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Tips for Pitching to Potential Podcast Guests

Posted By Guest Blogger 23rd of February 2017 General 0 Comments

Tips for Pitching to Potential Podcast Guests

This is a guest contribution from Karly Nimmo.

As a podcaster, I’m inundated with requests and pitches from people who are looking for some free PR.

As a podcaster, I’m totally down with receiving these requests and pitches.  I love to hear from people who have something of value to share with my audience.

However, as a podcaster, there’s a few things I’m not down with.  Common mistakes I see potential guests make time and time again.

Know that we podcasters love a good pitch.  We love nothing more than introducing our audience to people who have something of interest; a good story, valuable information or inspiration.  It’s why we do what we do.

So for those of you out there looking to get exposure for your brand, blog, book, event, or yourself, through getting onto other people’s podcasts, listen up.  I’ve got some tips that might just help save your pitch from the trash can.

1. Make the host feel special

There is nothing worse than receiving a blanket email that you’ve obviously sent out to every other podcaster you’ve ever come across.  Or, even worse, from your PR person.

I get it.  You think using a PR person makes you look more professional.  Or maybe you feel like you don’t have time.  I get that too!  I’m running two podcasts, two businesses and running around after a toddler.  We are all busy.  But know this…  A blanket email does nothing to raise my interest as a host.  It doesn’t make me feel special at all.

The second I see a blanket pitch, in the trash it goes.  You don’t respect my time?  I won’t respect yours.

2. Do your research first

Please.  Do your research first.  I can’t tell you how many times I get an email from someone who clearly knows NOTHING about my show.  My podcast is a storytelling format, so it’s bleedingly obvious someone has not even looked at my podcast, when they email pitching ’10 ways to drive more traffic to your website’.

Take a few moments to check out their podcast.  See if they’ve already covered your topic.  Make a note of what that guest spoke about.  And when you go to pitch, have some ideas ready to go.  Angles they might not have covered before.

If, when doing your research, you notice that they tend to only speak to women, and you’re not a woman, mention that in your pitch.  Point out that you noticed it’s primarily women and would they be interested in perhaps getting a man’s perspective.

Or if it’s a solo show, mention that.  ‘Hey. Noticed your show is generally a solo show, but I thought your audience might be interested in *insert topic here*.  Would you be open to an interview?’

Going in leading with what you’ve discovered and the value you can bring, will put you on the top of the prospective guests list.

3. Keep it brief

No one has time to read War and Peace.  Keep it brief and to the point.

  • Why you are contacting them
  • What you can offer (perhaps a couple of potential personalised topics you could talk on)
  • Where they might learn more about you (it’s always great to list a couple of really good podcast interviews you’ve done previously), and;
  • a thank you

You don’t need to waffle on about yourself.  Just be brief and to the point, but friendly, polite and personalised.  Add a bit of you into the correspondence.  Don’t be all dry and stiff – unless you are dry and stiff.

4. It’s not about you

Make your pitch about them, not about you.  What value can you bring?  What problems might you be able to solve for their audience?

Remember; podcasters are human just like you.   And we are always looking for amazing guests to wow, inspire or inform our audience.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought I should reach out to someone and had them tell me they had wanted to reach out, but let fear stop them.  Don’t assume someone doesn’t want to hear from you.  You never know unless you ask. Always ask.

Just ask in a way that serves the podcaster… and, in turn, it will best serve yourself.

Karly Nimmo is all about about helping people find their voice, and giving them the tools and platform to get it out there.  She’s a passionate podcaster, teacher and mentor atRadcasters Podcasting S’cool.

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This post was written by a guest contributor. Please see their details in the post above.
Comments
  1. Great tips for a new podcasters!

  2. Thanks for the post Karly. I think number 2 is really important (do your research). It’s kind of like going into a job interview and asking what the company you’re applying to does – it comes off as unprofessional and shows you failed to do your research.

  3. Hi Karly,

    Thanks for sharing this post! Is good to find out what a podcaster expects from potential guests. I recently became interested in featuring in such posts. My strategy is simple: I search and identify new podcasters through a large Facebook group that has a collaboration thread. They are just starting so they need guests, and I need new audiences. Although being in new podcasts doesn’t bring me a lot of traffic, it’s a good way of building a portfolio, before approaching famous podcasters. So, far it working ok for me. I’ve been in 3 podcasts in 2 months.

    Cheers,
    Minuca

  4. Hey Karly!

    This entire article hits the nail on the head, but number four is super-important. I produce a daily podcast with entrepreneurs, which means a lot of time spent emailing people, but I always make sure they know I want to talk about them and their experience.

    Thanks for the friendly reminders.

    : )

  5. This article is great. It puts a modern spin for the application of techniques that are used by several professional salespeople in “relationship selling” products and services to clients in person. Always research and when promoting, give John Brown what John Brown wants.

  6. Hey Karly,

    People are really into podcasts and only a great pitch can make it awesome. I can resonate how people turn a podcast into a self-focused session.

    It’s for the people, to solve their problems. Your experience is the thing people crave for.

    Only your PR can’t turn your boring podcast into an intellectual one. People need something interesting yet knowledgeable.

    A thank you note. I am definitely in its favor.

    ~Ravi

  7. Hey Karlo, Very well researched tips you shared here for pitching guest podcasts. I too did few podcasts on my blog I used to approach influencer in a very positive and I was never pushy to do podcast. I used to show previous interviews stats and enthusiasm for sharing their their story to my audience. Writing great emails really helps and you get better reply from the people you want to podcast.

  8. Hey Karly,

    Podcasts are about being real and cutting out the baloney. Sure, your marketing materials and website should look polished and professional, but when you want to connect with a new audience via audio, you need to talk to your host and the audience like you’d talk to a friend. Eventually, thanks for revealing a light on this topic.

    With best regards,

    Amar kumar

  9. Hi Karly,

    Digging these tips.

    Because I see similar strategies for folks wanting to guest post on my blog.

    Personalized emails sent by bloggers who did their homework get priority. Although I am open to all ideas that reach my cyber desk.

    I never pitch podcasters but get asked quite a bit to be a guest because I have a neat story and because I don’t fear telling it. If you are transparent and open, you will land more podcast interviews. Without pitching. If you build a huge friend network by helping a ton of friends spread their word you will land a bunch of podcast interviews. Without pitching.

    I intend to be The Hunted. Not The Hunter. By helping folks, by having fun, and by allowing cool opportunities in versus chasing anybody or any one opportunity.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Ryan

  10. Good Job and good post, so useful to peak performance on PodCast ;) Just a quick tip, study from the best podcaster how the pitch with guests ;)

  11. Karly, these tips are so right on the money. Too many people are doing mass podcasting outreaches these days and wonder why they get little or no results. If most adopted a more personal approach as well as a detailed outline of how they can help a podcaster’s audience, they would do really well. f course, that would mean fewer outreaches, but would definitely record a higher success rate. Thanks for an excellent blog post Karly.

  12. Much obliged for the post Karly. I think number 2 is truly critical (do your examination). It’s sort of like going into a prospective employee meet-up and asking what the organization you’re applying to does – it appears to be amateurish and indicates you neglected to do your examination.

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