5 Steps to Crafting Podcast Episodes Listeners Can't Ignore
Episode 203 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Courtney Elmer
Most podcast hosts don’t know this.
There are five Podcast Content Gatekeepers™ your listeners must pass through before deciding to hit play on your podcast episodes. Nail these, and you'll stop potential fans from scrolling past your show. In this episode, you’ll learn the secrets to create binge-worthy podcast episodes that subconsciously attract new listeners to your show and get listeners choosing your podcast over the competition so that by the end of every episode listeners are compelled to reach out and ask, “How do I work with you!?”
The Secret to Creating Bingeworthy Podcast Episodes
Many podcasters believe that if their content is good enough, people will find their show and listen. But here's the problem: if you're not communicating why someone should listen to your podcast episodes from the moment they encounter your podcast (before they hit play), they won't give your show a chance — and that communication happens unconsciously.
It's a lot like having a bakery with the best baked goods in the world but forgetting to put a sign out front. People won't come inside if they don't understand why they should. So when it comes to your podcast episodes, it’s not just about having great content — it's about knowing how to “sell” your podcast to a potential listener before they ever hit play. And you do that through something I call the five Content Gatekeepers.
The Bingeworthy Messaging Formula
These five Content Gatekeepers are part of a larger podcast messaging framework that helps you attract, keep, and convert new listeners on repeat. This is especially important if you’re a business owner using your podcast to generate leads or if you’re trying to grow your audience by converting cold traffic to warm followers and listeners. Knowing exactly how to create content that subconsciously attracts new listeners to your show, keeps them listening till the end of your podcast episodes, and coming back each week to binge your content will set you apart from 99% of other podcast hosts who aren’t doing this.
But without this in place, potential listeners will scroll right past your show, and the listeners you do have will be less likely to convert to leads.
The Five Content Gatekeepers
So how do you communicate to your listener that your podcast episodes are worth their time? Enter the five Content Gatekeepers. These are the elements of your show your listener encounters before they ever hear your episode content. If you’re not communicating why your show is relevant to them at each stage, it’ll be difficult to grow your podcast because listeners who don’t know you won’t see the value in what you have to offer.
Content Gatekeeper #1: Your Cover Art
Your cover art is like the storefront of your podcast. It's the first thing potential listeners see, and it needs to catch their eye. Part of mastering your craft as a podcast host is knowing how to create artwork that stands out in a crowded feed and draws listeners to your show. Think about it: people are scrolling through a sea of shows, and you want them to stop and click on yours. Effective cover art taps into the psychology of what visuals draw people in.
Content Gatekeeper #2: Your Podcast Name
If your podcast cover artwork grabs their attention, the next thing a potential listener will see is your podcast name. If your podcast name requires any explanation or context in order for someone to “get it,” guess what? Your potential listener just scrolled past your show. Your podcast name must be crystal clear and solve a real, specific problem that your ideal listener has. Your podcast name is the biggest barrier of entry to your podcast episode content — if your name isn’t clear and doesn’t solve a specific problem, it will be much harder to get a listener to click through and see what your show is about.
Content Gatekeeper #3: Your Podcast Description
So, your cover art and name have done their job. Next up? Your podcast description. Listeners are skimming this, not reading every word, so it needs to be straight to the point. Some experts might tell you to use all four thousand characters for search engine optimization, but no one — and I mean no one — is going to read that. By all means use keywords listeners are likely searching for because this field is searchable in podcast directories, but the main content of your description should speak to a real problem your listener has and show exactly how your podcast solves it. Make them feel like they’ve found their tribe. Big no-nos: writing a long bio about yourself or why you're awesome. Listeners don’t care about your accolades until they know how much you can help them.
Content Gatekeeper #4: Your Episode Titles
Alright, they’re feeling good about your show. Now they’re scrolling through your episode titles. If your titles are vague, too long, or difficult to read, they’ll keep scrolling. (Heads up: Chat GPT’s standard formatting for episode titles is one of the most difficult layouts to read and comprehend). Your episode titles need to be punchy, clear, and solve a specific problem. "How to Grow Your Podcast Audience" is way too broad. But something like, "5 Steps to Crafting Podcast Episodes Listeners Can't Ignore" is the kind of title that gets clicks.
Content Gatekeeper #5: Your Episode Descriptions
They’ve made it this far, but you’re not in the clear yet. The final hurdle? Your podcast episode descriptions (aka show notes). These need to be clear, easy to skim, and packed with real value. Tell them exactly what they’ll learn in this episode. Avoid teasing or clickbait tactics. Instead, show them upfront how that podcast episode will solve a real problem that they have, and use relevant keywords to boost searchability. Make these descriptions so enticing that listeners can’t help but hit play.
The Podcasting World is Changing—Fast
Even though there are well over 3 million podcasts out there battling for listeners’ attention, only about 60,000 are considered “actively established” — releasing at least one episode a week for a year or more, and not run by a big network or a celebrity. And podcast listeners are growing like crazy, with nearly 500 million people tuning in worldwide. That’s a massive opportunity just waiting for you — if you know how to grab it.
A lot of podcasters think great content is enough to bring listeners in. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Getting people to hit play starts way before they ever hear your episodes. You’ve got to communicate why your show matters to them before they hear your great content. Skip this step, and you’re already losing listeners before they even give you a chance.
So if you want to stand out in a crowded space, you’ve got to master the five Content Gatekeepers. When you dial in all five, your podcast won’t just grab attention — it’ll create that powerful pull that keeps people coming back for more.
And if you’re an established coach or consultant who needs help dialing in your podcast messaging so you can reach more listeners and turn them into clients, book a free strategy call with our team to find out if you’re a fit for PodLaunch® — we’re here to help.
Or if you’re ready for more insider secrets on creating a bingeworthy top podcast listeners can’t ignore, hit follow on Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast on your favorite app so you never miss a new episode.
Up Next:
Ever wonder why most podcasters call it quits after Episode 6, joining the 2.9 million in the Apple Graveyard? It's not because they didn’t have quality content or that there was too much competition. The real reason is because they had zero strategy to hit the charts, making their podcasts virtually invisible to new listeners with no way to get discovered.
In the next episode, we’ll unpack the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when launching podcasts, how these mistakes directly impact your podcast's ability to rank, and how to get more people discovering your podcast every day without spending any extra effort on marketing. Don’t miss it!
