Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategy for Business Growth

Should you put episode numbers in your podcast titles? Some podcasters swear it makes episodes easier to find. Others argue it kills discoverability. And turns out, this one simple choice could shape how listeners see your entire show.In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of episode numbers and showing you the simplest way to help listeners navigate your show without wasting valuable title space or hurting your podcast search rankings. So if you want listeners to discover more of your episodes (and see your podcast as professional and worth binging), hit play and let's dive in.1:02 – Do Episode Numbers Really Help Listeners?4:11 – The Surprising Pros and Hidden Cons of Episode Numbers8:39 – How Episode Numbers Affect SEO and Discoverability13:56 – 2 Smart Ways to Help Listeners Find Old Episodes18:42 – The Simple Test to Know if Episode Numbers Are Right for Your Show Other Episodes You’ll Love:The Exact Strategy Behind 15M Podcast Downloads a Month with Jordan Harbinger  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

What happens when you’re doing everything “right” (publishing weekly, emailing your list, sharing your episodes) but your podcast still isn’t growing? After a year of following the industry’s “just stay consistent” advice, Anne Rajoo was still trapped in 100-download jail no matter how many posts or promos she put out. With limited time and zero desire to live on social media, she needed a smarter path to podcast growth. In this Fix My Pod session, you'll learn how to test whether your podcast can actually pull in strangers who don’t already know you, plus 3 high-leverage marketing moves you can start using today to get in front of fresh audiences already searching for your message. Ready for your podcast to finally grow beyond the same handful of followers before you waste another year creating episodes no one new ever hears? Hit play and let’s dive in.2:41 – Why Consistency Alone Keeps Podcasters Stuck in 100-Download Jail7:55 – A Simple Test to See If Your Show Can Attract Strangers12:03 – The Biggest Mistake Podcasters Make With Promotion (and What to Do Instead)14:18 – 3 Smarter Growth Plays That Don’t Require Social Media27:31 – The Overlooked Collaboration Strategy That Gets You in Front of New Listeners Episode Links:Listen to Anne’s Podcast: The Productivity Sweet Spot  Other Episodes You’ll Love:Why Your Podcast Isn’t Getting Found (and How to Fix It)Why Your Social Posts Aren’t Driving Podcast Growth → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Every podcaster wants the same thing: a podcast that grows quickly, without eating more of your time, draining your energy, or demanding a marketing budget you don’t have. The truth? There's no single “fastest way” to grow your show. If there were, every podcast would already be successful, and you wouldn’t still be asking this question. But there IS a repeatable podcast marketing system that makes growth not only possible, but also predictable.In this episode, I’m giving you podcast advice straight from the trenches as I tackle three listener questions that circle the same theme: how do you grow fast in podcasting without burning out or wasting time on marketing you hate. So if you’re ready to trade quick-fix gimmicks for a marketing system that gets more listeners tuning in every week (and keeps your sanity intact), hit play and let’s dive in.0:58 – Why There’s No “One-Size-Fits-All” Podcast Growth Strategy4:12 – The 90-Day Podcast Marketing Cycle That Turns Experiments Into Results7:35 – The Podcast Growth Metric That Reveals if Your Show is Truly Working15:49 – How to Pick Marketing Tactics That Match Your Unique Budget and Bandwidth20:04 – How to Stop Relying on Luck and Start Creating Predictable Podcast Growth Other Episodes You’ll Love:What Spotify’s New Tools Mean For Your Podcast GrowthThe 5 Podcasting Metrics No One's Teaching (That Actually Tell You If Your Show is Growing)  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

What happens when the podcast you’ve worked so hard to build isn’t holding people’s attention? After her “perfect” launch — charting, downloads, glowing feedback — Dr. Annie Campanile quickly realized her show wasn’t nearly as shareable as she thought. So she made one gutsy change in her positioning, and nearly doubled her downloads in just 7 days.In this episode, you’ll hear how Annie uncovered the disconnect that made her podcast hard to recommend, and why ignoring it could leave your show stuck under 200 downloads forever. Ready to see how the words you choose can either cost you listeners or keep them coming back? Hit play and let’s dive in.0:42 – Why a Perfect Launch Doesn’t Guarantee Growth2:10 – The Early Warning Signs Your Podcast Isn’t Shareable5:08 – How to Know When It’s Time to Rebrand7:45 – The Positioning Shift That Can Double Your Downloads in a Week14:12 – How to Trust Your Gut and Evolve Your Show Without Starting Over Episode Links:Meet Dr. Annie: AnnieCampanile.com | LinkedInListen to Dr. Annie’s Podcast | Drama Free Teams Other Episodes You’ll Love:Can’t Break 100 Downloads? Let’s Fix ThatHow to Choose a Bingeworthy Name for Your Podcast → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

What if the real driver of podcast growth isn’t how consistent you are or how well you market your show? There are 5 invisible mechanics every top podcast has in common, and the degree to which your show grows depends on how well these mechanics are working under the hood.Alex Sanfilippo, the founder of PodMatch, has spent years studying what today's top podcasters do differently, and he's joining us back to break down the five non-negotiable mechanics that separate top shows from the rest, and how you can adopt them to support the podcast growth you want. So if you’re ready to find out whether your podcast has the mechanics it needs to grow (and what to fix if it doesn't), hit play and let's dive in.1:52 – The Hidden Flaw That Keeps Most Podcasts From Growing6:40 – How Top Hosts Protect Energy to Publish Consistently13:18 – The Positioning Shift That Turns Casual Listeners Into Lifelong Fans19:45 – The Growth Discipline Top Podcasters Never Compromise On25:12 – The Podcast Workflow Fix That Opens Space for Creativity  Episode Links: Meet Alex: PodMatch.com | LinkedInListen to Alex’s Podcast: Podcasting Made SimpleLooking for better podcast guests (or to be a podcast guest)? Sign Up at PodMatch.com Other Episodes You’ll Love:The One Content Shift That Can Double Your Downloads  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

If your podcast isn’t growing, it might be tempting to blame your marketing. But before you spend more time or money there, it’s time to take a hard look at your content. Because no marketing plan in the world can fix a show people don’t want to binge. Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch, is here to show you how to change that. From making your content “infotainment,” to drafting narratives that hold attention, to structuring interviews that don’t wander all over the place, Alex has the tools to build a podcast people love—and he’s handing them to you. So if you’re ready to build the kind of show that attracts the right listeners on repeat, turns you into the go-to voice in your space, and makes your podcast marketing finally work the way it should, hit play and let’s dive in.0:48 — Why Great Podcast Marketing Still Can’t Fix Boring Content4:12 – How To Turn Information Into Infotainment That Keeps People Listening7:58 – The Easiest Ways To Find Out What Your Listeners Actually Want12:10 – The Narrative Trick That Makes Any Episode Bingeable16:35 – How to Lead Guest Interviews That Keep Listeners Hooked Episode Links: Meet Alex Sanfilippo: PodMatch.com | LinkedInListen to Alex’s Podcast: Podcasting Made SimpleLooking for better podcast guests (or to be a podcast guest)? Sign Up at PodMatch.com Other Episodes You’ll Love:5 Habits That Separate Top-Rated Podcasters From the Rest  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Most podcasters have no idea if their podcast SEO is working. You don’t want to spend hours optimizing your show only to stay invisible in search. The good news? Podcast SEO gives you both the thrill of quick wins and the payoff of long-term podcast growth when you know how to track it.In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to tell if your podcast SEO is paying off, the three metrics you need to track, and the tools that make it dead simple so you can know without a doubt that your show is showing up in search, getting clicked, and converting new listeners. Ready to claim your place at the top of Apple and Spotify search with proof your SEO is paying off? Hit play and let’s dive in.0:47 – Why Most Podcasters Waste Time on SEO That Doesn’t Work 6:22 – The Tools Serious Podcasters Use to Track Their SEO 9:18 – The Three Metrics That Tell You If SEO Is Paying Off 12:27 – The Growth Signal That Shows Your SEO Is Paying Off 15:17– The Simple Tracking Habit That Keeps You Visible in Search Episode Links:Podcast SEO Mastery Course Done-for-You Podcast SEO DIY with Ausha Other Episodes You’ll Love:5 Best Podcast SEO Practices to Rank at the Top of Apple and Spotify Search41% Podcast Growth in 30 Days With Podcast SEO. Here’s How. Why Podcast SEO Makes It Easier Than Ever for Niche Shows to Get Discovered  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

One in two podcast listeners discover new shows through search inside Apple and Spotify… which means, if your show isn’t showing up in search, you’re handing half your audience to someone else.In this episode, we’re fixing that. I’m back in the studio with Irene Picco from Ausha to share the 5 best Podcast SEO practices that get your show ranking where listeners are already looking for content like yours, so every episode becomes a shortcut that helps your ideal listeners find you faster. So if you want your show to be the one listeners see first when they’re searching for what you teach, hit play and let’s dive in.0:54 – The Real Reason Half of Your Potential Audience Can’t Find You 7:41 – How to Spot the Best Keywords to Get Found by the Right Audience14:08 – Broad Keywords vs. Niche Keywords (and Why You Need Both) 21:34 – Where to Put Podcast SEO Keywords for Maximum Ranking Power28:50 – How to Stay in the Top 5 in Apple & Spotify Search Once You Get There Episode Links:Podcast SEO Mastery Course Done-for-You Podcast SEO DIY with Ausha Other Episodes You’ll Love:3 Signs Your Podcast SEO Is Paying Off41% Podcast Growth in 30 Days With Podcast SEO. Here’s How. Why Podcast SEO Makes It Easier Than Ever for Niche Shows to Get Discovered  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

41% more downloads in just 30 days. No podcast ads. No podcast guesting sprint. Just Podcast SEO done right.In this episode, I’m joined by Irene Picco from Ausha, widely recognized as the global leader in tracking podcast SEO performance. Irene and I first unpacked this data live from stage at Podcast Movement, and now we’re giving you the inside look at the Podcast SEO experiment that helped this show climb 99+ search positions, rank top 5 for 10+ keywords, and grow 155.3% in just five months.So if you're ready to see the kind of growth Podcast SEO can unlock for your show right now (and finally get discovered while others stay invisible), hit play and let’s dive in.0:54 – What Makes Podcast SEO Different From Every Other Podcast Growth Strategy2:31 – Why 1 in 2 Listeners Rely on Search to Find New Podcasts5:15 – How One Show Climbed 99+ Positions With No Ads or Podcast Guesting9:42 – The Visibility Advantage Niche Podcasters Have Right Now in Podcast Search14:08 – Why Early Adopters of Podcast SEO Have a Competitive Edge Episode Links:Podcast SEO Mastery Course Done-for-You Podcast SEO DIY with Ausha Other Episodes You’ll Love:3 Signs Your Podcast SEO Is Paying Off5 Best Podcast SEO Practices to Rank at the Top of Apple and Spotify SearchWhy Podcast SEO Makes It Easier Than Ever for Niche Shows to Get Discovered  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

“Just stay consistent and make great content” is the podcast industry’s favorite advice, and it’s exactly why most shows never grow. It doesn’t matter how good your content is if no one can find it. And if your podcast isn’t showing up in search, you’re missing out on 54% of the listeners who are finding new shows that way every single day.In this episode, I’ll show you how Podcast SEO makes it easier than ever for niche shows to get discovered, why it’s the only podcast growth strategy that compounds with every episode you publish, and how to get your show into the top five search results on Apple and Spotify without creating extra content, guesting nonstop, or wasting thousands on ads. So if you’re tired of publishing episodes no one new ever hears, don’t want smaller, inactive shows outranking you for the exact keywords your ideal listeners are searching, and you’re ready for a steady stream of new listeners who binge, trust, and buy, hit play and let’s dive in.0:54 – Why Content Alone Can’t Grow a Podcast 2:48 – Why Search is a Shortcut to New Listeners 5:36 – How Niche Shows Can Win With Specific Keywords 12:11 – The Podcaster Who Hit Top Search in One Week 15:45 – Why Early Adopters of Podcast SEO Have an Unbeatable Advantage Episode Links:Podcast SEO Mastery CourseDone-for-You Podcast SEODIY with Ausha Other Episodes You’ll Love:3 Signs Your Podcast SEO Is Paying Off41% Podcast Growth in 30 Days (Here’s How)5 Best Podcast SEO Practices to Rank at the Top of Apple and Spotify Search  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.