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

Should you script or outline your podcast? The choice can shape listener engagement and influence. Explore the balance between structure and authenticity, emphasizing how real connection trumps perfection. Discover the importance of delivering content with personality, and learn why engaging your listeners is key to driving sales. Uncover strategies to stay motivated and build a devoted fan base, ensuring your podcast resonates deeply with audiences eager to share.

Discover why some podcast titles snag attention while others fall flat. Uncover the psychology that makes episode titles irresistible and learn common mistakes to avoid. Explore the pitfalls of using AI for title creation, which can actually cost you listeners. Dive into strategies that make your titles hyper-relevant and engaging, and find out the key elements that compel listeners to click play. It's all about transforming your podcast journey and boosting audience engagement!

Michael Katz, an AI expert specializing in helping podcasters, shares transformative insights on using AI to reflect individual voices. He emphasizes the crucial process of training AI to avoid generic outputs, ensuring authenticity in content creation. Katz discusses the true meaning of quality in AI products and the importance of maintaining a personal touch. He offers practical tips for navigating voice training, revealing that the journey involves continuous refinement, much like onboarding a new team member in your creative process.

Michael Katz, a former AI skeptic turned innovative company founder, discusses the pitfalls of relying too heavily on AI in podcasting. He warns that while AI can streamline content creation, it risks diluting your unique voice, making you sound generic. Katz highlights common mistakes podcasters make with AI, how to spot AI-generated content, and the potential damage to credibility. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity and originality in a world increasingly driven by technology.

Wondering how to make a bold comeback after hitting pause on your podcast? In this episode, we're breaking down what to do when there's been a shift in your podcast — like a business pivot, a change in audience, change in topic, change in leadership of the show (i.e., you lost a co-host), or if you simply had to pause your show for whatever reason and you want to bring it back, but you aren't sure the best way to do it.Should you start fresh with a new podcast? Should you keep the old feed and just rebrand it? And most importantly, how do you win back your audience? In this episode, I’m answering all these questions and more. So if you’re ready to relaunch with purpose, reconnect with your audience, and regain the momentum you’ve lost, hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.0:02 - Hit Pause On Your Podcast? Here’s How to Come Back Strong2:45 - Is It Better to Keep Your Current Feed or Start a Brand New Show?8:48 - How to Relaunch and Win Back Your Audience10:53 - When a New Podcast Feed Actually Makes Sense18:59 - How to Relaunch a Dormant Podcast the Right WayOther Episodes You’ll Enjoy:4 Signs It's Time to Rebrand 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.

We're diving into a rather taboo topic in the podcasting world: taking a break from your podcast. *Gasp!* Yup, we're going there. I’m showing you how to take a real break without losing your listeners and without anyone ever realizing you’re on hiatus (or sipping a marg on a sunny beach somewhere — who said anyone has to know?).Whether you need a 90-day breather or a longer pause, I’ll break down the steps to stay top-of-mind with your audience while you take the time you need, without risking breaking listener trust or having to batch months of content in advance.So if you’re wondering what to do when you need to step away from the mic but don’t want to lose the traction you’ve already worked so hard to build, hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.0:17 - How to Hit Pause Without Anyone Noticing 1:23 - Why Batching Isn’t Always the Answer 9:02 - How to Keep Your Audience Engaged Without Creating More 16:24 - How to Take a Longer Break Without Losing Listeners 18:50 - Is a Seasonal Format Right for Your Podcast? 17:01 - Think Netflix, But for PodcastingOther Episodes You’ll Enjoy:How to Make a Bold Comeback After Pausing 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.

Many podcasters think, "If I want to make money, I need sponsors." But if you’re a business owner who podcasts, you’ve likely wondered, "Should I have sponsors if I’m already promoting my own stuff?" Here’s the thing: not all podcast sponsorships are created equal. While the right sponsor can help cover production costs and bring in extra revenue, the wrong one can undermine the trust you've worked hard to build with your listeners.In this episode, we’re clearing up the confusion. Whether you’re getting 100 downloads an episode or 10,000+, podcast sponsorship coach Joe Casabona is here to show you how to get podcast sponsors without sacrificing listener trust. You’ll learn how to find sponsors that truly align with your audience, craft pitches that make brands say “yes,” and price your sponsorship packages like a pro.(Grab a pen, you’ll want to take notes.) Ready? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:25 - Why Podcast Sponsorships Might Be Worth It (or Not)5:29 - The Proven Formula for Finding the Right Podcast Sponsors 8:38 - How to Craft a Winning Podcast Sponsorship Proposal 11:24 - Pricing Your Podcast Sponsorships the Right Way16:08 - The First Steps to Landing Your First (or Your Dream) Podcast SponsorsEpisode Links:Save 12 Hours a week with Joe's Podcast Automation PlannersCheck out Joe Casabona’s podcast: The Streamlined Solopreneur→ 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.

Joe Casabona, a podcast productivity guru, shares his expertise on cutting down episode prep time. He introduces a simple framework designed to capture ideas anytime, even mid-shampoo! Listeners learn how to streamline their planning processes while boosting creativity and maintaining their unique voice, all without sacrificing quality. The conversation also touches on the balance between using AI tools for content generation and preserving personal authority. Prepare to reclaim mental energy and make podcasting fun again!

Getting on the podcast charts is like ranking on the first page of Google. It's an incredibly powerful way to get found by new listeners, and surprisingly? It's easier than you might think.In this episode we're unpacking why charting is key for discoverability beyond word-of-mouth or organic search, and why it's not out of reach for you even if you're just starting out or have a small audience. You’ll also learn how to stop stressing over your download numbers and start using them as data points to build a growth strategy that keeps your listeners hooked and attracts new ones.Ready to uncover the five key metrics Apple and Spotify use to rank podcasts — and how you can leverage them to get found by new listeners? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:00 - The Real Purpose of Podcast Charts 4:20 - Why Charting Is Like Getting on Page One of Google 7:14 - The Five Key Metrics That Determine Apple and Spotify Ratings 12:15 - Proven Strategies to Increase Your Ranking Potential16:24 - Why It's Time to Stop Obsessing Over DownloadsEpisode Links:Check out Zach Kristensen's podcast: Your Path to PublishOther Episodes You’ll Enjoy: Why You Don’t Need Big Numbers to Rank 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.

Want to know how to keep your listeners hooked from start to finish? In this episode, we’re diving into the psychology of how platforms like Netflix and Hulu create bingeworthy content — and how to apply these same principles to your episodes to keep your listeners hooked and coming back for more. Learn how to open loops that leave listeners hanging (in a good way), the best way to tease future episodes, and how to increase that all-important listener consumption rate that signals to players like Apple Podcasts and Spotify that you have high listener engagement. Bonus: you can use these same techniques across your social media platforms and email newsletters, too.Ready to learn exactly how to keep your listeners tuning in episode after episode? Hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.0:02 - How to Tell if Listeners Are Truly Hooked on Your Podcast1:01 - What ACTUALLY Drives Listener Engagement2:45 - The One Metric That’s Changing How to Measure Your Podcast's Success4:55 - How to Find the Ideal Episode Length to Keep Your Audience Listening Longer6:47 - The Technique Netflix and Hulu Use to Make You Binge Watch (And How to Use it For Your Podcast)12:17 - The Simple Technique That Keeps Listeners Coming Back15:26 - Using These Techniques Throughout Your Entire Content Strategy Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:The Down & Dirty Truth About Episode LengthSpecial thanks to Flora McCormick of Sustainable Parenting for submitting today’s question. If you have a question you’d like me to answer in an upcoming episode, shoot me a text below.  → 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.