What is a Podcast Directory…and Why Do You Need to Know?

The Real Ultimate Podcast Directories List and Service – links to over 70 sites

After millennia of using the spoken word to transmit information and understanding from one person to another, millions of enthusiastic talkers have started a podcast to move their message to the next level.

Podcasting has transformed time by creating endless spaces where a listener can hear conversations they never had access to, get training they could not otherwise afford, document advice that can change their lives, extend their entertainment options, and provide revenue opportunities by attracting a niche audience.

But finding podcasts – discovering the shows you want – is a challenge for even the most committed listener. The podcast directories are not robust search engines, and have unique approaches to organizing and delivering podcast information.

To get the most out of podcasting as a podcaster, listener or potential guest, you need to understand how to navigate the podcast directories.

What is a Podcast Directory?

A podcast directory is the list of all podcasts that are available through a podcast platform like a website or an app. Popular directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music are also the platforms where podcast listeners search for shows.

But no two directories are alike in their search capabilities, categories or listings, which means podcast discovery is a challenge. Once a podcast listener learns to navigate a specific directory, and is satisfied with the search results, they tend to stay with their selection.

Types of Podcast Directories

Podcast directories can be desktop-only, app-only or both. Some are designed simply to list all podcasts, others are aimed at specific listener groups or languages.

Podcast search capabilities typically allow searching by keyword that returns all podcasts using the keyword in the show or episode title. Some directories also incorporate tags into their search.

Directories have show pages for each podcast in their listing. Most also have links to listen to episodes. Show pages have the show description, sometimes links to the show website or RSS feed, and episode information.

How to Use a Podcast Directory

Podcasting has a few best practices, but no rules. Podcasters create show titles, episode descriptions and tags based on their own assessment of their content. Podcast directories take these terms verbatim, and return search results based on the podcast definitions. This means podcast discovery is a huge challenge.

Word-of-mouth, advertising, and popular blogs tend to drive podcast attention and listener growth. But to find the podcast in a directory, a listener has to know how the directory search works.

While initial search will be by the podcast name or a keyword, some directories also provide suggested search which displays similar programs or subjects. Suggested search recommendations also connects shows that are about similar topics, but are not using the same keywords in the title.

For Podcasters

Since listeners come from all directions, podcasters should make sure their podcast is in every directory they know. Many podcast hosting services will automatically distribute the podcast to the most popular directories, but no service distributes the program to every directory.

Podcasters should use the lists like this website’s Real Ultimate Podcast Directory list to check for their podcast in every available directory. If the show is not listed, the podcaster should submit it for consideration.

If the show is listed, bookmark the show page for future reference.

For Guest Podcasting

Potential podcast guests use the podcast directories to find shows that are speaking about their specific subject or issue. Understanding how the directories display information and search results is critical to D-I-Y Guest Podcasting, where guests search for shows on their own, and do not pay an agency or service to find shows for them.

For potential guests, start by listing all the possible keywords that are associated with your subject. For example, if you speak about tulips, you will want to search for flowers, gardening, outdoor activity, fragrances, and other key terms.

As you understand the search results, you will be available to refine your keywords to identify the most relevant programs.

For Listeners

With the rise of podcasting, interested listeners are having to learn how to find shows that are of interest to them.

Listeners must also use keywords to find new podcasts. For example, if you are interested in entrepreneurship, you would search for words like ‘entrepreneur’ or ‘entrepreneurship,’ or phrases like ‘start an online business.’

The directory will return thousands of results, often in no particular order, and you will still have to sift through the results to find the types of shows that you are seeking.

Unfortunately for listeners, the lack of a robust search engine limits their potential to find the full scope of programming that may fit their search needs.

Dead Shows

In the list of nearly three million podcasts are every podcast that has ever been posted. But many, probably the majority are not active or have not done more than a handful of episodes. Because podcasters come and go as they please, directories do not know if a show is finished or on hiatus.

If you are just intending to listen to a podcast, you are simply checking for availability. But if you intend to do guest podcasting, you have to know if the show is active. In directories, look for the last updated episode date or timeframe, this will help you understand if the show still has new episodes.

The Best Directories for Search

The best podcast directories for search provide two levels of relevant information. On initial search by keyword, the directory returns the show name, at least part of the description, and last episode uploaded date (to confirm if still active).

On the specific show pages, you can see the full show description, episode title, episode description, and episode uploaded date, plus links to the show website, RSS feed or even email, and recommendations about similar shows.

Only a handful of directories provide this type of information, and none of them are the big platform names that most people search by default.

To find quality search results take a look at:

Listen Notes – initially free to use but after a number of searches you will be prompted to sign-up and pay

Player.fm – free to use, also has search by tags which returns all podcasts using a specific tag

Podknife – free to use, one of the only directories that flags ‘inactive’ or ‘archived’ shows on initial search

TuneIn – free to use, but accessing information requires an extra click to collapse/uncollapse each section

Know Your Directories

To successfully navigate the podcast directories, you want to first identify your goals – confirming your podcast listing, searching for listening, or guest podcasting – and then understand how the directory is going to return results.

As you use the different options, you will decide which one best suits your purposes and will become your go-to directory in the future.

Podcasters! Confirm Your Show is Available in all Directories and Stay Up-to-Date on new platforms…click here to Get the Real Ultimate Podcast Directory List and Service today!