Podcasts are now an essential source of information. Statistics show that over 48 million people listen to podcasts each week. The base for podcast enthusiasts is growing rapidly as people move from traditional media. Â
While this is the reality, every content creator sees a future in podcasting. New podcasts are popping up each day, creating intense competition. You will likely miss a good following if you do not make your podcast searchable. The only way to achieve this is via optimizing it for the search engines.
Podcast SEO is not easy, and many hosts fail to realize it. They might have quality and impactful content, but their reach remains low. You do not need to join this category. The secret to avoiding it is learning how to optimize your podcast for SEO. Here are the tips to help you:
Create high-quality and authoritative content
Despite algorithm changes in the search engine, content has never left the throne. It remains the king. Content will always account for 50% of your SEO regardless of your delivery mode. Podcasts are not exclusive.
For your podcast to perform well on search engines, it must have quality content. You need to share detailed and authoritative information on your area of specialization. Whether you are talking about food, sports, content marketing, health & fitness, digitization, AI & machine learning, or whichever topic you choose, you must deliver high-quality content. Otherwise,expect to perform poorly if you do not meet this objective. Â
Be strategic while naming your podcast
Like headlines on your articles, the name of your podcast is important. How you name your podcast will impact your SEO. If you use phrases that the target audience is likely to search for, you will likely gain from them. Make the name simple, relevant, and searchable.
In addition, you should be strategic when picking titles for your episodes. The titles should feature keywords and phrases that the target audience use on search engines. Also, they must be catchy and appealing to the audience.
Remember, podcasts apply the same SEO tactics as web content. You need to apply keywords and optimized titles to draw big audiences. So, consider utilizing these aspects to boost your ranking and optimization.
Have transcriptions and show notes
Google can help you rank your podcast, but it does not listen to them. Maybe a new bot will come up in the future to help search engines accomplish such tasks. For now, you have to make it easy for them to scan the content in your podcasts. Including show notes and transcripts of your podcasts is the only way to achieve it.
Have show notes that feature the guest names and other keywords that can help rank your podcast. Also, optimize your transcripts with keywords and phrases. To harness your ranking, you should make this content easy to scan and relevant.
Request audience reviews
Search engines will use what other people say about your podcast to rank it. If the information is positive, your podcast will rank better. The opposite is also true. Asking the audience to review your podcast episodes is an excellent way to optimize it.
Let the listeners know you need to hear their views on a particular episode. When the content is valuable and engaging, you will receive massive reviews that will support your optimization journey.
Create a page or website for the podcast
Many podcasters desire to appear on search engines but can’t realize the dream. They have impactful podcasts which are likely to gain a big audience. However, they lack an important element: a website for the podcast.
While the best SEO podcast can be a great asset, you will not optimize it without offering it a home. A website will help you get backlinks and a reference point for your audience. People looking to watch or listen to podcasts can easily access them on your page.
Also, you can share additional information on the episode topics. Having a website for the podcast will be a significant milestone in making it fall in love with Google. So, consider taking that route. Â
Connect it with social media
Did you know that many podcast listeners are on social media? Sharing your podcasts on social media pages increases their reach by 90%. The action will also benefit you in the SEO world. Search engines consistently rank content that has high social media engagement better than the rest. So, do not miss the opportunity. Plug in your podcast episode to your social media pages.
In a word, a podcast can be a great resource in your content creation journey. It allows you to offer factual and authoritative content. However, this will only benefit you if it is SEO-optimized. Work on making your podcast search engine friendly and enhancing your reach andauthority in your niche.