TPU130 – Podcast Discovery – How to Get Your Podcast Discovered!

Is your podcast optimized for podcast discovery?

Are your listeners able to find your podcast?

If you are struggling with finding listeners for your podcast, then that’s the first question you need to ask.

And if you are struggling for answers on how to get your podcast discovered, then this episode is for you.

With over 2 million podcasts out there, getting discovered is one of the biggest challenges podcasters face today.

You may have the most amazing show ever produced but, if listeners can’t find you – then what’s the point?

I come across so many podcasters who have been doing amazing shows for months and sometimes years even but their listenership is minimal.

And almost always, the issue lies in the lack of discoverability.

If you are in the same boat struggling to find new listeners for your podcast, then this episode has the exact tips you need.

I will be sharing the 3 most important ways to get your podcast discovered and some best practices for podcast discovery.

So stay tuned.

Podcast Discovery – 3 ways of discovering new Podcasts

First understand that when it comes to getting discovered, search engines are your best friend.

Whether it is Google, YouTube, or any of the podcast players – optimizing for search is crucial.

Contrary to what people think, posting on social media channels isn’t for finding new listeners.

They contribute very little to a podcast’s growth.

Instead, they only help in engaging with your listeners.

Yet, everybody keeps talking about posting on social media to grow a podcast.

And most beginners listen to this and put all their energy into that and in doing that they ignore the real discovery methods.

Here are the 3 most ignored Podcast discovery sources and how you can use them to build your listenership.

SEO or, Search Engine Optimization

Search discovery is the 2nd largest source of new listenership. But most people ignore this one.

You might want to Optimize your episodes for search.

Use relevant keywords in the episode title and description.

If you are posting to YouTube, understand that YouTube has a strong search & discovery feature.

If your episodes don’t show up for relevant keywords, they will never be found.

Podcasts are searched with keywords on every listening app. If your podcast doesn’t show up for keywords relevant to your niche on these listening apps, they will never be found by your prospective listeners.

You need to include keywords and phrases that listeners are likely to search for within your metadata.

So for example, if you have a podcast that covers social media marketing tips, be sure to include relevant keywords like “social media marketing”, “Facebook ads”, and “Instagram strategy” etc. within your titles and descriptions, etc.

This helps the search algorithms match your content to listener searches and show it to them.

A Podcast Website

A podcast website helps you in 2 ways –

1. Getting ranked on Google and in turn, getting new listeners
2. Building an email list that helps in repeat listenership

Don’t discount a website, even if it is very basic. A website plays a major role in podcast discovery.

Publish your episodes there.

Optimize the posts for relevant keywords.

A secret tip is to use “long tail keywords”. These have low search volume but low competition too. Example: lose weight Vs lose weight with intermittent fasting.

You can easily rank for these.

Use a tool like Ubersuggest to find these keywords and then optimize your episode posts for them.

We are not experts in SEO. So it is normal for us to feel overwhelmed with the very term called SEO.

This can be taken care of by another tool that I absolutely recommend to everyone. It is RankMath.

Use it to optimize your posts.

Remember, ranking on Google = New listeners!

I rank for most of my podcast episodes on Google Snippets (the small highlight that shows up on top of Google search results), for some very good keywords with a search volume of around 100-200.

The volume is pretty low, but it is still enough to build listenership.

So build a podcast website.

Utilizing the power of Recommendations

A happy listener can bring in 2 more listeners.

That’s right!

Focus on using recommendations – from listeners, other podcasters, and influencers.

The best recommendations are from your existing listeners.

Encourage your existing listeners to recommend your show.

Incentivize them to do it!

I give out handouts, templates, and free consultations to people recommending my show.

This is the most effective and the best way of building your audience. If your audience is satisfied with your content and is ready to recommend others to your show, then you can stop worrying about how to get your podcast discovered.

Try it and you will be surprised!

While search engines help listeners find you organically, podcast directories allow you to be proactively discovered.

Platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts all have directories where you can submit your podcast.

This makes it easy for listeners to find your show when browsing for new podcasts to enjoy.

Conclusion – Podcast Discovery

As a closing thought, there are a couple of things, as best practices for podcast discovery, that I want you to keep in mind.

Firstly focus on Your Website Over Social Media when it comes to podcast discovery. I know this may sound counterintuitive but hear me out.

Platforms like Instagram have limited search capabilities.

Most people discover new podcasts directly through searches, not scrolling endlessly on social media.

So, put time and effort into your website visibility and SEO rather than chasing vanity metrics on IG.

This is what will really move the needle on new listener growth.

And secondly, with YouTube entering the podcast space, I believe the search and discovery of podcasts will significantly evolve in the coming years, primarily because YouTube has its native search and discovery.

And it will be much easier for listeners to find what they want to listen to, on YouTube.

Being optimized both today and for the future is key.

Go ahead and use these tips and let me know your thoughts.

Show Notes:

Here’s what we discussed in the episode on how to hook your podcast audience –

1. The misinformation when it comes to podcast discovery
2. 3 Simple methods for podcast discovery
3. Best Practices for Podcast discovery

This episode is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link here to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. 

Thank You for Joining

Thank you all for joining me on the show today.

If you enjoyed this episode then I am sure you will love some of the previous episodes as well. Pick your favorite ones and give them a listen.

The podcasting university is available on all podcasting platforms. You can pick your favorite one to listen to the show there. The links to some of the prominent ones are mentioned below.

CASTBOX: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/castbox
STITCHER: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/stitcher
TUNEIN: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/tunein
GOOGLE PODCASTS: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/googlepodcasts
APPLE PODCASTS: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/itunes
PLAYER.FM: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/playerfm
SPOTIFY: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/spotify
HUBHOPPER: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/hubhopper
AMAZON PRIME: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/prime

Recommended Resources for Podcasting

Here are some of the recommended resources for Podcasting. These are the ones that I personally use and am satisfied with and hence am recommending them.

• Acast Podcast hosting – Acast is my favorite podcast hosting company. They have excellent customer support, have a pocket-friendly plan, and even have a free option with no limits.
• Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
• Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast. Go to zencastr.com/pricing and use my code “thepodu” You’ll get 30 percent off your first three months of Zencastr professional.
• Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
• Blue Yeti USB Microphone – My recommended microphone
• Tidycal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
• Fusebox – Embeddable Podcast Player
• Descript – Audio Editing, Transcription and Video editing software

AMAZON DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Podcasting University is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

MICROPHONES –

1. ATR-2100x
2. MAONO AU-HD300T : https://geni.us/ro48q
3. Maono AU-WDM01 : https://geni.us/PhZ3V2v
4. Samson Q2U – https://geni.us/k9cuk
5. Audio Technica AT 2035 – https://geni.us/g2URDI
6. Rode NT USB – https://geni.us/O6b65K
7. Shure MV7X – https://geni.us/w7rZ4

LAVELIER MICROPHONES

1. Boya ByM1 Auxillary Lavelier Microphone – https://geni.us/boyabym1lav
2. Boya ByM1 Pro Lavelier Microphones – https://geni.us/boyabym1prolav
3. Digitek Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/R3cGd
4. Boya – BYXM6 Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/OS6gq
5. Vook Dual Channel Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/V9YBO1i

PORTABLE RECORDERS –

1. Zoom H5 Portable Recorder – https://geni.us/rVTAIAV
2. Zoom H1N Portable Recorder – https://geni.us/dOaDg

AUDIO INTERFACE –

1. Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 – https://geni.us/gBCjm
2. M-Audio M-Track Solo – https://geni.us/RnhHr
3. HAYDEN HY-229 – https://geni.us/c80KbWB

MIXERS –

1. HAYDEN 4 Channels – https://geni.us/cXQ0
2. Behringer Q502USB

MONITORING HEADPHONES –

1. Oneodio Studio Pro-10 : https://geni.us/IQI88Se
2. Maono AU-MH501 : https://geni.us/AbNrU
3. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X : https://geni.us/eEUf9

POP-FILTER –

1. JEYANG Metal Pop Filter – https://geni.us/JMfuY
2. Wright WP 101 – https://geni.us/OcOAzj

DESK-STAND/BOOM ARM –

1. MY-STANDS MC 18 : https://geni.us/Lwnb
2. Bulfyss Professional Recording Microphone Stand: https://geni.us/mV4S

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