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

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 Matters 3:22 – 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 Include 13:03 – 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-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/workshop]: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025 Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit [https://calendly.com/podlaunch/podlaunch-1-1-consultation-with-courtney-elme-clone] with Courtney. Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo [https://form.typeform.com/to/eNFsBbuE] to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your show. Connect with Courtney: Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunch HQ [https://www.podlaunchhq.com] ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 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 You 7:36 – How to Guide Your Audience From Listener → Lead → Client 8:52 – What a Strong CTA Actually Sounds Like 14:15 – Why You Don’t Need a New Freebie for Every Episode 16:02 – The 2 CTA Entry Points I Recommend (And Use) 22:06 – How to Handle CTAs When You Have a Sponsor 24:08 – 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 [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/increase-listener-engagement-with-your-voice-courtney-elmer]    → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/workshop]: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025 Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit [https://calendly.com/podlaunch/podlaunch-1-1-consultation-with-courtney-elme-clone] with Courtney. Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo [https://form.typeform.com/to/eNFsBbuE] to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your show. Connect with Courtney: Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunch HQ [https://www.podlaunchhq.com] ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 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 [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-7491/31SZ9LU76JHE6PACOD] (spots are limited). 4:56 – 80 Episodes In and Still No Listener Engagement? Here’s What’s Missing 6:45 – The #1 Thing That Stops Listeners From Leaving Reviews 13:02 – The Surprising Link Between Listener Engagement and Your Podcast Positioning 17:48 – What Listeners Need to Hear Before They’ll Ever Follow, Share, or Rate Your Show 20:10 – What Actually Gets Listeners to Reach Out and Say, “I Needed This”  Other Episodes You’ll Love: * Want More Engaged Listeners? Get Them Talking Back [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/increasing-listener-engagement-pat-cheung-courtney-elmer-podlaunch] * 3 Easy (and Ethical) Ways to Get More Podcast Reviews [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/how-to-get-more-podcast-reviews-courtney-elmer] → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://www.amazon.com/Deity-Dynamic-Podcast-Microphone-YouTube/dp/B09SKPSKCM?crid=1F0PZTOBN55Y2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YR8cZ118bs9m7v9HuS4obSYFEo4VmDPpMP3TQ3c9kZJBdFB0HJmHwNtTxQL8qfNCCFAMAjWRY5SZCHBXYrUuVz5EBuzQn-0ybJ6vsOMX39Igz-HVykmz6xL26Fla4Va9iOiDnR6G9V6fEjgeuyr1Gm7LYcD511bti-QRypr0Ad3WqcyaROQP-CNIeXMawr5LpglTOIibJNljKwCG6ea0hZjSTSMaQk4uc3e96wh1HDPLYGNgDxv-d8WIvMvzsyw1kH5bvbCKb4WTDeWIKZMZncouf3A4x0IvHzduWYzHtNU.yHmbAR-8uutOKFK7sDkqQ9dDQmcpz9KqkI0NDhKkKZs&dib_tag=se&keywords=deity%2Bvo-7u&qid=1709921150&sprefix=deity,aps,199&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=mobile0ec27db-20&linkId=ae985f36b558624d5395ca019ae0e656&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/workshop]: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025 Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit [https://calendly.com/podlaunch/podlaunch-1-1-consultation-with-courtney-elme-clone] with Courtney. Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo [https://form.typeform.com/to/eNFsBbuE] to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your show. Connect with Courtney: Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunch HQ [https://www.podlaunchhq.com] ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 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 Show 1:14 – The 3 Hidden Data Points That Actually Reveal Podcast Growth 5:09 – How to Instantly Tell If Your Content Holds Attention 13:26 – 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) [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/strategies-to-increase-listener-consumption-courtney-elmer] * 4 Key Signs Your Podcast Is Making an Impact [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/is-your-podcast-engaging-listeners]    → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://www.amazon.com/Deity-Dynamic-Podcast-Microphone-YouTube/dp/B09SKPSKCM?crid=1F0PZTOBN55Y2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YR8cZ118bs9m7v9HuS4obSYFEo4VmDPpMP3TQ3c9kZJBdFB0HJmHwNtTxQL8qfNCCFAMAjWRY5SZCHBXYrUuVz5EBuzQn-0ybJ6vsOMX39Igz-HVykmz6xL26Fla4Va9iOiDnR6G9V6fEjgeuyr1Gm7LYcD511bti-QRypr0Ad3WqcyaROQP-CNIeXMawr5LpglTOIibJNljKwCG6ea0hZjSTSMaQk4uc3e96wh1HDPLYGNgDxv-d8WIvMvzsyw1kH5bvbCKb4WTDeWIKZMZncouf3A4x0IvHzduWYzHtNU.yHmbAR-8uutOKFK7sDkqQ9dDQmcpz9KqkI0NDhKkKZs&dib_tag=se&keywords=deity%2Bvo-7u&qid=1709921150&sprefix=deity,aps,199&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=mobile0ec27db-20&linkId=ae985f36b558624d5395ca019ae0e656&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/workshop]: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025 Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit [https://calendly.com/podlaunch/podlaunch-1-1-consultation-with-courtney-elme-clone] with Courtney. Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo [https://form.typeform.com/to/eNFsBbuE] to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your show. Connect with Courtney: Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunch HQ [https://www.podlaunchhq.com] ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 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) Comparisons 4:51 – Why Vanity Metrics Trap You in the Illusion of Growth 8:10 – The 3 Data Points That Reveal Whether Your Podcast Is Actually Growing 11:15 – 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-spotifys-new-plays-feature-actually-hurts-podcasters-elmer-hqloc/?trackingId=Sw5npDnhu240urNTXxUqLg%3D%3D]  Other Episodes You’ll Love: * 4 Key Signs Your Podcast Is Making an Impact [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/is-your-podcast-engaging-listeners] * 5 Metrics No One’s Teaching That Tell You If Your Podcast Is Growing    → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/workshop]: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025 Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit [https://calendly.com/podlaunch/podlaunch-1-1-consultation-with-courtney-elme-clone] with Courtney. Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo [https://form.typeform.com/to/eNFsBbuE] to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your show. Connect with Courtney: Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunch HQ [https://www.podlaunchhq.com] ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.