{"id":6186,"date":"2026-07-02T22:45:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T05:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.millionpodcasts.com\/blog\/?p=6186"},"modified":"2026-07-02T22:45:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T05:45:37","slug":"podcast-search-mistakes-new-millionpodcasts-users-make","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.millionpodcasts.com\/blog\/podcast-search-mistakes-new-millionpodcasts-users-make\/","title":{"rendered":"Podcast Search Mistakes That New MillionPodcasts Users Make"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every filter and tab in MillionPodcasts exists to narrow 3+ million podcasts into a shortlist of the right ones to pitch, customized for your needs. New users can get more out of the platform once they know which settings do that job, and what common mistakes they should avoid. If you are brand new, our guide to what MillionPodcasts is and who it is for<\/a> is the place to start, then come back here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Answer<\/strong>
What mistakes do new MillionPodcasts users make with podcast search, and how to avoid them?
The 6 most common mistakes are: picking the wrong search field, staying on the Podcasts tab only and ignoring Episodes and AI Results, judging shows by Apple rating alone without seeing number of listeners, matching just the topic without checking audience fit, chasing the biggest shows over the best-fit ones, and unlocking contacts before filtering to a shortlist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start finding podcasts free<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Run a search on the free plan, no card required, and save your first shortlist in minutes.
Search 3M+ podcasts free \u2192<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
What This Guide Covers:<\/span><\/strong>\n\n1. Picking the Wrong 'Search In' Field\n2. Staying on the Podcasts Tab Only\n3. Judging a Show by Its Rating Instead of Its Reach\n4. Matching the Topic but Not the Audience\n5. Chasing the Biggest Shows Instead of the Best-Fit Ones\n6. Unlocking Contacts Before Filtering<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
1. Picking the Wrong ‘Search In’ Field<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Search In<\/strong> filter decides where your keyword is matched: the podcast title<\/strong>, the podcast description<\/strong>, or the host name<\/strong>. All three options can be selected together if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Search “fintech<\/code>” against titles and you get shows with fintech in their name.
\u25cf Search the same word against descriptions and you also get shows that cover fintech every week without naming it in the title, which is where a lot of good targets hide.
\u25cf Set it to Host Name and a podcast search returns every show a specific person hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each one is built for a different kind of query, and the mistake is not choosing one over another, it’s leaving Search In on the same setting for every search without matching it to what you’re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Title search is the precise option. Searching titles is the fastest way to find shows built specifically around a niche, and it’s the right call when you want a short, high-intent list rather than a broad one. However, it can be limiting.
\u25cf Description search is the wide-angle option. It catches shows that cover a topic regularly without necessarily naming it in the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Match <\/strong>setting controls how multiple words combine. “All of these words<\/strong>” requires every term, so typing four words can cut a result set down significantly. “Any of these words<\/strong>” accepts any one of them. “This exact word or phrase” matches a quoted string exactly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u27a4 Use Advanced Search for Synonyms and Exclusions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Advanced Search uses Boolean logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n