How to Use Apple Podcasts Connect to Its Fullest Potential
Your step-by-step guide to the back end of the platform that still drives the majority of podcast listens in the U.S.
Let’s set the record straight:
Apple Podcasts is still the most important distribution platform in podcasting. Full stop.
Yes, YouTube is getting louder. Yes, Spotify has made moves. But if you care about paid subscriptions, listener behavior data, and editorial curation, Apple Podcasts Connect is your Swiss Army knife.
This guide walks you through how to use Apple Podcasts Connect to its fullest potential — not just as a host dashboard, but as a growth engine, data lab, and monetization tool.
1. Set Up Your Show Correctly
Before we get to the advanced stuff, let’s make sure your foundation isn’t cracked.
✅ Submit through Apple Podcasts Connect - You ONLY have to do this once. If you’re switching producers, hosts, owners, etc. CLAIM the show via Apple’s self-directed help tool - doubling your RSS feed on the largest platform can cripple your show’s infrastructure. Reach out if you need help fixing this.
✅ Use proper category hierarchies — Apple uses these to recommend shows and the platform is highly contextual.
✅ Use high-quality, on-spec artwork (3000x3000, JPG or PNG, under 512KB)
✅ Write an Apple-optimized description — front-load your hook, and use search-friendly terms
✅ Include trailer episodes and bonus content where appropriate
Pro Tip: Choose your primary and sub-categories carefully. Chart placement and curated list consideration are DIRECTLY tied to this. If you’re a show about hunting and guns, be with the hunting and guns shows. Don’t submit to the business category. Why would you?
2. Understanding Your Listener Data
I love Apple’s analytics dashboard. The analytics offered are filtered, clean, and behaviorally rich. Here's what you get (and why it matters):
Key Metrics:
Starts – When a listener taps “play”
Listens – Apple counts when someone listens for at least 20 seconds
Engaged Listens – A deeper dive into the above “Listens” metric. The number of unique devices that played at least 20 minutes or 40% of an episode within a single session. Pausing or stopping an episode does not count as starting a new session.
Average Consumption – Percentage of episode consumed. This is GOLD.
Time Listened – Measures the amount of time your audio has played for for all users in your time frame.
Followers – A leading indicator of connection and future listening
Use this data to:
Find your “drop-off cliff” — do listeners fall off at 30%? 60%? Does your intro suck? What about your outro?
Test cold opens or ads — does a new intro increase starts or completions? You’d be surprised how many people drop off because that intro you love so much is too dang long.
Track what topics drive higher completion or retention
Remember: These are real behavior signals, not just download pings. Use them to inform what you do.
3. Monetize Through Apple Paid Subscriptions
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions gives you a native monetization layer built directly into the app. We’ve covered it in the past, and it’s powerful.
You can offer:
Ad-free versions
Exclusive episodes
Early access
Back catalog bundles
What You Need:
Enroll in the Apple Podcasters Program ($19.99/year)
Upload subscriber-only content directly via the Connect interface
Use custom pricing, free trials, and market-specific tiers
Stack Strategy: Pair Apple subs with a private RSS via Supercast for maximum flexibility.
4. Optimize for Discoverability
Want to show up on curated lists or Apple’s front page? You need more than luck.
Here’s how Apple’s editorial team finds shows:
Consistent publishing schedule
Strong listener engagement (especially follows and completions)
Clean audio + solid artwork
Strong performance within your category
Submit for promotion:
You can pitch your show for feature placement using Apple’s Showcase Submission Form.
Use it when launching a new show, series, season, or special event.
Pro Tip: Being on Page 1 of a parent category (like “News” or “Business”) increases your odds of getting seen by editors.
5. Manage Multiple Shows + Users
If you’re running a podcast network or managing multiple creators:
Apple Podcasts Connect allows user-level access controls
Add roles (Admin, Analyst, Contributor) with custom permissions
View all shows under one dashboard
This is great for freelancers, agencies, or networks trying to streamline show management.
6. Run Experiments and Learn What Works
You don’t need a lab coat, but you do need a hypothesis.
Try testing:
“Do episodes with guests outperform solo episodes in retention?”
“What happens to follows when I add early access perks?”
“Do trailer episodes increase the listen rate of the following episode?”
Use starts, listens, consumption, and followers to measure the impact.
TL;DR: Your Apple Podcasts Power Checklist
✅ Submit + categorize your show strategically
✅ Monitor listener behavior — not just downloads
✅ Offer paid subscriptions for recurring revenue
✅ Submit for feature placement
✅ Manage user roles and access for teams
✅ Use the data to run growth experiments
Want Help Auditing Your Apple Podcast Connect Setup?
Let’s make sure you’re not leaving money, listeners, or momentum on the table.
👉 Book a 1:1 podcast audit with me
We’ll walk through your Connect dashboard and I’ll give you a clear plan to level up.
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