Here’s how to ensure old and new listeners find you on Google Podcasts.
In December 2020, after several months of phasing out the platform, Google officially shut down its Google Play Music streaming service, which included podcasts as well as music tracks.
Fortunately, Google users can still access your podcast on the newer Google Podcasts platform, but both branding and links to existing shows have changed. That means if your website or badges still point listeners to Google Play Music, rather than finding new episodes, your audience will encounter an official shutdown notice.
To avoid interruption of service and risk losing your listeners, we recommend updating your podcast’s marketing and website badges to reflect the change.
What happened to Google Play Music?
Google launched its Play Music service in 2011, but for the past few years, the company has been running several competing services, namely YouTube Music and Google Podcasts. In mid-2020, Google announced that they would shut down Play Music and direct all users to the other two platforms instead.
Google Play Music was completely shut down in December 2020, and users had the opportunity to move their catalogs to YouTube Music and Google Podcasts, which are both available on desktop, mobile apps, and Google smart speakers.
The importance of podcast badges, and why they need to be updated
By using the official “Listen with/on” badges in marketing and on your website, you make it easy for visitors to find your podcast wherever they prefer to listen.
The badges themselves are available for free by most major podcast directories, but they must be formatted and connected properly to your show. Learn more and download the badge files for each of the major platforms below:
- Google Podcasts badge files
- Apple Podcasts brand use guidelines and badge files
- Spotify brand use guidelines and files
- Amazon Music Guidelines and Marketing Assets
- Stitcher badge file
Additional updates for your show on Google Podcasts
The newly linked badges will allow more users to find your show on Google Podcasts. But it’s important to also update your other marketing materials, including calls to action in your show’s intros or outros.
Previously you may have directed listeners to follow the show on the Google Play platform. It’s time to change that to, “Follow us on Google Podcasts.” And if you previously linked to your show on Google Play Music in summary blog posts or other pages on your website, make sure you update those and send site visitors to Google Podcasts instead.
If you’re a Relationary client, don’t worry. We have already moved your show to Google Podcasts ahead of the transition as part of our distribution management service. We still recommend that you use the updated links and badges we collected for your show, which can be found in your personalized Podcast Marketing Guide. Let us know if you need assistance finding these links.
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