Great podcast names aren’t just catchy; they serve a purpose! Remember, when you are an unknown show, the name of your podcast can help attract your ideal listener. Therefore, we have three steps to help you develop nine plus on-purpose name ideas. You’ll create name names based on your ideal listener’s needs, the transformation they hope to experience, and call the listener and transformation out. This will give you a solid base to experiment with.
Best Practices
- Shorter is better unless it’s unclear
- Drop ING words and make the language active
- Include the host(s) names for SEO
How To Get Started:
Don’t over-edit yourself. Just create the show name ideas based on the goal listed in each step. You’ll optimize your list after you’re done creating your list.
Step One | Felt-Needs
Get your list of felt needs you’ve identified for your ideal listener. If you haven’t done the ideal listener work, check it out. Incorporate three felt-need into three show name ideas.
- [Felt-Need One] with Host Name
- [Felt-Need Two] with Host Name
- [Felt-Need Three] with Host Name
Examples might be:
- Second Guessing with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: entrepreneurs
- Mom Brain with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Moms
- Never Enough Time for “Us” with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Parents
Step Two | Transformation
Write out the transformation your listener will experience.
- [Transformation One] with Host Name
- [Transformation Two] with Host Name
- [Transformation Three] with Host Name
Examples might be:
- Walk In Confidence with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Entrepreneurs
- Out of The Baby Fog with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Moms
- Better Priorities, Better Us with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Parents
Step Three | Call Em’ Out + Transformation
Next, marry calling out your target audience and their goal.
- [Who They Are + Transformation One] with Host Name
- [Who They Are + Transformation Two] with Host Name
- [Who They Are + Transformation Three] with Host Name
Examples might be:
- Gritty Entrepreneurs with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Entrepreneurs
- It Gets Better, Momma with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Moms
- Time Hero Parenting with Samantha Hollyfield
- Target Audience: Parents
How to Optimize Your List
Now that you have a list of nine or ten potential names, it’s time to optimize!
- Drop words you don’t need
- Ex: “This is a great show.” would change to “Great Show”
- Consider action verbs
- Ex: “The show you need” would change to “Jump On This Show”
- Include the host(s) names for SEO
- Ex: “Jump On This Show” with Host Name
Do A Market Search
Once you’ve optimized your titles to the best version of each option, you need to go search for the show names on Google, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Mark out any existing podcast name so you don’t run into copyright or trademark issues. The podcast industry used to be the Wild West. Shows would take over a name if the original show were dormant. Today, we’ve seen shows sue others who use the same name. Name your show at your own risk!
I will always think there is a better creative option if a name is taken. It’s why we start with a fairly large ON-PURPOSE list. You have options.
Check Social Media Handles + URLS
If you hope to turn your podcast into a brand, you need to check social handles and available website URLs on something like GoDaddy.
Social handles are important, so you can say something like, “To connect with the show just find @showname on Facebook, Insta, or TikTok and you can find more about this episode and our guest on showname.com”
See what I did there… Social handles and URLs can help you create seamless branding across platforms.
Available social handles and URLs can help you which show name has the most marketing potential.
Pick Your Top Three
Once you’ve widdled down your list through optimization, available show names, and available handles and URLs, it’s time to SIT on your top choices. Remember, if you get advice, ask the right people. If they aren’t your target audience, the best show name might not resonate.
You can choose a final by asking these questions:
- Which option will catch my ideal listener’s attention on podcast apps
- Which option has the best keyword that might help the show appear in a search by my ideal listener
Choose strategically, and then sleep on it!
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