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

It’s easy to look at today’s top podcast hosts and think, "Wow, they had it easy." But deep down, we know that’s not the case. Even the biggest names in the game started from zero and faced the same doubts, fears, and setbacks as you.  That’s why I invited John Lee Dumas to join me for this episode and unpack the REAL story behind Entrepreneurs on Fire, how it almost didn’t happen, and h...

What does it REALLY take to become a top podcaster? (And are today’s top podcasters gatekeeping the real secrets to podcast growth?) In this episode, I’m sitting down with the one and only Jordan Harbinger—a podcasting legend with over 15 million downloads every month and named Apple’s “Best and Most Downloaded Podcast” back in 2018. We’re pulling back the curtain on the exact strategies that help...

Ever set a podcast goal and feel like no matter what you do, you just can't hit it? You're putting out great content, lining up awesome guests, and promoting like crazy on social media, but the downloads just aren't moving in the right direction — and you’re not alone. Multiple time best-selling author of The Miracle Morning , Hal Elrod, joins me in this episode to share how he went...

Wondering how to grow your podcast audience and increase conversions at the same time? Is it really possible to do both, or should you put your energy into one goal over the other? In this episode, we're digging into the strategies to help you expand your listener base and turn those loyal listeners into hot leads for your business. So if you're ready to make your podcast work double-dut...

Have you ever shared a podcast episode you're really excited about, packed with content you’re confident your audience will love, only to be met with... radio silence? You check the stats: fewer than 100 downloads, a couple of likes on your social media posts, and zero "New Call Booked!" emails in your inbox. And the worst part? You’re left scratching your head, wondering what you&a...

Content repurposing is a great way to extend the life of your podcast episodes — or, let's be honest, it can feel like a big waste of time. So if you've ever wondered why your repurposed podcast content isn't getting the engagement you hoped for, you're not alone. Luis Camejo from BizBros joins me in this episode to talk about the five biggest mistakes podcasters make when repu...

Should you run paid podcast ads to grow your show? In this episode, we break down the ins and outs of podcast ads to help you decide if they're worth the investment.  We'll cover the best types of podcast ads, the ones to avoid, and whether paid ads are right for you. Get the inside scoop on the most effective ad types, pros and cons of organic vs. paid growth strategies, and how to gaug...

Want to get more of your listeners asking, “How can I work with you?!” If you’re nodding yes, then this episode is for you. We’re diving deep into listener psychology with three powerful language patterns that’ll help you communicate more effectively as a podcast host so you can drive more listener-to-lead conversions. (Master these and you'll have 'em hitting replay and coming back ever...

Are you buried in podcasting tasks and tools that promise growth but only add to your workload? If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the constant push to do more with your podcast, this episode is for you. Alex Sanfilippo is back in the studio to share why doing more doesn’t always equal more podcast growth (and why in most cases it just leads to more complications, more time spent, and more st...

It’s tempting to think that the more you can do to help your podcast grow, the faster you’ll see results — but the opposite is true. But when it comes to growing a podcast, it’s not about doing everything. It’s about focusing on a few strategies and executing them exceptionally well. In this episode, Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch, reveals why focusing on what really matters is the secret to...

Did you know that the first eight weeks of your podcast are crucial for platforms like Apple and Spotify to determine your show’s initial potential? …but what if you miss that window? No worries — you can hit the reset button by relaunching your podcast. (PSST: it’s a strategy that works *especially* well if your podcast has been gathering dust or if you haven’t been releasing episodes consistentl...

Ever feel like you need to have the best audio, the best voice, the best everything to succeed in podcasting? In this episode, we’re challenging industry norms and showing you a new way to measure your podcast’s success. The industry relies heavily on metrics like downloads, reviews, and rankings to gauge success, but these can be misleading because not all podcasts are created equal. But by chang...

Have you poured hours into podcast guest appearances, only to see minimal impact on your podcast’s growth and zero inquiries from potential clients? In this episode, Seth Silvers, Founder of Story On Media and the strategic mind behind podcasts by industry giants like Alex Hormozi and Patrick Lencioni, reveals why your podcast guesting strategy isn’t working — and how to better position yourself a...

Ever wish you could go behind the scenes with someone who oversees strategies for today's top podcasts like Alex Hormozi and Patrick Lencioni? Your wish is my command. Podcast expert Seth Silvers is here to teach you how to create a podcast that doesn't just capture attention, but dominates the conversation. We transparently discuss why the era of traditional interview-style podcasts is...

Ever wonder how a brand-new podcast can skyrocket to the top of the charts? There are two ways it can happen, and in this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of bestselling author and founder Jamie Kern Lima’s recent podcast launch to show you how. Find out the mechanisms at work that helped her claim the #1 spot in self-improvement, Top 20 on Spotify, and Top 20 of all podcasts in the USA,...

If you have a podcast that’s not converting as many listeners to leads as you want, chances are it has nothing to do with the current size of your podcast audience and everything to do with the first impression you’re making on your listeners. Fellow podcaster Beth Schillaci joins me in this episode to break down the five key elements of your podcast that shape the crucial first impression on your...

Are niche podcasts growing faster than general ones? Are video podcasts here to stay? Why are podcast networks booming? How is the podcasting industry going to change over the next 3-5 years? And most importantly, will your podcast rise with the tide or will it sink? Get ready for a deep dive into the future of podcasting and learn what the latest trends are, why they matter, and the opportunity t...

Most podcast hosts think high-quality episodes are enough to attract new listeners. But they’re not. If you want to be the host of a top-ranked podcast, you need to know how to hook your listener *before* they hit play. Because having a bingeworthy podcast isn’t just about keeping listeners’ attention — it's about knowing how to grab it in the first place. In this episode, I'm breaking d...

Ever find yourself staring at your podcast analytics dashboard, wondering what to do with all that data? Maybe you check once a month to see if your downloads are increasing. But what if you knew how to decode your listener data to pinpoint exactly what your listeners want and unearth your most bingeworthy episode topics? Whether you’ve been podcasting for a while or you're just starting out,...

Spoiler alert… the real key to growing a podcast isn’t consistency. Think about it: if consistency were the key to long-term podcasting growth, then everyone who’s been releasing an episode every week for the past year or more would have a Top 100 podcast — and that’s not the case. So if you’re sick of hearing “consistency is key to podcasting success,” you're onto something… because the trut...

If your podcast hasn’t shown significant audience growth in the last three months despite giving your best stuff away for free in every episode, it might have nothing to do with your content and everything to do with what your listeners are hearing in your voice when you share it. Believe it or not, it’s not what you say ~but how you say it~ that’ll make your listeners pay attention and want to wo...

Most experts who preach about podcast growth won’t tell you this: but if you’ve been podcasting for six months or more and fewer than ten listeners have converted to clients, the first step isn’t “grow your audience”... The first step is to look at why the listeners you have aren’t converting to begin with. In this episode, I’m breaking down three little-known reasons why this happens and the most...

How many times have you sat down to plan an episode, only to stare at the cursor blinking on the screen for an hour because you're fresh out of new episode ideas? If you're an expert host who’s starting to run out of things to talk about on your podcast, this episode is for you. I’ll let you in on a secret that today’s top podcasters don’t want you to know for generating high-converting...

Ever wondered how to improve your Listen Notes ranking? In this episode, I’m breaking down what Listen Notes is, how it works, and whether its rankings really matter for your podcast. You’ll also learn how Listen Notes rankings differ from Apple Podcasts rankings, and I’ll give you three practical steps you can take to better understand — and improve — your Listen Notes score. If you’re ready to f...

You’d never spend a year or more writing a book, only to tell no one, hit “publish” on Amazon, and hope it becomes a bestseller, would you? Of course not. Yet this is how most people start their podcasts… and why they’re shocked when their show only brings in less than 100 downloads an episode. That’s why I invited mindset expert and podcast host Karen Powell to break down the key differences betw...