In the vast sea of podcasts, standing out requires more than just compelling content. Optimizing your podcast for both Google and Spotify is essential to getting discovered, growing your audience, and turning casual listeners into loyal fans.
Let’s break down the core strategies that move the needle for podcast SEO—no fluff, no jargon.
1. Optimize Your Podcast Metadata
Metadata is your first SEO win. It’s what Spotify, Apple, and Google use to categorize and surface your podcast.
Focus on these basics:
- Podcast title: Make it clear, keyword-aligned, and brand-consistent.
- Episode titles: Be specific—ditch clever for clear.
- Descriptions: Use natural, readable language while hitting key topics.
Good metadata doesn’t just help search engines. It sets expectations and drives clicks.
2. Use Transcripts and Show Notes to Boost Visibility
Search engines can’t index audio—but they’ll devour well-structured transcripts.
What to publish for each episode:
- Full transcript with timestamps
- Episode summary or show notes
- Key takeaways or quotes
Not only does this improve SEO, but it also makes your content accessible and repurposable across blog posts, newsletters, and social.
3. Build a Dedicated Podcast Page (or Site)
You need a digital HQ for your podcast.
Minimum viable podcast page includes:
- Embedded audio player
- Title, episode number, and meta description
- Transcript or highlights
- Links to subscribe across major platforms
This gives Google something indexable—and gives your listeners a place to return.
4. Submit Your Podcast to Multiple Directories
More directories = more discovery opportunities.
Make sure you’re submitted to:
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Amazon Music
- Pocket Casts
Each one has its own algorithm and user base. Expand your reach without extra effort.
5. Drive Engagement Signals
Platforms like Spotify factor in engagement. That includes:
- Completion rate
- Ratings and reviews
- Follows and shares
Encourage listeners to follow, review, and share your show—especially in your outro and follow-up emails.
6. Promote Every Episode
SEO doesn’t stop at metadata. Content promotion helps train the algorithm.
Promote via:
- LinkedIn posts (with highlights or clips)
- Newsletter roundups
- Carousels or audiograms
The more links and traffic your episode pages get, the better they rank—both in Google and in podcast platforms.
7. Monitor What’s Working
SEO isn’t set-and-forget. Use your podcast host and website analytics to monitor:
- Which episodes get the most traffic
- What keywords are driving discovery
- Where listeners drop off
Double down on formats, topics, and titles that pull results.
Wrap Up: Make Your Podcast Search-First
You already put hours into great conversations. SEO makes sure people can actually find them.
When you treat each episode like a content asset—with transcripts, optimized titles, and distribution—you build long-term discoverability across Google and Spotify.
The result? More organic growth. More engaged listeners. Less guesswork.
