- Alice Draper is a publicist who introduces her coaching clients to podcasts to expose them.
- His clients participated in “WorkLife With Adam Grant” and “Unf*ck Your Brain” by Kara Loewentheil.
- She suggests getting personal, using a narrative hook, and emphasizing your credibility in your pitch.
A few years ago I goes from from freelance journalism to running my own PR business. A big part of my job now is to cold pitch my clients who work in the coaching industry as guest speakers on podcasts.
Clients seek out podcast interviews for brand awareness, authority building, and increased sales. Last year, a client of mine told me she made over $6,000 in sales from podcast appearances. While most of my clients are in the coaching business, podcasts can empower people in multiple industries.
The benefits of being a guest
I recently had a marketing manager for an online publication ask me to introduce his publisher to podcasts for backlinks For improve site search engine optimization ranking. If you run a product-focused business, appearing on podcasts as a guest can complement your marketing campaign.
An NPR investigation revealed that 76% of its podcast listeners had taken action as a result of podcast sponsorship, and guest appearances on podcasts can wield the same power. A podcast appearance also provides networking opportunities, new thought leadership, which can be shared on your website and social media pages, and greater reach to share ideas.
My clients have spoken on podcasts like “Professional life with Adam Grant,” “Unf*ck Your Brain” with Kara LoewentheilAnd “Negotiate Anything” with Kwame Christian.
While some podcasts operate on a pay-to-play basis — they ask guests to pay them to appear on the show — I chose to avoid them because I don’t trust the integrity and quality of podcasts that do this. I’ve found that podcast hosts with an engaged and loyal audience choose guests based on the value they bring to the podcast audience, rather than the short-term financial gains they may receive.
Develop a strategy
Over time, I’ve learned that pitching a specific angle is a better strategy than pitching generic talking points. The biggest differentiator between pitches that work well and those that don’t is the quality and distinctiveness of the story we deliver.
To find podcasts, you need to pitch, identify your target audience and the types of podcasts they listen to. You can even query them directly. For example, if you’re trying to pitch in front of business executives, you might find that your target audience listens to shows like “Coaching for leaders” Or “hello monday.”
From there, identify the main topics of the podcasts they listen to, such as leadership, personal development, or health and wellness, and the thought leaders in those spaces. Search the names of these thought leaders in Apple Podcasts to find a list of suitable shows to feature.
Here are 5 things to focus on in a podcast pitch
1. Make it personal
The first way to do this is to address the host by name.
I also open the pitch with a specific detail about the host or show: “I appreciate you highlighting the dangers of weight loss products in your recent episode. It was informative and brought out so many of my feelings. prickly on the weight loss industry.”
I also like to think of creative ways to personalize a pitch. Do you know a former guest? Mention this. Did you attend the host’s webinar a few years ago? Tell them that and, if possible, mention something specific that you remember.
2. Use a narrative hook
We live in a attention economy. Simply showcasing your expertise is no longer enough. One of my favorite techniques is to agitate the reader with a short but shocking scene.
For example: “Two weeks after reporting a case of sexual harassment at work, the human resources representative informed me that I was being terminated.”
This hook is shocking and hints at an important topic that is likely to follow.
3. Make it timely
If you’re presenting a high-performing podcast, the host’s inbox is full of compelling arguments, and they have enough clout to be picky about who they have as guests. When you add an element of speed to your pitch, it adds relevance. You can link the field to observance dates and months, such as Mental Health Awareness Month for May, or at present, as the banking crisis.
4. List value-driven talking points
An important question that concerns almost all podcast hosts is: what value will my listeners get from this guest interview?
Make it easy for them and list the value-driven talking points you’ll be discussing in the episode. An example is a workable framework on how to recover from a toxic job. The goal here is to keep this list as concise as possible while letting the host know that you’ll be sharing practical tips with their listeners.
5. Describe your credibility
If a podcast host is interested in your pitch, they’ll want to know more about you and how well you’re interviewing. Make it as easy as possible by including a full bio and links to your website, social media pages, and any podcast interviews you may have done.
Although I’ve found that some podcast hosts are interested in social media metrics – and in my experience small podcasts are more interested in metrics than large podcasts – my clients who have had the The highest acceptance didn’t have much of a following but did have an extremely unique and compelling story.
If you’ve never spoken on a podcast before, it’s always worth introducing hosts and focusing on the quality of your story angle and talking points. If you can link to any chat material you have, even an Instagram live stream, it’s worth including. Many are happy to take on inexperienced speakers who have a compelling story or hook.
Here is the email template I use for all my clients when introducing them to podcasts:
Guest Location: [Insert title example]
Hi [host’s name],
I was listening to your podcast episode on [insert topic] and I couldn’t help but reach out my hand. [Personalized line or two about why the podcast was interesting.]
Are you interested in an episode on [insert topic]?
[Story hook.]
In this episode, I will talk about:
- [Topic one: Insert details.]
- [Topic two: Insert details.]
- [Topic three: Insert details.]
- [Topic four: Insert details.]
On me: [Provide a professional and relevant bio here. Include any credible links, such as your website, LinkedIn profile, Instagram page, or podcast.]
Interested in tuning in for an episode?
THANKS, [first name]. I look forward to hearing from you!
[Insert your name.]