In the SPT podcast episode this week, I started to connect the dots between CTAs (call to actions), podcast downloads and business leads. I also mentioned that being very clear about who your ideal listener/client is can help you to move them along this path smoother.
But the thing that stuck with me after the recording the most was the problem solving aspect.

​​Personally, I follow and interact with folks online for awhile before I invite them on my podcast. I can do this because the topics I’ve covered before recently have been topics that I’ve been involved in for many years, so I’ve had a lot of people to invite who’ve I’ve already had an online relationship with. But not everyone has this kind of breathing room with guest scheduling. So what can you do if you're newer to the space you're talking about in your podcast? Try this. 

I think of it like this: even excellent coffee tastes better with the right amount of milk (my opinion, I know, you might disagree.)
​
In podcasting…
…download statistics = coffee
…listener feedback = gorgeous, frothy, warm milk

I don't know about you but I sometimes get caught up in the creative flow of producing content and mistakes happen. The best way I know to deal with this is to do regular quality checks. Because time gives me space to actually see mistakes and the patience to fix them.

​ Here's what I often do. 

Do your listeners know that you want to hear from them?

 know it seems obvious but we often forget that we need to plant seeds of engagement in our podcasts to let our listeners/potential clients know that we want to hear from them.

It also helps to tell them what you want them to do.
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 A few days ago in the podtube, I listed 7 characterisitcs of strong CTAs.  I want to keep going with this and share 2 strong real podlife CTA examples.

With any creation, many people are hesitant to change it after it's done.

But is that what qualifies as done? 

Usually not. 

A little massaging of your podcast content goes a long way. A long way to catch the listener's attention early and keep it longer.

Here are a few quick ways to improve your audio first impression.