In the podcasting world, content is king — but your podcast episode title is the crown. It’s the first thing potential listeners see before they ever hit play. So if you’ve been pouring your heart into each episode but struggling with listener growth, it might not be your content. It could be your titles. This podcast episode title review dives deep into what makes an episode title effective, how to evaluate your current titles, and how you can improve them to grow your audience organically.
Why Podcast Titles Matter More Than You Think
Let’s face it — we’re all scrolling through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts just looking for something that catches our eye. Listeners don’t see your amazing sound quality or your storytelling genius in the feed — they see your title.
A well-crafted podcast title can:
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Spark curiosity
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Highlight value
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Improve click-through rates
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Enhance searchability (SEO matters here too!)
Common Podcast Title Mistakes That Hurt Clicks
After listening to (and reviewing) dozens of podcast episodes for this podcast episode title review, we’ve spotted recurring patterns. Here are a few things to avoid:
1. Vague or Overly Clever Titles
Sure, you want to be unique. But if your title doesn’t explain what your episode is about, most people will scroll right past it.
Example of a vague title:
“The One Where It All Changed”
Better:
“How I Quit My 9-to-5 and Built a Six-Figure Coaching Business”
2. Titles That Are Too Long
Cut the fluff. Podcast platforms often truncate titles, and a long-winded title might get chopped before the value is visible.
3. No Keywords (SEO Ignorance)
Yes, even podcast titles need search engine love. If your podcast is about health, fashion, or digital marketing, your title should reflect those keywords for better discoverability.
What Makes a Great Podcast Title?
For this podcast episode title review, we analyzed titles from top-performing shows and here’s what we found:
1. Clear Benefit-Driven Titles
Listeners should immediately understand what they’ll gain.
Example:
“3 Hacks to Improve Your Sleep in 7 Days”
This tells them exactly what to expect and why they should listen.
2. Emotionally Charged Words
Words like “hacks,” “truth,” “unfiltered,” “shocking,” or “must-hear” create emotional triggers.
Example:
“The Shocking Truth About Freelance Burnout No One Talks About”
3. Numbered Lists and How-Tos
People love predictability and quick takeaways.
Example:
“5 Ways to Boost Your Confidence Before Job Interviews”
4. Personal Names (When Relevant)
If your guest is well-known or carries credibility, name-drop strategically.
Example:
“Tim Ferriss on the Art of Saying No and Taking Control of Your Life”
How to Review Your Own Podcast Episode Titles
Now comes the practical part of this podcast episode title review — how to evaluate and improve your own titles:
Step 1: Create a Spreadsheet
Make a list of your episode titles. Include columns like:
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Title
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Guest (if applicable)
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Topic
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Is it benefit-driven?
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Keyword included?
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Click-worthiness (1–10 scale)
Step 2: Compare to High-Performing Shows
Look at the titles from successful shows in your niche. Use platforms like Listen Notes to explore trends and rankings.
Step 3: A/B Test Titles
Change the title of underperforming episodes and monitor download metrics. Some podcast hosting tools allow you to edit titles even after publishing. Try swapping a vague title for a punchy, benefit-driven one and watch the change in engagement.
Real Podcast Episode Title Review: A Mini Case Study
Let’s take two episode titles from a fictional entrepreneurship podcast:
Title A:
“My First Year as a Founder”
Title B:
“From Zero to $250K: What I Learned in My First Year as a Founder”
Title B is the winner here — it’s specific, benefits the reader, and adds curiosity.
Bonus Tips: What to Avoid in Podcast Episode Titles
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Clickbait without delivery – You’ll lose trust fast.
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Overuse of emojis or ALL CAPS – Looks spammy.
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Generic titles like “Episode 23” – Add context and value.
Instead, look at how brands in other niches structure engaging content. For instance, in our Coolina knives review, we didn’t just say “Review #45” — we highlighted exactly what users wanted to know: sharpness, build, real-world use.
Top Tools to Help You Craft Better Titles
Here are a few tools to get your titles right:
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Headline Studio by CoSchedule – Tests emotional appeal and clarity
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AnswerThePublic – Shows popular questions related to your topic
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ChatGPT (used carefully) – Great for brainstorming but polish it in your own words
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Google Trends – Validates keyword relevance
Final Thoughts: Why Every Episode Deserves a Title Worth Clicking
If you’ve made it this far, it’s clear you care about growing your podcast. And this podcast episode title review wasn’t just about fixing a headline — it’s about changing the way people experience your brand.
Remember: your episode title isn’t an afterthought — it’s the first handshake.
Treat it that way, and you’ll see better metrics, more listens, and loyal followers who keep coming back for more.
FAQs – Podcast Episode Title Review
Q1. How many words should a podcast episode title be?
Keep it under 60 characters when possible. You want it fully visible across all platforms.
Q2. Should I include episode numbers in the title?
You can, but don’t make it the main feature. Focus on the value.
Q3. How often should I review and revise old podcast titles?
At least quarterly. Refresh underperforming titles to test performance shifts.
Q4. Can a great title really increase listens?
Absolutely. In many cases, we’ve seen title changes double click-through rates.
Q5. Do keywords really matter in podcast titles?
Yes, especially on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Search. Use them naturally though.