Sep 30, 2025·8 min
How to Create a Podcast Website with Episodes and Transcripts
Step-by-step guide to building a podcast website with episode pages, embedded players, readable transcripts, and clear links to Apple, Spotify, and more.
Step-by-step guide to building a podcast website with episode pages, embedded players, readable transcripts, and clear links to Apple, Spotify, and more.
Before you pick a theme or drag blocks around, decide what your podcast website must do for a first-time visitor. Most people arrive with one simple question: “Can I listen right now?” Right behind it are: “Can I skim what this episode is about?”, “Where do I subscribe?”, and “Can I share this?”
A solid website for a podcast typically supports four actions:
If those actions are frictionless, everything else you add later will work better.
Different goals lead to different priorities:
You don’t have to pick only one, but you should choose a “main” goal so the homepage and podcast episode pages aren’t trying to do everything at once.
Choose 2–3 metrics so you know if the site is working:
Write these down now—then you can design the site to support them.
Must-have (start here): a homepage, an episodes index, individual podcast episode pages with show notes, transcripts (either as a section on each episode page or as dedicated transcript pages), and a simple subscribe hub that lists your Apple Podcasts link and Spotify podcast link.
Nice-to-have (add later): a resources page, newsletter archive, press kit, sponsor/partner page, guest application form, and a searchable “Topics” page.
If you’re unsure, choose simpler: publish consistently, keep transcripts readable, and make subscribing obvious on every page.
Before you touch design, make three decisions that keep your podcast website easy to run: your domain (address), your platform (how you build pages), and your hosting (where the site files live).
Your best domain is usually your show name—short, memorable, and easy to spell after hearing it once.
A few practical checks:
Most podcasters fit into one of these paths:
If you plan to publish transcripts for every episode, prioritize a platform that makes long-form pages easy to format and update.
If you want a more custom website for podcast workflows (episode pages, transcript layouts, subscribe hub) without a traditional build cycle, a vibe-coding platform like Koder.ai can help you generate a React-based front end and a Go/PostgreSQL backend through a chat interface—then export the source code, deploy, and iterate quickly (with snapshots and rollback if you need to undo changes).
Hosting is the service that stores your website and serves it to visitors. Look for:
These choices aren’t glamorous, but they prevent broken pages, lost posts, and subscriber confusion later.
A podcast website works best when it behaves like a simple library: visitors should instantly understand where to start, how to browse, and how to search.
Keep your main navigation short and predictable. A clean default is:
If you’re tempted to add more items, put them in the footer or under one hub page instead of crowding the top bar.
These pages aren’t required, but they make the site more useful and easier to grow:
If you have many episodes, add lightweight structure:
On /episodes, offer filters like “Season” and “Topic,” plus a search box.
Pick a URL format early and stick to it. Consistency helps people recognize episode links and helps search engines understand your archive.
Good options:
/episodes/ep-42-guest-name-topic/seasons/season-2 and /seasons/season-2/ep-1-titleAvoid changing URLs later. If you must restructure, use redirects so old links (from podcast distribution links pages and social posts) don’t break.
A final check: from the homepage, a new visitor should reach any episode in three clicks or less.
Your homepage has one job: help a first-time visitor hit Play (or subscribe) with zero confusion. If they need to hunt for the audio, you’ll lose them.
At the top of the page, treat the audio like the main call-to-action.
Include:
Don’t hide these links in a menu. Put them where they’re instantly visible.
Right after the hero area, add short “What this show is about” copy:
Pair it with a friendly host photo (or co-host photos). This tiny detail builds trust fast—especially for people discovering you from search.
New visitors usually shouldn’t start with episode #127. Help them choose.
Add two sections:
A curated set beats an endless list because it reduces decision fatigue.
People often scroll, skim, then decide. Add the same “Listen on” links again near the footer, plus a simple email signup if you have one.
If you offer transcripts, add a quick link to your episode library (for example, /episodes) so readers can browse and search later.
An episode page should do two jobs at once: help existing listeners get value fast, and help new visitors decide whether your podcast is worth their time. The easiest way to achieve that is to make each episode page consistent, scannable, and action-oriented.
Put the essentials right at the top so people don’t hunt for context:
If you have categories or tags, add them near the header so visitors can jump to related episodes later.
Good podcast show notes aren’t a transcript pasted under a player. Aim for a predictable layout:
When you add links, use descriptive anchor text (“Guest’s reading list”) instead of “click here.” It helps both readers and podcast SEO.
Pick one primary action and make it obvious:
Place a CTA near the top and repeat it once at the bottom for people who finish the page.
Add one pull-quote or “highlight” block that’s easy to copy and share. For example:
“Most podcast growth comes from fixing your episode page, not chasing new platforms.”
That small touch encourages sharing and makes your episode page feel purposeful—not just a container for an audio file.
A podcast website succeeds or fails on one simple moment: someone taps “play.” Your audio player should be obvious, fast, and reliable on any device.
Most hosts (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Captivate, Transistor, etc.) provide an embed code per episode. This is usually the simplest choice because:
The trade-off is styling and performance: some embedded players are heavier than a native site player.
A site-based player can match your branding and sometimes loads faster—especially if it’s lightweight. It can also support features like a persistent “sticky” player across pages.
If you go this route, make sure you’re not accidentally double-hosting audio (paying your host and also serving large MP3 files from your site).
Mobile visitors should see a large play button near the top of the episode page. Keep the player above long show notes so users don’t have to scroll to listen.
Also watch page speed: avoid stacking multiple players (one per segment) and limit heavy scripts around the player.
Some listeners prefer downloading for offline listening. A simple “Download MP3” link is helpful—especially for long episodes or unreliable connections.
Before publishing, test playback on:
Confirm it plays inline without popups, doesn’t require a separate app, and still works when ad blockers are enabled.
Transcripts aren’t just a “nice extra.” They make your episodes usable in more situations (quiet offices, hearing differences, skimming for key points) and give search engines real text to understand what each episode is about.
Different shows benefit from different levels of polish:
You have three practical paths:
Before publishing, do a quick pass for:
Keep it simple and predictable:
Structure the transcript so people can jump to what they need:
A good rule: if someone lands on the transcript from search, they should understand the episode’s promise within 10 seconds—and find the part they came for within 30.
People rarely “subscribe” the same way. Some are loyal to Apple Podcasts, others live in Spotify, and many now prefer YouTube. Your job is to remove friction: give them a clear choice and a single place to find it.
Use a small set of prominent buttons labeled with words, not just icons. Clear labels help on mobile, help accessibility tools, and avoid confusion for new listeners.
Good examples:
Keep button styling consistent (same shape, size, and color rules), so the block reads as one action: “pick your app.” If you use icons, pair them with text.
Include your RSS feed link for listeners who use alternative podcast apps or want to add your show manually. Make it visible but not dominant—usually a smaller text link under the main buttons works well.
You can label it plainly:
To catch people at the moment they’re ready, place the same subscribe options:
Your /subscribe page should be simple: a short sentence about choosing a platform, followed by the full button set, plus the RSS link.
If you have a newsletter, include a single signup form next to (or just below) the “Listen on” buttons. Keep it minimal: name (optional) + email + one clear promise like “Get new episodes and notes.” Avoid multiple forms across the page—one is enough.
If you already have a menu item like “Subscribe,” link it to /subscribe so visitors always know where to go next.
Good podcast SEO is mostly good page hygiene: clear titles, readable structure, and pages that search engines can actually crawl. You don’t need fancy tactics—just make each episode page stand on its own.
Give your show homepage a descriptive page title (e.g., “Show Name — Weekly Interviews on Remote Work”) and a short meta description that explains who it’s for.
For episode pages, use a consistent pattern:
This helps your pages appear for both topic searches and guest-name searches.
On each episode page, structure the content with headings so both people and search engines understand it:
Within the transcript, use H3 subheadings for segments (timestamps, topics, or questions). This improves readability and can help pages rank for specific subtopics.
Internal links are an easy win because they guide visitors to more listening and help search engines discover older episodes.
Add a couple of relevant links on each episode page:
Avoid hiding show notes and transcripts behind tabs that only load via heavy scripts. When possible, keep the core text in the HTML of the page.
Also generate a sitemap that includes your episode URLs, and submit it in your search console. Your platform may do this automatically; if not, add a standard sitemap file.
If your site builder or podcast website platform supports structured data, look for options like PodcastSeries (for the show) and PodcastEpisode (for each episode). Don’t force it with fragile plugins—use built-in support when available.
A podcast website isn’t just a place to host podcast episode pages and podcast transcripts—it’s also where you make listening (and reading) possible for more people, and where you set clear expectations about data and reuse.
Start with transcripts. Every episode should have a transcript that’s easy to find from the episode page (not hidden behind a download). If you’re using an embedded podcast player, don’t assume it covers accessibility on its own—some players are better than others.
Also check the basics:
If you include guest headshots, sponsor logos, or episode artwork, add descriptive alt text.
Good alt text is specific and short, like: “Photo of Jane Kim, founder of Brightwell Studio.” If the image is purely decorative (for example, a background texture), use empty alt text so screen readers skip it.
A podcast website often includes analytics, an embedded podcast player, or third-party widgets (email forms, social embeds). These can set cookies or collect usage data.
At minimum, include:
Keep this practical: list the tools you use and link to their policies.
Show notes and transcripts can accidentally publish content you don’t have rights to.
If you host guest content, clarify in writing who owns what (you, the guest, or shared), and what you’re allowed to publish on the website for podcast distribution links and episode pages.
Transcripts aren’t perfect—names, acronyms, and technical terms get misheard. Add a visible contact option on every episode page (or in the site footer) for corrections.
A simple line works: “Spotted an error in this transcript? Email us at corrections@… or use the form at /contact.” This builds trust and keeps your podcast transcripts accurate over time.
A podcast website is never really “done.” The good news: if you set up a simple workflow, publishing becomes routine—and the site steadily gets more useful (and more discoverable) over time.
Before you announce your site, do a quick pass as if you’re a first-time visitor on a phone.
Launch checklist (15–30 minutes):
Basic analytics is enough. You want visibility into site traffic and outbound clicks to listening apps.
Focus on a small set of metrics:
If your analytics tool supports it, create events for “Click Apple Podcasts” and “Click Spotify” so you can compare which pages drive the most subscriptions.
Keep a consistent order each time you release:
If you’re building custom templates, consider documenting your “episode page schema” (the sections you always include). Teams that use tools like Koder.ai often turn this into a repeatable build: you can describe the layout once (player, show notes, timestamps, transcript, subscribe links), generate the pages and components, and then iterate as your podcast grows—without rewriting the site from scratch.
Once the basics are stable, consider additions that compound value: a guest directory, on-site search, a simple /blog for related posts, or a /pricing page if your podcast supports consulting, membership, or sponsorship packages.
Start with four frictionless actions:
If visitors can do these instantly, everything else you add later performs better.
Pick 2–3 metrics you’ll actually review weekly, such as:
Then design around them: place subscribe links near the player, keep episode pages consistent, and use one canonical URL per episode so sharing and measurement are clean.
A practical minimum is:
Use a domain that listeners can say and spell after hearing it once:
.com is taken, consider clear alternates like .fm or .showChoose based on how you publish:
If transcripts are a priority, pick a platform that makes long-form editing painless.
Keep navigation short and predictable:
For larger catalogs, add light structure on the Episodes archive:
Pick one pattern early and stick to it, for example:
/episodes/ep-42-guest-name-topic/seasons/season-2/ep-1-titleAvoid changing URLs later. If you must restructure, add redirects so old links from social posts and listening apps don’t break.
Put listening and subscribing above the fold:
Then guide newcomers with plus a curated (3–6 episodes) to reduce decision fatigue.
A strong episode page is consistent and skimmable:
Add a copyable highlight quote to encourage sharing.
Use a format that matches your time and quality needs:
Keep transcripts readable with speaker labels, paragraph breaks, correct names, and (optional) timestamps. Ideally, place the transcript so the text is crawlable and useful for search.
Nice-to-haves (add later) include Guests, Resources, Sponsors, and Newsletter pages.
The goal is fewer mis-typed visits and easier word-of-mouth sharing.
Aim for “any episode in three clicks or less” from the homepage.