How to Use Apple Podcasts Deep Links to Get More Subscribers

As of 2025, there are over 4.52 million podcasts worldwide, with nearly 487,200 new shows launched in just the past three months. In this crowded market, every click matters. If you’re sending potential listeners to your show with a generic Apple Podcasts URL, you’re adding unnecessary steps that could cost you subscribers.

A standard link might open in a browser first, then require the listener to tap again to open the Apple Podcasts app, and finally search for the “Follow” button. Each extra tap increases the chance they’ll abandon the process.

The fix? Apple Podcasts deep links.

These special links open directly inside the Apple Podcasts app, right on your show page, with the purple Follow button ready to tap. No browser. No searching. No distractions, just one click, and they’re subscribed.

How to Create an Apple Podcasts Deep Link

Apple Podcasts deep links are especially powerful because they can take users directly to the “Follow” prompt. Here’s how to make one in under 2 minutes:

1. Get Your RSS Feed: You’ll find this in your podcast host dashboard.

Example: https://feed.podbean.com/yourshowname/feed.xml

2. Swap the Start Change https:// to podcast://

Example: podcast://feed.podbean.com/yourshowname/feed.xml

3. Test It: Paste the link into a browser on an Apple device. You should see a purple Follow button pop up.

Note: This works only for Apple Podcasts on Apple devices.

Why Apple Podcasts Deep Links Work

Deep links aren’t just convenient, they’re designed to convert. By removing extra steps, you eliminate the friction that causes potential subscribers to drop off.

Here’s why they’re so effective:

• Reduced friction – No searching, no app-switching, no wasted taps.
• Immediate action – The “Follow” button is the first thing they see.
• Higher conversion rates – Less effort means more listeners become subscribers.

In short, deep links make subscribing to your podcast effortless, and that simplicity drives results.

Where to Use Your Apple Podcasts Deep Link

Once you’ve created your deep link, make it the primary subscribe link across all your touchpoints:

• Email campaigns & signatures – Every message becomes a subscriber opportunity.
• Social media bios & stories – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. Make it easy everywhere.
• Show notes & blog posts – Include it as the top call-to-action.
• Event materials – Turn QR codes on flyers, business cards, or merch into instant follow links.

The more places your deep link appears, the more effortless it becomes for potential listeners to subscribe. Over time, swapping generic Apple Podcasts URLs for deep links can significantly boost your follower count, without spending a dollar more on promotion. Deep links are one line on the podcast SEO checklist we work through for every show we publish.