Podcast Launch Checklist
Launching a podcast involves dozens of moving parts most new hosts only discover when something breaks. This checklist walks you through pre-launch, feed and directory setup, and launch day so nothing gets missed.
PodcastingPDF6 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- A pre-launch foundation list covering name, art, and positioning
- A technical setup list for hosting, feed, and directory submissions
- A launch-day promotion plan to maximize the first-week download window
- A branded, print-ready PDF you can check off as you go
How to use this template
- 1. Build the foundation first. Nail the show name, artwork, and one-line positioning before any recording. These are hard to change once directories index them.
- 2. Set up hosting and the feed. Choose a host, configure the RSS feed, and validate it before submitting anywhere. A broken feed on day one is the most common launch failure.
- 3. Submit to every directory early. Apple and Spotify can take days to approve. Submit before your launch date so the show is live everywhere when you promote it.
- 4. Launch with 3 episodes. Publish at least three episodes at once so first-time listeners can binge and the algorithm sees engagement, not a single sample.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
2 of 6 sections shown; the remaining 4 come with the free download.
What is a podcast launch checklist?
A podcast launch checklist is the ordered list of everything that has to happen before and on the day a new show goes public: the name and artwork, the hosting account and RSS feed, validation, directory submissions, and the promotion you run once the first episodes are live.
Launching is the one part of podcasting you do only once per show, so there is no habit to fall back on. The expensive mistakes are all cheap to catch early: a name already taken on three platforms, artwork that is unreadable at thumbnail size, a feed that fails validation after you have submitted it.
Pre-launch foundation
Decide these before recording. They're expensive to change later.
- Lock the show name and check it's available on directories and socials
- Write a one-line positioning statement (who it's for + the promise)
- Create 3000x3000 cover art that's legible as a thumbnail
4 more sections and the PDF are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is a podcast hosting platform that stores your audio files, generates an RSS feed, and distributes your show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and every major directory.
$15/mo
Transistor
Transistor is a podcast hosting platform that lets you host unlimited shows, distribute to every major listening app, and track listener analytics from a single dashboard.
$19/mo
Captivate
Captivate is a podcast hosting platform built for growth-focused podcasters.
$19/mo
Spotify for Podcasters
Spotify for Podcasters is a free podcast hosting platform that lets you upload audio and video episodes, distribute to all major directories, and access listener analytics, without paying a cent.
$0/mo
Auphonic
Auphonic is an AI-powered audio post-production service that automatically levels, normalizes loudness, reduces noise, and masters your podcast audio to broadcast standards.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: Podcast Hosting Platforms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a podcast launch checklist?
It is the sequenced list of launch tasks for a new show, from naming and artwork through hosting, feed setup, directory submission, and launch-day promotion. Working through it in order keeps you from discovering a blocker the week you planned to go live.
How many episodes should I launch a podcast with?
Launch with at least three episodes. It lets first-time listeners binge, signals an active show to directory algorithms, and gives you a buffer so you're not scrambling to record while also promoting the launch.
How long before launch should I submit to Apple and Spotify?
Submit at least a week early. Apple Podcasts review can take one to five days, and you want the show live and rendering correctly everywhere before you point any promotion at it. Submitting a trailer episode early is a clean way to do this.
Do I need a trailer episode?
It is the easiest way to de-risk a launch. A 90-second trailer gives Apple something to review weeks early, so you can confirm the feed and artwork render correctly everywhere before real episodes exist. It also gives you a link to share while you finish recording.
What makes podcast cover art fail?
Detail that disappears at small sizes. Most people first see your art at roughly 150 pixels in a list of other shows, so a long subtitle, a thin typeface, or a busy photo turns to mush. Export at 3000x3000, then shrink it and check it still reads.