Podcast Titles That Rank: A CMO & CEO’s Guide to Naming Episodes That Drive Discoverability

Podcasting is no longer just a side channel—for CMOs, CEOs, and marketing executives, it's become a powerful platform to establish authority, share insights, and generate leads. But even the best content can get buried if no one clicks play. And often, the make-or-break factor is this: your episode title.

A great podcast title isn't just catchy. It's strategic. It's SEO-savvy. And it's critical for discoverability on Apple, Spotify, Google, and YouTube. If you're investing executive time and brand capital into a podcast, your titles need to work just as hard as your content.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to write podcast episode titles that get found, clicked, and shared—especially by your ideal audience of business leaders, B2B buyers, and decision-makers.

The Algorithm Behind Podcast Discovery

Podcast platforms don’t just list episodes randomly. Their ranking systems prioritize relevance and engagement. Here’s what influences discovery:

• Keyword Matching: Titles with specific keywords related to the listener’s search query rank higher.
• Click-Through Rates (CTR): Clear, benefit-driven titles get more taps.
• Recency & Frequency: Consistency and freshness help, but only if paired with clarity.
• External SEO: Google indexes podcasts. Strong titles = better placement in search results.

For CMOs and CEOs who care about ROI, this means each episode title is a micro-asset that can either compound value or go to waste. With every episode, you have an opportunity to capture organic traffic, boost listener engagement, and extend your brand's visibility in the competitive audio landscape.

The 5 Golden Rules of SEO-Friendly Podcast Titles

1. Front-load your keywords
   Search engines weigh the first few words heavily. If your episode is about B2B funnels, put that term at the front of the title so it signals relevance early.
   
   • Bad: "Episode 9: Let's Talk B2B Funnels"
   • Good: "B2B Funnels That Convert: Strategy Breakdown for CMOs"
2. Be specific, not vague
   The more niche and focused your title, the more likely it is to show up in relevant searches. Avoid generic words like "chat," "talk," or "update."
   
   • Bad: "Marketing Talk"
   • Good: "Why CMOs Are Rebuilding Their Marketing Teams from Scratch"
3. Use a clear benefit or hook
   Think of your episode title like a YouTube thumbnail. Why should someone click? What will they learn or gain?
   
   • Good: "How to Add $1M in Revenue With a Branded Podcast"
4. Include industry-relevant terms
   These act as signals to the algorithm and to your audience. Tools like Google Trends, AnswerThePublic, and ChatGPT can help uncover what people are searching for.
5. Keep it human-readable
   Never sacrifice clarity for keywords. The best titles blend SEO with storytelling. Aim for 60 characters or less, but don't be afraid to use powerful verbs and adjectives that make your title pop.

CMO + CEO Podcast Title Formulas That Work

Formula 1: [Tactic or Trend] + [Role or Insight]
Use this format to target thought leadership and timely discussions.

• "ABM in 2025: How CMOs Are Rethinking Targeting"
• "CEO Mindset Shifts: Leading Through Market Volatility"

Formula 2: How to [Achieve Result] + [Audience or Context]
Teach something valuable while clearly calling out who it's for.

• "How to Build a Marketing Team That Sells Without You"
• "How CEOs Can Use Podcasts to Boost Brand Authority"

Formula 3: The [Adjective] [Noun]: [Pain Point or Opportunity]
This format creates curiosity while hinting at strategic takeaways.

• "The Silent Exit: Why CEOs Fail to Build Transferable Businesses"
• "The Hidden Cost: Why Marketing Teams Burn Out"

Formula 4: [Number] Ways to [Benefit or Avoid Mistake]
Listicles still work. They imply digestible value.

• "3 Ways CMOs Waste Podcast Potential—And How to Fix It"
• "5 Questions Every CEO Should Ask Before Launching a Podcast"

Formula 5: Curiosity-Driven Quotes or Hooks
Use quotes, controversies, or emotional insight to hook listeners.

• "'We Fired Our Marketing Agency': What Happened Next"
• "'I Almost Quit': A CMO's Story of Burnout and Breakthrough"

Real Examples from High-Performing Executive Podcasts

Let’s break down titles from successful business podcasts:

• The McKinsey Podcast: "The Gen Z Consumer: Why They Buy and How to Reach Them"
• B2B Growth: "How Marketing Ops Can Accelerate Revenue in 90 Days"
• Marketing Trends: "From CMO to CEO: What Makes the Transition Work"
• HBR Ideacast: "How Great Leaders Think Critically Under Pressure"

Each example highlights:

• Clear use of keywords: "Gen Z consumer," "Marketing Ops," "CEO transition."
• A defined value proposition: what the listener gains.
• An audience fit: business professionals, strategists, and marketers.

Repurposing & Consistency Across Channels

Your title isn’t just for Apple or Spotify. It should be the connective tissue across your marketing channels:

• YouTube: Match the title (or create a compelling version for video)
• LinkedIn: Use your episode title as a headline or lead-in for the post
• Blog Post: Build a full SEO blog around the topic of your episode
• Newsletter: Feature it as a subject line, then A/B test open rates
• Pillar Pages: Integrate episodes as content clusters in your SEO strategy

The goal: brand and message consistency. One well-titled podcast episode can become 5–7 pieces of content across platforms.

Tools to Help Execs Title Smarter

You’re busy. These tools streamline your process:

• ChatGPT: Input a summary of your episode and ask for 10 optimized title ideas
• CoSchedule Headline Analyzer: Test emotional impact, power words, and clarity
• AnswerThePublic: See real-time queries your audience is asking
• VidIQ / TubeBuddy: Great for YouTube SEO and competitive keyword analysis
• Podcastle / Descript: Use AI to summarize episodes, then title around that

These tools help ensure your podcast titles aren’t just creative—they’re competitive.

Conclusion: What Gets Ranked, Gets Heard

Smart podcasting isn’t just about the content you record—it’s about how you present it. For CEOs, CMOs, and marketing leaders, a single well-named podcast episode can drive traffic, build authority, and nurture leads long after it’s published.

Titles are not an afterthought. They are a strategic asset.

So here’s your call to action: go back and re-title your top 10 episodes using the frameworks above. Watch what happens to your downloads, your organic reach, and your executive brand influence.

Need help crafting titles that rank? Reach out to the Podcast Supply team—we’ll help you transform your content into a discovery engine that works 24/7.