Podcast Ranking Strategies to Boost Visibility on Spotify & Apple
- Sam Hajighasem
- Sep 16
- 5 min read
Ranking your podcast on major platforms isn’t just about vanity metrics, it’s a powerful way to grow your audience, establish credibility, and monetize smarter. With over 5 million shows competing for attention on listening apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, standing out requires strategy, not guesswork.
For a deeper dive into how podcasting fits into a company’s larger content marketing system, check out our guide on the ultimate podcasting strategy for businesses.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through proven podcast ranking strategies designed to increase your podcast visibility and climb up the Apple Podcast and Spotify podcast rankings. Whether you’re just launching or re-evaluating your podcast marketing plan, these tips will help ensure you're not lost in the digital noise.
Why Podcast Ranking Matters for Visibility
What Happens When Your Podcast Ranks High?
When your podcast appears in top charts, whether that’s Spotify’s Top Podcasts or Apple’s New and Noteworthy, you’re placed in front of thousands of engaged listeners actively looking for new content. High rankings bring credibility, blend into your overall podcast SEO approach, and make discoverability more organic, leading to increased listeners and follower growth. This visibility can also fuel monetization opportunities like brand partnerships, ads, and premium subscriptions.
Key Podcast Charts to Focus On
Apple Podcast Ranking Breakdown
Apple Podcast Rankings are updated frequently and are segmented by:
Top Shows and Top Episodes – Ranked by engagement and popularity.
Top Subscriber Shows – For podcasts offering exclusive, paid content.
Top Channels – Highlighting networks with multiple successful shows.
New & Noteworthy – A curated feature for promising new shows, which increases exposure exponentially for a limited window.
To climb these charts, optimization strategies like compelling descriptions, consistent publishing, and listener engagement are vital.
Spotify Podcast Ranking Explored
Spotify operates a slightly different ranking system with these charts:
Top Podcasts – The 200 most popular shows per region.
Top Episodes – A list of high-engagement episodes that chart individually.
Trending Podcasts – Identifies shows rapidly gaining traction (great for visibility boosts).
Top by Category – Highlights shows that perform best in niche-specific genres, a great space for hyper-niched content.
If you're targeting the Spotify podcast ranking, optimizing your metadata, publishing consistency, and getting listener retention right are critical.
What About Chartable?
Chartable (owned by Spotify) offers a more holistic snapshot by aggregating listener data across multiple platforms to define its Top 200 and Trending rankings. It’s the podcast industry’s closest equivalent to a global visibility tracker and can help benchmark where your podcast stands across platforms, not just Spotify or Apple.
6 Podcast Ranking Strategies to Boost Discoverability in 2025
1. Deliver Consistently High-Quality Episodes
There are two ingredients defining a high-quality podcast:
Captivating content tailored to your niche.
Crisp audio, clean editing, solid pacing.
Before trying to climb the podcast charts, make sure the podcast itself is binge-worthy. Define your target audience and niche, research competitors, and build a strong format. Avoid rehashing generic themes; specificity and authenticity boost listener engagement.
Pro Tip: Outline your first 30+ episode ideas before launch to develop a clear vision and stay consistent.
2. Choose the Right Podcast Categories
Your podcast category signals to algorithmic engines and listeners where and how to list your podcast. Mislabeling damages your opportunity for discoverability.
For example, if your show is about small business tips for creatives, don’t just select “Business” consider subcategories like “Entrepreneurship” or “Marketing.” This increases alignment with the right audience and enhances your Apple and Spotify podcast ranking within your niche.
3. Optimize Your Podcast Page for Podcast SEO
Search algorithms within Apple Podcasts and Spotify consider keywords in your title, show description, and episode metadata. Here's how to optimize:
Include primary podcast SEO keywords in your show and episode titles.
Keep show titles under 29 characters where possible to improve visibility.
Make descriptions value-driven, keyword-optimized, and succinct (2–4 sentences).
Front-load episode descriptions with main hooks within the first 20 words.
Also, structure your titles and episode names with clarity: "How to Grow a Podcast Audience in 2025" beats a vague title like "Episode 3."
4. Use Eye-Catching Cover Art
Podcast cover art is often your show’s first impression. Platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify display these visual tiles prominently, especially on their charts. Design with intent:
Use a clean, readable design at small sizes (3000x3000 pixels is ideal).
Stick to bold, complementary colors.
Make the podcast’s topic clear from visuals and typography.
Visual recognition aids recall, and helps your show stand out when competing for attention.
5. Grow Reviews & Ratings to Boost Social Proof
Listener reviews and star ratings might not sway podcast ranking algorithms directly but they significantly affect user behavior. The more 4 or 5-star ratings you have, the more likely a curious listener will hit "Play."
Stats to keep in mind:
34+ star ratings puts you in the top 10% of all podcasts.
81+ ratings = top 5%.
Ask your audience for reviews consistently. Incentives like shout-outs, bonus episodes, or giveaways can boost review counts across Spotify and Apple.
6. Be Consistent—Avoid Podfade
Let’s face it: many podcasts don’t make it past a few episodes. Podfade, the phenomenon of fading into inactivity, is real. Yet, consistency is one of the strongest indicators of long-term chart performance and listener retention.
Set achievable publishing expectations and stick to them. Whether biweekly or weekly, use podcast planning tools or work with an agency to batch and schedule production in advance. Even when not producing, repurpose past episodes or release mini-episodes to maintain consistency.
Bonus: Cross-Promotion and Social Media Exposure
Cross-promotion is a smart way to expand your podcast audience. Co-host special editions with other creators in your niche, swap shout-outs, or launch mini-series featuring guest collaborations.
Also remember, your Apple or Spotify podcast ranking can improve with social traffic boosts. According to Cumulus Media’s 2023 report:
42% of listeners discover shows via social media.
37% come from word-of-mouth.
YouTube is now the #1 podcast platform.
Use short-form video clips, audiograms, and reels to promote episodes on IG, YouTube Shorts, or LinkedIn depending on your audience.
FAQs About Podcast Ranking & Visibility
How can I improve my podcast's visibility?
Focus on podcast SEO, publish consistently, optimize episode titles and descriptions with keywords, and promote across multiple platforms using video clips, blog posts, and social media.
Do podcast reviews and ratings affect rankings?
Not directly, but they significantly influence listener trust and willingness to try your show. This translates to higher engagement, which does affect ranking.
What are the best platforms to promote a podcast?
Besides Spotify and Apple Podcasts, YouTube is leading growth right now. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and your newsletter are also powerful extend-the-reach channels.
How do I promote my podcast without ads?
Use cross-promotion, leverage SEO, create short-form content, ask for shares, engage on Reddit/Facebook groups, and be consistent. Organic podcast marketing remains highly effective.
What podcast marketing strategies work best in 2025?
1. PSO (Podcast Search Optimization)
2. Niche category targeting for SEO visibility
3. Integrated social campaigns
4. Powerful show visuals (cover art + YouTube thumbnails)
5. Collaborations + audience cross-pollination
Conclusion:
In the crowded world of over 5 million audio shows, ranking high on podcast charts is less about luck and more about strategy. From optimizing metadata to crafting better descriptions, choosing the right category to publishing consistently, these podcast ranking strategies create an ecosystem where visibility becomes a byproduct of intentionality.
Now’s the time to produce episodes worth ranking, promote them in-platform and externally, and build a loyal listener base around clear, compelling value. Keep testing, promote smartly, and stay consistent. Whether you’re targeting Spotify podcast ranking or hoping to rank on Apple’s New & Noteworthy, the key is mastering visibility-focused podcast strategy.
Want expert help to grow your podcast? Reach out to Quill’s team of podcast growth strategists to take your show to the next level.
Whether you're aiming for improved podcast ranking or long-term audience growth, we offer done-with-you and done-for-you systems tailored to maximize your reach on the top listening apps, without the guesswork.
