Help understanding the timing of a new podcast launch on iTunes / acast
December 19, 2016 9:42 AM Subscribe
Hi! I’m working with a few folks on a new podcast. We’re trying to understand some questions around the timing of how to submit our podcast to itunes (and acast). We’re finding it hard to figure out, so I’m asking here.
Here’s our situation:
- We have a new podcast series. It’s being hosted on acast. Of course we want it to be on iTunes, and any other relevant places.
- We’re all new at podcasts, and trying to figure this out as we go along.
- We’ve sort of committed ourselves to a “launch date” of January 9, 2017. We’ve been sending out press releases saying that’s when it launches. And we’d holding a launch party on that date. We have a bit of a pre-existing audience (the podcast is the online version of a popular live event), so we’ve been telling people the podcast is “coming soon” on that date.
We’re trying to understand how to time this.
- In a perfect world, we would love it if the podcast went live to the world right on the date we are planning for (or maybe, like a day before), all ready and looking great.
Our number one priority is to make sure it is live on that date. (We plan to launch with five episodes ready to go).
But, as a secondary priority, we’d also like to keep the podcast *off* the air as long as possible before the launch. (Because we want to be able to really launch on that date, if possible. We want to build up some anticipation in our existing audience, and we have a schedule to do that, and we don’t want to tell folks the podcast is “coming soon” when it’s actually already online. )
I’d love advice on how to proceed. From what we can tell, the itunes approval process is unpredictable.
Here’s our situation:
- We have a new podcast series. It’s being hosted on acast. Of course we want it to be on iTunes, and any other relevant places.
- We’re all new at podcasts, and trying to figure this out as we go along.
- We’ve sort of committed ourselves to a “launch date” of January 9, 2017. We’ve been sending out press releases saying that’s when it launches. And we’d holding a launch party on that date. We have a bit of a pre-existing audience (the podcast is the online version of a popular live event), so we’ve been telling people the podcast is “coming soon” on that date.
We’re trying to understand how to time this.
- In a perfect world, we would love it if the podcast went live to the world right on the date we are planning for (or maybe, like a day before), all ready and looking great.
Our number one priority is to make sure it is live on that date. (We plan to launch with five episodes ready to go).
But, as a secondary priority, we’d also like to keep the podcast *off* the air as long as possible before the launch. (Because we want to be able to really launch on that date, if possible. We want to build up some anticipation in our existing audience, and we have a schedule to do that, and we don’t want to tell folks the podcast is “coming soon” when it’s actually already online. )
I’d love advice on how to proceed. From what we can tell, the itunes approval process is unpredictable.
Most major podcast launches I've seen recently have posted the feed at least a week or two early, with a trailer or teaser. Then you can get people to subscribe ahead of time and get the first actual episode as soon as it goes up. I'm not sure how long it takes a brand new show to propagate through iTunes, but this avoids that issue.
posted by primethyme at 9:47 AM on December 19, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by primethyme at 9:47 AM on December 19, 2016 [5 favorites]
Seconding the teaser idea. That way people can subscribe when the hear about it (you could even link to it in your marketing), instead of needing to remember for a week or two that they need to look it up on your launch day.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:54 AM on December 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:54 AM on December 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've submitted quite a few podcast feeds to iTunes over the past 8 years or so. They've generally gotten better at turning them around, but it still takes between 3-5 business days. If I were you, I'd take the advice of the posters above and create a short "teaser" episode that you can place in the feed, because you need a valid feed for iTunes to accept the submission and post it to the iTunes Store.
Based on that holiday schedule you posted, I'd do this sooner rather than later.
posted by Automocar at 10:11 AM on December 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Based on that holiday schedule you posted, I'd do this sooner rather than later.
posted by Automocar at 10:11 AM on December 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ManInSuit at 9:44 AM on December 19, 2016