5 Reasons New Listeners Aren’t Clicking on Your Podcast

Before a new listener gives you 20, 30, or 60 minutes of their time, your podcast has to convince them it’s worth it. And if your cover art, podcast name, description, episode titles, or show notes fail to do that job, you can drive more traffic to your show all day long without seeing much growth.

I recently joined Jordan Blair on Buzzsprout’s Buzzcast to put their show to the test using the five Podcast Content Gatekeepers® that determine whether a potential listener clicks, scrolls past, or hits play. And in this episode, you can score your podcast right alongside us to pinpoint what could be costing you listeners before they ever hear your content.

Hit play and let’s dive in.

…

2:00 – Why Your Podcast Metrics Can’t Tell You What to Fix

11:04 – What New Listeners Decide Before They Ever Hear Your Voice

13:42 – Is Your Podcast Cover Art Costing You Listeners?

17:01 – Is Your Podcast Name Making You Harder to Find?

25:46 – Why Your Podcast Description Isn’t Getting People to Listen

35:45 – How to Write Podcast Episode Titles That Make People Click Play

45:41 – The Biggest Mistake Hosts Make When Writing Show Notes

54:06 – What Your Score Reveals About Your Podcast’s Growth Potential

…

Episode Links:

Get Your Podcast Health Score®

Listen to the aftershow on Buzzcast

Download the Bingeworthy Episode Title Cheat Sheet

Check out Courtney’s Airbnb

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love: 

The 0.5 Second Decision That Makes Listeners Hit Play (or Not)

…

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.