How I got on 12 podcasts in 12 weeks

In Q4 of 2016, my big goal was to focus on pitching to be on 40 podcasts and get asked to be on 15 of them.

I received 12 YESes. I didn’t technically hit my goal but in my mind, it was a success because I did the work to move me closer to those numbers.

Here are the tips I used to pitch each of the 40 podcasts. These tips are relevant whether you’re trying to get on your first show or if you’re looking to also get on 12!

Create a list:

I did a lot of research. In considering where I wanted to be, I created a list of podcasts that my ideal clients are listening to. Looked at the kind of guests each podcast had on.

Decided what I wanted to talk about on the podcast:

Each podcast has a different format. Some have scripted questions. Some are free-flowing. In either scenario, I was clear on what content I wanted to figure out how to weave into the questions that I knew might come up. From there, it became clear which podcasts might be better for me to pitch to.

Listen to the podcast:

It might sound tedious to you but you have to listen to the podcast you’re trying to pitch to. I always listen to 2 episodes before pitching. If you’re not willing to do that, maybe this isn’t the goal for you. The whole point is that you’re a) checking to make sure your ideal client will be in this person’s audience and b) you want to make sure the vibe is right for your content and your values. Also, you’ll get a sense of the kind of interviewer the podcaster is. By listening to podcasts, you will be able to see the topics that the podcast has tackled in the past and you’re going to be able to better articulate your content in a meaningful way.

Ask in FB groups:

Some newer podcasters are looking for good guests. You can post in a group to see who might need guests. Give them an idea of what topics you want to share about or things you’re passionate about. It’s okay to dip your feet in and try it out before you try to tackle a big pitching flurry.

Leverage connections:

Social Glue it up! If you’ve been doing Social Glue Coffee Chats, you most likely have connections with people who either have podcasts or have been on podcasts. Reach out with a note that connects with them. Depending on your follow up with this person and recent connections, it might be easier or harder to get them to help you. If it feels icky to ask them, it will probably feel icky for them to receive your email. Make sure you’re not just talking about yourself and what you want. If you want to learn more about how to do Coffee Chats more strategically, you can get the workbook here!

Creating the Pitch:

Now that you’ve listened to a few episodes and you know the host and the style of the podcast, likely you’ll know the audience and the kinds of topics they’ll want to cover. Here’s how you can fold all that research into a pitch. Even if you have a template (which you should have something to go off of, you want to MAKE SURE you’re making the pitch about THEM and not you. What do you know about them? What can you give to their audience? That’s all stuff you want to include. And most of all, be personable, don’t be a jerk. Podcasters inherently get lots of pitches and you want to make sure you’re standing out from the really terrible pitches we get. If you’re ever tempted to just copy and paste, don’t even bother with it. Truly. Please don’t bother.

> Here’s a free Pitch Template that will help you get those yeses! <

Bonus!

Being a good guest:

There are a few things almost every podcast I’ve been on has asked me for. Have your bio and a clear headshot of you ready to go. If you’re going to be on more in the future and want to simplify the process, you could prepare a link on your website that has information that most podcasters will want. Here’s an example of where my bio and headshots live.

Also, make sure to read any information the podcaster has sent you. Even if they have said it’s a “conversational” podcast, you’ll want to make sure you have some talking points that you hit just in case there’s a bit of a lull in the conversation or something comes up where you want to point the audience’s attention.

Have decent equipment:

Different podcasts have different requirements for tech as a guest. On our show, we just ask that people have earbuds with a microphone on it. Other podcasts i’ve been on have required me to have at least a mic like the Logitech Clear Chat Mic (see what other tips and tools I have for you if you’re venturing into the podcasting world – get the guide!)

The Right Platform:

Make sure you’re ready and have the audio platform downloaded + have clear wifi or connection signal. Most podcasters record on Zoom or Skype. Make sure you know what platform you need before the time of the call.

Getting Social:

Once the episode goes live, make sure you share the episode with your community and social platforms. Don’t just post about it once on one platform, make sure you’re giving the episode a lot of love! Other podcasters will more likely to have you on their show if they know they can trust you to also share an episode where you are on their show. Podcasters can tell when the guest pushes out the numbers by looking at their downloads!