Episode 42: Stop Making These AI-Generated Podcast Titles Mistakes (& How To Actually Create Searchable Titles)
How to Name Your Podcast Episodes for SEO and Clickability
Listen on Apple Podcast | Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube
Naming your podcast episodes might seem like a small task, but it can be one of the most powerful levers for driving podcast growth, organic discovery, and listener engagement. The title is the very first impression someone gets of your episode—it determines whether they click “play,” whether your show is found on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and whether the episode is shared or remembered later.
In this episode of Podcast Growth Tools, I’m breaking down how to use AI strategically to brainstorm and refine episode titles—without letting it take over your personality or produce those overly polished, generic titles that scream “AI-generated.”
I’ve spent years naming episodes for top podcasts, long before AI tools existed, and now I use them to spark ideas strategically, not to replace creativity. Today, I’m sharing exactly how to approach naming your episodes in a way that combines the efficiency of AI with the clarity, SEO strength, and human tone your audience craves.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why your episode titles matter for organic podcast growth
How to build a keyword and key phrase bank that powers discoverability
The right way to use AI to brainstorm titles that feel natural and clickable
How to include keywords without losing personality
When (and when not) to include guest names in titles
Tips for revamping old episode titles strategically to boost discoverability
Timestamps:
00:00 – Why episode titles matter more than you think
03:14 – Creating your keyword and key phrase bank
08:25 – How to prompt AI for natural, human-sounding titles
12:40 – Deciding whether to include guest names
16:50 – Renaming old episodes strategically
Why Your Podcast Episode Titles Matter
Your title isn’t just a headline—it’s a search signal, a hook, and a retention tool. It impacts whether your episode is found through Apple Podcasts search, Spotify browse, or Google results. It also determines whether someone pauses their scroll and clicks in. If you’re going to put focused effort anywhere, this is one of the most strategic places to do it
Step One: Build Your Keyword & Key Phrase Bank
Before you even open ChatGPT or another AI tool, you need a podcast keyword or phrase bank. This is essentially your personal SEO library—an ongoing document of the words and phrases your ideal listeners are searching for. A strong keyword bank not only powers better titles but also informs your podcast descriptions, episode ideas, and long-term content strategy.
If you serve women over 35 who care about hormones, for example, “women’s hormone health” may become a core phrase you use in multiple titles. Creating this bank gives you language to pull from consistently, rather than starting from scratch each week
Step Two: Use AI Strategically (Not Blindly)
AI is a powerful brainstorming partner—but it’s only as good as your inputs. Use your keyword bank to craft prompts that guide AI toward relevant, human-sounding titles. Be explicit about your tone, audience, and formatting preferences (for example, tell it not to use colons if you don’t want them).
Remember: AI tends to produce overly polished, formulaic titles. Treat its output as a first draft to refine—not a finished product. This blend of structure and human touch leads to stronger, more natural titles
Should You Include Guest Names?
This is a common question. If your guest’s audience overlaps with yours and their name might boost searchability, consider including it—but only if it doesn’t make the title too long. Shorter, keyword-rich titles often perform better, and guest names don’t always add discoverability on their own. Use this strategically based on your guest’s reach and relevance
Should You Rename Past Episodes?
If you have older episodes with great content but lackluster titles, updating them can give your back catalog a second life. Focus on your top episodes that underperformed because of weak titles. Just be cautious: some podcast hosting platforms will bump older episodes to the top of your feed when edited, while others (like Captivate) will not. Start small, prioritize strategic episodes, and avoid overwhelming your feed
Quick Recap
Build a keyword/key phrase bank to guide every title.
Use AI as a brainstorming partner, not the final decision-maker.
Prioritize clarity, searchability, and clickability over cleverness.
Strategically decide whether guest names belong in the title.
Don’t be afraid to refresh old titles—but do it thoughtfully.
Your Next Steps
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