The tags in your podcast RSS feed provide key information about your show (podcast series) and episodes, affecting how and when they are displayed in podcast directories.

Optimizing this metadata can therefore improve podcast visibility and engagement on directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. It will not only make it easier for users to find your show and episodes, but make them more likely to listen.

And, when you create or host your audio on BeyondWords, setting up a podcast RSS feed is simple.

Keep reading or listening to learn about the show tags and episode tags you'll need and how to optimize them.

Show tags

Show tags provide information about your podcast series. This means that they apply to the single

element within your podcast feed.

Title ()<br>

The<br>

<title> tag provides the name of your show, and is required on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. This appears whenever your show or an episode is featured, so it's important to choose something engaging and descriptive.<br>

Your title will affect which search results your show appears in, so it's wise to consider what would-be listeners might search for. However, if you include lots of keywords purely for search optimization purposes, your podcast may be removed from directories, so tread carefully.<br>

You can also make it easier for listeners to find your show by naming it something unique, memorable, and that's unambiguously pronounced/spelled. For example, numbers can create confusion, as listeners won't know whether to search with digits or words.<br>

While the limit is 255 characters, it's a good idea to keep your podcast title concise. This will make it more memorable and reduce the risk of it being clipped. The most popular length for podcast show titles is 16 characters, and 75% are 29 characters or shorter.<br>

When creating a podcast feed in BeyondWords, you can simply enter your show title into the corresponding field.<br>

Language (<language>)<br>

The language spoken on your show. This is submitted as the two-letter language code defined by ISO 639-1. For example, English is<br>

en.<br>

If you're optimizing your podcast feed in BeyondWords, you can simply select the language from a dropdown list.<br>

Description (<description>)<br>

The show description, also known as the podcast summary or blurb. This should explain what your show is about and what it has to offer, encouraging browsers to become listeners.<br>

You can include up to 4,000 characters (this includes any code, if you decide to submit HTML in a CDATA section), but the average description is just 243 characters long. Podcast directories will typically display just a line or two, hiding the rest in a 'read more' section, so it's important to front-load the most important details.<br>

Some podcast search engines take show descriptions into account, so it's worth incorporating keywords and phrases where you can do so naturally.<br>

When creating a podcast feed in BeyondWords, you can simply enter your show description into the corresponding field.<br>

Podcast homepage (<link>)<br>

The main website or webpage URL associated with your podcast. This is optional, but it's worth providing if you have one so that users can learn more about your show.<br>

When creating a podcast RSS feed in BeyondWords, you can simply paste your podcast URL into the corresponding field.<br>

Author(s) (<itunes:author>)<br>

The name of the person(s) or organization(s) authoring content for the podcast.<br>

In BeyondWords, you can easily add and delete multiple author names.<br>

Owner name and email (<itunes:owner>)<br>

This show tag contains the email address of the podcast owner in a nested<br>

<itunes:email> tag and the name of the owner in a nested<br>

<itunes:name> tag.<br>

These details are used for account verification and administration purposes and are not displayed on podcast directories.<br>

If you're creating your podcast feed in BeyondWords, you can simply enter the name and email address into the corresponding fields.<br>

Category (<itunes:category>)<br>

The category or catego...