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

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" Emails 6:14 – A Simple Way to Turn Podcast Listeners Into Subscribers (and Vice Versa) 16:19 – Two Subject Line Hacks That 20x Open Rates 8:15 – 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: https://www.subjectline.com/SubjectLine.com [http://subjectline.com/] * Check out Jay Schwedelson’s Podcast: Do This, Not That [https://pod.link/1701260891] * Connect with Jay: Website [https://jayschwedelson.com/] | Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/]  Other Episodes You’ll Love: * What to Post on LinkedIn to Grow Your Podcast This Week    → 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.

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 Ignored 10:04 – The Exact Post Format That Sends People to Your Show 11:06 – The Targeting Strategy to Reach the Right Listeners Without a Big List or Budget 13:28 – The One Link Mistake That’s Burying Your Show 16:10 – The Personal Follow-Up That Turns Likes into Listeners  Episode Links: * Here’s the Video Clip Format Jay Uses to Get Listeners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/schwedelson_secret-linkedin-tip-wake-the-dead-linkedin-activity-7334198554623725568-aMAG/] * Check out Jay Schwedelson’s Podcast: Do This, Not That [https://pod.link/1701260891] * Connect with Jay: Website [https://jayschwedelson.com/] | Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/]  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-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.

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.