WANT GUESTS TO SHARE YOUR PODCAST? GIVE THEM THIS!
Key takeaways
Custom episode cover art is the easiest guest-promotion win in podcasting. Most hosts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout) let you upload unique artwork for each episode.
Use a photo your guest already loves. Pull it from their Instagram or ask them to send one. A random video screenshot works for a YouTube thumbnail, not for something you want them to share.
Keep your brand, swap in the guest. Start from your show's cover art and replace the host's face with the guest's.
Guests share art that makes them look good. They are far more likely to accept an Instagram Collab or repost a story when the artwork features them, not your logo or your face.
Make listening one tap away. Pair the post with a single link hub so new listeners never have to search for your show.
Why custom cover art gets guests to share your podcast
Quick answer: To get a podcast guest to share your episode, give them custom episode cover art that features a photo of them they already like, framed in your show's branding. Then post it as an Instagram Collab and tag them in your stories so reposting takes one tap.
Every guest episode puts a new audience within reach: the guest's followers. The problem is that most hosts hand guests a generic show cover with the host's face on it. Few people want to post someone else's face to their own feed.
At AZ Pod Studio and Backlot Studios in Phoenix, we produce, clip and post episodes for podcasters every week. This small hack is one of the simplest ways we've found to turn a guest appearance into real promotion. And no, we don't mean the YouTube thumbnail (though that matters too). We mean the audio cover art that shows up in Apple Podcasts, Spotify and every other listening app.
Step 1: Pick a guest photo they love
The photo matters more than the design. If your guest doesn't like how they look, they won't share it, no matter how polished the artwork is.
Skip the video screenshot for this. Screenshots from your recording are great for a YouTube thumbnail, but they often catch people mid-sentence or at an odd angle.
Grab a photo from their Instagram or other public profiles. If they post it, they already like it.
Or just ask. A quick message before the episode goes live ("Send me your favorite headshot for the episode art") takes 10 seconds and guarantees approval.
Go for high resolution. Cover art is displayed at large sizes, so a sharp, well-lit image holds up best.
Step 2: Swap the guest into your branded artwork
Many podcasters don't realize you can upload custom cover art for any single episode on audio platforms, and you can do the same for video. Here's the approach we use:
Start from your main show cover. Keep the logo, colors, fonts and layout people recognize.
Replace the host with the guest. If your face is on the main cover, put your guest's photo in that spot for their episode.
Add the guest's name (and the episode title, if it fits) so the art reads clearly in a feed.
Export to podcast specs. A square image, 3000 × 3000 px, JPG or PNG in RGB, works across Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Upload it as the episode artwork in your host (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Spotify for Creators, etc.) before you publish.
The result still looks like your show, but it puts the guest front and center. That's what makes it shareable.
Step 3: Post it as an Instagram Collab and tag the guest in stories
This is where the custom art pays off. When the artwork makes your guest look great, they're far more likely to say yes to sharing it.
Send an Instagram Collab invite. A Collab post appears on both your profile and the guest's, so their followers see it without them having to create anything.
Share it to your stories and tag the guest. They get a notification and can repost it to their own story in one tap, telling their audience they were just on your show.
Post it everywhere you can. Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X: wherever your show lives, share the art and tag the guest.
Compare that to asking a guest to share your standard podcast cover, which shows only your artwork or, worse, your face. Most guests won't post that to their audience. Give them something that features them, and sharing becomes easy.
Bonus: Use a one-link hub so listeners don't have to search
A share only works if the next step is easy. Set up a single link that sends people straight to your podcast, and add it to every story and post you share.
With one link, a new listener taps and starts listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or whatever their app of choice is. No searching required. We'll go deeper on building that hub in a future episode.
Q&A: Custom podcast cover art and guest promotion
How do I get podcast guests to share my episode?
Give them something they want to post. Custom episode cover art with a photo of the guest they already like, plus an Instagram Collab invite and a story tag, turns sharing into a one-tap decision.
Can you change the cover art for each podcast episode?
Yes. Most podcast hosting platforms, including Buzzsprout, let you upload unique artwork per episode. It then displays in apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also customize artwork for video episodes.
Is episode cover art the same as a YouTube thumbnail?
No. A YouTube thumbnail is built to win clicks on YouTube and often uses a screenshot from the recording. Episode cover art is the square image in audio apps and on social posts, so it should use a flattering photo the guest approves.
Where should I get my guest's photo?
Use a photo from the guest's Instagram or ask them to send a favorite headshot. Avoid unflattering video screenshots, because guests rarely share images they don't like.
What size should podcast cover art be?
Use a square image at 3000 × 3000 pixels, saved as JPG or PNG in RGB color. That meets Apple Podcasts' requirements and looks sharp everywhere else.
Will custom episode art hurt my podcast's branding?
Not if you build it from your main cover. Keep your logo, colors and layout, and only swap the host's photo for the guest's. Listeners still recognize the show.
What is an Instagram Collab post?
A Collab post is a single post co-authored by two accounts. It appears on both profiles and combines likes and comments, so your episode reaches the guest's followers directly.
Can a podcast studio make custom episode art for me?
Yes. At AZ Pod Studio and Backlot Studios in Phoenix, our post-production and social media packages can include episode artwork, clips and posting, so every guest episode is ready to share.
Make every guest episode shareable with AZ Pod Studio
Your guests bring an audience with them. Custom cover art is how you get that audience to notice. AZ Pod Studio and Backlot Studios handle the whole backend: recording, editing, clips, episode artwork, posting and distribution.
Phoenix-area podcasters: Become a member and record on a recurring schedule in our fully equipped studio, serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale and Peoria.
Passing through Phoenix? Book a one-time session and leave with a professionally produced episode.
Recording from anywhere? Hand us post-production and distribution, and we'll deliver guest-ready art and clips for every episode.
Comments