Get the latest update on how the first big Google Search Update of 2023 affected search rankings across the globe and which industries were the biggest impacted.
Discover how Google really works from crawling and indexing to how algorithms are applied during user searches. Andy demystifies how search engines actually work, so that you as website owners and website creators can better create content and develop websites in the future – gaining a competitive advantage moving forward.
In the first Google Search Algo Update of 2023, a Product Review System update, the search engine has added 10 languages to the algorithm – giving the Product Review Algorithm a global reach (it now includes: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese and Polish).
In this SEO Podcast we take a look at what this search update means for product review websites and content creators – what we can expect from Google in the coming months and when we can expect the update to finish rolling out!
You can read more about the Product Review System update here: https://developers.google.com/search/updates/product-reviews-update
You can see a list of all confirmed Google Updates here: https://developers.google.com/search/updates/ranking
Picking the right podcast equipment can be a daunting task for a beginner, especially with the numerous options available in the market. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision and select the right equipment for your podcast setup.
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Microphone: A microphone is an essential piece of equipment for a podcast. A good microphone will make your audio quality clear, crisp, and professional-sounding. There are two main types of microphones – USB microphones and XLR microphones.
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USB microphones are the simplest to use, plug and play and do not require additional equipment. They are also portable and can be used with a laptop or desktop computer. Examples of popular USB microphones include the Blue Yeti and the Rode NT-USB.n
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XLR microphones are professional-grade microphones that require additional equipment like an audio interface and a mixer. They offer more versatility and better sound quality than USB microphones, but they can be more complex to set up. Examples of popular XLR microphones include the Shure SM7B and the Audio-Technica AT2035.
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Audio Interface (XLR only): An audio interface is a device that connects your microphone to your computer and helps to improve the audio quality. If you are using an XLR microphone, you will need an audio interface to connect it to your computer. Audio interfaces typically have preamps, which help to boost the microphone signal, as well as additional inputs for other audio sources. Examples of popular audio interfaces include the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the PreSonus Studio 26c.
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Mixer: A mixer is an optional piece of equipment that can be used to improve the audio quality of your podcast. A mixer can be used to adjust the levels of multiple audio sources, such as a microphone and music, and to add effects such as reverb or echo. Mixers also typically have preamps and can be used in place of an audio interface. Examples of popular mixers include the Mackie PROFX8v3 and the Behringer Xenyx X1204USB.
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Headphones: Good headphones are essential for monitoring your audio during recording and editing. You want headphones that are comfortable to wear for long periods, have a flat frequency response to help you accurately assess your audio quality, and have enough isolation to prevent bleed into your microphone. Examples of popular headphones include the Sennheiser HD280 Pro and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
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Pop Filter: A pop filter is a device that helps to reduce plosives, the explosive sounds caused by speaking too close to the microphone. Pop filters attach to the microphone stand and can be made of foam or a metal mesh.
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Microphone Stand: A microphone stand is necessary to hold your microphone in place during recording. There are various types of stands available, including tripod stands, boom arms, and desktop stands. The type of stand you choose will depend on your recording setup and personal preference.
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Software: Finally, you will need software to record, edit, and publish your podcast. There are many free and paid options available, including Audacity (free), GarageBand (Mac only), and Adobe Audition (paid)…
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In conclusion, these are the essential pieces of equipment for a beginner podcast setup. Remember, the key to great podcast audio is to invest in quality equipment. While you may be tempted to save money in the short term by buying low-cost equipment, in the long run, it will be worth it to invest in quality equipment that will produce better audio and make your podcast stand out.
Every time we speak to a potential client, we wonder what they will ask about SEO – what the first question will be? However, we gave up wondering that after a few years – and started making a list of Common SEO Questions.
In this SEO Podcast, we discuss the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) when it comes to search engine optimisation, including:
What is SEO? What is the difference between Organic Search and Paid Search? What are Meta Tags? Should you put keywords in domain names? What is the difference between inbound and internal links? Should I know how to code for SEO? What is Alt Text? Where can you learn more about SEO?
— Watching this podcast before 28 Feb 2023? Get “The Beginners Guide to SEO” on Amazon for 99p/99c (Usually £2.50) or Free on Kindle Unlimited – head to seoandy.com/book to get this special offer. —
Congratulations, you’ve reached the stage where you have recorded your first podcast and (hopefully) found hosting online for it. If you haven’t found Podcast Hosting yet, take a step back for a moment and take a look at our Guide to Podcast Hosting.
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Podcast Directories are the rather antiquated name given to websites or platforms used to find and serve up your Podcast to users. Think Apple Podcast, Spotify and Amazon Music … as well as anywhere else you may want to be found.
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What you may think is that you need to submit you podcast detail to 100’s of directories and platforms – I know that’s how I felt at the start of my journey. However, my ‘ultimate podcast directory’ is about making your journey to starting a podcast easy – Rather than submissions to 100’s, we want to use submissions to key directories which feed to small directories (and we will tell you who they are).
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This means instead of spending 50 hours submitting your podcast, you can spend 5 or 6 – honestly it may not even be that long!
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Reasons to Get Listed in a Podcast Directory
Podcast Directories are a great way, to not only spread the word about your podcast but increase search engine visibility of the podcast overall.
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A podcast directory can introduce your podcast to a new audience, both at home and across the globe – The SEO Podcast has an audience today that is truly global for every podcast each week.
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In essence, a directory lets you attract a new audience, get more ratings and reviews and ensure your subscribers get your latest podcasts (because they can subscribe on whatever platform they want).
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How to Submit Your Show to a Podcast Directory
Submitting a podcast to a directory is simple, in most cases.
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You find the sign up link/submission link (we’ve got a fairly big list below) and enter the RSS feed URL from your Podcast Host.
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From there, depending on the platform it will generally ask you to verify the email address contained within the feed (usually the one you signed up with for the host / though it can vary as they may hide your personal email). Once this is done, you can sign in and edit the podcast details specific to this directory/platform.
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Once you’ve signed up and the feed is verified, you can sit back and relax – that directory will receive updates from the feed each time you post/upload a new podcast to the host.
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Top Podcast Directories for 2023
1 – Apple Podcasts
One of the biggest podcast directories and players globally with just under 30 Million ACTIVE users, Apple Podcasts is well worth signing up for. Not just for its audience size and your chance to pick up a fraction of this, but because by signing up to Apple Podcasts you will automatically feed into these directories:
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Overcast
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PocketCasts
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Castro
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Castbox
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Downcast
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PodCruncher
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iCatcher
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Castaway 2
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Podcast Republic
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AntennaPod
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and more
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To sign up to Apple Podcasts, you will need an Apple ID – if you’ve not got one head over here and sign up ( https://appleid.apple.com/ ). Following this you can sign up by heading to Apple Podcast Connect ( https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/ ) and sign up – it will take just a few minutes.
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2 – Spotify
With only a few hundred thousand less podcast listeners than Apple, Spotify is certainly worth signing up for and ensuring you get found on this platform.
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In recent years, Spotify have bought two big Podcasting brands showing how keen they are to invest in this area, and this has paid dividends with the growth in audience they have seen.
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Signing up for Spotify Podcasts is simple (though we advise you don’t use you personal email for this!) – simply head over to Spotify for Podcasts ( https://podcasters.spotify.com/ ) and once signed with your RSS feed you can see the podcast as part of your catalog.
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3 – Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts has a small share of the global podcast player market at just 2.4% (2021). You may think this means it’s not worth the hassle of signing up – but we need to remember that Google owns the search engine world and when it comes to finding your podcast through a ‘normal’ search engine and not a podcast directory directly it pays to have submitted your directory here.
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A top tip here is to ensure that across directories and platforms you are not significantly changing the description of your podcast, and that if you are inserting links to your website these are consistent. This ensures that search engines like Google know your podcast is the same across these areas and as it see’s more people linking to them across the web you are becoming more popular as a podcast overall.
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Signing up to Google Podcasts is easy, simply head over to the Google Podcast Manager ( https://podcastsmanager.google.com/ ) and hit sign up. Again submitting your RSS feed and verification is required of your email.
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4 – Amazon Music & Audible
Amazon Music, a part of Amazon Prime (Music) – and Audible, primarily a Audio Book service now with a butt ton of Podcasts are a fast-growing Podcast Market globally. The pace of growth is driven by both sections being a part of Membership programs and giving for free as part of that – though this of course holds them back a little too from a larger audience.
As always enter your RSS feed and verify your email. A little like spotify and google your options are a little limited on editing.
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5 – TuneIN
TuneIN is roughly double the size of Amazon Music (for podcasters) today, and well worth signing up for. The platform is setup primarily as an internet radio station functionality – which means its designed to function well with Alexa and other voice-controlled tech, including in-car tech hands free. This is a big deal for reaching a bigger audience as hand’s free isn’t always available for many apps (including amazong/audible) in cars.
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To sign up for TuneIN you simply complete a submission form and wait for the OK – https://help.tunein.com/contact/add-podcast-S19TR3Sdf
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6 – iHeart Radio
If you’ve had any new smart technology in the past few years, you will have seen iHeart on it, including smart watches! It has almost 150M users (though we’re not clear how many are active), and it’s worth signing up for as many smaller directories also use their feeds.
Verify your email. Note it can take 24/48 hours to confirm.
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7 – Stitcher
Another name you’ve probably heard of, Stitcher, is found on most android phones fresh out of the factory. With such a huge user base and a large base of directories using their feeds – this is a must for signing up to!
NOTE: If you get on stitcher you get on Pandora too! It says this almost nowhere but it’s true… if you want the stats directly for the breakdown and to ensure you’re live on both head over to https://connect.simplecast.com/
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8 – Samsung Podcasts
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Our reasons for including Samsung Podcasts here is that Samsung include their podcast software with most android phones, whilst its not the most used piece of software in the UK or USA – it is popular elsewhere. It’s well worth including in your submissions.