Easy Tips to Get Your Podcast Ranking Up

Let’s get one thing straight: while seemingly easy, producing an exceptional podcast actually requires a lot of time and effort. Understandably, when the podcast you have invested so much in does not get the attention it deserves, it can be utterly disheartening.

Fortunately, all is not in vain. The truth is there are plenty of ways you can do to help give your ranking the much-needed boost. Give the following effective tips a try to significantly increase your podcast’s chances of getting discovered, subscribed to, and downloaded:

01 Research on the appropriate SEO keywords to use

Per podcast episode, iTunes allows podcasters to have at least 12 keywords. Doing proper research on relevant and appropriate phrases and keywords can help steer your SEO efforts in the right direction. Use websites like Keywordtool.io and Uber Suggest for starters. Remember, do away with lengthy keywords as users rarely type in long phrases on iTunes.

02 Invest in good artwork

Akin to real artwork, investing in good podcast artwork is key. Exerting a little extra effort to ensure your podcast artwork is nothing short of stunning can help your podcast in more ways than you can possibly imagine. Some even believe an awesome artwork can help podcasts get better ranking. True or not, going the extra mile when it comes to your podcast artwork is still a good thing as it can still entice listeners to give your podcast a listen.

If you are in the mood to go the extra mile, you can start by creating a specific artwork for every episode.

If budget is an issue, then there’s good news! Creating these artworks does not always have to be expensive. Nowadays, you can always go to sites like Fiverr and have a bespoke podcast artwork created just for you for only $5.

03 Shorten those titles

Keeping things simple is always the way to go and you can apply the same principle when it comes to episode titles. Keep in mind that the first 4 to 5 words are the only ones visible in previews and search results. Keep things interesting by making sure you don’t give everything away in the description and title.

Also, don’t waste the title field characters by including the episode number. If adding it is a must, consider it best to incorporate it at the end of the title or descriptions. Ensure you utilize the space aptly by making sure only the key information are visible.

04 Personalize your episode descriptions

Work on making those episode descriptions more individualized! Do away with just using the show’s description as the episode description. If anything, it won’t give your listeners a clear idea about the episode at all. At all times, ensure your description is interesting enough so you’ll be able to entice people to listen.

Provide a succinct description of the episode, the names of the guest(s) you are having (if any), and the target keywords.

05 One topic shows

Too many topics in one show? UNLIKE. Ramblings and complaint podcasts are goners now. The audience does not want that anymore and prefer content that are shorter. If you want to tackle a lot of things, consider it best to divide it into 2 or more episodes instead. Doing so will make it relatively easy for people to listen to your podcast. Also, bear in mind that most people listen to podcasts while commuting so a 25-minute time frame is deemed ideal.

06 Promote podcast subscription

When a listener finds a podcast, they can enjoy the show either by downloading just one episode or by subscribing to the podcast itself. At all times, encourage the latter. In addition, take advantage of the power of social media by sharing links of new episodes on diverse social media platforms. Listing show notes on blogs or websites is also advised, along with a subscription link for the podcast.

07 iTunes reviews are important

One awesome (and effective!) way to boost podcast ranking is by asking for reviews on iTunes. Podcasts with many reviews enjoy better rankings compared to those shows with no reviews at all. It’s a no-brainer, really. There is no shame in asking for reviews from listeners as it allows them to share their inputs as well.

08 Videos are a go!

A higher search rank are given to those with video podcasts. If resources are available to produce video episodes, it is something you definitely should pursue.

09 Download spikes

Create traffic spikes if the show that is being put out is exclusive or will be a sure hit. A spike in downloads is sure to catch iTunes’ eyes and will prompt them to rank the podcast higher in the search results.

Use social media and the advertising opportunities they present. Promoted tweets and Facebook ads can be very beneficial in similar scenarios.

10 Direct listeners to iTunes

iTunes is known as one of the biggest podcast aggregators there is and naturally, asking the audience to check your podcast out on iTunes can do wonders for the search ranking. The more people subscribing, downloading, and searching one’s podcast on iTunes, the better the ranking will be.

11 Age matters

Yes. Age matters. The longer the podcast has been around, the better its search placement will be. That being said, procrastinating is never a good idea when it comes to podcasting. When you have a good idea, give it a go so you can have it published the soonest possible time.

12 Have a robust content plan in place

Content plans are essential when producing a new podcast. And the first 8 weeks is crucial, With that in mind, creating a solid 8-week content plan should rank high in your list of priorities.

iTunes features podcasts that are 8 weeks old and under in their “New and Noteworthy” section and getting featured there will definitely give you some much-needed exposure.

A good 8-week plan can consist of guest appearances on other podcasts, doing multi-part episodes to keep listeners hooked (and come back for more), as well as plans for social media content. These are all great tactics you can surely use to your advantage.

13 Consistency is key

Your audience will appreciate consistency so have a solid publishing schedule in place. Space out episodes and shows equally. You don’t necessarily have to put out episodes at the exact same time and exact same day each week. You just need to ensure that you release episodes consistently so you can dramatically increase your chances of ranking high in iTunes.

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