How to title a podcast episode (without losing listeners)
Episode titles compete in a small list with hundreds of others. Your job is to win the click in three seconds. Most useful rule: keyword first. If the user searches "savings", your episode "How to save 30% without arguing" wins. "EP 47: Chat with John about money" loses.
- Keyword first. What people search goes up front.
- Concrete promise. "How to sleep better in 7 days" beats "Sleep talk".
- Under 60 characters. Spotify mobile cuts there.
- Guest names help SEO if known. Otherwise, lead with the topic.
- Avoid emojis. They break Apple Podcasts grids.
Formats that work in podcast
- How to X: most-searched format on Apple and Spotify.
- Numbered lists: 5 habits, 7 mistakes, 3 lessons. More clicks on YouTube thumbnails.
- With a guest: Name + topic (Martha Garcia on leadership). Only if the guest is known.
- Question: Why can't you save? What does your boss do well? Pulls curiosity.
- Reaction / analysis: what happened with X. Good for current events.
Common mistakes
Most common: leading with episode number or show name. People already know which podcast they're in. Another: generic titles ("Episode 4: an interesting talk") that say nothing to the algorithm. And a third: putting the guest name at the end, after mobile truncates. If the guest matters, lead or near-lead with their name.
After generating
- Confirm under 60 characters.
- Test on Spotify mobile: does it read fully?
- Compare to three competing titles on the same topic. Does yours win the click?
- Add the episode number at the end, never the start.
- Stay consistent — repeat listeners recognize your style.