Apple Podcasts is a behemoth in the podcasting world, and for good reason. It offers a massive audience and a platform for creators to share their stories, ideas, and expertise. But with great power comes great responsibility, and Apple has a set of guidelines that creators need to follow to ensure their shows are approved and stay afloat.
In this Backlinko-inspired guide, we’ll break down Apple’s podcasting guidelines into easy-to-understand sections, so you can focus on creating incredible content and avoid any unnecessary roadblocks.
Delivering the Goods: Content Quality and Accuracy
- Be Upfront and Accurate: From titles and descriptions to episode content, everything should truthfully represent what listeners are getting.
- Flag Explicit Content: If your podcast ventures into NSFW territory, make sure to mark episodes as “Explicit” so listeners know what to expect.
- No Self-Censorship Here: Apple handles explicit language filtering automatically, so don’t shy away from using strong words in your metadata.
- Don’t Fake It: Copying other shows or impersonating someone else is a big no-no. Be yourself and create original content.
- Keep it Honest: Play fair! Don’t try to manipulate ratings, reviews, or listens. Let your content speak for itself.
- Full Show, Please: Don’t upload trailers or snippets. Apple Podcasts wants full-fledged episodes, or at least a regular cadence of new content if you’re offering a subset of your library.
- Focus on Value, Not Ads: While ads are okay, your podcast shouldn’t be one long advertisement. Provide valuable content that keeps listeners engaged.
- Respect Copyrights: Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Make sure you have the rights to everything you include in your podcast.
- No Password Walls: Apple Podcasts doesn’t allow password-protected content. Your show needs to be freely accessible.
- Uniqueness Matters: Avoid submitting duplicate content. If you want to update an episode, simply upload a replacement.
- Don’t Impersonate Apple: Unless you’re Apple itself, don’t use their trademarks in a way that suggests your podcast is affiliated with them.
Keeping it Clean: Avoiding Harmful Content
- Obey the Law: This one’s a no-brainer. Your podcast’s content needs to comply with all local laws and regulations.
- Watch Out for Harmful Material: Content that promotes violence, hate speech, or self-harm is strictly prohibited.
- Be Sensitive to Culture: Be mindful of cultural sensitivities when distributing your podcast to different regions.
Monetization Done Right: Advertising and Subscriptions
- Follow Advertising Laws: When it comes to ads, make sure you’re following all the legal guidelines, especially regarding disclosure and content restrictions.
For creators who want to take the subscription route, here are some additional rules to keep in mind:
- Deliver What You Promise: Be clear and upfront about what subscribers get for their money. Update this information if anything changes.
- No Duplicates: Apple Podcasts doesn’t allow duplicate shows. If you offer free and paid versions, link them properly.
- Premium Experience, Please: Don’t charge for content that’s available for free elsewhere, and don’t offer exclusive benefits (like ad-free listening) that listeners can get for free on other platforms.
- Keep Up the Value: Subscriptions are meant to be ongoing, so provide consistent value to your subscribers.
- Fair Pricing: Subscription pricing is up to you, but Apple can reject excessively high or unfair prices.
Accurate Accompaniment: Transcript Guidelines
- Matchmaker, Matchmaker: If you provide transcripts for your podcast, make sure they accurately reflect the actual content of each episode.
By following these Apple Podcasts guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to podcasting success. Remember, these guidelines can change over time, so keep an eye out for updates from Apple. Now get out there and create something amazing!