TPU84 – Stop Asking Listeners to Write Reviews on Apple Podcasts – Here’s Why!

One of the most common calls to action that we as podcasters have been using is to ask our listeners to write reviews on Apple Podcasts just so that it helps in the ranking of the show there.

But does it really work and is it something worth doing?

In this episode, I will tell you why I stopped doing that and some alternative approaches that can yield better results.

A lot of podcasters, especially when they are starting off, ask their listeners to review and rate the show on Apple podcasts or, for that matter on whatever platform they are listening to the show on.

Thanks to the numerous blog posts and advice out there, we have always been thinking that this is going to make a huge impact on the way Apple ranks the shows on their charts.

But turns out this was all false.

Just do a quick check on Apple Podcasts for some of the top podcasts. You won’t find a ton of reviews or, ratings for them even.

Why?

Because the hosts are not asking the listeners to do that and even if they are doing it, it isn’t something that you or, I as a listener will be comfortable doing.

Why you should stop asking listeners to write reviews on Apple Podcasts!

Let me ask you a question.

Have you ever tried writing a review for a podcast on Apple Podcasts?

Try doing it and you will understand how much of a pain it is especially if you are not using a Mac or, an iPhone.

Not all my listeners are listening to the show on Apple Podcasts. There are other platforms like Spotify, Google podcasts, etc. that too are preferred listening platforms.

Now if you don’t have an Apple device then it is unlikely that you will be using Apple Podcast to listen to the show unless of course you are doing it on your computer and you have iTunes installed.

So, if you are to write a review for my podcast then there are a lot of variables involved.

What are the chances then that you will go and do that?

Negligible!

Which in reality is the truth!

I, as a listener wouldn’t want to take all of that trouble to go write reviews on Apple Podcasts, taking so much pain.

Now, if you look at what good that will do me as a podcaster, then the truth is that everything that you have already read and heard about Apple using these reviews and ratings to rank shows is all big fat lies.

Go through the rankings and you will find that there are so many podcasts that barely have any reviews or, ratings that show up on the top.

And then there are podcasts with so many reviews and ratings that don’t even feature anywhere. You have to search to find or, see those podcasts.

While, I don’t want to discount it completely and it could be a factor in them deciding on the rankings, the weightage for this would be barely 5-6% and not more than that.

Now what are the chances that this will work with other podcast-listening apps?

None. ZERO!

Most of the prominent podcast-listening apps don’t really have that functionality built into them, at least until now. So this isn’t really going to work on these apps.

In that case, why waste a valuable call to action on something that doesn’t really produce any results?

My recommendation is to not use a call to action that asks listeners to write reviews on Apple podcasts or, for that matter any listening apps. Instead, use something that can give you some concrete results.

But then one of the questions that you would have in mind is, “But Dilip, reviews act as an endorsement for the podcast which will help in gaining more listeners. So wouldn’t it be a bad idea to not ask for reviews?”

True.

indeed, reviews act as endorsements.

That is why I don’t completely write them off.

And I am not saying that you should not ask for reviews at all.

What I meant to say is, “don’t ask people to write reviews on Apple podcasts or, other listening apps, for the show”.

Instead, let me tell you about a couple of fool-proof and effective ways of gathering reviews.

Other Effective ways of Gathering reviews!

Here are a few other effective ways of gathering reviews.

But in order for these to work, you will need a website and a system to build an email list.

1. Ask your listeners to write a review on your website. They can do that using a “contact us” form on your website or, use a good WordPress plugin like Thrive Ovation which is what I use to gather reviews and testimonials. That is if you have a website that runs on WordPress.
2. Ask your listeners to record a quick 1-minute testimonial or, review and send it to you on social media, and you will display a random testimonial on your social media page every week or, something like that. You can use Instagram, Twitter, or any other platform of your choice to do it. The chances of your listeners on these social channels are more.
3. You can ask your listeners to respond to any of the episode update emails that you send them and write a review in it. But for this to work you will need to build an email list using your podcast. While it is one additional activity, this method can be extremely effective.

Even when you prefer to use any of these 3 techniques, something that you might want to keep in mind is that nobody does anything for FREE.

While you might be feeling that you are giving out a lot of value and that the listeners should hence write a review for you, that is not how it works.

The listeners need to be given something for them to feel that writing a review is lucrative.

Now that is something you might want to put some thought into and decide on.

What kind of a reward will you offer your listeners to write a review for your show?

We will keep that discussion for another episode.

But for now comment below and let me know what you think will be a good reward.

Thank you for joining

Thank you all for joining me on this episodes.

I hope you found value in the discussion today. If you did, then don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your favorite platform.

The links to the major ones are mentioned below –

Also if you could take a minute and write a review for the show or, record a 1-minute testimonial and send it to me, I would sincerely love it.

Once you have done it, just drop me a note and I will send you a “Podcast Launch Checklist” that will show you the critical things you need to keep handy to launch your podcast the right way.

And if you are new to podcasting and want to start a podcast, then join my FREE 10-day ecourse on “How to Start a Podcast“.

Recommended Resources for Podcasting

Here are some of the recommended resources for Podcasting. These are the ones that I personally use and am satisfied with and hence am recommending them.

• Acast Podcast hosting – Acast is my favorite podcast hosting company. They have excellent customer support, have a pocket-friendly plan, and even have a free option with no limits.
• Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
• Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast. Go to zencastr.com/pricing and use my code “thepodu” You’ll get 30 percent off your first three months of Zencastr professional.
• Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
• Blue Yeti USB Microphone – My recommended microphone
• Tidycal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
• Fusebox – Embeddable Podcast Player
• Descript – Audio Editing, Transcription and Video editing software

AMAZON DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Podcasting University is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

MICROPHONES –

1. ATR-2100x
2. MAONO AU-HD300T : https://geni.us/ro48q
3. Maono AU-WDM01 : https://geni.us/PhZ3V2v
4. Samson Q2U – https://geni.us/k9cuk
5. Audio Technica AT 2035 – https://geni.us/g2URDI
6. Rode NT USB – https://geni.us/O6b65K
7. Shure MV7X – https://geni.us/w7rZ4

AUDIO INTERFACE –

1. Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 – https://geni.us/gBCjm
2. M-Audio M-Track Solo – https://geni.us/RnhHr
3. HAYDEN HY-229 – https://geni.us/c80KbWB

MIXERS –

1. HAYDEN 4 Channels – https://geni.us/cXQ0
2. Behringer Q502USB

MONITORING HEADPHONES –

1. Oneodio Studio Pro-10 : https://geni.us/IQI88Se
2. Maono AU-MH501 : https://geni.us/AbNrU
3. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X : https://geni.us/eEUf9

POP-FILTER –

1. JEYANG Metal Pop Filter – https://geni.us/JMfuY
2. Wright WP 101 – https://geni.us/OcOAzj

DESK-STAND/BOOM ARM –

1. MY-STANDS MC 18 : https://geni.us/Lwnb
2. Bulfyss Professional Recording Microphone Stand : https://geni.us/mV4S

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