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

If you’ve ever thought, “My content’s so good—so why aren’t more people listening?”  the problem might not be your content at all. It might be what your podcast is saying about you before people ever hit play (and what you’re saying once they do). Because even if your episodes are packed with value, if your show doesn’t clearly signal why people should pick your show out of hundreds of others they could listen to, the right listeners will scroll right past it.That’s exactly what was happening for Cheryl Fischer, too. In this episode, you’ll hear how she went from doing everything “right” but still not seeing results, to rebranding her show in a way that finally got the right listeners tuning in, reaching out, and seeing her as the expert they wanted to work with.So if you're ready to stop blending in and uncover the messaging gaps that are keeping the right listeners from hitting play, sharing your episodes, and emailing you asking, “How can I work with you?”—hit play and let’s dive in.1:18 – Why Great Content Isn’t Enough to Get Listeners Choosing Your Show3:40 – The Hidden Messaging Gaps That Could Be Keeping People From Hitting Play6:25 – Why Effort Spent on Your Podcast Doesn’t Always Equal Traction8:04 – How to Niche Down Without Losing the Listeners Who Matter9:52 – The Message Shift That Gets Listeners Engaging Instead of Scrolling Past16:44 – The Signs Your Podcast Is Finally Reaching the Right People Episode Links:Check out Cheryl Fischer’s podcast: Mind Your MidlifeConnect with Cheryl: Website | LinkedIn Other Episodes You’ll Love:How to Make Your Podcast Worth Every Second You Spend on ItBoring Podcasts Get Ignored. Fix THIS. → 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.

You’ve been told to make your podcast content “valuable,” but no one ever tells you what that actually means. So you default to teaching step-by-step—hoping that if you give away enough value for free, your inbox will be flooded with messages from people asking how to work with you. But that’s not how it works. Because listeners won’t hire you if they feel like they already got everything they came for. So where’s the line between giving enough and giving too much? How much can you share on your podcast without hurting conversions? And if you don’t have a business yet (or you're still figuring out how to monetize), how do you stay top of mind without giving so much away that there's nothing left to sell?In this episode, I’m showing you how to keep your content genuinely helpful and intentionally designed to move listeners closer to working with you. If you’re ready to stay out of the “free coach” zone and build real demand for your work without overwhelming your audience or undercutting your value, hit play and let’s dive in.0:58 – What “Valuable Content” Actually Means (And Why Most Podcasters Get It Wrong)3:22 – The Subtle Way You’re Training Your Audience Not to Hire You8:10 – A Simple Test to Know If You’re Sharing Too Much12:45 – What Listeners Actually Need From Your Episodes18:33 – How to Be Genuinely Helpful Without Turning Your Show Into a Free Advice Library or Undermining Your Paid Work Episode Links:The 5 Podcasting Metrics No One's Teaching (That Actually Tell You If Your Show is Growing)How to Hit the Top 5 in Apple and Spotify Search ResultsThe Exact SEO Keywords You Need to Get Your Podcast Found Other Episodes You’ll Love:Steal My High-Converting Episode Framework  → 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 treat email like a checkbox: “Sent the episode to my list—done.” But if that’s your whole strategy, it’s why no one's clicking. In this episode, email marketing legend and Do This Not That podcast host Jay Schwedelson is back to break down what it actually takes to use email to drive real podcast growth.You’ll learn why the first two words of your subject line decide whether your email gets opened, the one stat that can 20x your open rate, and how to grow your list daily using content you’re already creating. And if you’ve ever held back from emailing your list because you “don’t want to be annoying,” Jay unpacks how that fear is quietly training your audience to ignore you—and what to do instead. You’ll walk away knowing how to write emails people actually want to read, so hitting play feels like the obvious next step.So if you're ready to become the trusted voice your audience actually wants in their inbox (and their earbuds), hit play and let’s dive in.3:15 – The Surprising Habit That Trains Your List to Ignore Your "New Episode" Emails6:14 – A Simple Way to Turn Podcast Listeners Into Subscribers (and Vice Versa)16:19 – Two Subject Line Hacks That 20x Open Rates8:15 – 5 Ways to Grow Your Email List From Your Podcast (Without Building a New Freebie Every Time)18:08 – What to Email Your List That Brings People Back to Your Show Episode Links:Get instant feedback on your subject lines before you hit send: SubjectLine.comCheck out Jay Schwedelson’s Podcast: Do This, Not ThatConnect with Jay: Website | Linked In Other Episodes You’ll Love:What to Post on LinkedIn to Grow Your Podcast This Week  → 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.

Still think LinkedIn is just for job seekers or recruiter pitches? Think again. It’s one of the last platforms where organic reach actually works—and it might be one of the fastest ways to get new listeners to your podcast every week.In this episode, Jay Schwedelson breaks down the exact LinkedIn strategy he's used to help grow Do This, Not That into a Top 10 marketing podcast in the U.S., with over 390 episodes and 2,000+ glowing reviews—all in under two years.By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to structure your LinkedIn posts to drive more listeners to your podcast, how to get those posts in front of the right people fast, and how to run the entire system in just 20 minutes a day. So if you’re ready to grow your podcast this week using the same LinkedIn strategy that got Jay into the Top 10, hit play and let’s dive in.8:31 – Why Most LinkedIn Content Looks Good But Still Gets Ignored10:04 – The Exact Post Format That Sends People to Your Show11:06 – The Targeting Strategy to Reach the Right Listeners Without a Big List or Budget13:28 – The One Link Mistake That’s Burying Your Show16:10 – The Personal Follow-Up That Turns Likes into Listeners Episode Links:Here’s the Video Clip Format Jay Uses to Get Listeners on LinkedInCheck out Jay Schwedelson’s Podcast: Do This, Not ThatConnect with Jay: Website | Linked In Other Episodes You’ll Love:How to Grow Your Podcast Audience and Email List at the Same Time  → 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 you’ve ever asked yourself, “Where in my episode should I put my call to action?” — this one’s for you. Because even if your CTA is perfectly worded, it won’t drive action if it’s in the wrong spot or the listener payoff isn’t clear.And if your audience isn’t taking the next step, you’re not just missing out on listener engagement—it’s a hidden leak in your lead flow, costing you potential clients and revenue you don’t even realize you’re losing.In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly where to place your calls to action, how to track if they’re working, and what to do with that data once you have it. Plus, I give you a super simple CTA framework you can swipe and start using in your next episode.So if you're tired of giving CTAs that feel awkward (and you’re ready to say yours like a human and finally know if it’s doing what you want it to do) hit play and let’s dive in.1:00 – The Worst Place to Put Your CTA (and Why It Turns Cold Listeners Off)2:40 – The Only “Rule” for CTA Placement That Actually Matters3:22 – Where Your CTA Actually Belongs (Hint: It’s Not Pre-roll, Mid-roll, or Post-roll)6:52 – Why Saying Your CTA Like a Human Gets More Clicks (and Builds Trust)9:08 – The 3 Parts Every Strong CTA Should Include13:03 – How to Test, Track, and Tweak Your CTAs for Better Results Other Episodes You’ll Love:How Do I Give a Podcast CTA That Doesn't Sound Salesy?  → 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.

You KNOW you should give a call to action in every podcast episode. But every time you sit down to record, your brain short-circuits — should you tell them to follow the show? Join your list? Download the freebie? Book a call? Support your sponsor? Buy your thing? Say too much and you sound desperate. Say too little and you miss your chance to turn listeners into leads.In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason CTAs feel awkward, the difference between a call to engage and a call to action (yes, they’re different), what to say instead of stacking five random asks at the end of your episode, and how to say exactly what listener needs to hear to take the next step.If you’ve ever felt unsure of what to offer, how to offer it, or afraid of pushing people away when you do — hit play and dive in.1:02 – The Surprising Reason You Freeze Up When It's Time to Give a Call to Action (CTA)2:22 – What Not Giving a CTA Is Costing You7:36 – How to Guide Your Audience From Listener → Lead → Client8:52 – What a Strong CTA Actually Sounds Like14:15 – Why You Don’t Need a New Freebie for Every Episode16:02 – The 2 CTA Entry Points I Recommend (And Use)22:06 – How to Handle CTAs When You Have a Sponsor24:08 – What to Do Next If You Want Your CTAs to Start Driving Real Results Other Episodes You’ll Love:If Your Podcast Isn’t Converting Listeners to Leads, This Could Be Why  → 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.

You’re showing up. You’re publishing every week. So why does it still feel like no one’s listening?That’s the question Conrad—documentary filmmaker and host of The First Responder Wellness Podcast—was asking when he came to me for help. He's nearly 80 episodes in and reaching first responders across the country… but getting no reviews, no shares, and not enough listener engagement to know if the podcast is actually helping anyone.In this Fix My Pod coaching session, we dig into why this happens and the exact shifts you can make to turn passive listeners into people who reach out, leave reviews without being asked, and start sharing your episodes in group chats saying, “You have to hear this!”So if your show feels more like a weekly conversation with the four walls in your studio rather than a tool for connection and growth with real listeners, this episode will show you how to fix it. Hit play and let's dive in.Want more help creating a podcast that gets attention—and gets results?  Apply for on-air coaching here (spots are limited).4:56 – 80 Episodes In and Still No Listener Engagement? Here’s What’s Missing6:45 – The #1 Thing That Stops Listeners From Leaving Reviews13:02 – The Surprising Link Between Listener Engagement and Your Podcast Positioning17:48 – What Listeners Need to Hear Before They’ll Ever Follow, Share, or Rate Your Show20:10 – What Actually Gets Listeners to Reach Out and Say, “I Needed This” Other Episodes You’ll Love:Want More Engaged Listeners? Get Them Talking Back3 Easy (and Ethical) Ways to Get More Podcast Reviews→ This episode was recorded on the Support 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.

Downloads are the most unreliable metric for measuring a podcast’s true success. The problem? Most podcasters still rely solely on them to decide if their show is “working.” In this episode, find out why the podcasting metrics that matter most aren’t the ones at the top of your dashboard, and learn to decode what these five key data points say about your show's growth. If you’re ready to make sense of your numbers and finally build a show that grows (without guessing and without wasting time on tracking the wrong metrics) hit play and let’s dive in.0:07 – Why Downloads Are the Most Misleading Metric for Your Show1:14 – The 3 Hidden Data Points That Actually Reveal Podcast Growth5:09 – How to Instantly Tell If Your Content Holds Attention13:26 – What Your Listeners Are Silently Telling You (If You Know How to Listen)16:10 – How to Know if Your Episodes Actually Matter to Your Audience Other Episodes You'll Love:How Do You Make Listeners Stay Longer? (and Why It Matters)4 Key Signs Your Podcast Is Making an Impact  → 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.

Spotify just rolled out a new feature called “Plays” that shows your episode play counts publicly inside their app. But this move isn’t about helping creators. It’s about algorithmically manipulating what used to be a level playing field—and it benefits Spotify, not you.Worse? It distracts you from the metrics that actually show if your podcast is working. And for independent, niche hosts, this one visible number will breed unhealthy comparison, magnify self-doubt, and drive thousands of talented podcasters to quit before their show ever has a chance to grow.In this episode, we’re breaking down what you need to know about this new metric, why it tells you nothing about the true health of your show, and what to focus on instead if you want a real understanding of how your content is resonating with listeners.Want to know what smart podcasters are tracking instead? Hit play and let’s dive in.0:07 – Why Spotify’s New “Plays” Metric Is Misleading (and Who It Really Serves)0:58 – How Public Play Counts Create Unfair (and False) Comparisons4:51 – Why Vanity Metrics Trap You in the Illusion of Growth8:10 – The 3 Data Points That Reveal Whether Your Podcast Is Actually Growing11:15 – Why These 3 Metrics Are the Clearest Measure of Your Podcast’s True Health Episode Links:Article: Why Spotify’s New “Plays” Feature Actually Hurts Independent Podcasters Other Episodes You’ll Love:4 Key Signs Your Podcast Is Making an Impact5 Metrics No One’s Teaching That Tell You If Your Podcast 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.

Quick—nothing’s batched and an episode’s due tomorrow. What do you do? Panic? Procrastinate? Skip it and hope no one notices? Sure, you could ghost your audience—but what does that really cost you? Authority. Credibility. The listener trust you’ve worked so hard to build. That’s why in this episode, I’m giving you 8 plug-and-play ideas you can use anytime your production schedule falls apart and you’re about to spiral into “I’m failing at podcasting.” These are the exact strategies I’ve used when a hurricane hits, school randomly shuts down, or I’m on vacation. They’ve never failed me in over 5+ years of podcasting—and they'll save you one day too. So if you want to run your podcast like a pro (and make sure one rough week doesn’t undo the consistency, trust, and credibility that set your show apart) hit play and let’s dive in.1:18 – Why Skipping an Episode Does More Damage Than You Think3:02 – The Backup Plan Every Pro Needs for Sick Days, Travel Plans, and Life's Curveballs4:44 – 8 Plug-and-Play Ways to Save Your Schedule When You’ve Got Nothing Batched10:52 - Why These Backup Strategies Are My Secret Weapon for Consistency14:36 – How to Take a Structured Hiatus Without Breaking the Trust You’ve Built Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:How Do You Fit Time to Prep Your Podcast Into Your Schedule? → 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.