webFeed

webFeed · Not mentioned by Google

Appears in

• Podcast

What is it?

webFeed points to the RSS or Atom feed URL for a podcast series. It tells search engines and podcast apps where to find the machine-readable episode list. Without it, crawlers must guess the feed location or rely on third-party directories.

Why this matters for AEO

When a user asks an AI engine "where can I subscribe to [podcast name]," the engine looks for a direct feed URL. webFeed provides that URL in structured data, making it possible for AI assistants to surface a subscribe link or parse the feed for episode metadata. Podcast apps and voice assistants that consume schema.org markup also use this field to auto-discover feeds.

What the specs say

Schema.org: Accepts DataFeed or URL. Applies to PodcastSeries and SpecialAnnouncement. "The URL for a feed, e.g. associated with a podcast series, blog, or series of date-stamped updates. This is usually RSS or Atom." schema.org/webFeed

Google: Not mentioned. Google deprecated Google Podcasts in 2024. The original structured data documentation at developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/podcast now returns a 404. No active Google documentation references this property.

How to find your value

• Podcast host (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Anchor) — RSS feed URL in your dashboard settings
• Apple Podcasts — The feed URL submitted during show setup
• Self-hosted — Usually yourdomain.com/feed/podcast or /podcast.xml
• WordPress — Default feed at /feed/ or a podcast plugin feed URL

Format and code

webFeed accepts a URL string pointing to an RSS or Atom feed.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "PodcastSeries",
  "name": "Inquisitive",
  "url": "http://www.relay.fm/inquisitive",
  "webFeed": "http://www.relay.fm/inquisitive/feed",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Myke Hurley"
  }
}

Valid values:

• "https://example.com/podcast/feed.rss" (full URL to RSS feed)
• "https://example.com/podcast/feed.xml" (Atom feed)

Invalid values:

• "podcast-feed" (relative path, not a full URL)
• "My Podcast RSS" (descriptive text, not a URL)

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add the JSON-LD script in Page Settings > Custom Code > Head Code on your podcast landing page:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "PodcastSeries",
  "name": "Your Podcast Name",
  "url": "https://yourdomain.com/podcast",
  "webFeed": "https://yourdomain.com/podcast/feed.rss"
}
</script>

CMS template pages

If podcasts are managed in a Webflow CMS collection with an RSS URL field:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "PodcastSeries",
  "name": "{{wf {"path":"name","type":"PlainText"} }}",
  "webFeed": "{{wf {"path":"rss-feed-url","type":"PlainText"} }}"
}
</script>

In Schema HQ

Optional mapping is available: a CMS plain text or URL field directly to webFeed when generating PodcastSeries markup, keeping the feed URL in sync with your CMS content.

Real examples

Relay FM (from schema.org/PodcastSeries):

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "PodcastSeries",
  "image": "https://www.relay.fm/inquisitive_artwork.png",
  "url": "http://www.relay.fm/inquisitive",
  "name": "Inquisitive",
  "description": "Inquisitive is a show for the naturally curious. Each week, Myke Hurley takes a look at what makes creative people successful and what steps they have taken to get there.",
  "webFeed": "http://www.relay.fm//inquisitive/feed",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Myke Hurley"
  }
}

Related fields

• name
• url
• description
• author
• image

FAQ

Is webFeed required for podcast structured data?

No. Schema.org defines it as an optional property, and Google no longer maintains structured data documentation for podcasts after deprecating Google Podcasts in 2024. It remains useful for AI engines and podcast directories that parse schema.org markup.

Should webFeed point to an RSS or Atom feed?

Either works. RSS is the standard for podcast feeds, but schema.org accepts any feed URL. Use whichever format your podcast host provides.

Does webFeed help with Apple Podcasts or Spotify discovery?

Not directly. Apple Podcasts and Spotify use their own submission processes. However, embedding webFeed in your page markup helps AI assistants and open podcast apps discover your feed without relying on a specific directory.