Troubleshooting & Common Issues

Start with the problem you see, then check the selected podcast, platform, and account before repeating an action.

A guide mentions an old screen name

Use these current locations:

Older name or location	Where it is now
Show metadata or SEO Analysis in Planner	Command Center → Show optimization
Show Rankings / Episode Rankings tabs	Search Visibility → Rankings → Show / Episodes
Show Visibility / Episode Visibility tabs	Search Visibility → Organic Visibility → Show / Episodes
Related Podcasts / Referral Podcasts	Competition → Related Shows
YouTube sidebar item	Analytics → YouTube
Connected social accounts	Settings → Connections → Social platforms, for the selected show
Settings → Podcasts / Manage podcasts	Settings → Shows / Manage shows
Chat	Podcast coach in the sidebar

Keywords Not Appearing in Keyword Tracker

Problem: "When I select keywords from my list I don't see them in the keyword tracker"

Root Cause: Keywords only appear in the Keyword Tracker after you explicitly add them to your tracked list. Viewing or selecting a keyword elsewhere (for example in Show Visibility or Competitive Analysis) does not track it.

Solution — two ways to add a keyword:

From Keyword Strategy (recommended when you also want to say what the keyword is for):

1. Go to Keyword Strategy
2. Find the keywords you want to track
3. Click the "Add" button next to each keyword you want to monitor
4. Optionally click Assign to say what it's for: your show, an episode, your brand, a competitor, or a theme (all tracked keywords count towards your plan's total allowance)
5. The keywords will now appear in Keyword Tracker with performance data

Directly in Keyword Tracker:

1. Open Keyword Tracker
2. Type the keyword into the "Add keyword" field at the top of the page and click Add
3. The keyword is tracked immediately; you can assign it later in Keyword Strategy

Key Understanding:

• Keyword Strategy = Where you say what each keyword is for (show, episode, brand, competitor, theme) and discover keywords to add
• Keyword Tracker = Where you view performance of tracked keywords, and where you can also quickly add one
• Simply viewing or selecting keywords elsewhere does not automatically track them

If keywords still don't appear after adding them:

• Refresh the page
• Data may take a short time to appear
• Check if you're viewing the correct platform filter in Keyword Tracker
• Verify you haven't exceeded your plan's keyword limits

Related Questions:

• "Keywords not showing in tracker"
• "How to add keywords to tracking"
• "I added keywords but don't see them"
• "Keywords missing from keyword tracker"
• "Selected keywords not tracked"

Problem: "My keywords show no ranking data in the tracker"

Root Cause: Either data hasn't appeared yet, platform filter issues, or keywords with no current rankings.

Solution:

1. Give It a Moment: Data may take a short time to appear after adding keywords
2. Verify Platform Filters: Ensure you're viewing the correct platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.) in Keyword Tracker
3. Check Keyword Performance: Some keywords may not have rankings yet - this is normal for new or highly competitive terms
4. Review Time Interval: Adjust the time period filter to see if data exists for different date ranges

If problem persists:

• Contact support via Account Settings > Contact
• Provide specific keywords and timeframes for faster resolution

Understanding Feature Relationships

Problem: "I'm confused about how Keyword Strategy and Keyword Tracker work together"

Solution:

• Keyword Strategy: Your keyword management center where you:

  • Discover new keywords
  • Add keywords to track (using the "Add" button)
  • Assign keywords to your show, episodes, brand, competitors, or themes
  • Set your overall SEO strategy

• Keyword Tracker: Your performance monitoring dashboard where you:

  • View ranking trends over time
  • Compare performance across platforms
  • Analyze competitive positioning
  • Download performance data

Workflow: Strategy → Track → Optimize → Repeat

Key Point: You can add a keyword from either page — Keyword Tracker has an "Add keyword" field for quick additions — but assigning keywords to your show, episodes and other targets is managed in Keyword Strategy (episode keywords also in the Planner).

Keywords Missing from Show Visibility

Problem: "I'm looking for a specific keyword in Show Visibility but it's not showing up"

Root Cause: Show Visibility only displays keywords where your podcast currently ranks (within the top 50 on at least one supported platform). If a keyword doesn't appear, it may be outside that range or excluded by the active volume filter.

Understanding What Show Visibility Shows:

• Show Visibility is a discovery tool that reveals where your podcast is ALREADY appearing in search results
• It shows your current rankings across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music
• A keyword absent from the filtered table may be hidden by the volume chips, outside the top 50, or not yet observed

Two Possible Reasons for Missing Keywords:

1. Your podcast doesn't rank for that keyword (by far the most common reason):

   • Your podcast hasn't yet achieved a ranking position (within the top 50) for this keyword in the search results PodSEO checks
   • This is completely normal - no podcast ranks for every possible keyword
   • It means this is an opportunity for future optimization

2. The keyword hasn't been checked yet:

   • PodSEO tracks a very large set of keywords, but extremely niche or newly emerging terms might not be included yet
   • Tracking the phrase in Keyword Strategy or Keyword Tracker starts collecting its rankings

Keep in mind that absence from Show Visibility means PodSEO has not observed a ranking for that term in the results it collects; it is not proof that your show never appears for it in every country or every variation of the query. If you rank for a related phrasing, Show Visibility will list that phrasing instead.

Solution Steps:

1. Go to Keyword Strategy
2. Search for or manually add the keyword you want to track
3. Click the "Add" button to add it to your tracking list
4. Optionally click Assign to say what it's for
5. The keyword will now be monitored in Keyword Tracker

What Happens Next:

• If the term is new to your tracking, PodSEO starts checking it
• You can monitor it in Keyword Tracker to see when your podcast starts ranking
• Once an observed rank qualifies for this view, the keyword can appear in Organic Visibility → Show; check the volume filters too

Key Understanding:

• Show Visibility = Shows where you're ALREADY ranking (discovery tool)
• Keyword Strategy = Where you add keywords you WANT to rank for (planning tool)
• Keyword Tracker = Shows performance trends for keywords you're tracking (monitoring tool)

Related Questions:

• "Keyword not in Show Visibility"
• "Missing keywords from visibility"
• "Can't find my keyword in rankings"
• "Why isn't my keyword showing"
• "Keyword doesn't appear in Show Visibility"
• "How to add keywords to Show Visibility"

Understanding Keyword Metrics Display

Problem: "What do the volume, popularity, and difficulty indicators mean in Keyword Tracker?"

Solution: The Keyword Tracker displays three key metrics with distinct visual representations:

Keyword Volume:

• Display: A 6-step green meter in the "Vol." column (on mobile, the keyword card shows the meter plus the range, e.g. "250–1K/mo")
• Meaning: Roughly how many times a month people search for the keyword, as one of six levels: Very niche (under 100), Niche (100–250), Small (250–1K), Medium (1K–2.5K), Popular (2.5K–10K), Very popular (10K+)
• Reading it: Hover over the meter (or focus it with the keyboard) to see the level and range, e.g. "Small · 250–1K searches/mo"
• Clock icon: The keyword hasn't been measured yet; the level fills in after the next periodic check
• Good to know: Niche keywords aren't bad. They bring fewer searches, but they're often easier to rank for

Keyword Popularity:

• Display: Blue progress bar with percentage value in the "Pop." column
• Meaning: How crowded the keyword is: how many shows and episodes already rank for it on the selected platform (0-100%)
• Visual Guide: Lower percentage = fewer shows competing = more room for your podcast
• Example: "15%" means few shows rank for this keyword yet, so it's an opportunity

Keyword Difficulty:

• Display: Circular gauge with color-coded difficulty levels in the "Diff." column
• Meaning: How competitive this keyword is (0-10 scale, with higher scores meaning more competition)
• Color Guide:
  • Green: Easy competition (scores under 5.5)
  • Light Green: Moderate-Easy competition (5.5-7.0)
  • Orange: Moderate-Hard competition (7.1-8.0)
  • Red: Very Hard competition (8.1-10.0)

Important Notes:

• All three metrics are sortable - click column headers to sort by volume, popularity, or difficulty
• Data may show "Loading..." for new keywords
• Data may take a short time to appear after adding keywords to tracking

Related Questions:

• "How to read keyword difficulty colors"
• "What does the keyword volume meter mean"
• "Understanding popularity percentage"
• "What does the clock icon in the volume column mean"
• "Keyword metrics not loading"
• "How competitive is my keyword"

Getting Featured on Apple Podcasts

Problem: "How do I get my podcast featured on Apple Podcasts?"

Solution: Apple Podcasts provides an official process for requesting editorial features through their feature request system.

Official Apple Feature Request Process:

1. Prerequisites: Your podcast must already be live on Apple Podcasts
2. Timing: Submit requests at least 2 weeks in advance of your desired feature date
3. Submission: Use Apple's official feature request form
4. Follow-up: If not selected, wait 6-8 weeks before resubmitting

What Apple Looks For:

• Fresh perspectives and unique content angles
• Unforgettable stories that resonate with audiences
• Stimulating conversations on relevant topics
• Insights on niche or topical issues
• Clear benefits for Apple Podcasts subscribers

Optimizing Your Feature Request:

• Compelling Subject Line: Create an engaging subject line that captures attention
• Brief Synopsis: Write a concise description highlighting what makes your content unique
• Format Description: Clearly explain your podcast format and structure
• Host/Guest Background: Provide relevant information about hosts and featured guests
• Marketing Plan: Include details about your promotional strategy
• Audience Appeal: Explain subscriber benefits and audience appeal

Special Artwork Requirements: Apple requires feature-specific artwork following their official template:

• Must be visually distinct from regular show artwork
• Cannot include network or sponsor logos
• Should be intriguing and representative of content
• Must comply with Apple's design standards

Metadata Best Practices:

• Keep episode titles brief and focused on core topics
• Avoid including episode numbers in titles
• Create intriguing titles that encourage listening
• Ensure all metadata meets Apple's quality standards

Strategic Timing Tips:

• Request a Monday feature date (Apple's planning cycle is built around Mondays) and submit at least two weeks before that date
• Align with social media and marketing campaigns
• Consider news cycle relevance
• Have multiple episodes available when requesting features

Complete Guide: For detailed optimization strategies, visit Apple's official guide for promotion requests.

Related Questions:

• "Apple Podcasts feature request"
• "How to submit to Apple editorial"
• "Apple Podcasts New & Noteworthy"
• "Getting featured on Apple"
• "Apple Podcasts promotion guidelines"
• "Editorial submission process"

Search Score and Visibility Changes

Problem: "My search score went down. Why is that?"

First distinguish the scores: Search is one contributing factor. The overall Visibility Score also includes chart and editorial results. Open Traction → Visibility Progress to see which factor changed; a drop in Search alone does not establish that all three declined.

What the Visibility Score Measures: The score combines observed search rankings, chart positions, and editorial and qualifying web placements. It also reflects the show's recorded activity and Apple listing status. The components use different weights and display scales; do not add their cards together or treat them as percentages.

What to check after a decline:

• Chart positions and recent platform features may have changed.
• Web placements receive less weight as they age.
• A keyword ranking may have changed, or its weight may have changed as the other shows in its results gained or lost chart visibility.
• Missing episode information or an Apple listing recorded as unavailable or removed can affect the total.
• Global rank uses roughly a week of recent scores and also depends on other shows, so it need not move with the latest daily score.

Metadata alignment, download totals and completion reports do not feed directly into this score. There is no separate consistency multiplier or fixed publishing-interval bonus. See Visibility Score Explained.

Solution Steps:

1. Review My Charts: Open Charts → My Charts to see if you've dropped from any charts
2. Check My Placements: Review if you've lost any editorial placements
3. Check Show Visibility: Review which specific keywords saw ranking declines
4. Analyze recent changes: Look at any metadata, title, or description changes you made recently
5. Review competitor performance: Check if competitors gained ground on your target keywords
6. Optimize underperforming content: Update titles and descriptions for episodes ranking poorly
7. Verify distribution: Check that your Apple listing and recent episode information are available

Key Understanding: Check the contributing factors and your show's recorded activity and Apple listing status. The size of a score change alone does not identify its cause.

Related Questions:

• "Why did my visibility rank drop"
• "Search score decreased"
• "Lost keyword rankings"
• "Podcast visibility declining"
• "Rankings went down"

Opening a Podcast Email Link With the Wrong Account

Problem: "I clicked a link in a PodSEO email about my podcast, but I can't see the podcast"

Root Cause: Links in podcast emails open the podcast for the account that received the email. If you sign in with a different login, that account doesn't have access to the podcast.

What you may see:

• "Create a new account?" — You chose Sign in with Google with a Google account that isn't registered with PodSEO yet. Creating a new account here won't give you access to the podcast from the email. Choose Sign in with a different account and pick the Google account (or email address) that received the email.
• "Check your account" — You're already signed in, but with an account that doesn't have access to this podcast. The page shows which inbox the link was sent to (partially hidden for privacy). Choose Sign out and switch accounts, then sign in with that account.

Solution Steps:

1. Check which email address received the PodSEO email.
2. Sign out of PodSEO if you're signed in with a different account.
3. Open the link again and sign in with the account that received it — by email code, password, or Google.
4. If you work in a team, make sure you've switched to the organization account that has access to the podcast. See Teams and Organizations.

Related Questions:

• "Email link says check your account"
• "Podcast unavailable with this account"
• "Sign in with Google created a new account"
• "Wrong account when opening a podcast email"

Connecting Your YouTube Channel

Problem: "I can't connect my YouTube channel" or "It says no YouTube channel is associated with my Google account"

Root Cause: PodSEO connects the YouTube channel owned by the Google account you choose during sign-in. If that account has no channel (for example, a personal Gmail while the channel belongs to a different account or a Brand Account), the connection can't complete.

What you may see:

• "No YouTube channel is associated with the Google account you chose." You picked a Google account without a channel.
• "YouTube connection failed. Please try again or contact support." Something else interrupted the sign-in, for example closing the Google window before approving.

Solution Steps:

1. Open YouTube Studio and check which Google account (or Brand Account) owns your podcast's channel.
2. In PodSEO, click Connect YouTube again, either in Analytics → YouTube or in Social Publishing.
3. In Google's account chooser, pick that account and approve the permissions.
4. If you don't have a channel yet, create one at youtube.com first, then connect.
5. In an organization, only Admins and Owners can connect accounts. Other members will see a note asking an account admin to do it.

Problem: "My channel is connected but the YouTube page shows no data"

Solution Steps:

1. Make sure you clicked Activate Insights in Analytics → YouTube. Connecting the channel and activating Insights are separate steps.
2. After activating, the first import usually takes a few minutes. The page shows Importing your channel until it's done.
3. If you see Not much data from your channel yet, your channel had fewer than about 100 views in the last 90 days. YouTube doesn't report searches or traffic sources for channels that small yet, but you can still match videos to episodes.
4. If you see Reconnect YouTube to keep your insights up to date, Google no longer accepts the connection. Click Reconnect YouTube and sign in with the account that owns the channel.

See YouTube Insights for the full guide.

Related Questions:

• "YouTube connection failed"
• "No YouTube channel associated with this Google account"
• "Wrong Google account connected"
• "YouTube Insights empty"
• "How do I connect my YouTube channel"