What is Review / Rating?
A rating is a star score (1-5) given by a listener. A review is a written comment accompanying the rating. Both serve as social proof to attract new listeners.
Why Review / Rating Matters for Podcasters
Podcasters are obsessed with reviews, and for good reason: **Social Proof**. When a potential listener stumbles upon a show, seeing '4.9 Stars (500 ratings)' signals quality and trust. However, contrary to popular belief, reviews do *not* directly impact the Apple Podcasts charts (which are based on new subscriptions and download velocity). Reviews are a conversion tool, not a ranking tool. They convince humans to click 'Subscribe,' but they don't convince the algorithm to rank you higher. Hosts often read reviews on-air to encourage others to leave them.
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Audiogram
An audiogram is a short video clip that combines audio from your podcast with a visual waveform and your cover art, creating shareable social media content that promotes your show.
Waveform
A waveform is a visual representation of audio that shows the amplitude (loudness) of sound over time. In podcasting, waveforms are used in audiograms and editing software to visualize audio.
Show Notes
Show notes are written summaries or bullet points that accompany each podcast episode, typically including key topics, guest information, timestamps, and links to resources mentioned in the episode.
RSS Feed
An RSS feed is a standardized XML file that contains information about your podcast episodes, including titles, descriptions, audio file URLs, and publication dates. It's how podcast directories and apps discover and update your show.