Picking a podcast category feels strangely similar to choosing your next Netflix show to watch — overwhelming and potentially regrettable. And let's be real, Google and YouTube aren't exactly serving up fresh insights when you search “how to choose a podcast category” either (and the info that does exist? it’s already out of date).

But not to worry, because in this episode I’ll show you the #1 thing platforms like Apple care about when choosing a podcast category, the surprising impact of your podcast category on your show’s growth, and how to determine your ideal podcast category in three simple steps so more people can find your podcast.

So if you’re ready to grow your podcast audience and get discovered by new listeners who have no idea you exist, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - Is Your Podcast in the Wrong Category? 

1:06 - The #1 Thing Apple Cares About When Categorizing Your Podcast

3:48 - How to Shortlist Potential Categories Your Show Could Fit Into

5:44 - The Little-Known Secret to Gaining Early Momentum for Your Podcast

8:49 - How to Determine Your Ideal Podcast Category in 3 Steps

13:22 - The Surprising Impact of Category Choice on Podcast Success

 Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• From 30 to 1000+ Downloads in One Day With This Simple Shift

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

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Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Okay... what's up with these hosts who love to talk like they're determined to rival Tolstoy with their marathon episodes? (looking at you, Joe Rogan 👀)

There's this trend going on right now where 39% of episodes are clocking in over 40 minutes. But that doesn't mean listeners are listening that long.

So basing your episode length off some random google search for "how long should my episodes be" or copying other hosts and making your episodes as long as theirs might actually be causing you to lose listeners.

The perfect episode length ultimately comes down to your listener's specific preferences — which is why inside this episode, I'm going to you how to figure out exactly how long *your* episodes should be based on your unique listener data.

Ready for your listeners to do the work for a change and tell you exactly what they want? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:03 - The Dangerous Mistake Most Podcasters Make When Determining Episode Length

2:20 - The Surprising Metric You're Probably Ignoring (But Shouldn't!)

5:24 - How to Nail Your Ideal Episode Length from Day 1

8:16 - Where Your Listener is Tuning in From Matters More than You Think

10:16 - The Easy 2-Step Process to Optimize Episode Length for Maximum Listener Engagement

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

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©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Honestly… getting your show on the charts is not as hard as you think it is.

~she says, after spending the last 4 years figuring out how to do it well~

(so, okay, it's a little hard. But this episode will make it SO MUCH easier.)

If you've ever wondered how top podcasters land their shows on the charts week over week, you're going to want to listen to this episode. again. (and again).

But instead of giving you vague, general advice like:

→ "publish episodes every week"

→ “make sure you have great audio quality”

→ “give away your best content for free in every episode"

Adam Adams is back in the studio with me to share exactly how to trigger the Apple algorithms to share your show with more listeners. Ready? Hit play and let's  make your business bingeworthy.

1:35 - The 5 Main Things That Trigger Podcast Algorithms and Boost Your Reach 

4:42 - How Paying for Fake Downloads Can Destroy Your Podcast's Chances of Success 

7:01 - How to Make Apple's Algorithm Work in Your Favor 

10:53 - A Ninja Strategy for Increasing Genuine Ratings, Reviews, and Downloads Without Spending a Dime on Ads 

16:23 - The Secret to Getting Listeners to Binge Your Episodes

 Episode Links:

• Check out Adam's podcast: The Podcast on Podcasting

 
→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

When people ask me, "How can I get more listeners to engage with my show?!" My answer is always simple: know what makes your listeners ~want~ to engage in the first place. Because in the world of podcasting, creating valuable content is only half the battle. To grow your podcast, you need to know how to engage your listeners both on and off the podcast platforms with an effective podcast marketing strategy. 

That's why I invited one of the few experts I trust in the podcasting space, Adam Adams, to join me in this episode to show you the most effective ways to keep your audience hooked and coming back for more.

So if you're ready to stop feeling like you're talking to yourself in an empty room and learn the first steps you can take to help more listeners find your show (especially if you are launching for the first time), hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:55 - The One Thing Your Podcast Needs to Succeed (And nope, it's not great content) 

3:57 - Netflix's Secret to Launching Bingeworthy Shows 

7:40 - The Pre-Launch Strategy that Triggers Algorithms and Creates Buzz 

14:18 - The Top Mistake Podcasters Make When Launching Their Show 

19:04 - Why Social Proof Matters More Than You Think

Episode Links:

• Check out Adam's podcast: The Podcast on Podcasting

 
→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

You already know that podcasting is KEY when it comes to growing your authority and thought leadership. But if every time you check your podcast analytics and want to chuck your mic garbage because only four people listened to your episode, you’re not alone. The thing is, when it comes to publishing high-quality podcast content, you’ve got it DOWN. 

You’re already giving your best stuff away for free.

You publish an episode every week like the experts tell you.

And people tell you all the time that they love your podcast.

So… why are you still struggling to convert your listeners to leads?

This maaay come as a shock, but trying to convert listeners is the slowest path to podcast monetization. CAN it work? Of course. But are there other ways to leverage your podcast as a lead-gen tool for podcast monetization that you might not be thinking about? One hundred percent yes. 

First, though, you need to stop looking to your podcast for leads, and start looking through it. (Don’t worry, explanation incoming). So, if you’re ready to turn your podcast into your numero uno source of organic leads, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

 Other Episodes You'll Enjoy…

• Why You Don’t Need a Big Audience to Have a Profitable Podcast
• If Your Podcast Isn’t Converting Listeners to Leads, This Could Be Why

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

You get a new review every month or two. People tell you they love listening to your show. But… you’re still getting nowhere NEAR the number of leads you thought you’d be getting by now from your podcast. (And for the ridiculous amount of time and energy podcasting takes, you want to be reaching thousands of people — not talking to yourself in an empty room!)

^^ If you don’t have a podcast yet? This is basically your worst nightmare. 

The podcasting industry has changed a lot in the 4+ years I’ve been podcasting. The question is, are you changing along with it? This is why I invited Josh Elledge to join me inside this episode to talk about the biggest mistakes to avoid when it comes to integrating a podcast in your marketing strategy, and the number one thing you need to be doing with your podcast right now if your goal is growth. 

And surprisingly? It’s not at all what you’d expect — but it’s going to be more important than ever so you don’t get left behind as the podcasting landscape continues to evolve and grow. Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:54 - The Real Reason Successful Entrepreneurs Are Shifting to Podcasting

3:40 - Don't Make This Rookie Mistake if You Want Your Podcast to Get Noticed

5:07 - How Podcasting Opens Doors to High-Level Networking

6:05 - Think Being a Podcast Guest Will Grow Your Biz? Think Again

8:50 - How Hosting a Podcast Grants You Access to Anyone You Want to Connect With

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

You know when you listen to a podcast episode and you’re like, “This is creepy. It’s like they made this just for me. How did they know I needed this?! Are they in my brain?! Woah. HOW DID THEY KNOW?!"

Well. It’s me, hi. I’m doing it again. If you're wanting to know how to get more listeners to your podcast, this is going to help you BIG TIME. 

That’s because ~THE~ secret to a Top 100 podcast is knowing how to get inside the mind of your ideal listener and solving the very real problems that they have.

Simple, yes. Easy? well, let's just say thiiis is the part that trips most people up.

I call it learning how to speak your listener's language — and mastering this is what separates the Top 100 hosts from the wannabe podcasters who DIY'd their cover art, hit record, and called it a day.

So to save you 4+ years of figuring this out the hard way like I did, here's how to grab the attention of your listener like it's your FREAKING JOB. (Get ready to pay attention and take some notes. I'm talking pens and pencils, people!)

Attracting more listeners to your podcast boils down to three simple-but-unconventional things. Ready to find out what they are? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:02 - The Simple Strategy Top 100 Podcasts Use to Stand Out

1:47 - The Surprising Truth About Why Most Podcasts Fail

4:15 - The 5-Minute Exercise That Helps You Attract the Right Audience 

8:03 - The Key to Crafting Compelling Episodes

9:14 - How Solving Specific Problems Turns People into Binge-Listeners

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve toyed with the idea of starting a podcast but haven’t started yours yet, maybe you’ve also wondered if there's a best or better time to start it.

Then again, if you ask any top podcaster they’ll all tell you the same thing: I’m SO glad I started my podcast when I did.

So ~is~ there a best time to start a podcast? Sure, there IS some strategy that goes into launching your show effectively and I’m breaking all that down for you inside this episode.

But even more importantly, you’ll also learn the three things that determine podcast success (and why ‘right timing’ isn’t one of them).

Ready to stop overthinking and start podcasting? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

 Episode Links:

• How to Rank Your Podcast in the Top 100

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Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

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Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

In our last episode, we talked about how if you’re struggling to convert listeners to leads from your podcast, it *could* be that you're unknowingly pushing people away with your number one tool for building trust as a podcaster — your voice.

So in this BONUS episode, I'm sharing a peek into a recent session with my own voice coach, Katherine Beck. She's got an ear for calling out the subtle voice habits, and you’ll immediately be able to hear the impact that nonverbal communication has on your listener engagement in real-time.

As you listen to this episode, notice where you pay attention and where you start to tune me out — and get ready to take some serious notes so you can apply what Katherine teaches me to your own podcast, too.

Ready to uncover the secret sauce to being a Top 100 podcaster? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:00 - A Peek Behind the Scenes Into My Latest Voice Coaching Session

1:46 - Why Relying on a Script Can Make Listeners Tune You Out

3:21 - How to Build Trust Through Your Voice

7:20 - When to Ditch the Script and Let Your Instincts Lead the Way

15:00 - How to Keep Listeners from Dropping Off Mid-Episode

 Episode Links:

• Check out Katherine Beck's podcast: Speak on More Stages

 -

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

SPOILER ALERT: A fancy mic won't make you a successful podcaster. (Okay, fine, maybe that’s obvious.)

But if you're currently not seeing the conversions you want from your podcast, it might have absolutely nothing to do with how good your microphone is or the quality of your content or how consistently you release episodes.

It *could* be that you're unknowingly pushing people away with your number one tool for building trust as a podcaster — your voice.

I don't mean that you somehow got forgotten at the back of the line the day God was handing out angelic voices. I'm talking about how your audience might be tuning you out because of something they're picking up on in your God-given voice.

Anxiety? They can sense it.

Self doubt? They can hear it.

Apologizing when you ask them to take any kind of action? Yup, you guessed it.

In this episode, you’re going to learn: 

• The impact of nonverbal communication on your listener engagement
• How unconscious sounds in your voice can repel listeners without you realizing it
• Why your beliefs and thoughts can impact the way your voice is received
• A behind-the-scenes look at my own journey from struggling to hit six figures to being named among the top 1% of all podcasts globally simply by learning how to use my voice more effectively (and how you can do the same)
• If you want a podcast that's worthy of being in the Top 100 and make meaningful change in the world through your voice, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.

0:54 - The 93% Rule: How You Say It Matters More Than What You Say

1:50 - How Your Voice Can Build (or Break) Trust with Your Listeners

5:29 - The Hidden Impact of Your Voice on Listener Conversions

7:50 - Why It's About More than Cutting Out Filler Words...

20:15 - How to Assess and Adjust Your Voice for Better Listener Engagement

Episode Links:

• Check out Tracy Goodwin's podcast: Captivate the Room
• Check out Katherine Beck's podcast: Speak on More Stages

 -

Support the show

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: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo 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 | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.