Podcast SEO Settings Guide
Complete guide to optimizing your podcast for search engines and podcast directories with ProRank's advanced podcast features
2025 Podcast Trends: With over 5 million podcasts globally, SEO optimization is crucial for discovery. YouTube Music's podcast integration and Spotify's enhanced discovery features make proper metadata configuration more important than ever.
Overview
The Podcast SEO module provides everything you need to launch, manage, and optimize a podcast directly from WordPress. It creates a dedicated podcast custom post type, generates RSS feeds compatible with all major directories, and includes AI-powered tools for content creation.
Key capabilities include:
- Episode Management: Custom post type with all podcast-specific metadata fields
- RSS Feed Generation: Automatic feed creation with iTunes, Spotify, and Podcast 2.0 tags
- AI Content Tools: Generate optimized titles, descriptions, and show notes
- Platform Optimization: Settings for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more
- Advanced Features: Transcripts, chapters, monetization, and video podcast support
Key Features
Custom Post Type
Dedicated podcast episode management with all metadata fields
RSS Feed Generation
Automatic RSS 2.0 feed with iTunes and Podcast 2.0 extensions
AI Content Generation
Generate titles, show notes, and chapters with AI assistance
Multi-Platform Support
Optimized for Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more
Video Podcast Ready
Support for video podcasts with YouTube integration
Monetization Options
Value4Value, funding URLs, and premium content support
Module Tabs
The Podcast SEO module is organized into specialized tabs for different aspects of podcast management:
Feed Configuration
Set up your podcast RSS feed with all required metadata for directories
- Podcast title and description
- Author and owner information
- Categories and subcategories
- Language and explicit content settings
Platform Integration
Configure settings for major podcast platforms and directories
- Apple Podcasts optimization
- Spotify podcast settings
- YouTube Music integration
- Google Podcasts compatibility
Podcast 2.0 Features
Enable next-generation podcast features for enhanced listener experience
- Transcripts and chapters
- Value4Value payments
- Podcast trailers
- Location and person tags
Advanced Schema
Implement structured data for better search visibility
- PodcastEpisode schema
- WebPage integration
- Speakable content markup
- VideoObject for video podcasts
AI Episode Generator
Use AI to generate optimized episode content instantly
- SEO-optimized titles
- Comprehensive show notes
- Chapter markers
- Meta descriptions
Feed Validation
Monitor and validate your podcast feed configuration
- Real-time feed status
- Platform compatibility checks
- Missing metadata alerts
- Optimization suggestions
Getting Started
Step 1: Configure Basic Settings
Navigate to ProRank SEO → On-Page SEO → Podcast SEO and fill in the required feed information:
- Podcast title and description
- Author name and email
- Owner information (for directory verification)
- Primary category from Apple Podcasts categories
- Language and explicit content rating
Step 2: Add Cover Art
Upload podcast cover art that meets platform requirements:
- Minimum 1400x1400 pixels (3000x3000 recommended)
- Maximum 512KB file size
- JPG or PNG format
- RGB color space (not CMYK)
Step 3: Create Your First Episode
Click "Add New Episode" or go to Podcast Episodes → Add New:
- Enter episode title and content
- Upload audio file (MP3 recommended)
- Set episode number and season
- Add show notes and transcript
- Configure SEO settings
Step 4: Submit to Directories
Your RSS feed is available at: yoursite.com/feed/podcast
Submit this feed URL to:
- Apple Podcasts: podcasters.apple.com
- Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com
- YouTube Music: studio.youtube.com
- Amazon Music: podcasters.amazon.com
RSS Feed Elements
Your podcast RSS feed includes these essential elements for directory compatibility:
| Element | Description | Required | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
title | Your podcast name | The ProRank Podcast | |
description | Podcast summary (4000 chars max) | Weekly insights on SEO... | |
author | Podcast creator | John Doe | |
owner | Legal owner name and email | John Doe (john@example.com) | |
category | Primary iTunes category | Technology | |
language | ISO 639-1 language code | en-US | |
explicit | Content rating | false | |
image | Cover art (min 1400x1400px) | podcast-cover.jpg | |
funding | Support/donation URL | Optional | patreon.com/yourpodcast |
transcript | Episode transcript URL | Optional | episode-transcript.html |
AI Episode Generator
The AI Episode Generator helps you create SEO-optimized content for your podcast episodes instantly. It generates multiple title options, comprehensive show notes, chapter markers, and SEO metadata.
How to Use the AI Generator
Enter Episode Topic
Provide the main subject or theme of your podcast episode
Add Keywords (Optional)
Include target SEO keywords to optimize the generated content
Set Duration
Specify episode length for appropriately detailed show notes
Provide Context (Optional)
Add transcript excerpts or key points for better AI understanding
Generate Content
Click generate to create titles, show notes, chapters, and SEO metadata
Review & Use
Copy the generated content to your episode or download for later use
The AI generator works best when you provide specific context about your episode. Include guest names, key topics discussed, and any unique insights to get more targeted results.
Platform-Specific Settings
Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts requires specific iTunes namespace tags:
<itunes:author>Your Name</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary>Episode description</itunes:summary>
<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
<itunes:duration>00:30:00</itunes:duration>
<itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>Spotify
Spotify-specific settings for enhanced features:
- Episode limit (default 200 episodes)
- Country/region targeting
- Spotify-exclusive content flags
- Music and talk show categorization
YouTube Music
For YouTube Music podcasts, configure:
- YouTube channel ID linkage
- Video podcast URL (if available)
- Thumbnail optimization (16:9 ratio)
- Chapter markers for video timeline
Podcast 2.0 Features
Enable next-generation podcast features for enhanced listener experience:
Transcripts
Add searchable transcripts to improve accessibility and SEO:
- SRT/VTT format support
- Inline or linked transcripts
- Multiple language support
Chapters
Create navigable chapter markers:
- JSON chapters format
- Timestamp navigation
- Chapter images and URLs
Value4Value
Enable cryptocurrency micropayments:
- Lightning Network support
- Payment splits configuration
- Boosts and streaming sats
Location & Person Tags
Add context with metadata:
- Recording location (OSM)
- Guest/host identification
- Social media links
Feed Validation
The Feed Validation tab provides real-time monitoring of your podcast configuration:
Configuration Checklist
- ✅ Required metadata present
- ✅ Cover art uploaded and valid
- ✅ RSS feed accessible
- ✅ Episodes have required fields
- ⚠️ Optional enhancements available
Platform Compatibility
- Apple Podcasts: Ready ✅
- Spotify: Ready ✅
- YouTube Music: Needs channel ID ⚠️
- Google Podcasts: Compatible ✅
Always validate your feed after making changes. Use the built-in validator or external tools like Podbase or Cast Feed Validator to ensure compatibility with all directories.
SEO Best Practices
Episode Titles
- Keep titles under 60 characters for search visibility
- Include episode number for series continuity
- Front-load important keywords
- Avoid clickbait - be descriptive and honest
Show Notes
- Write 300+ words for better SEO value
- Include timestamps for key moments
- Add links to resources mentioned
- Use headers to structure content
- Include a clear call-to-action
Transcripts
- Provide full transcripts for accessibility
- Use proper punctuation and formatting
- Include speaker labels
- Consider offering downloadable versions
Troubleshooting
Feed Not Updating in Directories
Podcast directories cache feeds for 24-48 hours. After making changes, manually refresh your feed in each directory's dashboard or wait for automatic updates.
Episodes Not Appearing
Ensure episodes are published (not draft), have valid audio files attached, and include all required metadata. Check the feed URL directly to verify episodes are included.
Cover Art Rejected
Common issues: File too large (>512KB), wrong dimensions (<1400px), contains text on edges, or uses CMYK color space. Re-export as RGB JPG at 3000x3000px.