Question 1

Captivate Feature Releases & Changelog

Accepted Answer

08 January 2025

Migrated to a new support platform to continue to offer the best support experience for users

18 December 2024

Just some quick updates and bug fixes to round out the year. 😊

Feature improvements

Removed the Chartable prefix from podcasts that still had attached
Improved performance on Episodes Overview analytics report
Improved messaging around invalid artwork upload

Bug fixes

Various bug fixes

Enjoy the updates and improvements!

08 November 2024

Just some nice quality of life updates to the dashboard this time around, as well as some bug fixes and tweaks. 😊

Feature improvements

Added a “None” permission to Network Team roles, making it nice and easy to add a team member to multiple podcasts on a network without needing access to the network itself
Improved chapter generation on Spark AI
Better pagination on Research Links

Bug fixes

Various bug fixes

Enjoy the updates and improvements!

05 November 2024

This time around, we’ve got a great update for Captivate Sync, our WordPress plugin. This adds support for some newer dashboard features, as well as some bug fixes and tweaks. 😊

Captivate Sync 3.0

Updated user interface
Dynamic show notes support
Ability to change single episode slugs, category archive slugs, and enable/disable archive pages
Display season and episode numbers with the episode title
Updated shortcode builder, allowing for more c

Question 2

How to Add a Private Podcast to Podcast Apps

Accepted Answer

Here's a handy guide on how to add a private podcast to podcast apps that support private feeds.

Add to Apple Podcasts (on Mac desktop and iTunes on PC)

Click File on the Apple Podcasts menu.
Click Add Show by URL.
Paste your unique URL into the box.
Click Subscribe.

Add to Apple Podcasts (on iOS)

In the icons list at the bottom of your display, click Library.
Click the 3 dots icon at the top right.
Click Follow a Show by URL.
Paste your unique URL into the box.
Click Follow.

Add to Pocket Casts

Click Discover in the bottom menu.
Paste your unique URL into the Search box at the top of the screen.
Click your podcast artwork.
Click Subscribe.

Add to Castbox

Click Discover in the bottom menu.
Paste your unique URL into the Search box at the top of the screen.
Click your podcast artwork.
Click Subscribe.

Add to Overcast

Click the "+" icon in the top menu.
Click Add URL.
Paste your unique URL into the box.
Click Done.

Add to Podcast Addict

Click the "+" icon in the top menu.
Click the Search icon in the top menu.
Paste your unique URL into the search box.
Click Search.
Check the Private feed box.
Click Add.

Recommended Reading

Private Podcasts FAQs

Question 3

How to Migrate and Move Your Podcast Download Analytics from Another Host to Captivate

Accepted Answer

Moving your podcast from another host to Captivate is simple, with our automated import tool. Better still, though, is you can upload the analytics from your old host for your show with Captivate’s Analytics Import Tool!

This allows you to access your full historical analytics from within the Captivate dashboard, including podcast app and listener location, letting you see your growth trends and interpret data from your entire podcasting history - not just from the date of your import to Captivate.

You can upload multiple categories from your current host:

user agent/podcast app
episode data
country
date range

This kind of data import is an industry-first when it comes to intuitiveness and flexibility, and we’re super proud to be able to bring this level of analytics breakdown to you!

Note: It’s important to remember that your imported, historical analytics remain separate from your ‘active’ Captivate analytics, which ensures that you retain a comprehensive record of your podcast’s historical performance alongside your current analytics. Your imported analytics are not IAB Certified by Captivate.

Here’s how to move your analytics.

Note: if you've already moved to Captivate and you just want to upload your old host's analytics, you can scroll down to the Upload Your Legacy Analytics section.

Download a .csv report of your show’s analytics from your current podcast host (if you’re unsure of how to do this with your current host, cont

Question 4

Linking your custom website domain name in Google Domains to your Captivate Site

Accepted Answer

Each podcast that you create with Captivate has the option of launching a beautiful podcast website alongside it, using Captivate's stunning podcast website platform.

When you create a website for your podcast with Captivate, you have two options when it comes to the domain name that you use.

You can use either:

The built-in Captivate domain name, for example: https://yourpodcast.captivate.fm; or
A custom domain name that you have registered elsewhere, for example: https://www.yourdomainname.com.

Using a Captivate domain name is easy, and the domain name will be formatted in the same way as your RSS feed URL to make it nice and simple.

However, some of our podcasters want to use a custom domain, allowing you to link a "branded" domain name to your Captivate Site to give your podcast that polished feel.

How to use a custom domain name with your Captivate Site.

To do this:

Log in to your Captivate Dashboard
Click Domain Name from the left-side navigation
Toggle Custom Domain to "On"
Enter the domain name that you wish to use
Save your settings

At this point, Captivate is ready to "accept" your domain name when the domain name is "pointed" to the Captivate servers.

Changing your DNS Records with Google Domains

The next step is to tell your Google Domains that you would like to "point" that domain name to Captivate so we can control the URL.

To do

Question 5

Analytics FAQs

Accepted Answer

At Captivate, we have one goal - to help you grow your show. To do this, we've created some of the most robust podcast analytics on any podcast host. And because they're IAB Certified, you know they're going to be 100% accurate.

Questions about your podcast analytics and how we can help? We've got you covered!

What analytics do you offer?

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to understand how your show is being listened to, and where you have opportunities to grow even more. That's why we include:

Unique listeners
Downloads overview
Download averages
Today's trending episodes
Month to month
Listener behaviour
Daily trends
How they listen
Where they listen
Episode performance comparison
Episode overview
Promotional link analytics
Web player analytics (including listener drop off)
Web player listener coverage

You can view the full range of our analytics suite here.

How do I access my analytics?

When logged into your Captivate dashboard, you'll see a quick snapshot of your analytics with Unique Listeners, Downloads Overview, Download Averages, and Latest Episodes. To view your full analytics, simply click on the Analytics tab in the navigation menu to the left of your screen.

What's this IAB Certification you talk about?

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is the body that over

Question 6

How do I cancel a podcast?

Accepted Answer

If you no longer wish to continue a show, cancelling your podcast(s) is super easy.

We get it. Sometimes a show comes to the end of its run, or you need to focus attention on other parts of your life, and you no longer have the need for your podcast.

If that's ever the case with you, we're here for you to make that as simple as possible, while also offering you some choices to ensure you're making the right decision.

To cancel a show:

Click on Podcast Settings, which is the blue section at the top of the dashboard (make sure you're in the right podcast if you have several)
Scroll to the bottom of that page, and click on Cancel Show
You will then have three options to choose from.

Canceling your show(s)

Choose from one of the following options, based on the one that's relevant to you.

I never got my podcast started
I'm going to stop my podcast
I'm moving my podcast elsewhere

If you choose "I never got my podcast started", we'll ask an optional question on why you didn't start, so we can help you get started should you wis

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