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Apple Podcasts Marketing Tool for Social Media Released

Apple has released a free web app that lets podcasters create artwork and links to promote their shows on Apple Podcasts. The app offers several customization options that should appeal to a wide variety of creators who want to market their shows on Apple’s service. Still, there are a couple of limitations worth keeping in mind.

Apple's tool offers several options, but the marketing messages are limited to a predefined list.

Apple’s tool offers several options, but the marketing messages are limited to a predefined list.

At its core, Apple’s tool makes it easy to generate promotional artwork in several predefined sizes along with links that can be posted to social media to promote a show, an episode, or an Apple Podcasts channel. Six size choices cover the standard artwork specifications for most social networking services. By default, the artwork is generated with a purple gradient that matches the Podcasts’ app color scheme, but you can change it to whatever you like.

Shows that offer Apple Podcasts subscriptions can promote bonus content and other perks to users.

Shows that offer Apple Podcasts subscriptions can promote bonus content and other perks to users.

There are several messaging options tailored to whether a show is free or offers a subscription version.

There are several messaging options tailored to whether a show is free or offers a subscription version.

The tool also provides several predefined messages that are applied to the artwork, the number of which depends on whether a show is free, paid, or free with a paid option. Shows that rank among Apple Podcasts’ Top Shows have the option of promoting their rankings too. However, there is no option to craft your own marketing message for the artwork, which is a little disappointing but not surprising.

Promotional art comes in multiple sizes for different social networks, and URLs can include affiliate parameters.

Promotional art comes in multiple sizes for different social networks, and URLs can include affiliate parameters.

The app generates full and shortened URLs, too, with the option to include affiliate parameters if you participate in Apple’s affiliate linking program for services.

Apple’s new marketing tool for social channels works well and generates good-looking artwork with minimal effort, making it a nice option for anyone with limited time and resources. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the tool is limited to Apple Podcasts. The messaging options are limited too. You’ll need a different solution if you’d rather promote your podcast’s own website, another podcast directory, or use a marketing message not offered by Apple. Still, because such a large percentage of many shows’ audiences listen using Apple Podcasts, the company’s new tool is an excellent way to reach those listeners and potentially grow that segment of your audience.

Last Week, on Club MacStories: Deleting Significant Locations from Your iPhone, the Rumored Pro Apple Watch, and Tech RSS Feeds

Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:

MacStories Weekly: Issue 331

MacStories Unwind: Backbone One Controller and Paolo Nutini’s Last Night in the Bittersweet

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This week on MacStories Unwind, John returns from vacation to pick the Backbone One iPhone game controller, and Federico recommends Paolo Nutini’s latest album, Last Night in the Bittersweet.

John’s Pick:

Federico’s Pick:

Last Week, on Club MacStories: Pairing Stage Manager with Universal Control and a Tour of Southern Cooking

Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:

The Monthly Log, July 2022

Apple’s Q3 2022 Earnings Narrowly Beat Wall Street Expectations

Yesterday, Apple announced its third quarter 2022 earnings, narrowly beating analysts’ consensus expectations. The company didn’t provide earnings guidance going into yesterday’s call and hasn’t since the start of the global pandemic. Coupled with ongoing supply chain disruption caused by COVID-19, inflationary pressure in the US and other countries, and the threat of a recession in many of its key markets, analysts’ revenue predictions varied widely, averaging just under $83 billion. So, when the company’s revenue came in at $83 billion, and CEO Tim Cook said he expects growth to accelerate ‘despite pockets of softness,’ Wall Street responded positively, lifting the stock’s price in after-hours trading.

![](https://cdn.macstories.net/967466ed-d433-4313-8ccf-4500db12f669-1659092186095.jpeg)

![](https://cdn.macstories.net/14b2f904-114f-48be-9424-b5bd63a7c76a-1659092186097.jpeg)

According to Apple’s CFO Luca Maestri:

Our June quarter results continued to demonstrate our ability to manage our business effectively despite the challenging operating environment. We set a June quarter revenue record and our installed base of active devices reached an all-time high in every geographic segment and product category. During the quarter, we generated nearly $23 billion in operating cash flow, returned over $28 billion to our shareholders, and continued to invest in our long-term growth plans.

![](https://cdn.macstories.net/image-1659119008915.jpeg)

Despite the modest and unexpected growth from the same quarter in 2021, product sales slowed in some areas, with the Mac, iPad, and wearables all down year-over-year. That was made up by a strong increase in Apple’s services and a smaller increase in iPhone sales, but given delivery timelines for Macs and iPads in particular, supply chain issues appear to have taken a bite out of Apple’s earnings in those categories.

Still, the overall outlook of continued growth portrayed by Cook as the company prepares its fall iPhone lineup and for the release of other rumored products seems to have buoyed the stock with investors who undoubtedly appreciated the company’s optimistic message among the drumbeat of recent negative financial news.

Additional details regarding Apple’s third-quarter performance, including its consolidated financial statement are available on the company’s website. If you missed the earnings call, you can replay it on Apple’s Investors site or read the transcript prepared by Jason Snell at Six Colors, where you’ll also find additional charts.

AppStories, Episode 288 – 2022 OS Preview: The System Apps (Part 2)→

This week on AppStories, we conclude our in-depth look at changes coming to Apple’s system apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including Home, Notes, Reminders, and Shortcuts.

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Explore Four Historic Apple Stores with The Apple Store Time Machine

Yesterday, Michael Steeber released The Apple Store Time Machine, a Mac app built with the Unity game engine that recreates four historically significant Apple Stores:

  • Tysons Corner, the first ever Apple Store
  • Sanford Shopping Center, a mini version of the Apple Store
  • Fifth Avenue, Apple’s flagship New York store
  • Infinite Loop, Apple’s on-campus store featuring exclusive merchandise

As Steeber explains, the free app, which also accepts user donations:

…is a celebration of the places and products that have shaped our lives for more than twenty years. This interactive experience recreates memorable moments in Apple history with painstaking detail and historical accuracy.

The detail of each of the stores in the app is really quite remarkable. Clearly, a lot of work went into getting the details just right.

The Apple Store Time Machine is available to download on Steeber’s website.

Last Week, on Club MacStories: Retro Gaming on iOS and Managing RSS with Multiple Services

Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:

MacStories Weekly: Issue 330

Remote Mouse & Keyboard: Control your Mac with All Your Devices [Sponsor]

[Download](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id629019487?pt=2028706&ct=MacStories&mt=8)

Download

Remote Mouse & Keyboard is the perfect solution for controlling your Mac from other devices on your home network. The app works with the iPhone, iPad, another Mac, the Apple Watch, and even the Apple TV, enabling a wide variety of new uses for your Mac. Whether you’re running a Mac as a media center, want to launch or quit apps remotely, or control your Mac’s system settings while doing something else, Remote Control for Mac can handle it all.

Remote Mouse & Keyboard works with AirPlay for screen and sound mirroring and Siri so that you can control your Mac with your voice from anywhere on your network. The app’s AirPlay controls are a fantastic way to integrate your Mac with an Apple TV without having to sit down at your Mac to AirPlay its screen or audio. Instead, with Remote Mouse & Keyboard, you can use whichever device is available to you.

What’s more, Remote Mouse & Keyboard’s customizable keypads and keypad store let you benefit from its huge collection of keypads for controlling the most popular apps and make your own keypads. Paired with the app’s Shortcuts integration, the opportunities for automating your smart home and controlling and leveraging the power of your Mac alongside your other devices in new and unique ways are virtually limitless.

Remote Mouse & Keyboard has a special giveaway just for MacStories readers. The first 100 readers who visit this link will get a free copy of the app.

Take control of your Mac today. Download Remote Mouse & Keyboard from the App Store now.

Our thanks to Remote Mouse & Keyboard for sponsoring MacStories this week.