Happy Labor Day, !
Your podcast episode title is your first and best chance at grabbing a listener’s attention.
If it’s dull or confusing, your potential audience will just scroll past it like it’s something about politics or religion.
But if it’s clear, compelling, and a little bit irresistible, you’ve got a much better chance of getting those clicks.
So, how do you craft a podcast episode title that makes people want to hit play?
Well, that's the subject of this email...
The Power of a Good Title
Your podcast title is like one of those young ladies standing outside offering free shots outside of relatively unpopular bars.
It needs to stand out and pull people in.
Think about it: when you’re scrolling through a list of podcasts, what makes you stop?
It’s the promise of something valuable, intriguing, or gottdurn unmissable.
For example, compare these two titles:
- "Podcast Monetization Tips"
- "How I Made £1,000 in a Month with My Podcast - And How You Can Too"
The first one’s aight. But the second one?
That’s got 'click-me' written all over it
My Advice For Crafting a Great Title
Here's my tips to help you nail your podcast titles every time:
Identify the Main Offering:
- What’s the big takeaway from your episode?
- Make sure that’s front and centre in your title.
- Are you promising specific transformation of health or wealth?
- Pop that right in there.
Use Power Words:
- Words like "how," "why," "secret," and "tips" grab attention because they promise something useful.
- But don't overdo it.
- And never use a power word instead of a valuable keyword.
Keep It Concise:
- Aim for 8-12 words.
- Make sure you pop in enough text to get the point across without losing people’s attention.
- Apple Podcasts truncates the title, but still indexes the words so find a balance between 'tidy' and 'keyword rich'.
A/B Test:
- If you’re torn between two titles, test them out.
- Literally, swap them out after a few days and see which one resonates more with your audience.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
While you’re crafting those titles, keep an eye out for these pitfalls:
Being Too Vague:
- Don’t make your listeners guess what the episode is about.
- Be clear and direct.
Getting Too Clever:
- Creativity is great, but don’t sacrifice clarity for the sake of being clever.
- A title like "Navigating the Labyrinth of Audio" might sound fancy, but "Mastering Audio Editing in 5 Easy Steps" is way more likely to get clicks.
Title Formulas That (Sometimes) Work
If you’re ever stuck for an inspiring title, try these tried-and-tested formulas:
- The List: "7 Ways to [Benefit] Without [Pain Point]"
- The Question: "Are You Making This [Common Mistake]?"
- The How-To: "How to [Achieve Something] in [Timeframe]"
- The Provocative Statement: "Why [Something] is the Best/Worst [Version of your thing]
The Role of Keywords
Let’s not forget the importance of keywords. Seriously, they're not just for the SEO geeks on Google.
Including relevant keywords in your title is a great tactic for anyone who wants their podcast to show up in search results.
Think about what your audience might be searching for, and make sure those terms are in your title.
Take Action: Improve Your Old Titles
Here’s a little homework for you!
Go back through your old episodes and see if any of the titles could use improvement.
Apply what I’ve shared here and see if your downloads get any kind of boost.
Trust me, sometimes a fresh title is all you need to breathe new life into an old episode.
If you notice a difference, let me know so I can celebrate your improvements with you!
Pssst! Are you following "The Podmaster"?
Need Some Help? Let’s Chat
If you’re struggling with a title or just want a second opinion, I’m here to help.
Shoot me your latest title, and I’ll give you some quick feedback.
Or, if you want to make some serious improvements with your podcast including not just your titles but every aspect of your podcast, why not treat yourself to a podcast audit?
Click here to book your slot.
Together, we’ll make sure your show is in the best possible shape to grab some new attention.
Cheers!