In the podcast world, being discovered is often the biggest challenge. Most listeners now find new shows directly through the search bar on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This means your visibility depends on how well the platforms understand your content.
To grow your audience, you can work on a lever called Podcast Search Optimization (PSO). To show how this works in practice, we analyzed the strategy Courtney Elmer used to grow her downloads by 41% in just a few months.
Podcast discovery is one of the biggest challenges for creators today. With thousands of new shows launching every month, standing out in crowded categories like Business or Marketing can feel impossible. Many podcasters rely on social media, ads, or word-of-mouth. But one powerful channel is often overlooked: podcast search.
According to industry studies, up to 70% of listeners use search on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify to find new shows. That means the way you choose and use your keywords directly impacts your ability to be discovered. This is where Podcast Search Optimization (PSO) becomes essential.
The impact was immediate and measurable: