Naming Your Podcast for Maximum Impact: SEO and Branding Tips
Choosing the right podcast name is one of the most important early decisions you’ll make. A good name isn’t just about creativity - it’s about discoverability, clarity, and brand alignment. For companies, the stakes are even higher: your podcast title sets expectations for listeners, influences SEO visibility, and determines whether your show stands out in a saturated market of over 4 million podcasts.
This guide will help you choose a podcast name that balances creativity with business impact.
Start With Your Audience in Mind
The best names speak directly to the people you want to reach. Before you brainstorm, answer three questions:
Who is my podcast for?
What problem are they trying to solve?
What promise am I making to them?
If you’re a B2B brand targeting CFOs, the name should signal credibility and relevance. If you’re a consumer brand speaking to creative professionals, a slightly more playful or aspirational name may land better.
Pro tip: imagine your ideal listener scrolling through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Will they instantly understand your show’s relevance from the name alone?
Keep It Clear Over Clever
Creative names can be memorable, but clarity beats cleverness every time in the podcast world. Avoid inside jokes or cryptic puns unless your brand is known for them.
A clear title tells the listener what they’ll get - whether that’s leadership insights, marketing strategies, or stories about innovation.
Compare:
The Scaling Playbook (clear, benefit-driven)
Up and to the Right (metaphor, but less obvious)
Aim for clarity first, then layer in creativity.
Optimize for SEO (Without Sounding Robotic)
Podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify have their own search algorithms, and your show name and subtitle play a key role in whether you show up.
Include one primary keyword (e.g., “marketing,” “leadership,” “design”) if it fits naturally.
Add a subtitle or tagline for more keyword coverage. For example: Design Signals: Stories of Innovation in UX, Product, and Branding.
Keep the main title short (3–5 words ideally) and use the subtitle for context.
Avoid keyword stuffing - “The Marketing Sales Leadership Growth Podcast” looks spammy and turns off real listeners.
Check Availability Early
Before you fall in love with a name, make sure it’s actually available. Run these checks:
Apple Podcasts & Spotify: search the directories to see if the name already exists.
Domain: can you secure a matching URL (or close variant)?
Social media handles: even if you don’t plan to use them now, secure them for future brand protection.
Trademarks: especially important if you’re investing in promotion.
If there are close matches, ask whether your audience might confuse the shows. Distinctiveness is key.
Align With Your Brand Identity
Your podcast name should feel like a natural extension of your brand voice. Ask:
Does it reflect your tone - formal, approachable, playful, expert?
Will it resonate authentically with your target audience?
Can it sit comfortably alongside your other marketing assets (newsletters, blogs, webinars)?
For example, a law firm’s podcast might opt for Legal Horizons rather than The Courtroom Chronicles. One builds credibility, the other risks undermining it.
Test and Iterate
Like all creative decisions, naming benefits from feedback.
Share your top three options with internal stakeholders and a small sample of your audience.
Ask: Which feels clearest? Which stands out? Which would you click?
Watch out for “committee naming.” Too much input can water down a strong choice.
Ultimately, your name should serve your audience first, your brand second, and your ego last.
Quick Checklist for Naming Your Podcast
Clear, not cryptic
Audience-first language
Includes a natural keyword
Available across directories, domain, and socials
Aligned with your brand tone and values
Tested with your target listeners
Final Word
A podcast name isn’t everything — but it is the front door to your show. The right name makes your podcast discoverable, memorable, and credible. The wrong one can bury great content under confusion.
Take the time to choose carefully. The effort will pay off in audience growth and brand alignment.
For expert help with podcast strategy, naming, and full production, get in touch at hello@1878.studio.
