but success! Good luck!
If you’re just starting, it can be overwhelming.
The best advice we can give is to look for online communities of podcasters and reach out. Subscribe to your favourite podcasts and find ways you can contribute; don’t see yourself as competition but rather another mouthpiece advocating for podcasting.
You’ll learn more than you could imagine and walk away with invaluable connections to grow your network like nothing else! Good luck, have fun, and remember:
It’s not about getting rich or famous — it’s about doing something you love!
