Want more people to discover your podcast? With podcast SEO, your episodes stand a better chance of being listed by Google, as well as the main podcast apps.
Whether you’re a new podcaster or a seasoned creator, optimizing your episodes for search engines can dramatically grow your audience.
What Is Podcast SEO?
Podcast SEO refers to the process of optimizing your podcast’s content, titles, descriptions, and metadata so that it ranks higher on search engines like Google and podcast directories like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
- Making the show notes and transcripts as useful as possible
- Considering SEO when building each episode
- Selecting the best web hosting services
- Getting your podcast noticed on different platforms
- Making your products easier to find when searched on Google
Why Podcast SEO Matters (Stats You Can’t Ignore)
Here is why podcast SEO matters:
- At present, there are 464.7 million global listeners of podcasts (provided by Statista)
- When you post an episode, Google Podcasts adds it straight to search results.
- Looking up podcasts online or in podcast apps is how the majority of people discover them, according to Edison Research.
- Ads with full transcription got a 14% rise in organic visits (Pacific Content)
- Most marketers, about 82%, believe SEO helps strengthen the trust and authority of audio brands.
How to Improve Podcast SEO and Get Found on Google
1. Choose a Keyword-Rich Podcast Title
Your podcast title should reflect what it’s about and what makes it unique. Avoid clever or vague names unless you’re already well-known.
Bad Example: “The Talk Lab.”
Good Example: “Learning Marketing: What You Need to Know for Digital Growth”
Use Keyword Tools:
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, or Ubersuggest to find relevant keywords.
2. Optimize Episode Titles and Descriptions
Like blog headlines, your episode titles and descriptions must grab attention and be reminded of search engine optimization.
Best Practices:
- Make the key keyword the first part of your title (like “SEO for Podcasts”).
- Make it shorter than 60 characters
- For example, you might want to state your article title as “5 Strategies to Enhance Podcast SEO This Year”
Write the following in your descriptions:
- Just use keywords when they are needed (don’t overfill the text with them).
- Guest name and ID credentials
- The Topics in this episode
- Call to Action button.
3. Add Full Episode Transcripts
Google can’t “listen” to your audio—but it can read your transcript.
Why it Works
- The platform helps you target keywords that are less common.
- Ensures that all learning experiences are easy to use by everyone.
- Helps increase how long visitors spend on a page and how much they interact with it
There are tools such as Descript, Otter.ai and CastMagic you can use to automatically create transcripts for your podcast.
Pro advice: Make your transcripts into single posts on your blog or create show notes for twice as much SEO exposure.
4. Build Podcast Show Notes Like Blog Posts
Prepare your show notes as you would any short blog article.
- Place your main keywords in headings named H1, H2 or H3.
- Include links to pages where tools, guests or references are found
- Bring up your player (Spotify or Apple) to have the music follow along with your lesson.
- Add links to other episodes within the show.
Example Heading Structure:
H1: How to Use SEO for Your Podcast
H2: Why Podcast SEO is Important
H3: Step-by-Step Guide to Podcast Optimization
5. Submit to Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts
Uploading to Google Podcasts Manager and Apple Podcasts Connect guarantees that your episodes appear in search.
Submit to Google Podcasts:
- Go to: https://podcastsmanager.google.com/
- Add your RSS feed
- Verify ownership
Submit to Apple Podcasts:
- Go to: https://podcasters.apple.com/
- Add show artwork, description, categories
- Upload RSS and submit
6. Use the Right Podcast Hosting Platform
Browse hosting platforms and go with:
- Supports SEO-friendly metadata
- Auto-pings Google Podcasts
- Offers embed codes and RSS customization
Top Hosts for SEO:
- Buzzsprout
- Transistor
- Podbean
- Anchor is provided by Spotify.
7. Include Keywords in Audio (Yes, It Matters)
Google doesn’t listen to you yet, however, Spotify is starting to use AI to look for relevant recordings in your voice memos.
Try this:
- Incorporate the target keyword casually as you start your page
- Repeat your main message in the ending of the video.
- Keep saying major words and phrases during the episode.
Example: In this episode, we’re exploring SEO for podcasts and sharing how you can appear higher on Google and Spotify search results.
How to Rank on Spotify Podcast Search
Spotify’s algorithm looks at:
- How well an episode’s title matches the content
- Keywords used to describe a podcast
- How people behave, by either paying attention, skipping ahead or finishing a piece of music
- Metadata from your host
Tips to optimize:
- Make sure you pick the best categories in Spotify for Podcasters.
- Make sure to add keywords in the name of your episode title
- Publish episodes consistently
- Encourage reviews and ratings
Machine learning is used by Spotify to select shows for users, so enjoying the best content increases your place on the platform.
Extra Podcast SEO Tips for 2025
- Make clips from your episodes and add them to YouTube as Shorts.
- Describe the episode in a quick Twitter or X thread
- Include your podcast link in your signature and send it to everyone in your mailing list.
- Repurpose your podcast episodes for blog posts, carousels and LinkedIn.
- Consider adding the Podcast Episode schema for your content.
How AI Is Helping Podcast SEO
Tools such as CastMagic, Podium and Capsho support the work of podcasters.
- Provide your podcast with accurate titles and notes for SEO.
- Write out episodes as you listen and then write a quick summary.
- Suggest keywords
- Make it possible to share content on all channels automatically
AI is empowering people to do more as creators.