Podcast Episode Launch Checklist: Before, On and After Release Day

Every episode you publish is a small launch. The ones that grow a show are the ones that get a little promotion before, on and after release day, not just an upload and a single post. Here's a checklist you can reuse for every episode.

Before release

The episode itself

• Final title: clear and searchable. "How to price your first freelance project" beats "Episode 47: Money Talk".
• Episode description with the main points in the first two lines, since apps often cut the rest.
• Show notes with every link mentioned in the episode.
• Chapter markers or timestamps, if your host supports them.
• Episode artwork, if you make one per episode.

Promotion assets

• Two or three short video or audio clips, the best 30 to 60 seconds of the conversation
• A quote graphic with a strong line from the episode
• A short written summary for your newsletter
• If you have a guest: a ready-to-share pack with the clips, graphic, link and suggested caption

Your link page

• Make the new episode the first link, or embed it so people can start listening on the page.
• Write a specific title: "New episode: how Maya got her first 100 customers".
• If you have one link per app, consider a single smart link that sends each listener to the app they use.

Release day

• Publish the episode and check it appears in each app you're listed on. Some take longer than others.
• Post your first clip with "new episode, link in bio".
• Send your newsletter.
• Post to your stories with a link sticker where the platform allows it.
• Send your guest their share pack and the live link.
• Pin the release post to the top of your profile.

The week after

• Day 2 or 3: post a second clip with a different angle.
• Day 4 or 5: post the quote graphic, or share a listener's reaction (with permission).
• End of week: check which links on your page got tapped and which app listeners chose.
• Reply to comments and reviews. It's how listeners become regulars.

Before the next episode

• Move the episode down your page; don't just delete it. A "Recent episodes" section keeps your back catalog one tap away.
• Note what worked: which clip got the most views, which title drew the most taps.
• Use that for the next episode's title and clips.

Set up your page once

A few things make every launch easier:

• A "Listen on" row with your main apps
• A newsletter signup, so listeners hear about every episode. LiteLinks Pro includes an email collector on the page.
• A contact form for guest pitches and sponsors (Pro), so those messages don't get lost in your DMs.
• Scheduled links (Pro), so the new episode link can go live at release time even if you're asleep.

For more on setting up a podcast page, see link in bio for podcasters. Need the music version of this list? Try the music release day checklist.