Podcast Discovery 101: Discover Podcasts Simply
The growth in podcasts matters to listeners looking for a show that suits their individual interests. Additionally, it's ideal for marketers and business owners looking for new platforms to advertise on and new audiences to reach.
While you won't be short of podcasts, the sheer volume level makes it time-consuming to narrow down your choices and find podcasts that are engaging.
This guide will walk you through how to find podcasts and how to discover your own podcast.
How to find podcasts that interest you
If you are overwhelmed with the number of podcasts, this is not surprising. How many podcasts are there exactly? The latest research shows that there are over 47 million episodes available and the number is growing.
An article on Pacific Content said, “Too many podcasts. Not enough time."
It's difficult enough to keep up with new episodes and freshly launched podcasts, and that's before we find time to read the backlog of podcasts we have in line.
Even if we don't listen to a podcast, 75 percent of adults in the US are at least aware of it. In the case of mobile devices, this number can be expected to continue to grow.
With so many podcasts available, how do you find the one you want to listen to?
1: How to Find Podcasts by Performing a Discovery Google Search
The fastest and easiest way to find podcasts is on Google. Just choose your niche and enter "Business Podcasts", "Health Podcasts", "Relationship Podcasts" or whatever topic interests you most. However, Google is not your only choice.
2: How to find podcasts using the search bar on the main podcast host sites
There is no shortage of podcast hosting sites. A quick search on Google will find:
- Buzzsprout
- Podbean
- anchor
- River bank
- Spreaker
There's no place to put you through them all, so I'll use Spreaker as an example.
On Spreaker, go to the "Listen" option at the top of the page and click. You will then be presented with a list of sub-headings including Employee Picks, Crime, and Featured, which have tons of podcasts to search through.
3: How to Find Podcasts Using New and New Podcast Discovery Tools
Regular podcast listeners may be familiar with some of the newer detection tools. These tools make podcasts easier to find.
Below I'll outline some of the most popular tools and explain how to use them, their benefits, and main functions, starting with Listen Notes.
Listen to notes
When you're trying to find a podcast, Listen Notes calls itself "the best podcast search engine," but it's more than just a detection tool.
To give you a better idea, you could:
- Find cross-promotion opportunities with other podcasters and use them for networking
- Build podcast apps using the Listen Notes API
- Here you can find information on topics for content ideas
The site is also packed with features:
- "Hear later" where you create your playlists
- an option "send podcast"
- A Explore tab to find new podcasts
- the podcast academy, which offers tutorials and articles
- Find search capabilities for hot, best, curated, and related podcasts
- Classified ads where you can find guest appearances and cross-promotion opportunities
Listennotes.com takes you straight to the main search engine so you can just type in "business growth" or "digital marketing" or whatever interests you. When you do, a list of podcasts will appear for you to dive into and see which ones appeal to you the most.
It's also worth typing in "trending" to see what happens and what stimulates other users' imaginations.
Another way to find podcasts is to click the "Explore" link at the top of the page. Here is a drop-down list to choose from.
Listen Notes is free, but you can sign up for a paid membership to access the “Super” search engine and other features.
The main advantages of the website are its ease of use and navigation. If you're just looking for podcasts in your niche, you shouldn't find any real downsides.
Pod Hunt
Pod Hunt promises "the best daily podcasts". Visiting the website will take you straight to the main search engine where you can start your search.
In the example above, the search term is "technolog". Once you have a list of podcasts, you can click through to the podcast that caught your attention.
At the top of the page you will also find:
- consequences, for a list of recent episodes
- Categoriesshowing an extensive range of A-Z topics
- Collectionswhere to discover curated podcasts
- Feedswhere to find the top podcast episodes
You can also sign up for the website's newsletter or submit an episode from the main search engine page.
Pod Hunt may not be quite as sophisticated as Listen Notes, and it may have fewer features. However, it's a good website if you want to do a quick search.
Podchaser
Podchaser helps you find podcasts, curated lists, ratings, reviews, and guest appearances. A list of the most recent episodes will appear on the search page. You can also use the white search box at the top of the page to find podcasts in your preferred niche.
On the right side of the page, you'll find the most popular categories which give you easy access to Business, Comedy, True Crime, News podcasts, among others. You can also find trendy creators with household names like Barack Obama, Trevor Noah, and Joe Rogan.
It's free, but if you'd like to "improve your schedule and coverage," you can ask for more details.
There are no obvious drawbacks. It's a simply structured, easy-to-use search site.
Spreaker
Spreaker is podcast creation software and app. It organizes, curates, and delivers content via live audio feeds, simplifying everything and making it easy to find podcasts and import your podcast library.
Spreaker is also convenient for developers as it uses RSS feeds for direct distribution and monetization. It's compatible with the iPhone and iPad and all you have to do is download the app to get started.
The main features include:
- Brief audio highlightsHere's how to find podcasts that are of interest to you
- a personalized audio feed, which contains recommendations
- a live playlist shows you the latest content
- nine categoriesincluding "True Crime" and "Self Improvement"
The biggest advantages of the app are the time it saves in finding the content you want and the ease of searching for podcasts.
Castro
Castro is another podcast app that you can download from the Apple App Store. It offers a single playlist called a "queue".
Castro allows you to manage a large number of podcasts and choose whether to listen to the podcasts immediately or send them to your inbox for later.
Main features are:
- advanced audio options
- Push notifications for immediate listening
- Adapted playback speeds and shorter listening times
- Podcast sharing
To use it, just download the app for free or pay $ 18.99 per year to unlock advanced features.
Podible
Podible promises "more time to listen and less time to dig". Download the free app from the iTunes Store and you will find podcasts and similar shows.
Other functions are:
- Listen to the classics
- Podcast recommendations
- Creation of a playlist
There is little description of how to use the app: just install it and you will soon find your way around.
The main benefit is being able to easily find podcasts that fit your niche and the positive feedback for the user interface.
The referral feature requires some rework, and it has been some time since Podible updated its social media content.
4: How to Find Podcasts Using Niche Podcast Discovery Apps
Another way to find podcasts is through niche apps. These will further refine your search by narrowing it down on niche topics that are true crime, business, comedy, or technology.
These apps are becoming increasingly popular because of their time-saving capabilities. To give you an idea of what is on offer, I've highlighted a few below.
Ridiculous
You've probably guessed that the Laughable app is the right place to find comedy shows, but it acts as a gateway to other genres as well. For example, you can discover the Oprah and Barack Obama podcast through the app.
It is updated regularly so that new podcast content is always available. Other features worth exploring include:
- curated episodes and download options for offline listening
- Find comedians if they are hosts or appear as guests.
- different playback speeds and the subscribe button for listening to actors, musicians and athletes
Laughable is very popular and is often counted among the best. The main feature is the simple search function that you can use to find podcasts, episodes and series.
On negatives, some users want to see a playlist, and one reviewer felt that downloading podcasts was more complicated than necessary.
Pinna
Pinna has a variety of resources to keep kids entertained. Pinna doesn't just limit its content to apps. It's an ad-free service that offers audiobooks and music.
With an annual fee, you have year-round access to the shows, and Pinna is initially offering a one-month free trial.
Once you're on the Pinna website, select the sub-heading that interests you most and explore.
You can find shows like:
- Hero Hotel
- The completely unauthorized Minecraft Fan Show
- Opal Watson: Private Eye
Click on the show that catches your attention or your child's imagination and sign up for the free trial to start listening.
They have different categories of content for different ages where you can find the following:
- Good night stories
- Road trip stories
- play with content
- Learning content
Leela children
Leela Kids searches the internet for audio content suitable for children. You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Access to content takes place in three steps:
- Choose the age group and area of interest.
- Review the results to find suitable content.
- Then click and listen.
You can also opt to email for referrals several times a month.
Like other niche websites, Leela Kids makes an effort to find podcasts online, and ease of use is by far its greatest asset.
How to discover your podcast
Maybe you're a podcaster trying to discover your show, or maybe you're just thinking about starting one and you want to make your podcast easier for others to find.
It may seem intimidating if you're not sure where to start, but don't worry. These next steps will help you promote your show.
Use keywords: You use SEO to discover your other content and there is no reason why you shouldn't make your podcasts SEO friendly too. You can research keywords using free tools like Ubersuggest, the Ubersuggest Chrome extension, or the Google Keyword Planner.
When you have your list of keywords ready, put them in titles and descriptions, and add them to organic podcast directories.
Meet people: That doesn't just mean using prominent platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Instead, use the networking possibilities in podcast directories.
Some of the directories listed in the article have a network area where you can build relationships with other podcasters and have the floor.
Use your mailing list: Existing marketers have ready audiences thanks to their mailing lists. Include snippets and links in your newsletters and other marketing materials so they can find your podcasts.
Start marketing: Don't just use your existing customer base. Start marketing to a wider audience. Finding guest posting opportunities, issuing press releases when you do something new, and writing guest blogs for your niche are just a few of the ways you can get the word out.
Reuse your content: The more places you share your podcast content, the greater the chance that people will find the content you've created. For example, you could:
- Split parts of a transcript in your newsletter with a link to the entire show
- Create short YouTube videos or have your podcast listed in apps
- make an infographic or a meme to share on social media
Conclusion
Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular and successful shows like the Marketing School provide audible content for listeners on the go.
However, the sheer volume of podcasts can sometimes make it difficult to find the podcasts you're looking for. This is where podcast directories and niche apps come in. They simplify your search to make it easier to find podcasts that match your interests. You can use similar methods to discover your own podcast.
If you want to promote on podcasts or create your own but aren't sure how. To get started, contact our agency. We can help!
Do you listen to podcasts? How do you find podcasts that grab your attention? Tell us below.
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