How to Rank on Apple Podcasts
Do you want to know how to rank for Apple Podcast Top 200 Charts? Of course you do! I see so many podcasters stuck at 50 – 150 downloads per episode and it breaks my heart. Podcasting isn’t easy! Why do you think 90% of podcasts don’t make it past the 3rd episode?
So what’s the secret? How can you get a show ranking on Apple Podcasts?
First, and foremost, you have to do your research. If you didn’t make a show for a specific person, you didn’t make it for anyone! If every week you’re struggling to think of topics or find guests, you don’t have a podcast strategy and your podcast won’t succeed.
My best advice is to create a listener profile. This is something we do in marketing all the time and I think it’s the only answer to successful podcasting. It’s what got The Aspiring Stylist to 50 on Apple Podcasts’ Beauty chart in just 10 weeks.
Like all the major podcasting platforms, Apple Podcasts is keeping their ranking algorithms close to the chest, but here are the proven strategies and insights I’ve gathered over the past 3 years that can help improve your rankings and visibility on Apple Podcasts.
2024 Strategies for Ranking Higher on Apple Podcasts:
Content Worth Making:
The foundation of every successful podcast is compelling content created for your target audience’s interests, questions, and pain points. Understanding your audience completely is the first step toward producing content that resonates and engages.
Picking Your Primary Category:
From the beginning choosing the right primary category on Apple Podcasts can significantly impact your visibility and rankings. Do research and carefully choose a niche category where you can build a strong presence before targeting broader, more competitive categories.
Ask for Ratings and Reviews:
Quality reviews and ratings are imperative for improving your podcast’s rank. Actively ask your listeners to leave reviews. (I’d ask twice an episode if possible.) You can offer incentives or host giveaways as motivation or simply provide clear instructions (and reminders) on how to rate and review your podcast. Explain to listeners that if you’ve been able to bring value into their life, you’d love to be able to share it with more people. It’s that simple!
Focus on Increasing Subscribers:
The number of new followers or “subscribers” within a short period is a crucial factor in Apple Podcast’s ranking. Leverage your personal network and use social media to maximize subscriptions, especially within the critical first 48 hours after an episode release.
Optimize Your Podcast’s Visual and Audio First Impressions:
As you know, your title, cover art, and trailer will play a huge role in attracting new listeners to your podcast. Pay attention to Apple’s guidelines for creating visually appealing cover art and compelling trailers that accurately reflect your podcast’s theme and content.
Using Apple’s Link Maker for Promotion:
This might go without saying but every platform wants you to use their links. By promoting your podcast across social media platforms using Apple’s Link Maker tool you’re sending them directly to Apple Podcasts. This tool will help you to generate direct links to your podcast, improving discoverability and ease of access.
Monitor and Analyze Performance:
Track your podcast’s performance using tools like Apple Podcasts Connect and your podcast hosting. This data will provide insights into listener behavior and highlight areas for improvement.
Consistency is Key:
Maintaining a regular publishing schedule and consistently delivering high-quality content is essential for building and retaining an engaged audience, which in turn positively impacts your rankings on Apple Podcasts.
While ranking on Apple Podcasts brings credibility and more listeners to your show, remember that there’s nothing more important than creating purposeful content for your audience. If you’re serving your audience, the rest will fall into place. I promise!
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Hi, I’m Morgan Franklin. I help business owners and podcasters make money from their podcast. Whether you’re a business owner tired of trying to cut through the noise of social media, a podcaster trying to monetize their existing podcast or you want to start a podcast that will engage listeners and create future buyers. You’ve come to the right place! Through my podcast, 1:1 strategic planning, courses and free resources I’ve helped countless podcasters and future podcasters and I can’t wait to talk to you!
