---
name: podcast-marketing
description: When the user wants to plan, create, or market a podcast. Also use when the user mentions "podcast," "podcast strategy," "podcast SEO," "show notes," "podcast distribution," "Spotify podcast," "Apple Podcasts," "podcast discoverability," "PodcastEpisode schema," or "podcast repurposing."
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
---

# Content: Podcast

Guides podcast strategy, content creation, distribution, marketing, and SEO. Podcasts compete in a crowded space (3M+ active shows, 500M+ listeners globally); discoverability is the primary challenge. Discovery channels: ~32% search engines, ~28% podcast apps, ~24% social media, ~16% word-of-mouth.

**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

## Initial Assessment

**Check for project context first:** If `.claude/project-context.md` or `.cursor/project-context.md` exists, read for audience, positioning, and content strategy.

Identify:
1. **Stage**: Planning, launching, growing
2. **Format**: Interview, solo, co-hosted, narrative
3. **Niche**: Target audience, listener personas
4. **Goals**: Downloads, authority, lead gen, repurposing

## Content Strategy

| Element | Guideline |
|---------|-----------|
| **Niche focus** | Define audience through listener personas; tailored content cuts through noise |
| **Quality over gimmicks** | Sticky, unique, valuable content; most hosts see major growth after 5–6 months of consistency |
| **Episode structure** | Intro, main content, CTA; consistent format aids retention |

## Distribution & Discovery

| Channel | Share | Optimization |
|---------|-------|---------------|
| **Search engines** | ~32% | Transcripts, show notes, SEO-optimized titles/descriptions |
| **Podcast apps** | ~28% | Title, description, cover art; category selection |
| **Social media** | ~24% | Clips, quotes, repurposed content |
| **Word-of-mouth** | ~16% | Cross-promotion, guest appearances |

**Multi-channel**: Repurpose across platforms to multiply discovery surface.

## SEO for Podcasts

Search engines cannot listen to audio. Text-based content is essential:

| Element | Guideline |
|---------|-----------|
| **Transcripts** | Full or key-moment transcripts; indexable, accessible |
| **Show notes** | SEO-optimized; pull organic search traffic; include keywords naturally |
| **Titles** | ≤60 chars; keywords; engaging language |
| **Descriptions** | Episode-specific; keywords; voice-search friendly |
| **Backlinks** | Build links to show notes, guest posts, directory listings |

**Schema**: Use **PodcastEpisode** and **PodcastSeries** for rich results. See **schema-markup** for implementation.

## Cross-Promotion & Partnerships

| Tactic | Use |
|--------|-----|
| **Feed drops** | Swap episodes with similar-sized podcasts |
| **Ad swaps** | Promote each other's shows |
| **Guest appearances** | Tap into pre-existing engaged audiences |

## Repurposing

| Format | Use |
|--------|-----|
| **Clips** | Short-form for social (TikTok, YouTube Shorts, X) |
| **Blog posts** | Expand show notes; pillar content |
| **Newsletter** | Episode summaries, key takeaways |
| **Quotes** | Pull quotable moments for social |

## Output Format

- **Strategy** (niche, format, distribution mix)
- **SEO checklist** (transcripts, show notes, schema)
- **Launch checklist** (cover art, description, category, RSS)
- **Repurposing plan** (clips, blog, newsletter)

## Related Skills

- **schema-markup**: PodcastEpisode, PodcastSeries schema
- **video-marketing**: Video content; podcast-to-video repurposing
- **copywriting**: Show notes, episode descriptions, social copy
- **content-marketing**: Content strategy, repurposing framework
- **youtube-seo**: If publishing podcast to YouTube