How to Create Calls-To-Action within Your Podcast

WHAT’S THIS EPISODE ABOUT?

HOW TO CREATE CALLS-TO-ACTION WITHIN YOUR PODCAST

I know this isn’t the first time that we’ve talked about calls-to-action (CTAs) and I know that it definitely won’t be the last! I love teaching podcasters about promoting their own content, services, products, merchandise or any other things they have a passion for!

So CTAs are basically a stepping stone into having self-sponsored ads within your podcast.

If you haven’t listened to the episode about creating your own self-sponsored ads, check it out here!

How to Create Calls-To-Action within Your Podcast

Why Are Podcast Calls-to-Action Important?

I really want to dig into the reasons why I believe everyone should have CTAs. Even if you’re only going to podcast for fun or you have zero ambition to create a business around your podcast, you should still have calls-to-action.

Here’s why:

They set listener expectations.

I know I have told this story many many times, but I’m going to tell it again. There was a podcast – that shall remain nameless – that I used to listen to a few years ago. They kept saying over and over again, “You will never hear ads on the show…We will never have ads on the show…I promise you, you will never, ever, ever, ever, EVER hear ads on this show…”

(I’m being a little dramatic with that last statement, but they did keep saying it over and over again.)

And then one day, you guessed it! They had ads on their show!

This is a podcast I of course no longer listen to, but the lesson I learned from them has been invaluable as a podcaster today.

You want to make sure that you are setting expectations for your listeners from the very beginning of your podcast. Even if you have a small audience. Even if you don’t plan to monetize your show for a long time. Even if you believe you are bothering your audience.

You need to have podcast calls-to-action!

Why? Because listeners like to be told what to do.

I know that sounds like a funny statement but stick with me here for a second. I listen to many podcasts. And a lot of them will have additional resources that support the episode they are creating.

For example, Marie Forleo does an excellent job of this!
She tells you from the beginning that her podcast is the audio version of her show that she produces on YouTube. But regardless of her speaking on her podcast or on her YouTube channel, she always has a call-to-action!

Whether she wants you to join her email list, buy her book, check out a free resource, listen to another podcast episode, or simply go read an article that she believes will change your life!

As a listener of her podcast and watcher of her TV SHOW, I appreciate that she is genuinely trying to offer more value to her audience.

And that is how YOUR listeners will feel as well!

I’ve heard a lot of podcasters say, “Well, I don’t want to bother my audience…I don’t want them to feel like I’m selling them something all of the time…I don’t want them to think that I’m always going to be pushing a product, service, or brand down their throat when they listen to my podcast.”

I have to say, that’s a load of crap!

I never feel this way when a person I admire and trust to give me the best possible information on a topic is offering up a solution to my problem, an additional resource that can help me, or guiding me along my journey!

So get the idea out of your head that you are bothering people and understand that your listeners are waiting to take the next step with you!

Another thing to consider down the road is how you can easily transition your calls-to-action to having self-sponsored ads or even branded content. If you’ve had calls-to-action within your podcast from the very beginning, it doesn’t feel like a forced transition. Or in the case of “the podcast that would never have ads,” it doesn’t feel like you are blindsiding your audience with promotions.

How to Create Podcast Calls-to-Action and What to Say

If you haven’t already, I want to make sure that you know about the 25 Calls-to-Action freebie in the Resource Library. This is something that I came up with a few months ago and I feel like honestly, I could add on another 25 ideas for you to add to your podcast!

The sky really is the limit and your imagination is the only thing that can limit the types of calls to action you have within your podcast.

But instead of reading off all 25 of these ideas when you can just go grab dead PDF and look at them yourself, I thought I would give you the 6 calls to action that I use most often in this podcast.

Subscribe
Check out show notes
Leave a review
Download a lead magnet or check out a freebie
Join Facebook group
Watch a YouTube video

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So now that I’ve given you the top 6 CTAs I use the most, I want to tell you exactly how I say them. And these will probably sound familiar to you if you listen to the podcast regularly.

“If this is your first time tuning in I encourage you to subscribe to the show so you can hear all of the other fun episodes that we have coming up in the next few weeks.”

Check out show notes

“You can find all of the information about this episode at KrystalProffitt.com/episode84.”

Leave a review

“If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, I invite you to go to wherever you’re listening to this episode and leave us a comment or review. Tell me what you love about this episode! Or better yet, tell me what you want to hear more of in the future.”

Download a lead Magnet or check-out freebie

“If you want to learn more about calls-to-action, I invite you to check out the 25 Calls-to-Action and the resource library at KrystalProffitt.com/tipsandstrategies.”

Join Facebook Group

“If you want more ideas or just want to connect with other podcasters who were on the same journey as you, then check out the Proffitt Podcast Online Community Facebook Group! We’d love to have you in there!”

Watch a YouTube video

“I just uploaded a YouTube video about this topic, so I encourage you to go check it out if you need a visual example of how all of this works together. You can find me by going to YouTube and typing in Krystal Proffitt in the search bar and check out all of my podcasting videos that are there.”

And that’s it! Those are the steps for you to create Calls-to-Action within your podcast.

How to Create Calls-To-Action within Your Podcast

WHAT’S THIS EPISODE ABOUT?

HOW TO CREATE CALLS-TO-ACTION WITHIN YOUR PODCAST