Have you ever wanted to stay up-to-date on your favorite podcast during its off-season? What about checking in to see if your favorite podcast hosts are on tour?

All those questions can (and should) be answered all in one place -- a podcast website.

Having a podcast website isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore. Beyond the reasons above, there are many reasons why brands are investing in a website for their podcasts.

For instance, websites are a great touch point and first impression when welcoming new listeners to your show. They also help distribute your podcast, engage your audience, and index your content on search engines. And you can welcome listeners to your community by investing in a professional website with a big play button.

What is a podcast website?

A podcast website is dedicated to hosting, promoting, and distributing a brand's podcast content. It serves as a central hub where listeners can access episodes, show notes, and additional multimedia resources.

This website often includes features like subscription options, social sharing tools, and analytics to track listener engagement. For brands, it acts as a strategic tool to enhance their digital presence, foster customer relationships, and showcase expertise or thought leadership in their industry.

Quill Tip: If your brand already has an established site, you can add a podcast landing page with all the elements above for the same result.

How do I create a podcast website?

DIY website builders

These days, there are a lot of website builders on the market. You're probably familiar with a lot of them - WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix.

Using any of the tools above, you can quickly and easily create a basic podcast website for less than $200.

When comparing WordPress vs Wix, it's important to note that while both offer user-friendly options, they differ in terms of customization flexibility.

This is a great option if you want to go the DIY route but have limited web design experience.

Use a web designer

If you have a vision for your website that you don’t want to compromise on, another option to consider is working with an experienced web designer who can build a professional podcast website.

From start to finish you’ll have input on how you want your website to look and feel to make it completely personalized to your taste. By having a customized and curated podcast website, your podcast automatically seems more professional, adding to its credibility.

Create an automatic podcast website with your hosting platform

Many hosting platforms now offer automatic podcast websites. That's right - no external website builder required.

Platforms like CoHost provide their users with automatic, SEO-optimized podcast websites that you can customize to meet your brand identity.

Here are a few reasons why brands and podcasters alike are opting for this solution:

• Add keywords to your website’s meta titles and descriptions directly in your CoHost account
• Customize your listening apps, social media links, site colors, and font colors to showcase your brand
• Every episode you publish is automatically uploaded to your CoHost website for easy publication
• Once you’ve transcribed an episode in your transcriptions library, directly publish it to your CoHost website

Why podcast websites are a must in 2024

1. Reinforce your brand identity

One of the main reasons you should invest in a podcast website is so that you have full control over the content you’re creating. Unlike other platforms or listening apps, you’ll have more flexibility with your own podcast website. This includes everything from the color scheme and text to your complimentary podcast marketing efforts - like newsletter CTAs and ebooks. In this way, you not only control your own data but also your brand.‍

2. Improve SEO

Podcast SEO isn't limited to listening apps - increasing your podcast SEO on search engines is equally important when it comes to attracting new listeners and securing your spot in the podcast landscape.

When it comes to ranking highly on Google, having a dedicated podcast website is key for the following reasons:

• Multimedia integration: Embedding audio players and related visuals enhances user experience and retention, leading to longer site visits which are favorable for SEO.
• RSS feed integration: Ensures that search engines can easily crawl and index your podcast episodes, making your content more accessible to a broader audience.
• Podcast keywords: By optimizing your podcast website content for relevant keywords, you'll attract a large, relevant audience. Make sure to include your podcast transcripts for an extra SEO boost and improved accessibility.
• Audience engagement: Features like comment sections and subscription forms encourage user interaction, which can enhance SEO by increasing time spent on the site and repeat visits.

Quill Tip: Want to get your podcast in front of the right eyes (and ears)? Check out our complete guide to boosting your podcast's SEO.

3. Enhance your podcast promotion

Another reason investing in a podcast website is important is to improve promotion.

As we mentioned above, a podcast website is a hub for all things related to your series - from episodes and BTS content to your podcast newsletter and social media pages.

Add impactful CTAs throughout your podcast website to have listeners subscribe to your newsletter, follow your social media, or provide their email to be alerted of new podcast episodes.

On top of that, many brands choose to make a dedicated blog for their podcast. Adding blog content and posting it on your podcast website can help with your SEO rankings and make your podcast more discoverable. Some brands, like CAAT Pension Plan, even release downloadable ebooks that cover lessons and insights from their podcast interviews to keep listeners hooked well beyond the airwaves. ‍

4. Monetization opportunities

Building a website can help you monetize your podcast. For example, if you have a blog on your website, you can sell sponsored sections, and sponsored posts, and have even affiliate links in your blog posts.

Here are a few other ways podcast websites can help if you're looking to make some extra money off your series:

• Donations: If your show accepts donations, you can direct your audience to your website. That way listeners who want to support your show can easily contribute.
• Merchandise sales: Integrating an online store on the podcast website allows brands to sell branded merchandise, such as clothing, accessories, or digital products, directly to listeners.
• Ad placement: Podcast websites can incorporate targeted advertisements within episodes or on the site itself, generating revenue through ad impressions and clicks.

5. Gather more listener data

As every marketer knows, collecting podcast data isn’t the easiest task.

However, by centralizing data collection efforts on your podcast website, you can gain a better understanding of your target audience and use this information to shape content, prioritize marketing channels, and enhance lead-generation efforts.

With your podcast website set up on analytics software such as Google Analytics, you can access detailed traffic information, such as the number of visits, average time spent on a page, and other useful data around audience demographics.

This data allows brands to see who their listeners are, where they come from, and how they interact with podcast content. This approach ensures that your podcast content remains relevant and engaging, based on actual listener interest and behavior.

Aside from analytics software, there are various other methods to gather visitor data. Incorporating a comments section or star-rating scale within each podcast episode allows for direct engagement with listeners. These tools not only provide immediate feedback but also foster a sense of community among your audience.

Additionally, implementing a contact form, activating cookies, and including an email registration form for a newsletter are effective ways to collect data from listeners. Contact forms can capture specific queries or feedback, cookies can track user behavior over time, and newsletter sign-ups can help build a dedicated listener base for regular updates and promotions.

6. Convert listeners into customers

Last, but certainly not least, a podcast website is an effective conversion tool, transforming casual listeners into loyal customers.

Strategically placed calls-to-action (CTAs) can direct visitors to take specific actions such as subscribing to a newsletter, downloading a resource, or making a purchase. These CTAs are crucial in guiding listeners through the customer journey, encouraging them to take the next step with the brand.

Adding interactive elements, such as quizzes, polls, or comment sections, can further entice users to explore more of the site. These features create additional engagement touchpoints, fostering a deeper connection with the audience. As users interact more with the website, they are more likely to become qualified leads, maximizing your podcast ROI.

Podcast website examples

Now that you understand the value of a podcast website, let's explore some examples of great podcast websites and landing pages.

Expedia Group's Powering Travel

Expedia Group's Powering Travel page has everything a listener (or potential listener) could want - all in one spot.

The site has ready-to-play episodes directly on the page as well as links to different listening apps. Each episode is accompanied by a short description, making them easily skimmable.

Plus, Expedia has a section dedicated to the experts participating in the podcast and listener reviews. This not only shows potential listeners what they can expect from the series but adds an important level of social proof and credibility.

At the bottom of the page, they have a submission form where listeners can input their ideas for future episodes, boosting listener engagement and cultivating a sense of community.

Banfield Pet Hospital's Not Just Fluff

Not Just Fluff's podcast website is a great example of how brands can incorporate their podcast content into their larger marketing mix and existing brand identity.

On the page, the Banfield Pet Hospital team has laid out all of the show's episodes to date with their details and transcripts easily viewable. Using their signature font and colorscape, they're added in CTAs for where to follow the podcast along with some details on their pet plans.

Another great addition is their "coming next episode" section, where they give the next episode's topic to build anticipation.

SickKids Foundation's SickKids VS.

Another great podcast website design comes from SickKids VS. Right at the top of the page, you can see their three CTAs clearly laid out, followed by all the information new and returning listeners may need about the latest episode and episodes past.

Their "Explore" dropdown makes navigating the podcast landing page a breeze. Once you select your episode of choice, you'll find a brief description along with listening app options. Plus, they include their social media links to keep the conversation going outside the show.

Are you ready to launch your podcast website?

Building your podcast's online presence has never been easier with a podcast website.

Whether you opt for a website builder, work with a web designer, or take advantage of an automatic podcast website tool, consolidating all your podcast efforts into a single site is necessary to monetize your show, engage new and existing listeners, and boost your discoverability in 2024.

If you're interested in learning more about podcast websites or working with a full-service podcast agency, reach out to our team of audio experts.

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