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7 SEO Strategies to Get Your Podcast Discovered

PodRewind Team
9 min read
gray condenser microphone with pop filter

TL;DR: Most podcasts are invisible to Google. Fix that with these 7 strategies: write SEO-friendly titles, create detailed show notes, publish transcripts on your website, build your own website, optimize for Google Podcasts, target long-tail keywords, and repurpose content across platforms.

Table of Contents

What Is Podcast SEO?

Podcast SEO is the practice of optimizing your podcast content so it ranks higher in search engines and podcast directories. Since search engines can't listen to audio, podcast SEO focuses on text elements: titles, descriptions, show notes, and transcripts.

Here's the thing: every podcast episode you record is a missed SEO opportunity without proper optimization. The content is there—you just need to make it discoverable.

Podcasts Have a Discovery Problem

With over 5 million podcasts competing for attention, great content isn't enough. You need to be findable when potential listeners search for topics you cover.

Most podcasts rely entirely on word-of-mouth and platform algorithms for growth. That's a mistake. Search engines drive consistent, predictable traffic, but only if you optimize for them.

Here are seven tactics that actually work.

1. Write Episode Titles That Rank

Generic titles waste SEO potential. Your episode title is one of the most important ranking signals you control.

Compare these two approaches:

Weak: "Episode 47: Interview with John"

This title tells search engines nothing about the content. No one searches for "Episode 47," and "John" could be anyone.

Strong: "Email Marketing ROI: How John Smith Grew His List to 50K"

This title includes the topic (email marketing), a specific outcome (50K list), and enough context for both search engines and potential listeners to understand what they'll get.

Title Optimization Principles

  • Lead with the topic - Put your main keywords at the beginning
  • Include specifics - Numbers, names, and concrete outcomes
  • Write for searchers - What would someone type to find this content?
  • Skip episode numbers - They add nothing for SEO or listeners

Your title should work as a mini-description, giving both search engines and potential listeners enough information to decide if this episode is relevant.

2. Create Detailed Show Notes

Show notes are crawlable content that search engines can index. Brief show notes mean missed opportunities.

Each episode's show notes should include:

Episode Summary with Keywords

Write 2-3 paragraphs summarizing what listeners will learn. Include the main topics naturally. Don't stuff keywords, but make sure the concepts you discuss appear in written form.

Timestamps for Key Topics

Google uses timestamps to understand content structure. Formatted timestamps like "12:30 - Email segmentation strategies" help search engines identify specific topics and can appear in search results.

Links to Resources Mentioned

Every book, tool, article, or website you mention should be linked. This provides value to listeners and signals topical relevance to search engines.

Guest Bio and Context

If you have guests, include their background, expertise, and relevant links. Guest names often have search value, especially if they're known in your niche.

Aim for 300 or more words per episode. More substantial show notes give search engines more to work with.

For a complete walkthrough, see our guide on best practices for podcast show notes.

3. Publish Transcripts on Your Website

Transcripts provide the biggest SEO opportunity most podcasters ignore—but only if you publish them on your website.

The Numbers

A typical 45-minute episode contains 5,000-7,000 spoken words. That's 5,000-7,000 words of unique, topically relevant content that search engines can index—if it's publicly accessible.

Without published transcripts, all that content is invisible to Google. With transcripts on your episode pages, each episode becomes a substantial piece of indexable content.

Getting Transcripts Published

Having transcripts is step one. Publishing them is step two:

  1. Generate accurate transcripts using a transcription service
  2. Add them to your website on each episode's page
  3. Ensure they're crawlable (not behind login walls or paywalls)

A searchable transcript archive helps you find content quickly—but the SEO benefit comes from public publication on your own site.

Natural Keyword Density

Conversations naturally include relevant keywords. When you discuss email marketing, you say "email marketing" and related terms repeatedly. Published transcripts capture this natural keyword usage in a way that's more authentic than written content optimized after the fact.

Long-Tail Opportunities

Published transcripts help you rank for specific, long-tail queries. When a listener asks a detailed question and you give a thorough answer, that exchange can rank for the exact query someone might type into Google.

Accessibility Bonus

Transcripts also improve accessibility, which some search engines factor into rankings. Content that serves more users tends to perform better.

Transcripts are the foundation for nearly every other SEO tactic—they're the raw material for show notes, blog posts, and social content. Learn more about why every podcaster needs searchable transcripts.

4. Build a Podcast Website

Don't rely solely on podcast apps for your online presence. They control your SEO destiny, and their interests don't always align with yours.

Host Episodes on Your Domain

Every episode should have its own URL on your website. This builds your domain authority over time rather than building someone else's platform.

Create Individual Episode Pages

Each episode deserves a dedicated page with:

  • Embedded audio player
  • Full show notes
  • Complete transcript
  • Related episode links
  • Subscribe calls-to-action

Internal Linking Structure

Link between episodes that cover related topics. If Episode 47 references something you discussed in Episode 23, link to it. This helps search engines understand your content relationships and keeps visitors on your site longer.

Control Your SEO

On your own website, you control titles, descriptions, URL structures, and every other SEO element. On third-party platforms, you're limited to whatever they provide.

For detailed guidance on building an effective podcast site, see our guide on building a podcast website that converts.

5. Optimize for Google Podcasts

Google indexes podcast content directly and surfaces episodes in search results. Optimizing for Google Podcasts specifically pays off.

Submit Your RSS Feed

Make sure your podcast is in Google's podcast index. Submit your RSS feed through Google Podcasts Manager to ensure your content is being crawled.

Use Descriptive Episode Titles

Google's podcast search weights episode titles heavily. Titles that clearly describe content outperform vague or clever titles.

Keyword-Rich Show Description

Your overall podcast description should include the main topics you cover and the type of listener you serve. This helps Google categorize your show correctly.

Publish Consistently

Regular publishing signals that your podcast is active. Google favors content that's current and consistently updated over dormant shows.

6. Target Long-Tail Keywords

Broad terms like "marketing podcast" are nearly impossible to rank for. The competition is too fierce and the intent too vague.

Long-tail keywords are specific queries with clearer intent:

  • "B2B email marketing tips for SaaS"
  • "podcast equipment for beginners under 500 dollars"
  • "how to book podcast guests without a big audience"

Why Long-Tail Works

Your episodes naturally cover specific topics in depth. A conversation about "how we grew our email list from 0 to 10K in six months" is perfect for ranking on that specific query.

People searching long-tail keywords know what they want. They're further along in their decision process and more likely to become engaged listeners.

Finding Long-Tail Opportunities

Think about the specific questions you answer in each episode. What would someone type to find that exact advice? Those queries are your long-tail targets.

Tools like Google's autocomplete, "People Also Ask" boxes, and keyword research tools can reveal what your potential audience is actually searching for.

7. Repurpose Content Across Platforms

Each platform you're on sends signals to Google and creates new paths for discovery. One episode can become multiple pieces of content.

Blog Posts from Transcripts

Edit transcript segments into written articles. A 45-minute conversation often contains enough material for several blog posts, each targeting different keywords.

YouTube with Captions

Upload your audio with a static image or simple video, plus accurate captions from your transcript. YouTube is the second-largest search engine, and podcast content performs well there.

Social Posts Linking Back

Every social post about your episode creates another potential entry point. LinkedIn articles, Twitter threads, and Instagram carousels all create signals that Google notices.

Guest Posts and Collaborations

Write for relevant industry publications with links back to specific episodes. Guest posts build domain authority and expose your podcast to new audiences.

The Compounding Effect

More touchpoints mean more discovery paths. Someone might find your blog post, then your podcast. Or discover your YouTube video and subscribe to the audio feed. Cross-platform presence compounds your reach.

For a complete repurposing workflow, see our guide on repurposing podcast content for social media.

Related Resources

Measure your progress and track what matters:

Photo by Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/gray-condenser-microphone-with-pop-filter-TV7HJIRjMiY

FAQ

How long does podcast SEO take to show results?

SEO is a long-term strategy. Expect to see initial traffic increases within 2-3 months of consistent optimization. Significant ranking improvements typically take 6-12 months of sustained effort. The good news: results compound over time as your archive grows.

Which SEO tactic should I prioritize first?

Start with transcripts. They're the foundation for everything else—show notes, blog posts, social content, and searchable archives. Once you have transcripts, the other tactics become much easier to implement.

Do I need to optimize all my old episodes?

Prioritize your evergreen content first—episodes with timeless advice that will be relevant for years. Then work backward through your archive. Even partial optimization of older episodes is better than none.

How do transcripts help with Google rankings?

Transcripts give search engines text to index. Without them, Google can't understand what your episode covers. A transcribed 45-minute episode provides 5,000-7,000 words of searchable content—equivalent to a comprehensive blog post.

Should I focus on Google or podcast directories?

Both, but Google first. Podcast directories help with discoverability within apps, but Google drives significantly more traffic and reaches people who aren't actively searching for podcasts but are looking for information you provide.---

Start Ranking Your Podcast

Bottom line: SEO isn't instant gratification. The tactics above take time to show results. But they compound: each optimized episode builds on the last, and your archive becomes increasingly valuable over time.

Ready to improve your podcast SEO? Get started free and get transcripts you can use to create SEO-optimized content for your website.

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