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Podcast SEO: How to Optimize Your Show for Discovery
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Publishing a great podcast is only half the battle. Without proper search engine optimization (SEO), even the most insightful content can get buried in the noise. Podcast SEO isn’t just about getting found on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it’s about positioning your show to show up in Google results, YouTube searches, and across the web.
At LT Media, we integrate SEO best practices directly into our post-production workflow to help your show get discovered by the right audience.
Here’s how you can do the same.
1. Optimize Titles and Descriptions: Clarity Over Cleverness
Your episode title is your first impression. If it’s too vague or too clever, it won’t rank—or resonate.
What Works: Keep titles concise (under 60 characters where possible).
Use clear, searchable phrases that reflect your audience’s intent.
Include high-value keywords (e.g., “How to Grow a Coaching Business” instead of “Scaling Secrets”).
Add guest names and pain points (e.g., “With Jane Smith on Beating Burnout”).
Pro Tip: Avoid clickbait. Clear > clever. Make it obvious what value the episode provides.
2. Transcripts & Show Notes: Make Every Word Count
Search engines can’t “listen,” but they can read. That’s where transcripts and detailed show notes come in.
Best Practices: Use AI tools to transcribe your episodes quickly and accurately.
Edit for clarity, then format into readable show notes.
Include relevant keywords, phrases, and timestamps for key segments.
Use long-tail keywords that reflect real search behavior (e.g., “best time to launch a podcast” instead of just “podcast tips”).
What LT Media Delivers: SEO-optimized show notes with internal linking to previous episodes or blog content.
Embedded transcripts to improve indexability and accessibility.
3. YouTube Optimization: Capture the Visual Search Market
If you’re publishing video versions of your podcast, YouTube is a goldmine for visibility.
How to Optimize:Create keyword-rich titles and descriptions for each upload.
Break long episodes into short clips to target specific search queries.
Use timestamps (chapters) to structure content and enhance UX.
Upload full transcripts and use AI to auto-generate subtitles.
Design compelling thumbnails with consistent branding.
Why It Matters:
YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine. Treat your uploads like SEO-driven blog posts.
4. Guest Collaboration: Unlock Built-In Backlinks and Reach
Guests can help you amplify your reach—if you make it easy for them.What to Do:Share pre-written social posts and graphics they can easily repost.
Ask them to link to your episode from their website, blog, or LinkedIn.
Encourage cross-promotion on email lists or newsletters.
Why It Works:
Backlinks from relevant guest domains boost your domain authority and help individual episode pages rank faster.
5. Smart Distribution: Be Everywhere—Strategically
Visibility is also about availability. Make sure your show is accessible where people search and listen.
Key Steps:Submit to every major podcast platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, etc.).
Use a dedicated podcast website or landing page optimized for keywords.
Install SEO plugins (like Yoast or Rank Math) if using WordPress to manage metadata.
Categorize episodes accurately with relevant tags and series structure.
SEO Bonus: Embed your podcast player on blog posts or resource pages to improve on-page dwell time and relevance.
6. Structured Metadata: Speak Google’s Language
Metadata tells search engines what your content is about—and how it should be categorized.
How to Get It Right:Use proper ID3 tags for each audio file (title, episode number, author, etc.).
Implement schema markup (PodcastEpisode, Person, Organization) on your site.
Add Open Graph tags for richer link previews on social platforms.
Why It Matters:
Structured data helps Google and other engines understand and properly index your podcast content, increasing your chances of appearing in rich results and podcast carousels.
Why Podcast SEO Matters
Podcasting is still an under-optimized channel in terms of search. That means there's huge opportunity for shows that do it right.
SEO helps you: Grow organically without paid ads.
Rank in podcast apps and Google search.
Increase discoverability across platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn.
Turn passive listeners into loyal subscribers who find you through search.
With AI and the right strategy, podcast SEO can be built into your workflow—not bolted on after the fact.
Pro Tip: Link Internally
Build an internal linking strategy that connects:Blog posts to episodes
Episodes to related episodes
Show notes to relevant guest websites or offers
This improves your site’s SEO structure and keeps users on your content longer—both of which Google rewards.
Final Thoughts
SEO is one of the most overlooked opportunities in podcasting—and one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your show over time. Optimizing your podcast for search ensures your content doesn’t just sound good, but gets found by the right people.
At LT Media, we bake podcast SEO into every step of post-production—so your show isn’t just published, it’s positioned to perform.
At LT Media, we integrate SEO best practices directly into our post-production workflow to help your show get discovered by the right audience.
Here’s how you can do the same.
1. Optimize Titles and Descriptions: Clarity Over Cleverness
Your episode title is your first impression. If it’s too vague or too clever, it won’t rank—or resonate.
What Works: Keep titles concise (under 60 characters where possible).
Use clear, searchable phrases that reflect your audience’s intent.
Include high-value keywords (e.g., “How to Grow a Coaching Business” instead of “Scaling Secrets”).
Add guest names and pain points (e.g., “With Jane Smith on Beating Burnout”).
Pro Tip: Avoid clickbait. Clear > clever. Make it obvious what value the episode provides.
2. Transcripts & Show Notes: Make Every Word Count
Search engines can’t “listen,” but they can read. That’s where transcripts and detailed show notes come in.
Best Practices: Use AI tools to transcribe your episodes quickly and accurately.
Edit for clarity, then format into readable show notes.
Include relevant keywords, phrases, and timestamps for key segments.
Use long-tail keywords that reflect real search behavior (e.g., “best time to launch a podcast” instead of just “podcast tips”).
What LT Media Delivers: SEO-optimized show notes with internal linking to previous episodes or blog content.
Embedded transcripts to improve indexability and accessibility.
3. YouTube Optimization: Capture the Visual Search Market
If you’re publishing video versions of your podcast, YouTube is a goldmine for visibility.
How to Optimize:Create keyword-rich titles and descriptions for each upload.
Break long episodes into short clips to target specific search queries.
Use timestamps (chapters) to structure content and enhance UX.
Upload full transcripts and use AI to auto-generate subtitles.
Design compelling thumbnails with consistent branding.
Why It Matters:
YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine. Treat your uploads like SEO-driven blog posts.
4. Guest Collaboration: Unlock Built-In Backlinks and Reach
Guests can help you amplify your reach—if you make it easy for them.What to Do:Share pre-written social posts and graphics they can easily repost.
Ask them to link to your episode from their website, blog, or LinkedIn.
Encourage cross-promotion on email lists or newsletters.
Why It Works:
Backlinks from relevant guest domains boost your domain authority and help individual episode pages rank faster.
5. Smart Distribution: Be Everywhere—Strategically
Visibility is also about availability. Make sure your show is accessible where people search and listen.
Key Steps:Submit to every major podcast platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, etc.).
Use a dedicated podcast website or landing page optimized for keywords.
Install SEO plugins (like Yoast or Rank Math) if using WordPress to manage metadata.
Categorize episodes accurately with relevant tags and series structure.
SEO Bonus: Embed your podcast player on blog posts or resource pages to improve on-page dwell time and relevance.
6. Structured Metadata: Speak Google’s Language
Metadata tells search engines what your content is about—and how it should be categorized.
How to Get It Right:Use proper ID3 tags for each audio file (title, episode number, author, etc.).
Implement schema markup (PodcastEpisode, Person, Organization) on your site.
Add Open Graph tags for richer link previews on social platforms.
Why It Matters:
Structured data helps Google and other engines understand and properly index your podcast content, increasing your chances of appearing in rich results and podcast carousels.
Why Podcast SEO Matters
Podcasting is still an under-optimized channel in terms of search. That means there's huge opportunity for shows that do it right.
SEO helps you: Grow organically without paid ads.
Rank in podcast apps and Google search.
Increase discoverability across platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn.
Turn passive listeners into loyal subscribers who find you through search.
With AI and the right strategy, podcast SEO can be built into your workflow—not bolted on after the fact.
Pro Tip: Link Internally
Build an internal linking strategy that connects:Blog posts to episodes
Episodes to related episodes
Show notes to relevant guest websites or offers
This improves your site’s SEO structure and keeps users on your content longer—both of which Google rewards.
Final Thoughts
SEO is one of the most overlooked opportunities in podcasting—and one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your show over time. Optimizing your podcast for search ensures your content doesn’t just sound good, but gets found by the right people.
At LT Media, we bake podcast SEO into every step of post-production—so your show isn’t just published, it’s positioned to perform.
About the Author
Brandon has over 8 years of experience in the podcasting space, and has worked across every stage of production—from recording and editing to repurposing content for social and optimizing for SEO. He's collaborated with creators, founders, and brands to help them grow their audiences, improve production quality, and turn their podcasts into strategic marketing assets. He know runs as founder and content manager for LT Media, combining AI-powered workflows with expert storytelling to help clients scale smarter.