In today’s crowded podcasting world, creating great content isn’t enough—people need to find your show too. That’s where Podcast SEO comes in.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps your podcast appear in search results—on platforms like Google, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Whether you’re launching your first episode or have dozens under your belt, understanding how podcast SEO works can help you grow your audience and get discovered by new listeners.
In this post, we’ll walk you through essential Podcast SEO tips, from crafting the right titles to optimising your show notes and website.
What Is Podcast SEO?
Podcast SEO is the process of optimising your podcast content—titles, descriptions, transcripts, and more—so it ranks higher in search results. This includes:
- Search engines like Google
- Podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts
- Your own podcast website
When done well, SEO makes it easier for your ideal listeners to discover your episodes when they search for topics you cover.
If you’re not familiar with how podcasts are distributed online, you may want to check out our post:
Demystifying the Podcast Powerhouse: What Is an RSS Feed and Why Does It Matter?
How Search Engines Discover Podcasts
Google and other search engines crawl both podcast platforms and individual websites. That means your RSS feed, episode metadata, and site content all contribute to your podcast’s visibility.
What they look at:
- Podcast title and author
- Episode titles and descriptions
- Show notes and transcripts
- Website content related to your episodes
- Backlinks from other sites
So whether you’re on Apple Podcasts or self-hosting on your own site, every word you write can improve your discoverability.
9 Essential Podcast SEO Tips
Here’s how to optimise your podcast step-by-step:
1. Use Keywords in Titles and Descriptions
Think about what your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find relevant terms, and naturally include them in:
- Your podcast name
- Episode titles
- Show and episode descriptions
Pro tip: Avoid clickbait. Keep titles clear, relevant, and keyword-rich without overdoing it.
2. Optimise Your Show Notes
Show notes give search engines extra context—and your listeners a reason to stick around.
Include:
- A detailed episode summary
- Key discussion points
- Guest bios (with links to their sites)
- Links to resources mentioned
- Timestamps (if possible)
This not only boosts SEO but also improves the user experience.
3. Publish Episode Transcripts
Adding full transcripts makes your content accessible and indexable.
Search engines can’t “listen” to your audio, but they can read transcripts, which may help your episodes appear in long-tail search queries.
Plus, transcripts help with accessibility, especially for listeners who prefer to read or skim content.
4. Add Schema Markup to Your Website
Schema is a type of structured data that helps search engines understand your content. When you add podcast-specific schema to your website, it improves how your podcast appears in search results.
Check out Google’s podcast structured data guidelines for technical details.
5. Create a Podcast Website or Landing Page
Having your own website gives you complete control over SEO.
Even a single landing page with your episodes, player, show notes, and links to directories can make a difference.
If you’re using WordPress, consider creating optimised pages or using a plugin designed for podcasters. (We’ll be launching tools to help with this soon—stay tuned!)
6. Optimise for Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is still one of the top discovery platforms. Make sure to:
- Use relevant keywords in your podcast title and author name
- Choose the right category
- Write a clear podcast description
More tips can be found in Apple’s official podcast guidelines.
7. Don’t Forget About Spotify SEO
Spotify uses a mix of title relevance, early performance, and listener engagement to surface podcasts.
Ensure your:
- Podcast and episode titles are clear and keyword-focused
- First 24–48 hours after publishing include strong promotion (this helps with rankings)
8. Promote and Backlink Your Podcast
Backlinks from trusted websites tell search engines that your content is valuable.
Get links by:
- Asking guests to link back to their episode
- Sharing blog posts on social media
- Writing guest posts or appearing on other shows
Over time, these links help increase your domain authority and visibility in search results.
9. Avoid Common SEO Mistakes
- Don’t keyword stuff
- Avoid duplicate episode titles
- Never publish without show notes or a description
- Don’t ignore your website’s mobile optimisation
Podcast SEO Tools Worth Exploring
Here are some tools to support your optimisation efforts:
- Ahrefs – Great for keyword and backlink research
- Google Search Console – Monitor how your site performs in Google search
- Podnews – Stay informed on podcasting trends
- Headliner – Create audiograms to promote episodes on social media
Final Thoughts
Podcast SEO isn’t about gaming the system – it’s about making your show more accessible, discoverable, and listener-friendly. With a few strategic changes, you can help new audiences find your podcast and turn occasional listeners into loyal fans.
Want more podcasting tips and tools? Explore more blog posts from Podcaster Plus and keep an eye out for our upcoming WordPress plugin made for podcasters like you.