Podcast SEO 101: How to Rank Higher

40% of podcast listeners Use the in-app search bar to find new podcasts. The trend is clear: If you want more reach, you need to optimize your podcast for search.

Podcasts are one way to get there SEO, Think of it as an invisible lever that you can pull to increase your rankings and drive more traffic to your podcast.

In this post, we’ll cover how to optimize your podcast for Spotify, YouTube, and search — as well as how to find great topics for your next episode.

table of contents

How to Optimize a Podcast for Spotify

How to Optimize Podcasts for YouTube

How to Optimize Podcasts for Search

How to find topics for podcasts

How to Optimize a Podcast for Spotify

Update your show page.

Every podcast on Spotify has a Shows page. You can think of this as the landing page for your podcast.

According to Spotify, the purpose of a to show page Give listeners everything they need to know about your podcast, including:

• title of
• its cover art
• show details of
• a “follow” button
• A list of recently published episodes

Show Pages is not something that should be hurried through or left to collect dust. Make sure each element is up-to-date, accurate and as compelling as possible.

Include subthemes in your show description.

Show descriptions are generally short and concise, so you need to make every word count. To get an SEO boost, include phrases or subtopics that match what your potential audience is searching for.

For example, the health and wellness podcast maintenance phase Its description includes subtopics such as “health fads,” “wellness scams,” and “nutritional advice.” These are search teams that can lead someone to a podcast.

Front-load key information in your episode description.

Writing episode descriptions is another way to optimize your podcast, but many people skip this one. This location provides keyword opportunity, meaning you can rank individual episodes in search.

Spotify recommends using the first 20 words of your description to attract new listeners. Don’t repeat information in your episode title or general podcast description. Instead, go straight to the topic or guest of the episode.

How to Optimize Podcasts for YouTube

Add video chapter.

A few years back, Google started showing YouTube content in search results. For example, a quick Google search for “How to Have a Breakthrough” populates a list of relevant videos—including one video chapter from Tony Robbins Podcast,

To show up in search results, start by dividing your podcast into sections called video chapter, This creates a structure for Google to understand your video.

It’s not enough to just add video chapters — you also need to optimize them. adding key relevant keywords in the title of each chapter.

In the video below, the primary keyword is “email marketing”, but by taking advantage of the video chapters, it targets keywords as well. email list And email segmentation,

Apart from the search benefits, video chapters also improve the user experience. For example, have you ever skimmed through an entire video to find a particular conversation or topic? By adding chapters to your podcast, viewers have a roadmap to visit the topics that interest them most.

Create playlist.

If your podcast covers multiple topics, consider creating a playlist for each topic. Why? YouTube populates playlists in its search results, giving your content another chance to be seen.

Playlists can also organize your podcast library and send viewers down rabbit holes of content, encouraging them to spend more time watching related videos.

For example, the Jai Shetty Podcast It has several playlists on its YouTube channel, including health tips, money habits, and relationship advice. If you’re interested in any one of these topics, you can spend hours listening to any single playlist.

Add target keywords to your video’s filename, title and description.

Before you hit “Publish” on your next YouTube video, make sure the following areas are optimized:

• file name. You should mention your primary keyword first in the file name of the video. Here’s why: YouTube can’t actually “watch” your video to see how relevant it is, but it can read your video’s filename, which is one (of many) context clues.
• Video Title: When possible, naturally include your target keyword in the video title. On top of that, keep your title clear, compelling, and short (aim for 60 characters or less).
• Video Description. Front-load your video description with the most important information – such as a keyword-rich summary, important links or CTAs. Keep in mind that YouTube only displays the first two or three sentences before viewers have to click “show more” to see the full description.

Now let’s see how to optimize your podcast for search.

How to Optimize Podcasts for Search

Plan your episodes around specific keywords.

Keywords are the name of the game when it comes to podcast SEO. After all, the number one way people find new podcasts is through the search bar.

By planning your episodes around keywords, you can position your show (or individual episodes) in front of users who have specific intent.

For example, if you have an Entrepreneur podcast the side hustle showYou can target keywords like “side hustle”, “print on demand” and “affiliate marketing”.

Always include written content for Google to index.

Never miss writing title or description for each podcast episode. Yes, it takes time, but it gives Google something to “read” and understand in more detail.

It’s also a good idea to add a transcript to your podcast. While Google’s text-to-speech capabilities are improving, it isn’t always accurate.

By adding your own transcript – either manually or automatically – Google can better understand the content of your episodes. Plus, with the right topic, keywords, and keyword placement, you can increase the searchability and ranking of your podcast.

Create a website for your podcast.

Although it’s not necessary—especially when you’re just getting started Having a dedicated website for your podcast has SEO benefits. A website provides more real estate for keywords and gives search engines more information about your podcast beyond just the title and description.

You can also create blog content that compliments your podcast. this is a great way cross-promote across multiple channels and build a huge following in the process.

How to find topics for podcasts

whether you are just starting a podcast or have been in the game for years, finding good topics to talk about is essential.

Podcasts cover a wide range of topics. There are three main types:

• trending topics — These are topics that get above-average attention and engagement on social media.
• evergreen theme – these are the topics Constantly seeking and interested in discovery.
• Interview – These are topics that pertain to an interviewee and/or their area of ​​expertise.

How to find trending topics

The best way to find trending topics is to check what words, phrases or stories are trending on social media. Twitter is a great place to start.

You can also take advantage of keyword research tools like Google Trends, MosesAnd SEMrush To find out trending keywords and find out the popularity of certain topics.

how to find evergreen topics

Here, the goal is to find topics that suit your audience. And to achieve a specific objective. For example, you may be a real estate investor looking to mentor new professionals in the field.

It requires a deep dive into your audience. What are their interests? needed? pain points? These questions are important when finding evergreen content.

Also, use a keyword research tools (like those listed above) to find topics related to your niche, industry, or expertise. Always check to see if demand is consistent or fluctuates throughout the year.

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As podcasts grow in popularity, so does the need to optimize them for maximum reach. By following the above tips, you can ensure that your podcast content is properly optimized for search engines.