This Is Why Attention-Grabbing Podcast Titles Matter (and How to Create Ones That Put Asses In the Seats)

Check Out Let’s Blow This Up On Your Favorite Platform

Your Podcast Titles Might Be Keeping Your Podcast a Secret…

It’s pretty simple: you can have the best audio, a killer guest, and the most insightful content around. But none of that matters if your titles don’t stop potential listeners from scrolling and pressing play.

One of the big mistakes creators make is publishing podcast episodes with titles that lack punch and creativity. A big podcast like The Joe Rogan Experience can get away with a title like “#2323 – Guy Fieri” because he’s fully established and features recognizable names and celebrities (but sometimes he doesn’t and I would argue he may lose a few listeners here and there because of that, but that’s a story for another day).

You and me, on the other hand, haven’t reached that level of visibility. And if you had me on your podcast and titled it “Episode 28 with Jason Cercone,” most people would scroll on by.

Why? Because titles are the first thing people see. Not your face. Not your fancy mic. Not even your name.

If you want eyes and ears on your content, your title needs to pull people in. AND, be positioned in a way that it can be discovered when consumers perform intentional searches based on your subject matter.

Why Your Podcast Title Is Prime Real Estate

Think of your title as your podcast’s storefront sign. If it’s bland, generic, or vague, no one’s walking through the door.

As I mentioned a moment ago, too many podcasters fall into the “Episode 47: Interview with John Smith” trap because they see the bigger, more established shows doing it. But unless John Smith cured something, saved something, or started something your audience already cares about, no one’s clicking.

Your title needs to tell potential listeners:

What the episode is about
Why it matters
What’s in it for them

If it doesn’t do all three, you’re asking people to take a gamble. And the reality is…most won’t roll those dice.

What Makes a Great Podcast Title?

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to be strategic.

Here’s what a great title should include:

Clarity – Be specific about the value the listener will get.
Curiosity – Make them want to know more.
Brevity – Keep it tight. Long titles get cut off in most apps.
SEO terms – Use language your ideal audience is already searching for.

Ask yourself: Would you click on this episode if you saw it in a list?

If the answer is “meh,” then tweak it until it earns a yes.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m fully aware the title of this blog post/podcast episode lacks brevity. But if you’ve reached this point, it’s safe to say your ass is in the seat, amirite? 😉

Where to Find Inspiration

You never know where inspiration for a good title will strike. Start paying attention to what’s already getting clicks.

Study headlines on LinkedIn, YouTube, and news sites.
Scroll your podcast app and note which titles grab your attention.
Pay attention to trending phrases or common pain points in your niche.

These sources are a goldmine for language that gets results. Use them and use them often.

I also like to use my built-in All-In-One SEO tool on my WordPress blog to score titles based on SEO relevancy. When the score is low, I tinker or start over. If it’s high, I know I’ve got a winner.

Title Traps to Avoid

Even seasoned podcasters mess this up. Avoid these common pitfalls:

Using only the guest’s name with no context
Relying on cleverness without clarity
Overloading the title with too much detail
Skipping keywords that help with discoverability

Your title isn’t a place to show off your wit or bury the lead. It’s your chance to earn a click and, if your content is dialed in, a new listener/viewer…and when the time is right, customer.

So skip the “Episode 9 with Bob from Finance” routine. Try “How to Navigate Burnout Without Burning Everything Down” instead.

Turn Browsers into Listeners

You’re already putting time and energy into creating great content. Don’t let a weak title sabotage it.

Try these quick strategies to boost your click potential:

Start your title with a strong hook or promise.
Include words your audience already uses in search or conversation.
Use numbers, power words, or polarizing questions when relevant.
Front-load the value—don’t bury the lead halfway through.

And it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Make sure the content of your episode fully delivers on the hook or promise your title expressed. There’s no easier way to piss off a new listener or viewer who decided to give you their time and attention than to pull a bait and switch and not bring the goods. This will crush your retention rate, destroy any trust that was established, and all but guarantee they’ll never check out your content again.

Podcast titles directly impact listener growth and discoverability. If your goal is to grow your podcast (and why wouldn’t that be at least one of your goals?), start by tightening up the first thing anyone sees. Because if your title doesn’t do its job, your episode never even gets a chance to.

Make them stop the scroll, give them a reason to hit play, and let your killer content do the rest.