Our Apple Podcasts Subscription Support feature allows you to publish content to your Apple Podcasts Subscription directly from your Simplecast dashboard, making it easier than it's ever been to monetize your show and provide exclusive content to your most dedicated listeners.
The initial setup process is a bit more involved than the normal distribution submission process, but once set up, it's incredibly easy to use!
Know before you start:
- You'll need to have an active membership to the Apple Podcasters Program. This requires a nominal recurring annual fee.
- Integrating this feature within Simplecast requires that you generate an API Key from the Account tab of your Apple Podcasts Connect dashboard. Once you've done so, be sure to download the API Key from Apple Podcasts Connect.
Getting Set Up In Apple Podcasts Connect
1. Log into Apple Podcasts Connect
2. Click the '+' symbol, and select NEW SHOW (unless you have an existing subscription-based show already set up in Apple Podcasts. In that case, skip to Step 8.)
3. When prompted to choose a show type, select ADD A SHOW WITH AN RSS FEED and click NEXT.
4. When prompted to ADD AN RSS FEED, paste in the Simplecast feed URL for the show you'll be using.
You can find this feed URL in your Simplecast dashboard by clicking on the GEAR ICON in the upper lefthand corner dropdown menu, then selecting DISTRIBUTION from the lefthand side menu.
5. When prompted to MANAGE USER ACCESS, select which of your Team Members within Apple Podcasts Connect can access this show.
📌 Note: these are not related to your Simplecast Team Members. You may or may not have/need Team Members set up within Apple Podcasts Connect.
6. Determine whether or not this show will be distributed through the Apple Podcasts Catalog. (e.g.: if you'll offer bonus episodes to paid subscribers for a show that is otherwise free, you can leave this option checked. Conversely, if this is a show that will exclusively be available to paid subscribers in Apple Podcasts, you can uncheck this option.)
7. If you've not yet set up a Subscription within Apple Podcasts, you'll want to follow their steps here to create that subscription. If you have set up your subscription, skip ahead to Step 8.
8. Follow the steps provided by Apple Podcasts to generate an API Key for your show from the Account tab of your Apple Podcasts Connect dashboard.
Getting Set Up In Simplecast
1. Click on the GEAR ICON in the upper lefthand corner dropdown menu
2. Select DISTRIBUTION from the lefthand side menu
3. Click on the APPLE PODCASTS SUBSCRIPTIONS field in the SUBSCRIPTION CHANNELS section.
4. Click on the ADD NEW button
5. Upload the API KEY provided by APPLE PODCASTS, give it a user-friendly name, then select SAVE.
📌 Note: if you or one of your Simplecast team members has already added this key, you can select it by name from the APPLE PODCASTS API KEY dropdown, rather than re-uploading the file. It will be visible to all team members.
6. Paste in your APPLE SHOW ID. You can find this ID in your Apple Podcasts Connect dashboard.
7. Click CONNECT TO APPLE.
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Publishing to your Apple Podcasts Subscription
Now that your Apple Podcasts Subscription is set up, you can publish to it in essentially the same way you publish to any regular Simplecast feed. On the EPISODE PREVIEW page, simply choose APPLE SUBSCRIPTION as the feed to which you're publishing the episode!
Things to Note
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All analytics for your Subscription Show will be available exclusively in Apple Podcasts Connect. They will not be available in your Simplecast dashboard.
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The Simplecast Intro/Outros feature is not supported in Subscription Shows
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Still have questions? We'd be happy to answer them. You can reach our Support Team at support@simplecast.com!