Are you wondering if you should build a website for your podcast? Or perhaps you’ve already built one and now you’re not sure whether it was worth it? I personally believe that every podcast should have a website, and here are five of the main reasons why.
- Make Your Podcast More Discoverable and Accessible
- Provide Detailed Episode Show Notes and Extra Content
- A Centralized Podcast Information Hub
- Manage Your Podcast’s Brand
- And So Much More…
Without any further ado let’s dive right in!
1. Make Your Podcast More Discoverable and Accessible
When I talk to people about podcasting, most of them have a clear reason for starting their show. Whether it’s to document their thoughts and experiences as they work on a project or whether it is to pursue a specific mission or goal, the goal is usually to build some kind of audience and have people actually listen to the show!
Unfortunately, podcasts can be difficult to discover, which is an unfortunate reality for creators. When you think about how you find new podcasts, it’s usually a friend telling you, an episode shared on social media, or searching for a specific topic over on Google and adding the keyword “podcast.”
For all of these methods of discoverability, having a website for your podcast can be helpful. Having a simple domain name to remember, or an episode landing page to link to makes sharing a show or episode super simple. Including helpful text and content on your episode landing pages makes it much simpler for search engines to know what your show is about… and perhaps more importantly what each episode is all about.
On the accessibility front, providing a transcript or show summary can be very helpful for folks who have hearing impairments. There are also people who would rather read through some highlights of a podcast (or search the page for a keyword) rather than, or perhaps before committing to listening to the hour-long audio version.
Several things to keep in mind when you’re building your podcast website related to making your podcast more easily discoverable and accessible.
- Include your podcast name and the word “podcast” in your page title
- Give your show episodes names that are related to the content, instead of simply “Episode 6” perhaps something like “A Discussion With Martha Stewart About Honey Bees”
- Include a summary or outline of the podcast episode. If you have a transcript that can be helpful as well.
- Set up your social media open graph images and details. If you’re on WordPress there are a number of plugins that make this super easy.
2. Provide Detailed Episode Show Notes and Extra Content
How many times have you listened to a podcast episode and later were trying to remember some detail from it, perhaps a guest’s name, a book that was mentioned, or any of a multitude of possibilities?
Depending on the type of show you produce it can be super helpful to provide detailed episode show notes. Perhaps an outline of the conversation, or a list of the 10 books that were mentioned. Having one place for all of these details makes it easy for your audience to access relevant information, resources, and references mentioned.
The show notes on your website are also a great place to share additional content to elevate your listener’s experience. Perhaps you created a short video around the podcast asking a few more questions to your guest. Maybe you took some pictures of the unique location you recorded an episode. Any of these things can be included and your audience can connect on a deeper level with you and your content. This additional material can also encourage your listeners to check your website out regularly.
There is also the somewhat obvious reality that creating show notes and extra content for your podcast episodes can be a significant boost to your website’s SEO. The more frequently your podcast website shows up in search results the more possible exposure to new listeners your show receives.
If you want to allow your audience to join the conversation around an episode, the show notes for an episode can be a great place for that. If you’re using WordPress you can use the built-in comment system, Disqus, or any of a number of different comment platforms. It also makes it simple for your listeners to share one of your episodes on Facebook, Twitter, in an email thread, etc. Engaging with your listeners not only allows you to build a sense of community but can also provide valuable feedback to help you continue to improve and grow your podcast.
3. A Centralized Podcast Information Hub
When you go to a big supermarket you expect them to have all kinds of things. Often there is a grocery section, an electronics section, an outdoor section, and probably some other areas that I’m not thinking of right now. The point is, it’s pretty convenient to be able to find everything you need in one place. This may not be a perfect analogy, but the same can be said for your podcast.
Having a single place where your audience can find everything related to your podcast episodes and the show can be super helpful. They can listen to old and new episodes. They can find links to follow you on social media. They can learn more about you and perhaps some of the details behind the podcast.
Having everything in one place isn’t just convenient for listeners, though. It can also be a big help if there are businesses or other podcasters who may want to work with you. If someone is thinking about sponsoring your podcast, they can go to your website and learn all about what you do, who you are, what you are about, and how they can get in touch with you. This can make it much easier for you to form valuable partnerships.
Including a way for listeners to contact you directly on your website is another great benefit. Maybe they have an idea for a future episode, or maybe they just want to tell you how much they love your podcast. Either way, having a contact form or email address on your website makes it super easy for your listeners to connect with you.
4. Manage Your Podcast’s Brand
Have you ever noticed how some of your favorite brands have a unique style that you can instantly recognize? This is called a brand’s visual identity. Your website can help you create a similar visual identity for your podcast. You get to choose the colors, the style of writing, the layout, and the images that make your podcast unique and recognizable.
Think about your podcast’s cover art and the images you use for each episode. These images can set the mood and give your listeners a hint of what they can expect. By matching the design of your website with these images, you create a seamless brand experience. This way, whether your listeners are tuning into your podcast or visiting your website, they’ll feel like they’re part of the same world you’ve created.
The best part is, you’re the boss. When you have your own website, you’re in control of how your podcast is presented. This means you don’t have to rely on other websites to share your podcast and just hope that they show it in a way you like. Your podcast, your rules!
But a brand is more than just looks. It’s also about the message you want to share and the values you stand for. Your website can be where you express your podcast’s mission and the principles you believe in. This helps listeners connect with your podcast on a deeper level because they don’t just know what you talk about, they understand why it matters to you.
In the end, a website doesn’t just help people find your podcast, it helps them understand and connect with it. It tells your story, in your own words and your own style. And that makes your podcast even more special.
5. And So Much More…
Just like a mystery box that keeps surprising you with new treasures, a website for your podcast has so much more to offer than you might think. Let’s explore a few of these extra benefits.
First, let’s talk about money. Everyone likes to make a little extra cash, right? Your website can help with that. You can use it to advertise your own products or services. Maybe you wrote a book or offer coaching services. Or perhaps you can recommend products you love and include affiliate links so you make a little money when someone buys something. You could even host sponsored content or set up a donation button or membership program for your most dedicated fans to support your podcast.
Another cool thing you can do with your website is to build an email list. You might be thinking, “What do I need an email list for?” Well, it’s a great way to keep in touch with your listeners. You can send them newsletters, updates, or special announcements about your podcast. This keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.
Do you know what else is neat? Analytics. With tools like Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics, you can learn a lot about your audience. Like which episodes are their favorites, where they’re from, or how they found your podcast. This can help you make decisions about future episodes or marketing strategies.
And last but not least, your website can grow with your podcast. As your podcast becomes more popular, you can add more features to your website. Maybe you want to start a blog, add video content, or even sell podcast-related merchandise. The possibilities are endless!
Conclusion
So there you have it! Now you know why having a website for your podcast is such a fantastic idea. If you haven’t started building your podcast website yet, what are you waiting for? Take that first step today.
Trust me, your podcast will thank you for it!
P.S. If you build your podcast website on WordPress and you host your podcast with Transistor.fm you might want to take a look at using TransistorWP to easily embed your podcast episode player as well as show details on your website!