Podcast launch & promotion checklist
Transistor Team
Here's a marketing checklist for launching a new podcast:
Pre-launch checklist
Choose your podcast name
Create podcast cover art
Record trailer episode
Publish trailer episode
Submit to Apple Podcasts
Submit to Spotify
Create a "coming soon" web page
Create an email waiting list
Set up social profiles for your podcast (Twitter, Instagram, FB, LinkedIn)
Create a profile on Podyssey.fm
Create a profile on Podchaser.com
Get confirmation from Apple Podcast
Email waiting list: "Subscribe (and rate) in Apple Podcasts, Spotify"
Click here for an interactive version of this list.
Regular episode promotion checklist
Record episode
Schedule episode
Create an animated video clip for social (use Headliner.app)
Email your waiting list about the episode
Promote the episode on social media
Promote, and rate, the episode on Podyssey.fm
Promote, and rate, the episode on Podchaser.com
Podcast marketing tips
Your podcast's name:
It helps if you can include topical keywords in the title of your podcast. For example:
❌ Steve Smith – the modern agrarian
✅ The Farming Podcast by Steve Smith
However, this doesn't mean your name should be generic! Tom Webster recommends making up a brand name that is unique, and easy to search: "Brandsavant" and "The Freenoter" are two examples.
Your podcast's cover art:
Make sure your art stands out on Apple Podcasts.
We've made a special preview tool here.
Record and publish your trailer episode as soon as you can
It can take 5-8 days to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts. Publish a trailer episode right away so you can submit to Apple and Spotify, and start building anticipation (and subscribers) for your podcast.
Make your podcast's teaser should be short (1-5 minutes) and energetic.
An email list is one of the best ways to launch a podcast
Building an email list will help you build up anticipation. Also: when you launch, you'll have a group of fans ready to listen and share your trailer with their friends.
The best way to do this is to have a "coming soon" web page for your podcast.
Embed an email form from MailChimp or ConvertKit, and start collecting subscribers.
Look for a podcast hosting company that helps do all this
We provide an embeddable player, a built-in website, and the other tools you'll need to launch and promote your podcast.