Best Practices for Serialized Shows on Apple Podcasts

Serialized shows are highly popular across platforms like Apple Podcasts, offering listeners a cohesive, multi-episode narrative that often becomes the gateway for first-time listeners and are some of the most frequently recommended and shared shows.

On top of that, Apple is heavily investing in serialized shows, recognizing their popularity and potential for long-term audience engagement. With the introduction of features like the Top Series chart, which highlights the most popular serialized shows, Apple is making it easier for listeners to discover and follow compelling narrative-driven podcasts.

As a podcaster, this focus on serialized content presents a great opportunity to tap into a growing market and reach a wider audience. Creating a serialized show could increase your chances of being featured on the charts and help your podcast stand out in an increasingly competitive space.

To help you create a standout serialized podcast that resonates with your audience, we’ve compiled a list of best practices inspired by Apple Podcasts’ guidelines.

1. Set Your Show Type to “Serial”

If your podcast tells a story or narrative across multiple episodes, it’s crucial to categorize it as a serial. Doing so ensures that episode numbers replace publishing dates at Apple Podcasts, helping listeners follow the progression of your story and making it clear that the content should be consumed from start to finish.

Important: When organizing a serialized show, the first episode will appear at the top of the show page, and the final episode will be at the bottom.

2. Leverage Seasons to Organize Your Content

For long-running serialized podcasts, dividing episodes into seasons can help with organization and ease of navigation for listeners. Apple Podcasts displays the latest season by default, while also allowing listeners to browse older seasons if they choose.

Important: Make sure each episode is properly labeled with the right season.

Also avoid including episode numbers in your episode titles. Apple Podcasts will automatically display them, and adding numbers manually can clutter your titles.

3. Submit High-Quality Show Artwork

Your podcast’s artwork is the first thing listeners will see, and Apple also places a premium on your artwork, so make sure it adheres to Apple Podcasts’ artwork guidelines:

• Ensure your cover art is at least 3000 x 3000 pixels in resolution.
• Use clean, bold designs that are easy to read, even when scaled down to smaller sizes like thumbnails.

4. Include a Trailer

Similar to Apple Subscriptions, creating a trailer for your serialized podcast is an effective way to introduce new listeners to your show before they commit to a full episode or series. Your trailer should:

Upload your trailer as the first episode in your feed to give it maximum visibility. It can also serve as a great promotional tool on social media or your podcast website.

5. Additional Tips for Success

To further improve your serialized podcast’s chances of being discovered and enjoyed by listeners:

Release episodes consistently: Whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, a consistent release schedule builds listener trust and anticipation.

Use metadata effectively: Proper tagging, episode descriptions, and show notes can improve your podcast’s searchability on Apple Podcasts and other platforms.

Encourage listener engagement: Ask for reviews, encourage shares, and be active on social media to keep your audience engaged with your podcast and grow your following organically.

To know more about about serialized shows, visit Apple's support website.