Apple Podcasts is the "grand-daddy" of all podcast distribution outlets. 80%+ of podcasts are discovered in Apple Podcasts. Almost every "podchaser" platform in existence somehow links to Apple Podcasts as well as individual RSS feeds.

If you are not listed on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), you are missing out on a HUGE market of possible listeners!

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We have been talking about some of the ways podcasters used to use to increase their download numbers. Unethical ways. Methods that have mostly been done away with in actual numbers counting.

But you still may hear of these methods by some unscrupulous people that will try to manipulate and beat the system.

The IAB has implemented a series of changes that have become the industry standard in counting downloads. This is to bring almost every podcast hosting platform into compliance with industry accepted standards. This was to level the playing (and reporting) field to advertisers across the industry.

In our last episode, I covered the first two unethical ways that some podcasters have tried to beat the system. Stay away from those methods.

Trying to change your URL feed and trying to spam your social media accounts may give you a few more downloads, but the loss of reputation will far exceed the few additional downloads you will receive.

In addition, every download now indicates 60 seconds or more of listening time. So just because someone has received your file into their iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) account does not mean they listened to the file – and will not be counted as a download.

Today, I will give you two more methods to stay away from:

3. DO NOT set your online player to "auto-play!"

Youtube is an example of what I mean by auto-play.

Many people who see something "automatically" begin to download will stop it. Some will click off of the page altogether (and may not ever come back). I've seen some podcasters load a player to every page of their website (and set them all to "auto-play)!

Why do they do this?

All in an effort to get "one more download."

The new IAB rules will not count any of these efforts unless the visitor to your website listens for at least 60 seconds. So all you are really doing is “spamming” a visitor who is trying to find out some additional information on you, your podcast or your website and services.

DO NOT USE THIS METHOD!

4. Trying to increase download numbers by increasing the publication frequency!

Every episode published could increase your downloads exponentially (according to the number of subscribers you have).

For example, if you have 100 subscribers and publish 4 episodes per month, that is 400 downloads (assuming they all listen to every episodes for at least 60 seconds).

Now, if your increase your publication schedule to 5 days per week, that would mean 2000 downloads per month! WOW! That is awesome, right?

WRONG!

Statistics prove the shorter your podcast, the more listeners you will have.

If you increase the number of published episodes each week, your potential listeners have to dedicate more of their time to try and listen. You may end up losing listeners in the process! All why increasing your workload!

Instead, nurture your existing subscribers to share the episode link with THEIR followers. Let others do the work and you can see small, but steady increase in downloads!

Join me next time as we go over a few ways (ethically) you can use to see an increase in your download statistics.

Be sure to subscribe to this series so you will be notified when a new question is answered. If you have any questions about podcasting, visit my website at www.podcast-training.com and use the contact form to "Ask Bob!"

If you would like to watch the video I made for this episode, you can view it on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/aPxO6Hgt9LU

Before I get into answering that question, I want to take a couple of episodes to lay a foundation upon which we can build in answering that question. The foundation is one which will help you to focus on ethical ways to increase your download numbers.

First, let me give you some background on recent changes that were made (and implemented across the podcasting industry) that affect how downloads are counted.

Due to the popularity and growth of podcasting, advertisers wanted in on the possible exposure a podcast audience could be given to their services. But, back in 2014, there was no industry standard and an advertiser simply had to rely on the data provided by the podcasters.

In an effort to bring some conformity, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) came up with some standards that would help in this area. Although they were not mandatory, they released what is known as the “Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines” (version 1.0 in 2016 and version 2.0 in 2018).

The IAB then implemented a "certification and compliance" program that has now been adopted by the leading podcast hosting platforms. It is now the "industry standard" in counting downloads. The biggest thing you, as a podcaster, should be aware of is this: Any download stat you see means someone listened to that file for at least 60 seconds or more.

If someone clicks off at 59 seconds, it does not count.

This means you should not use "unscrupulous methods" in trying to increase your download statistics. Stay away from scammers who claim they can give you "thousands of downloads for $10" or whatever. Your reputation is more important in the podcasting world than your download numbers!

In the next few episodes, I am going to share a few ways some people are still trying to beat the system. I need to share these with you because you will see them out there. It is important for you to be able to recognize "what not to do" before you start implementing ideas to increase your download numbers.

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you will be notified when a new question is being answered! If you have a question about podcasting, go to my website at www.podcast-training.com and "Ask Bob" by filling out the contact form!

If you want to view the video I made for this episode, you can view on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/CiQkQ8AcojE