What Is A “Call To Action?”
Let’s talk about the power of solid calls to action (CTA). It’s exactly what it sounds like. Asking your audience to take that next step. Whether it’s sharing your episode with a friend, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, visiting your website or social media pages, or clicking on those handy links in the show notes. These actions can make all the difference.
Feeling like your audience isn’t engaging as much as you’d hoped, or growth seems stalled? Tweaking your podcast’s CTA is an easy and effective way to shake things up. Let’s get those listeners moving and grooving!
Podcast Calls To Action Help Your Audience Support You
Think of your podcast call to action as an invitation. Give them what’s good about it right away. Keep it simple so they can act on it with a minimum of clicks.
It’s not just a nifty little phrase. It’s an easy way to rally your audience and get them on board with supporting you. Whether it’s subscribing, sharing, or leaving a review, that CTA is where you turn listeners into loyal fans who are eager to help you grow. So make it count!
Types of Podcast CTA
As your podcast evolves, you’ll notice it needs to tackle different objectives. Some goals will remain constant, while others will shift as you grow. This means you’ll want to mix up your calls to action and approach them with a fresh perspective. Whether you’re aiming for more listener engagement or driving traffic to your latest episode, tailoring those CTAs can make all the difference in keeping your audience hooked and excited about what’s next!
Primary Podcast Calls To Action
Think of your podcast’s goals as the driving force behind everything you do. If your podcast were a car, these goals would be its fuel, propelling it forward. Your calls to action (CTAs) are simple yet powerful tools that keep your audience engaged and coming back for more. Here’s what you want them to do:
– Share your show with a friend
– Return for the next episode
– Visit your podcast website for more info
– Reach out with questions, ideas, or feedback
– Review your show on their favorite listening app
– Follow or subscribe on their preferred platform
Sure, it’s a bit more nuanced than just saying “Hit like and subscribe” or “Rate and review,” but that’s because we’re aiming for something deeper here. Real connection and growth. These CTAs are designed to include everyone, no matter which app they use to tune in.
The goal is simple: keep them coming back and bring along some friends! Make sure you highlight your main CTA in every episode. Don’t let it fade into the background; repetition is key. Just like water droplets can shape stone over time, consistent reminders can make all the difference in building a loyal audience base.
Secondary Podcast Calls To Action
You’ll find yourself setting short-term goals that keep things exciting and fresh. Whether it’s encouraging your audience to take a survey, support a charity, or snag some awesome merch, these goals are dynamic and ever-changing.
Now, when it comes to your secondary Call-To-Action (CTA), remember it doesn’t have the luxury of long-term repetition like your primary CTA does. You’ll likely only spotlight this for three or four episodes, so make sure it really shines!
Here’s a pro tip: script out the bullet points for this secondary CTA. You can even record it separately use dynamic content insertion if your hosting service offers that feature.
(Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants uses CaptivateFM exclusively, and we highly recommend it to our clients for its dynamic content insertion.)
Alternatively, just weave it into your episode as you record.
Don’t forget to include any important dates, like deadlines, to avoid confusion down the line (no one wants someone entering an old contest!). Your secondary CTA deserves more frequent mentions in the short term than its primary counterpart. Give it a quick nod in both the intro and outro of your episodes. Then dive deeper halfway through to really engage with those listening ears!
Craft Effective Podcast Calls To Action
These steps will make it easy to create effective podcast calls to action that your audience can act on quickly.
Keep Your Podcast CTA as Short as Possible
You’ve already snagged your listeners’ attention away from the main content they tuned in for. So, let’s hit them with your key point and dive right back into the show. Keep that momentum going and keep your audience engaged!
Create a Sense Of Urgency
Deadlines and limits are your secret weapons for keeping things on track. Instead of a vague offer like, “We’re giving away computer stickers to anyone who signs up for our newsletter,” try spicing it up with, “The first ten people to sign up for our newsletter get a free computer sticker.” This little tweak amps up the urgency and gets folks moving faster. It’s all about creating that buzz and getting those responses rolling in!
Keep It Clear and Keep It Simple
When you’re guiding your audience, clarity is key. You want to make sure they know exactly what to do, why it’s important, and how it benefits them. Keep it simple and direct. The goal is to keep your call-to-action clear and focused so your listeners can engage without getting lost in the details.
Outline The Benefits Immediately
Simply, you have to answer the listener’s question, “What’s in it for me?”
Don’t Forget Additional Information or Resources in the Show Notes
Consider linking your show notes to an external blog post. This nifty move not only frees up space in your show notes but also trims down the time spent during your episode. Plus, by using a short link with tracking data, you can gauge how well your podcast’s call-to-action is performing. Tools like PrettyLinks make crafting these shortlinks a breeze. They’re way easier and more memorable to mention during the podcast!
(Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants uses CaptivateFM exclusively, and we highly recommend it to our clients for its Captivate Attribution Links.)
Ask Your Listeners Questions to Increase Engagement
Questions engage listeners. You’re making them a part of your podcast and your podcast journey. It’s all about creating that connection and investment in your call to action. So, which statement resonates more with you? “Here’s your chance to shape the future of this podcast,” or “Do you want to decide what happens in the next episode?” See how I kicked things off with a question? That’s me giving you a little nudge towards deeper engagement.
Look at CTA Positioning In The Same Way We Think About Ads
You’ve got your Pre-Roll before diving into the main topic, Mid-Roll right in the thick of it, and Post-Roll after wrapping up. The benefit of placing the CTA in the Pre-Roll guarantees everyone hears it. But hold up! You might be asking for something without giving your listeners a taste of what you offer first. This could turn off those fresh ears tuning in for their first listen. So think about how we can hook them with value before making that ask!
