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Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategies for Growing a Podcast That Converts — Business
Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategies for Growing a Podcast That Converts

Named the best podcast on podcasting, this isn’t another “share great content and stay consistent” show doling out generic podcasting advice. We’re breaking down 30,000+ hours of study into what today’s top hosts do differently to create bingeworthy podcasts that convert.

Hosted by Forbes and Rolling Stone–featured podcasting psychology expert, Webby Awards judge, and PodLaunch® founder Courtney Elmer, you’ll get the podcasting tools and strategies other shows won’t dare to share (backed by 70+ Top 100 podcast launches).

Expect unfiltered podcasting insights, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and “why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?!” advice so you can master growing a podcast that listeners can’t stop bingeing (and buying from).

When you’re ready to break out of less-than-200-download-per-episode jail and stop settling for downloads that don’t reflect your effort…

Or if you want a podcast launch strategy that positions you as the authority in your category and drives revenue…

Welcome to the podcast that’s about to change the game for you. Hit follow and let’s dive in.

…

Popular Guests Include: Adam Adams, Alex Sanfilippo, Dave Jackson, James Cridland, James Wedmore, Jeremy Enns, John Lee Dumas, Jordan Harbinger, Kevin Chemidlin, Seth Silvers, Tom Rossi, and more.

Popular Episode Topics Include: Podcast Messaging, Podcasting Psychology, Podcast Marketing, Creating Bingeworthy Podcast Content, Listener Engagement Strategies, Podcasting Mistakes to Avoid, Podcasting Tools, Podcasting Trends, Growing a Podcast, How to Monetize Your Podcast, Podcast Listener Conversion, Video Podcasting, Ranking Your Podcast in the Top 100, How to Start a Podcast, Podcast Launch Strategy

Copyright: © 2024 PodLaunch®

Latest Episodes:

3 Podcast Cover Art Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Is your podcast cover art attracting potential new listeners, or are you unknowingly driving them *away* from your show?

Inside this episode, you’ll find out the answers to questions like,

What makes some podcast cover art more effective than others at attracting new listeners?
Should you use your photo on your cover art?
Do I really need to hire a professional graphic designer or can I get by with using Canva or Fiverr?
and more…

Plus I’ll reveal the results of a recent podcast cover art experiment our team did and show you three big-yet-sneaky mistakes to avoid when it comes to creating podcast cover artwork that stands out.

If you want to learn how to create riveting cover art that your ideal listeners can’t ignore, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:00 - Why Cover Art is Key to Standing Out in Your Podcast Category

1:06 - How Canva and Fiverr Designs Are Costing You Listeners

6:12 - The Psychology Behind Scroll-Stopping Podcast Cover Art

10:23 - The Role of Unconscious Bias and Why It Matters for Your Cover Art

13:24 - Should You Use Your Photo on Your Podcast Cover Art?

Episode Links:

pickfu.com

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

We’ve Spent 4 Years Testing Podcast Episode Titles. Here’s What Works. Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever spent hours planning a podcast episode that you KNOW is packed with value, but it gets less than <100 downloads when you publish it? (Frustrating, right?) In this episode, we’re breaking down the subconscious triggers that make listeners hit play — and why your episode titles matter more than you think they do.

If you’re ready to learn how to title your podcast episodes to attract and engage new listeners so you can create an addictive podcast experience people can't stop raving about, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:02 - The Biggest Reason Listeners Skip Your Show

2:45 - The Psychology Behind Irresistible episode titles

5:20 - Four Things You Need to Grab Listener Attention (And Keep It)

7:22 - The Subconscious Triggers That Make Listeners Click Play

11:11 - 3 Steps to Crafting Clickable episode titles

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

How to Make Every Podcast Listener Feel Like You’re Talking Just to Them Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

How important is your podcast avatar, really? If you want a podcast that increases listeners’ trust in you as the expert and converts those listeners to leads and clients — it’s more than essential. It’s the key to unlocking your podcast's true potential.

But if you think you know your podcast avatar, think again. Most people haven’t gone deep enough to truly understand their ideal listener. They stop at basic demographics and miss the goldmine of insights that come from digging into psychographics.

To create a podcast that not only attracts but also engages and converts, you need to make your listener feel like you’re talking only to them, and that takes knowing your listener on a deeper, more personal level. This is where real growth happens.

So if you’re ready to have listeners hanging on your every word and set yourself apart from 99% of other podcast hosts who aren’t doing this, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - How to Make Your Listener Feel Like the Only Person in the Room

1:33 - Why Your Podcast Avatar Should Be a Real Person

7:22 - Why Speaking to One Listener Helps Build Trust and Keep Them Coming Back

8:51 - How Many Episodes Should You Publish Each Week?

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

How to Stop Losing Listeners to Your Competition Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

Most podcast hosts tend to think, “If my content is good enough, people will listen and my show will grow.” And sure, content matters — the quality of your content is what *keeps* people listening. But having good content doesn’t matter one bit if you can’t get listeners to hit play in the first place.

That’s why inside this episode, I’m letting you listen in on an exclusive interview I did on the Podcast on Podcasting where I break down the five content gatekeepers that your listener has to experience *before* deciding whether to hit play.

If a listener can’t make it through all five of these gates, they won’t click play — which means they’ll never hear how valuable your content actually is.

Ready to take your podcast from unheard to unignorable? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - The 5 Podcast Content Gatekeepers™ Standing Between You and Your Listeners

1:33 - Why Every Podcast Name Must Solve a Real Problem

4:08 - Why Clear, Problem-Solving Podcast Names Attract More Listeners

7:22 - Why Focusing on One Listener Helps Build Trust

11:43 - How to Stop Losing Listeners and Get More Plays

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Steal This Easy Podcasting Strategy to Grow Your Email List Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

The majority of people who start podcasts wind up putting in a LOT of work for very little result. (In fact, less than 2% of people who start podcasts actually succeed).

But don’t let those numbers deter you. Because if you’re committed to making your podcast work, then all you really need to know is how to put yourself in that 2%.

Inside this episode, I’m going to teach you one mind-blowingly simple strategy that’ll help you leverage your podcast to grow your email list, so you can start seeing a tangible return on all that time and effort you’re investing into your show.

So if you’re ready to have a podcast that grows week over week *and* converts listeners to clients on repeat, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:02 - Why Your Email List Won’t Grow Your Podcast (and What Will)

1:15 - The Key to Long-Term Audience Growth and Sales with Your Podcast

7:14 - How to Turn Your Podcast into an Email List Growth Machine

10:08 - Why Most Podcasters Struggle to Grow Their Email List

12:56 - A Simple Strategy to Convert Listeners into Email Subscribers

16:45 - How to Increase Podcast Revenue Without Thousands of Downloads

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Why Ranking Your Podcast in the Top 100 Starts With Your Episode Release Day Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Most podcasters don’t quit because their content isn't good. They quit because no one ever finds their show. And if you’ve already launched your podcast but you’re still sitting at 10–50 downloads an episode trying to figure out how to rank your podcast in the top 100, it’s not because you need to publish more… it’s because your podcast launch strategy missed one important piece to getting discovered.

We're breaking down why most podcasts never reach the charts, how that keeps your show buried where listeners can’t find it, and the one strategic shift you can make right now (whether you’re launching a podcast or relaunching one) to increase your visibility and give your episodes a real shot at ranking.

So if you’re ready to stop publishing episodes that no one sees and start getting your podcast in front of the right listeners, hit play and let’s dive in.

...

0:02 - Why Most Podcasters Struggle with Discoverability and How to Fix It

4:25 - Breaking the Top 100 Without a Big Audience

7:14 - One Simple Change That Can Instantly Boost Your Podcast Discoverability

11:36 - The One Mistake Sinking Your Podcast Rankings

13:17 - Starting a Podcast that Turns Listeners into Leads

...

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

5 Podcast Messaging Gatekeepers That Get Listeners to Choose Your Show Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Did you know there are 5 Podcast Content Gatekeepers™ your listeners must pass before hitting play on your episode? Nail this, and you'll stop potential fans from scrolling past your show.

In this episode, you’ll learn the secrets to create bingeworthy podcast episodes that:

Subconsciously attract new listeners to your show
Gets listeners choosing *your* podcast over the competition
Compels listeners to reach out and ask, “How do I work with you!?”

Ready to discover how to create irresistible podcast episodes that listeners will rave about? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - Why Most Podcasters Struggle to Stand Out

2:22 - The Secret to Creating Subconscious Demand for Your Podcast

4:10 - Why Great Content Alone Won’t Grow Your Podcast

7:07 - How to Optimize Your Podcast Cover Art to Instantly Draw Attention

11:49 - Why Your Podcast’s First Impression Matters More Than You Think

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

3 Must-Have Ingredients for Ranking Your Podcast in the Top 100 Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Got a podcast you want to grow or thinking of launching one? There are three must-have ingredients for hitting the top charts. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what these ingredients are, how they work together, and what could go wrong if you're missing any one of them.

[Spoiler Alert...]

Ingredient 1 is the secret sauce for turning listeners into leads…
Ingredient 2 is your ticket to climbing those charts…
Ingredient 3? it's the unexpected key to building a loyal audience over the long haul

Curious to know what these ingredients are and how to weave them into your podcast strategy? Hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - The Three Key Ingredients for a Top 100 Podcast

1:26 - Why Bingeworthy Content is Critical to Your Podcast’s Success

5:15 - Why You Should Relaunch Your Podcast (Even if It's Already Live)

7:51 - How a Long-Term Growth Strategy Can Keep Your Podcast in the Top 100

14:05 - How to Create Real Demand for Your Podcast to Get Discovered By More Listeners

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Why Podcasting Beats Short-Form Content for Business Growth Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Dreaming of launching a Top 100 podcast? There are three things you absolutely need (and no, millions of downloads isn’t one of them). Funny enough, ranking your podcast has nothing to do with audio quality, audience size, or being the biggest expert in the room.

Before we dive into what it really takes to consistently rank your show, we’ve got to look at the mistakes most podcasters make that keep them from ever reaching the charts.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know why podcasts often blow short form content out of the water — and the exact mistakes you need to avoid if you want your show to get in front of the right listeners who need your help.

Ready to get off the short form content hamster wheel and attract some of the best leads you’ll ever find? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - Why Short Form Content Isn’t Growing Your Audience

5:54 - How Podcasts Build Trust and Shorten the Sales Cycle

9:29 - Why Consistency Alone Won’t Grow Your Podcast

16:47 - Why Most Experts Remain the Best Kept Secret in Their Industry

18:04 - How Your Podcast Can Glue Together Your Entire Marketing Strategy

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

4 Signs It's Time to Rebrand Your Podcast Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

If you have a podcast but haven't seen a significant increase in downloads in the last 3 months...

If you're still not converting listeners to leads no matter how much high-value content you share...

If you've changed up your cover art or show title within the last six months but it hasn't made a difference...

It might be time to look under the hood at what's really causing your plateau.

In this episode, find out the what + why behind our recent podcast rebrand, plus 4 key indicators it's time to rebrand your podcast. Hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - Is Your Podcast Title Causing Listeners to Overlook Your Show?

7:24 - Four Key Signs It’s Time to Rebrand Your Podcast

10:58 - Why Listeners Say They Love Your Podcast but Don't Convert

13:10 - Why Your Podcast Isn’t Getting the Engagement You Want (And How to Fix It)

14:37 - What a Podcast Rebrand Really Means for You

-

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Support the show

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

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