How to create call to action links for your podcast Podcastification - podcasting tips, podcast tricks, how to podcast better

It's frustrating when you're listening to a podcast while driving or jogging and the host mentions a link of interest or a call to action and you have no way of grabbing it for later!You know what I mean?
You've got to go back and listen to the episode or go to the podcast website and hunt down the shownotes in order to find that link.
What if there were an easier way?
As you might imagine, there is. It's a method that makes the links mentioned in a podcast episode LIVE, so the listener can click on them immediately and go right to the site!
How do you get this great functionality? You've probably already got it and may not know it.
It's in the description that you add to the tags of your actual mp3 file, or in the description that you include when you post the file on your media host.
How does it work? I'm about to tell you...
But before I get into that I want to thank someone who left a rating and review on iTunes - NancyBeginnings - thanks so much for your kind words. It's my prayer that the show continues to be helpful to you!
The power of links within your media file descriptionMost podcasting apps, or pod-catchers as some folks call them, have developed the functionality to allow links that are included in an audio file's description, to be "live" within their app.
That means that if someone hears a link you mention on your show - say it's your show notes page - and they want to check it out, all they have to do is check out the description of that episode and there are the live links they can click to go directly there.
No more waiting!
No more jotting down notes to remind you about links you need to visit later!
You can go right to the link the minute you hear it.
But what does this mean for YOUR show's call to action?It means that if you're smart - and you're listening to this show so I know you are - you'll add links to your mp3 file descriptions and media host accounts so that your listeners can go directly to your links.
It means...
It's really a pretty simple thing, wouldn't you say?
Here are my "best practice" tips for including these kinds of links in your show's call to action#1 - Be sure you have a call to actionDon't just pump out audio - encourage your listeners to do something with it. Some of the best things they can do center around community and interaction.
Take action on one point you gave in the show and let you know about it on the show notes page (Here's a link you can provide in the description).What would they add to your list of tips (Provide the link for them to tell you).What is their experience regarding the topic you've covered (Provide a link in the description for them to tell you about it).What was helpful about what you shared? (Again, provide them a link to let you know).
The more you are able to become a "real person" to your listeners by relating and interacting with them, the more they are going to know, like, and trust you - which is the main obstacle to getting a raving fan base for your podcast.
So make sure you have a call to action - and give them specific links to use to take that action.
#2 - Include the actual link, not just an "anchor-text" linkDo you know what an "anchor text" link is? It's a link that is coded into the text so that you only see the text with an underlined hyperlink and not the actual link (http://....)
Anchor text links are cool for web writing but are not always the best on a practical level for the kind of thing we're talking about here.
Here are some reasons why...
Not all podcatchers (podcast apps) can read the link that is behind an "anchor text" link. So you'll want to include the full link or a short link to it just to be...