Are Podcast Directory’s A Good Thing To Use?
A “Podcast Directory” is simply a collection of RSS feeds (the URL’s behind the podcast that will allow listeners to automatically receive new published episodes). The RSS feeds are submitted by the podcaster to the directory for listing. In some instances, they are collected and manually added by the staff of the directory service.
Think of Google and your website for a moment. Let’s just assume your website and podcast are both concerned with “dog training.” There may be 3 million different websites that are talking about “dog training.” What will make your website stand out?
If you want to be towards the top of the Google search algorithm, you need to have traffic visiting your website on a consistent basis. If you simply create your website and leave it at that, you will never be found by those searching “dog training” on Google.
The typical person will only look at the first page of Google results for their search. A few will go to the second or possibly the third page. But few will go beyond that.
To have your website rank higher, you need to continually update it with fresh and new content. You need to have consistent (if not increasing) website visitors. These visitors need to be engaged (clicking links). That is how you will start to increase you rankings for your website.
It works the same way for Podcast Directory’s. If you load your podcast RSS feed to the directory, but never promote anything through or by their service (driving traffic), it will not do anything to try help you drive traffic. The only thing that will happen is when someone either types your name, the name of your podcast or the niche/topic you may have an episode on. Only then would you be found in their listing.
If there are not a lot of people who have names similar to yours, similar to your podcast or topics which you discuss, your name will pop up. But if you have a podcast, for example, in “dog training” niche, you will need to find a way to increase your rankings and download numbers through the directory service, in addition to other outlets.
The main way to do this is to have a link on your website to their website. As people visit your website, they see the link for your podcast (through the directory service) and click on it. Something as simple as, “Listen to us on all of these podcasting platforms!”
If a person uses one of those platforms, they will click on that icon or link and be immediately redirected to that service to listen to your episode.
The directory service appreciates the traffic! If you begin to have a lot of clicks from your website to their site, they will begin to raise your visibility level for people who are simply searching for “dog training” on their platform!
Podcast directory services are great, but the bottom line is to promote what it is you want people to do! If you want increased traffic through the Podcast Directory service, you need to send them traffic from your website as well.
It is a two-way street when it comes to promoting your podcast!
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