Your Audio is Great. Let's Make It Discoverable.
Hey Reader
What if I told you there’s a powerful, often-overlooked tool that can make your show more discoverable, accessible, and shareable?
Let's talk about transcripts. I know, I know, it sounds boring! But stick with me, because this is one of the simplest things you can do for your show's growth.
Beyond the Audio
Think about it: search engines like Google can't listen to your podcast to find out what it's about. But they can read it. A transcript is like a roadmap for search engines, helping them understand your content and serve it up to people searching for your topics.
But it's about more than just SEO. It's about meeting your listeners where they are.
- Accessibility is Key: Millions of potential listeners are deaf or hard of hearing (15% of US adults). Transcripts open the door for them to enjoy your content.
- Noisy Environments: For the listener on a loud train or in a busy coffee shop, a transcript lets them follow along without missing a beat.
- Better Engagement: Sometimes, you just need to see something written down for it to stick. Transcripts help your audience remember information and revisit key takeaways from your episodes. Especially useful if your podcast is in the learning category.
"But Doesn't Apple and Spotify Do That for Me?"
Yes, major platforms like Apple and Spotify are now auto-transcribing episodes, which is a fantastic step forward! And it shows how important this feature has become.
However, have you ever seen what happens when autocorrect misunderstands you? AI transcription is getting better, but it's not perfect.
And if you often mention your business, a unique brand name, or technical terms, there's a good chance the auto-transcript will misinterpret them. This means Google isn't recognizing those words correctly in its search engine.
Uploading your own corrected transcript ensures accuracy and makes sure your brand or business is represented correctly. It’s a small step that makes a big difference in professionalism.
Make It Part of Your Workflow
You don't need to spend hours typing every word yourself. There are tons of AI-powered services that can generate a transcript for you in minutes (I use Riverside, and you don't even need to have an account).
Your job is simply to give it a quick read-through, correct any errors, and upload it with your episode.
One approach is to have Apple and Spotify auto-transcribe your podcast episode. You can then download the file, review it for mistakes, and re-upload it to your podcast hosting platform, ensuring it’s updated and available across all podcast apps.
By making transcription a regular part of your process, you’re not just creating an audio file; you’re creating a comprehensive content package that works harder for you long after you hit publish.
Your future listeners will thank you for it!
Steve