Updated August 23, 2021
Google Podcasts offers recommendations to their users based on similar content that they follow. This is a great way to be discovered by a wider audience. However, Google is changing its requirements for shows to qualify to be featured as recommendations. The new requirements must be met by September 21, 2021.
Now, if you received the notification from Google, you may be scratching your head as to how you can move forward. But don't worry, we're here to walk you through it the changes.
Cover art
Google will no longer promote shows whose RSS feeds do not include a "valid, crawlable image". What that means is that your podcast needs cover art. Updating your artwork within the Acast dashboard is so simple. And once you've taken care of that, your RSS feed will reflect the changes automatically.
Helpful tips:
Changing your show's cover art. Here we walk you through how to update your work from within your dashboard.
Not sure where to get started? This article will walk you through helpful hints for inspiration.
Podcast Websites
Another new requirement reads that "RSS feeds must include correctly formatted link to valid homepage". This just means your podcast needs a website. Luckily, all Acast plans come with websites for our podcasters and it only takes a few short minutes to set up.
Helpful tips:
Your podcast website with Acast. This helpful article will show you that turning on your podcast website is as easy as flipping a switch. Really. Our Influencer and Ace users also have access to tools to customize their website to complement their show art.
And that's it. Once you ensure that your cover art is updated and your website is activated, your RSS feed will update automatically, ensuring you qualify to continue to be featured in Google Podcasts recommendations.
FAQ
If I don't make these changes by September 21st, will my show be removed from Google Podcasts?
No. It will simply not be eligible for recommendations. But current subscribers will still receive notifications and be able to listen through this platform.
Is this all I need to do to meet Google's new requirements?
Google has enforced a number of other requirements, but if you're podcasting with Acast, you already meet them. For example, Google requires podcasters to now have an email address and show description, which are both already needed to publish with Acast.
How else can I make changes to my RSS feed?
This article walks you through all the changes you can make to your RSS feed right from within the Acast dashboard.