Getting your podcast on Alexa can be an exciting and rewarding experience, allowing you to access a whole new audience and share your message with the world. Alexa is Amazon’s virtual assistant technology, and it can be used to support podcasting. If you are planning on getting started with podcasting on Alexa, there are some important steps to follow.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide to getting your podcast on Alexa so that you can start sharing your podcast with an even wider audience. Let’s get started!
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Contents
Getting Your Podcast on Alexa by Submitting Your Podcast to TuneIn
This easy guide will walk you through submitting your podcast on TuneIn, a popular audio streaming service that Alexa uses to access podcasts.
Step 1: Create an Account on TuneIn
Before you can submit your podcast to TuneIn, you’ll need to create an account. To do this, simply head over to the TuneIn website and fill out the form.
Step 2: Submit Your Podcast RSS Feed
Once you have created your account, log in and locate the “Podcasts” tab at the top of the page. From here, click “Submit Podcast” and enter the RSS feed for your podcast.
Step 3: Wait for Approval
Once you have submitted your podcast, it will go through an approval process. TuneIn usually takes up to 5 business days to review submitted podcasts and will notify you if your podcast has been accepted.
Step 4: Log in to Alexa
Once your podcast has been accepted, you’ll need to log into the Alexa mobile app or website using your Amazon account information. Once logged in, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Add Podcasts and search for your approved podcast by name, and tap Apple Podcasts.
Step 5: Wait for Your Podcast to Appear on Alexa
Once you have added your podcast to the Alexa mobile app/website, it can take up to 24 hours before your podcast is available across all Alexa devices. When it’s ready, you’ll be able to ask Alexa to play Apple Podcasts such as “Alexa, play my podcast” or “Alexa, what are the latest episodes of my podcast or my recently played podcast?”
Following the steps outlined above will help you get started on Alexa and start reaching more listeners right away through the default podcast service.
Why do I Consider an Amazon Skill and Google Action Anyway?
Although the steps above will help your podcast appear on Alexa, creating an Amazon Skill or Google Action for your podcast will make it easier for listeners to discover, interact with and even subscribe to your podcast.
Creating a skill or action is a bit more involved than submitting to TuneIn, but there are plenty of resources available online that can walk you through the process.
By creating an Amazon Skill or Google Action, you can make your podcast more visible to Alexa users, allowing them to quickly and easily find the latest episodes of your podcast. This will help increase visibility and engagement with your podcast and ultimately result in a larger audience.
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What is Skill?
A Skill is an Alexa-enabled app that allows users to interact with your podcast in a more meaningful way. With a skill, Alexa users can ask questions such as “Alexa, what are the latest episodes of my podcast?” and get immediate answers. Furthermore, Skills can be used to allow listeners to subscribe or purchase specific episodes of your podcast.
What is Google Action?
Google Action is a voice-activated application that allows you to interact with your podcast on Google Home and other devices using Google Assistant. Similar to Amazon Skills, Actions allow users to ask questions such as “Hey Google, what are the latest episodes of my podcast?” and get immediate answers.
How to Link Your Podcast Service Account on Alexa
Now that you’ve added your latest episode to Alexa, follow these steps to link your account as well:
Step 1: Open The Alexa App
When you’re ready to get your podcast platform on Alexa, the first step is to open the Alexa App. This app can be found on both Android and Apple products, so no matter what device you have, you should be able to access it with ease. The opening process is user-friendly, so you should be able to get in and out of the app quite quickly.
Step 2: Select “More,” Then Select “Settings”
Once you have the Alexa App open, your next step is to select “More” in the bottom right corner, then select “Settings.” From there, you will be presented with a list of settings options that you can choose from. This step is important as it will allow you to customize your podcast for Alexa.
Step 3: Under “Alexa Preferences,” Select “Music & Podcasts”
Once you’re in the Settings menu, scroll down until you see the section for “Alexa Preferences.” From here, you should select “Music & Podcasts.” This will open up a new page that allows you to customize your podcast experience on Alexa.
Step 4: Select “Link New Service”
When you’re on the Music & Podcasts page, you should select “Link New Service.” This will take you to a page where you can search for and link your podcast to Alexa. Once you have selected “Link New Service,” all that’s left to do is search for your podcast in the search bar. Once you have found it, simply click on it and tap “Link” to connect your podcast to Alexa.
Step 5: Tap “Enable To Use”
If you haven’t enabled the Apple podcasts skill before, you will have to do so now. To do this, simply select “Enable to Use,” and your podcast should be enabled in Alexa. Now that your podcast is connected to Alexa, it can be accessed by anyone who has an Amazon Echo device or the Alexa App. Sometimes, your podcast may not be available for everyone to hear right away. If this is the case, you will have to wait 24 hours for it to become available on Alexa.
Step 6: Select Settings, Then Link Account
If a pop-up window doesn’t appear after you’ve enabled the skill, select “Settings” and then “Link Account.” This will take you to a page where you can link your podcast account with Alexa. After this is complete, your podcast should appear in search results for anyone who uses an Amazon Echo device or the Alexa device.
Step 7: Follow The On-Screen Instructions
Once your podcast is linked to Alexa, follow the instructions on the screen and set up any additional features or favorite podcast services you may need. This could include setting a default language for your podcast (if available), enabling additional search options such as genres, and more. Play episode commands to listen to podcasts, and podcast subscriptions are also available for you to activate.
Step 8: Monitor Your Podcast
Once your podcast is live on Alexa, make sure to monitor it closely. This will help you identify any issues that may arise and allow you to address them quickly. Moreover, monitoring your podcast will help you measure its success over time and understand how it’s being received by the audience. Podcast playing analytics can also be accessed through the Alexa App, Amazon Echo device, or any other favorite podcast app.
All of these steps should help you get your podcast on Alexa in no time, plus give your podcast the potential to reach a larger audience. Your podcast name and content will now be available through Alexa and its audience of millions.
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Conclusion
Now that you know how to get your podcast on Alexa, you can start enjoying the many benefits that come with being part of the Amazon family. Not only will it give your listeners the convenience of easy access to your show, but it will also open up new marketing and promotional opportunities.
With more people using Alexa today than ever before, this is an exciting time for podcasters to expand their reach and grow their audience. So, what are you waiting for? So play podcasts on Alexa now but don’t forget to have fun with it too!
For further reading, check out our post, “Should I Upload My Podcast To Multiple Platforms?“
