"Please leave us a 5-star review to help us move up the charts!" You hear this on almost every podcast. But is it true? Does Apple Podcasts actually use reviews as a ranking factor? The answer, surprisingly, is No. In this episode, Mark debunks the biggest myth in podcast marketing. We explain what reviews are actually good for (Social Proof), what actually drives the charts (Follower Velocity), and why you should change your Call to Action to something that actually helps you grow.
Show Notes
The Chart Algorithm:
Confirmed by Apple data engineers: Reviews do not impact the Top Charts.
What matters: Velocity of new followers (How many people followed in the last 24 hours?) and Engagement (Completion rate).
Social Proof:
Reviews don't help computers find you; they help humans trust you.
The "Empty Restaurant" effect: No reviews looks risky to a new listener.
The Misguided CTA:
Stop begging for reviews to "help the show be found." It's a lie.
Start asking for "Shares" or "Follows."
How to Ask:
"If you liked this, text it to a friend." (Viral growth).
"Hit the plus button to follow." (Chart growth).
Mark at onpodium.com
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