Episode 245 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Courtney Elmer

0:03 - The Unconscious Tones in Your Voice That Push Listeners Away
1:06 - Secrets to Increasing Listener Engagement with Your Voice
5:08 - Improving Communication Skills via Nonverbal Cues in Your Voice
10:33 - Three Voice Habits that Make You Sound Like an Expert
14:23 - Why Hiring the Right Voice Coach Can Help You Grow Your Podcast

High-Quality Podcast Audio Won’t Hide Poor Communication Skills

So there I was, crying over my analytics dashboard at 10:42 AM. I'd just released my 16th episode, and I felt like an absolute failure. Four months earlier, I was on cloud nine with the launch of my podcast. I sat there with stars in my eyes (re)reading all 65 new glowing reviews. Pssh, most people get 10 downloads; there I was with nearly 1000.

No sooner had I brushed the dust off my shoulder, I face-planted. HARD. I'd been religiously refreshing my analytics dashboard, thinking any day now I'd start enrolling more clients than I could count thanks to my podcast. (At the time, I was already three whole years into my business with an 18-month-old on my hip and still struggling to hit six figures.)

Starting my podcast was my last-ditch effort to grow my audience and make some freakin' money, because I used to think that to make more sales, I needed a bigger audience.

Only, I never stopped to question why my current audience wasn't buying. I just thought a bigger audience equaled more sales. (That's like, marketing 101 right?) Wrong, as it painfully turns out.

The Secret to Higher Conversions From Your Podcast

I thought starting a top podcast was going to be an easy-peasy "time-in, cash-out" kind of process. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MILLION-DOLLAR TOP PODCASTER, OKAY! But alas, 16 episodes, 3,253 downloads, and zero sales later, and I started thinking maybe I'd made a mistake.

I mean, I'd done all the right things. I'd personally messaged over 100+ people letting them know about my podcast launch. I spent 2+ hrs perfecting every episode script and published every week without fail. I spent the most I could possibly afford on a mic. I even managed to land some big-name guests.

AND YET... I had nothing to show for it except a big red account overdrawn notice from my bank. When I tell you I almost threw my mic in the garbage, I mean it.

But, hey — looking back, I’m really glad I had this experience. Otherwise, I never would've found out that an expensive mic and high-quality audio won’t make you a successful podcaster.

Your Voice: The Key to Higher Listener Engagement

Most people think that starting a podcast is easy. And yeah, on the surface, it's as simple as buying a high-quality mic, finding time to record, and releasing valuable content every week. But if you want a podcast that thousands of people listen to, then you also have to know how to get people to care about what you have to say – which can be harder than it looks.

The secret to a top podcast isn’t being the host with the fanciest tech setup or highest-quality microphone. The real secret to a bingeworthy top podcast is simpler and more profound.

It's about learning to use your voice effectively.

I’m not just talking pitch or volume — I mean diving deep into the tones and nuances hidden in how you speak, the same tones that either draw listeners in or push them away.

A fancy mic won't mask what people hear when they listen to you. And if 93% of all communication is non-verbal, what does that mean for us as podcasters? A whole lot, it turns out.

So 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 the consistency of your release schedule. It could be that you're unknowingly pushing people away with 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 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. And here’s the thing: How are we going to be a generation of podcasters who make meaningful, lasting change in the world through our voices if we're currently, unknowingly, driving people away with the very voice we're trying to create that impact with?

What Podcast "Experts" Didn't Tell Me

I wish that at least one of the (many) top podcast "experts" I followed way back would’ve told me this. But, they didn't. So, this is me, telling you. I thought the ticket to more sales was growing my audience, but I didn't realize it was learning how to improve my communication skills to connect with the audience I had in the first place.

So before you tell me, "But Courtney, I joined my local Toastmasters and I don't use filler words anymore!" Honey, Toastmasters might help you remove “ums” and “ahs,” but it’s not going to help you identify what's causing your listeners to only listen to half of your episodes or take zero action when they hear your CTA.

The Power of Nonverbal Communication

Ever noticed how body language speaks volumes? Well, your voice works the same way — it's your auditory body language.

"It's not what you said; it's how you said it." -every person in a heated argument, ever

Sound familiar? This is because 93% of communication is nonverbal. The tones, pauses, and even hesitations in your speech can convey a world of meaning. This is especially true in podcasting, an audio-only medium. Listeners have no visual cues to distract them, so everything they hear in your voice is amplified.

If your listeners sense your lack of confidence, they're less likely to stay tuned, let alone follow your call to action. So, how can you make your podcast voice genuinely engaging? By letting your listeners see the real, unfiltered you. When you do this, you build a deeper connection and lasting trust. Here’s how:

Two Steps to Owning Your Voice

Recognize the External Voices that Still Influence You

First things first: Think about all the voices that have shaped who you are today. Your inner critic, family members, friends, mentors, even society’s expectations. Every single one of these voices plays a part in how you express yourself. Is self-doubt whispering in your ear? Did a past experience teach you to second guess what you want to say?

Start by acknowledging these influences. Realize that they’ve all contributed to making you who you are. When you get where they’re coming from, you can start to appreciate them—all the good, bad, and everything in between.

Improve Your Communication Skills by Interrupting Unconscious Patterns

Appreciating where you’ve come from, including all those voices that have shaped your life, helps you make peace with your past. And this peace? It's crucial for your listeners to connect with you.

Notice when you’re triggered and those other voices try to take over. For me, planning episodes triggered self-doubt and insecurity because deep down I believed no one cared about what I had to say. This came through in my voice and kept listeners from connecting with me.

It wasn’t until I became aware of this unconscious pattern and took steps to change it that more people started tuning in, downloads increased, and five star reviews from total strangers started hitting my inbox. So, if you want to see more downloads, glowing reviews, and a dedicated audience, start by recognizing and addressing what might be keeping them from connecting with you in the first place.

Want to Become a Top 100 Host?

If you're serious about becoming a top 100 podcast host, hire a voice coach. Just about every top podcaster has one, and for good reason. Voice coaching made me realize I had been presenting myself inauthentically, unknowingly keeping my audience from connecting with me on a meaningful level. It’s not just about cutting out 'ums,' 'ahs,' and 'you knows' from your vocabulary or sounding more confident — it’s about knowing how to use your voice to build trust and engagement. When you do, your listeners are more likely to stay engaged, trust your expertise, and take action on your calls to action. Because it’s not what you say, but what they hear that will turn listeners into loyal fans who keep coming back for more.

Want more tips on how to create a listener experience people rave about? Follow Insider Secrets to a Top Podcast on your favorite podcast app for actionable tips to turn your show into a top podcast listeners can't get enough of.

And if you’re a coach, consultant, expert, or online business owner who wants to turn your podcast into a lead-generating machine for your business? Book a free strategy call with our team and see how PodLaunch can help.