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Backlinks From Podcast Show Notes

BacklinkScan Teamon Dec 28, 2025
26 min read

Backlinks from podcast show notes are a powerful way to earn white‑hat links, build topical authority, and turn expert interviews into long‑term SEO assets. When you appear as a guest, hosts often link to your site, resources, or social profiles directly in their podcast show notes, episode pages, and platform descriptions.

These editorial backlinks usually come from trusted, niche‑relevant domains, which search engines tend to value more than random directory links. Beyond rankings, they also bring brand mentions, referral traffic, and relationships with hosts and audiences in your space. In this guide, you’ll learn how to consistently earn, evaluate, and maximize backlinks from podcast show notes.

Backlinks from podcast show notes are simply links on a podcast’s episode page that point to your website or specific URLs you provide. When a host publishes an episode, they usually add a written summary, guest bio, and list of resources. Any clickable link in that text that leads to your site is a podcast show note backlink.

Because those episode pages live on separate domains and are often indexed by search engines, each link can count as an external backlink. That means it can help your site’s authority, send referral traffic, and increase your brand’s visibility in search results.

From an SEO point of view, podcast show notes behave like short blog posts or article pages.

The process usually looks like this:

  1. The host publishes an episode on their website or hosting platform.
  2. They add show notes: title, description, guest bio, and “resources mentioned.”
  3. Inside that text, they link to your homepage, landing page, or content you talked about.
  4. The episode page is crawled and indexed by search engines.
  5. Those links are treated as editorial backlinks, because the host chose to include them as part of their content.

Since podcast episodes tend to stay online for years, these backlinks are usually long‑lived. They can keep sending signals and traffic long after the interview is recorded.

On a typical episode page, your backlinks can show up in a few predictable spots:

  • Guest bio section Many shows include a short “About the guest” paragraph with a link to your main site and sometimes to your social profiles. This is often the most prominent backlink on the page.

  • Resources or “mentioned in this episode” list If you reference a guide, tool, case study, or lead magnet, hosts often add those URLs under a “Resources” or “Links” heading. These are valuable contextual backlinks because they sit next to text that explains what the resource is about.

  • Episode description body copy Some hosts weave links directly into the main description, for example: “We talk with Alex from Example.com about…” and link your brand name. This creates branded anchor text in the middle of relevant content, which search engines tend to value.

  • Platform and app listings When the show notes are pushed out through the RSS feed, parts of that text and its links can appear on listening apps and web previews, such as episode detail pages in major podcast directories. Even when those links are simplified or partially stripped, they still create extra mentions and, in some cases, additional backlinks.

Together, these placements turn a single podcast appearance into multiple chances to earn SEO‑friendly backlinks from the show’s ecosystem.

Backlinks from podcast show notes are usually very good for SEO, as long as they come from relevant shows and point to useful pages on your site. They are editorial links, placed by a real host, surrounded by content about your expertise. That combination of relevance, trust, and context is exactly what modern search algorithms like to see.

They also tend to be “evergreen.” Episodes and their show notes often stay live for years, so the backlink can keep sending authority and referral traffic long after the interview.

Authority of podcast websites and hosting platforms

Many podcast backlinks come from domains with solid authority. There are two main buckets:

  1. The show’s own website Serious podcasts often publish each episode on a dedicated site or blog. These sites can have strong domain metrics, especially in B2B, SaaS, marketing, health, and tech niches. Links from these episode pages are usually contextual and niche relevant, which makes them powerful for rankings and topical authority.

  2. Podcast hosting platforms and directories Episodes are also mirrored on hosting platforms and directories like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others. These platforms often sit on very high‑authority domains, and some hosting dashboards let creators add rich show notes with clickable links. Even when the links are limited, the repeated brand mentions across trusted media platforms still help with entity recognition and credibility.

Not every podcast backlink passes traditional “link juice,” so it helps to know where the real SEO value usually comes from:

  • Show’s own website and many hosting CMS pages When a host publishes show notes on their own domain or on some hosting platforms, those links are often standard dofollow links unless the site owner has added special rules. These are the links that most directly pass authority and help rankings.

  • Big listening apps and directories Many major directories, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, commonly mark outbound links as nofollow or otherwise limit how much equity they pass. They still send referral traffic and help search engines and AI systems connect your brand with a topic, but they are not the core of your link‑building power.

The practical takeaway: treat episode pages on the show’s own site as your primary SEO targets, and see directory links as bonus signals and traffic sources rather than your main link equity source.

How contextual and branded anchor text usually looks

Podcast show note backlinks tend to use very natural, low‑risk anchor text. That is one reason they fit so well into a healthy link profile. Typical patterns include:

  • Branded anchors Examples: your company name, your personal name, or “Visit [Brand]’s website.” These anchors are safe and help build brand searches and entity strength.

  • Naked or URL anchors The host simply pastes “https://yourbrand.com” or “yourbrand.com/toolkit.” This looks organic and supports a natural anchor text mix.

  • Lightly descriptive, contextual anchors Phrases like “free SEO checklist,” “AI pricing calculator,” or “case study mentioned in the episode” linked to a specific resource. These give search engines extra topical clues without looking spammy.

Because the host is writing for listeners, not for algorithms, the anchor text is almost always conversational and surrounded by a short description of who you are and what you do. That context around the link is a big part of why podcast show note backlinks punch above their weight for both rankings and perceived expertise.

A single podcast appearance can quietly generate several different backlinks, often from the same episode being syndicated across platforms. To make the most of it, you need to know where those links usually live and which ones are most valuable for SEO.

Links from the show’s own website episode page

The most important backlink usually comes from the podcast’s own website.

Most established shows publish a dedicated episode page that includes:

  • An embedded audio player
  • A written summary or full transcript
  • A “guest” or “resources mentioned” section with links

This episode page is often on a domain with decent authority and is fully crawlable by search engines, so links here tend to carry the most SEO weight. You will usually see:

  • A link to your homepage or main site
  • Links to specific resources you mentioned (guides, tools, case studies)
  • Sometimes a short bio with another link to your brand or company

Because the host controls this page, it is also the easiest place to request edits or additional links if something is missing.

Most podcasts are managed through a hosting platform. These platforms generate public episode pages that mirror the show notes from the RSS feed.

On these pages, your links may appear:

  • In the episode description copied from the show notes
  • In a “show website” or “episode website” field
  • Occasionally in a guest or credits section

Some hosts render full HTML and keep links clickable; others convert them to plain text or strip some formatting. Even when links are clickable, many of these pages are lightly optimized and may not pass as much authority as the main site, but they still add diversity to your backlink profile and can send referral traffic.

Listening apps pull show notes from the RSS feed and display them inside their own interface. How they handle links changes over time and can differ by app and device.

In practice, you might see:

  • Clickable links in the episode description in some apps and on some web players
  • Plain text URLs that listeners can copy, but which are not traditional HTML backlinks
  • Extra “from this episode” or “links” sections that highlight certain URLs

From an SEO standpoint, these links are often less powerful because many apps either nofollow them, hide them behind scripts, or do not expose them as standard anchor tags on a public web page. They are still valuable for discovery and referral traffic, but you should not rely on them as your main source of link equity.

Many podcasters republish episodes as video or audiograms on YouTube, then promote them on social media. Each of those touchpoints can create more backlinks.

Common extra link spots include:

  • The YouTube video description, where the host may link to your site, lead magnet, or featured resources
  • Pinned comments under the video pointing to your offer or article
  • Social posts on platforms like LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram that include your URL

YouTube descriptions and public social posts can be crawled and indexed, and while not every link will pass strong authority, they increase your brand’s visibility, co-citation, and chances of earning secondary links when others share or reference the episode.

When you add all of these together, one well-planned podcast appearance can easily turn into several distinct backlinks across the web.

Pitching podcasts for backlinks works best when “SEO” is in the back of your mind, not the subject line of your email. Your main pitch is still about being a great guest for their audience. The backlink from podcast show notes is a bonus that you quietly optimize for.

Start by looking for shows that:

  • Have a real website with individual episode pages, not just a bare listing on listening apps.
  • Publish detailed show notes that include guest links and resources.
  • Sit in or near your niche, so any backlink looks natural and relevant.

A simple process:

  1. Search for “[your topic] podcast guest” and open a few episode pages.
  2. Check if the guest’s name links to their site, and whether there are links to tools, books, or case studies mentioned.
  3. Use an SEO tool to quickly glance at the site’s authority and traffic. You do not need huge numbers, but you want a site that is indexed, active, and not obviously spammy.

If a podcast never links to guests, or only has a short paragraph with no outbound links, it is unlikely to become a strong backlink source.

What to check on a podcast’s previous show notes before you pitch

Before you send a pitch, scan at least three recent episodes and look for:

  • Guest treatment: Do they link to the guest’s website, or only to social profiles?
  • Link style: Are links clickable, or just plain text? Are they buried at the bottom or woven into the summary?
  • Depth of notes: A 50‑word blurb usually means fewer link opportunities than a 400‑word recap with resources.
  • Consistency: Do they always include guest links, or only sometimes?

This tells you both how likely you are to get a backlink and how to frame your ask. For example, if they always have a “Resources mentioned” section, you can suggest one or two specific URLs that fit naturally there.

Simple ways to position yourself as a valuable guest

To earn both the booking and the backlink, your pitch should make the host think, “My audience will love this,” not “They want SEO juice.”

You can do that by:

  • Leading with specific topics and outcomes, not your bio. For example, “3 ways SaaS founders can double trial-to-paid using onboarding emails” is more compelling than “I’m a marketing consultant.”
  • Mentioning episode ideas that reference their past content, showing you actually listen to the show.
  • Highlighting assets that make great show note links: a data-backed article, a free calculator, a case study, or a concise lead magnet that expands on what you will talk about.
  • Making promotion easy: briefly note that you will share the episode with your email list or social audience.

At the end of your pitch, you can add a soft line such as, “I can also share a short list of resources and links for your show notes so listeners have everything in one place.” That keeps the focus on listener value while quietly setting up the backlinks you want.

What to ask for before you record the interview

Before you hit record, have a short, friendly conversation about links. You do not need jargon. Something as simple as:

“I usually share a couple of useful resources with listeners. Are you happy to include links in the show notes?”

From there, clarify three things:

  1. What they normally link to (guest site, socials, resources, tools).
  2. Where those links live (episode page on their site, show notes in apps, YouTube description, etc.).
  3. How many links is reasonable so you do not overwhelm their notes.

Offer to send a tidy list right after recording: a short bio, your preferred links, and any specific resources you mention. This makes their job easier and increases the odds your backlinks are added correctly.

Keep the focus on helping listeners, not “building backlinks.” Phrase it as “making it easy for listeners to find what we talk about” rather than “I need SEO links.”

Which URLs to prioritize (homepage, lead magnet, pillar content)

Most hosts will not add ten different URLs, so decide your priorities in advance. A simple order that works well:

  1. Primary URL: Often your homepage or a focused landing page that introduces who you are and what you do.
  2. Lead magnet or offer: A free guide, checklist, or resource that is tightly related to the topic of the episode. This gives listeners a clear next step and can grow your email list.
  3. Pillar content: One strong article, case study, or resource hub that supports what you talk about in the interview.

When you send your links, label them clearly, for example:

  • “Main website:”
  • “Free resource we mentioned:”
  • “In‑depth article on [topic]:”

This helps the host place them correctly and makes the show notes more useful and clickable.

Agreeing on how you’ll be described and linked in the notes

Your description in the show notes often controls both the anchor text and which links get used, so align on this before recording. You can say something like:

“I have a short bio and preferred link I usually use. Can I send that over for your notes?”

Provide:

  • A 1–2 sentence bio that includes your name, role, and main topic or niche.
  • The exact name of your brand or site as you want it linked.
  • A preferred anchor phrase that feels natural, such as your name plus what you do, not a spammy keyword string.

Ask if they are comfortable using that wording, and be flexible if they need to shorten it. The goal is a description that sounds like their voice, clearly explains who you are, and naturally points people (and search engines) to the right page on your site.

Crafting natural anchor text the host is happy to use

You almost never control the show notes editor directly, so your job is to make it easy for the host to use good, natural anchor text. Instead of sending a bare URL, give them a short line they can paste, such as:

“Link as: Email marketing playbook for SaaS founders – https://example.com/saas-email-playbook”

This nudges them toward descriptive anchor text that actually tells search engines what the page is about, without sounding like SEO jargon. Avoid keyword stuffing or stiff phrases. If it would look weird to a listener reading the notes, it is probably too forced.

Offer 2 or 3 link options at most: a branded one (your name or company) and one or two descriptive anchors tied to the topic you discussed. That keeps the notes clean and makes it more likely the host will use what you suggest.

Podcast show notes are a great chance to earn deep links to pages beyond your homepage. When you prepare for the interview, pick a few URLs that match what you will talk about:

  • A detailed article or guide that expands on a key point
  • A tool, template, or calculator you mention on air
  • A case study that proves a result you discussed

Group them in your prep email as a tiny “Resources mentioned” list. That way, when you naturally reference them during the conversation, the host already has the exact URLs ready to drop into the show notes.

Keep the list tight. One homepage or “about” link plus one or two deep links is usually enough. Too many links can look messy and may get trimmed.

Tracking is useful, but long, messy URLs can hurt click‑throughs and sometimes break in certain podcast apps. A simple approach is:

  1. Use clean, human‑readable URLs as the primary links in the show notes.
  2. If you need analytics, add short UTM parameters that do not turn the link into a wall of text.
  3. For more complex tracking, create a short redirect on your own domain (for example, /podcast-showname) that forwards to the full tracking URL.

This keeps the visible link short and trustworthy while still letting you measure traffic. Before the episode goes live, test each tracking or redirect URL yourself to make sure it resolves correctly and does not time out or loop.

A backlink only helps you if it is actually clickable. Many podcast apps pull show notes from the podcast’s RSS feed, and they do not all handle formatting the same way. To be safe, use simple, clean formatting that most apps understand.

Plain, full URLs usually work best. For example, write https://yourdomain.com/guide instead of “your guide is on our site here” without a visible URL. Some apps will auto-link the full URL even if they strip out HTML.

If the host’s platform supports HTML in show notes, basic <a> links are usually fine, but avoid complex formatting, buttons, or scripts. Those often get removed when the notes are syndicated to listening apps.

Ask the host how they publish show notes: do they write in a rich text editor, markdown, or plain text? Suggest they test an episode on a few major apps to confirm that links are visible and clickable on mobile, not just on the web version of their site.

Short, readable URLs are easier for hosts to paste correctly and less likely to break when copied into different systems. They also look more trustworthy to listeners. A clean URL like yourdomain.com/podcast-offer is ideal for show notes.

If you need tracking, use a short redirect on your own domain rather than a long URL full of UTM parameters. You can still track performance while keeping the visible link simple. Long, messy URLs are more likely to wrap onto multiple lines, get cut off, or be edited by the host.

Create a small set of “podcast friendly” URLs in advance for your main offers or pillar content. Share those with the host instead of raw tracking links. You can handle analytics behind the scenes with redirects or tags.

Several small formatting mistakes can quietly kill the value of your podcast backlinks:

  • Links pasted without https:// or http://, so some apps do not recognize them as URLs.
  • Extra spaces or line breaks in the middle of a URL, which can make only part of the link clickable.
  • Putting links only in an image or button in the web version of the show notes, which disappears in most podcast apps.
  • Burying your link in a huge block of text instead of giving it its own line or bullet, so it is easy to miss.
  • Using URL shorteners that some apps or browsers treat as low trust, which can reduce clicks.

Before the episode goes live, ask the host if they can preview the show notes and send you a draft. After it is published, open the episode in at least two or three major apps and tap every link. If anything is not clickable or looks odd, send a polite note with the exact fix you are requesting.

Follow-up after the episode goes live

Once the episode is live, do not assume the backlinks are in place. Hosts and producers are busy, and details get missed.

Start by finding the main episode page on the show’s website. Scroll through the show notes and look for:

  • Are your links actually present?
  • Do they point to the correct URLs?
  • Are they clickable, not just plain text?
  • Is your name or brand spelled correctly?

Then check the podcast hosting page and major listening apps. Open the episode in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at least one Android app. Some apps truncate descriptions or strip formatting, so confirm that:

  • The links still show up in the description.
  • They are tappable on mobile.
  • Any tracking parameters or redirects still resolve to the right page.

Finally, click each link yourself. Make sure they do not 404, redirect to the wrong place, or get blocked by your own security settings. This quick manual check prevents you from building campaigns on broken backlinks.

If something is wrong, a short, polite email usually fixes it. Keep it friendly and easy to act on. For example:

Hi [Name],

Thanks again for having me on [Podcast Name] – I’ve already had a few people reach out about the episode.

I noticed one small thing on the show notes for the episode: the link to [what it should go to] is currently pointing to [what it points to now] / is missing.

Would you mind updating it to this URL? [Correct URL]

Totally understand if you are busy. If it helps, I’m happy to share the episode again once it is updated.

Thanks again, [Your Name]

Make the fix specific and simple: mention the exact page, what is wrong, and paste the correct URL. Avoid lecturing them about SEO. Focus on helping their listeners find the right resource.

Once your backlinks are in place, close the loop by linking from your site to the episode. This helps:

  • Strengthen the relationship with the host.
  • Show social proof to visitors.
  • Sometimes help the episode page itself rank better, which indirectly benefits your backlink.

Good places to add the link include:

  • A “Featured on” or “Press” section.
  • Your About page or author bio.
  • A relevant blog post or case study that ties into the interview topic.

Add a short sentence like: “I talked about [topic] on the [Podcast Name] podcast” and link to the episode page on the show’s own site. If you embed the audio player, still include a text link to the original episode page so search engines can clearly see the connection.

Start by letting your SEO tools do the heavy lifting. After a podcast episode goes live, give search engines a week or two to crawl, then check your preferred backlink index. Look for new links that match the podcast’s domain and episode URL.

When you find them, pay attention to:

  • Domain authority / domain rating: This gives you a rough sense of how strong the podcast’s site is compared with others in your niche.
  • Page-level metrics: Check URL rating, page authority, or similar scores to see whether the specific episode page has any strength or internal links pointing to it.
  • Follow vs nofollow: Confirm whether the show notes link passes PageRank. Even nofollow links can still send traffic and support brand visibility, so do not dismiss them outright.
  • Anchor text and link placement: Note how your brand or content is described and whether the link sits in a resources section, guest bio, or a random list at the bottom.

Export these backlinks and tag them as “podcast” in your tracking sheet or tool. Over time, you will see which shows tend to produce the most valuable links and can prioritize similar opportunities.

What to look at besides rankings (referral traffic, brand searches)

Rankings move slowly and are influenced by many factors, so do not judge podcast backlinks only by position changes. Instead, watch for signals that show real audience impact:

  • Referral traffic: In your analytics, look at traffic from the podcast’s domain and from major listening platforms around the episode’s release date. Check bounce rate, time on page, and conversions to see if visitors are qualified.
  • Brand searches: Use search console and trend tools to see whether searches for your brand name, your personal name, or your product spike after appearances. A steady lift in branded queries is a strong sign that podcast listeners are looking you up.
  • Assisted conversions: In analytics, review multi-touch or assisted conversion reports. Podcast-driven visitors may not convert on the first visit but can play a key role in later signups or sales.
  • Engagement signals: Track email signups, demo requests, or downloads tied to URLs you shared in the interview. Even if the link is nofollow, those actions still matter.

These metrics help you see podcast backlinks as part of a broader awareness and trust engine, not just a way to nudge a single keyword up a few spots.

Backlinks from podcast show notes work best when they support a clear, long-term strategy. Think of them as a relationship-based link source that also builds authority, expertise, and brand recognition.

Use podcast links to:

  • Diversify your link profile with natural mentions from real sites, not just guest posts or outreach campaigns.
  • Strengthen key assets by pointing show notes to your best guides, tools, or case studies, so each appearance reinforces the same core URLs.
  • Open doors to more links when hosts later reference your content in new episodes, newsletters, or partner blogs.

Over time, track how many quality podcast backlinks you earn per quarter, how often they coincide with organic growth, and which topics or angles attract the strongest shows. When you see that pattern, you can treat podcast guesting as a repeatable, strategic channel rather than a one-off PR win.

If a podcast show notes page only links to your social profiles, you still get some value, but you are leaving SEO on the table. Links to social platforms can help with brand discovery and entity signals, yet they do not pass authority directly to your own domain.

When you see this happen, treat it as a fixable issue, not a disaster. Reach out politely and ask if the host can also add a link to your main site or a specific resource you mentioned. Most hosts are happy to update show notes, especially if you make it easy by sending:

  • Your preferred URL
  • A short line of copy that explains what it is

For future appearances, be explicit before recording that you would like at least one link to your website in the show notes, in addition to any social links.

Yes, backlinks from low-traffic podcasts can still matter for SEO, as long as the show is relevant and not spammy. Search engines care more about topical relevance, editorial context, and site quality than raw listener numbers or traffic volume. A small, niche podcast with a clean site and focused audience can still pass useful authority and help build your brand’s “footprint” online.

Where low-traffic shows usually fall short is in referral traffic and direct leads. You may not see many clicks, but the link can still contribute to your overall backlink profile and entity trust. Think of these as supporting links: not game changers on their own, but helpful when combined with stronger mentions from bigger shows.

There is no magic number of podcast backlinks that guarantees results. What matters more is:

  • How authoritative and trustworthy the podcast sites are
  • How relevant the topics are to your niche
  • How naturally your brand and links are integrated into the show notes

In practice, many brands start to see clearer SEO impact once they have appeared on at least 8–15 solid, niche-relevant podcasts that actually link to their site, not just socials. Case studies often show meaningful gains from a dozen or so quality appearances, especially when those links point to a mix of homepage, landing pages, and in-depth content.

After that, returns tend to flatten if you keep doing the same type of show at the same level. To avoid diminishing returns, aim to:

  • Gradually move up to higher-authority or better-known podcasts
  • Vary the pages you get linked (not only your homepage)
  • Combine podcast backlinks with other link building and content efforts

Think of podcast backlinks as one strong channel in a broader strategy, not a volume game you “win” by hitting a specific count.