Our 4 Favorite Ways To Land Interviews on High-Profile Podcasts

Okay, you know here at Visibility on Purpose, we are all about teaching you how to secure press placements, podcasts and media features to explode your business's growth. In this blog post today, we are talking alll about PODCASTS baby!

Not only are podcasts fun and conversational (which translate really well to sales—bc humans love storytelling and casual conversation!), but podcasts also do a really great job at setting your business up for success. We're talking building your thought-leadership platform, increased traffic to your website, increased brand awareness and more.

Today, we're going to go over our 4 favorite ways to land interviews on big podcasts...

Being a guest on the most influential podcasts can result in your story and experience being heard by thousands, or even millions, of eager listeners. The power of high-profile podcasts to boost your visibility and credibility is undeniable. 

Step 1: Identify the Right Shows and Podcasts

Step 2: Highlight Your Zone of Genius

Step 3: Craft an Irresistible Pitch

 Step 4: Follow Up for Success

Step 1: Identify the Right Podcasts

It's really important to get clear on the exact shows that would be a good fit for you and your business. Think about your target audience and the people who truly value from the information you plan on sharing. Identify podcasts that cover similar subjects or themes. We love to use listennotes.com to do keyword searches based on our area of expertise. For instance, if you have an interior design business, we'd hop into listen notes and type in interior design. From there you can begin to see what shows pop up for you. You can also utilize podcast directories and platforms like iTunes, Spotify, or Google Podcasts which categorize shows by topic. 

Once you've identified some shows, we recommend listening to a few episodes to gain a better understanding of their tone, style, and format. This will allow you to see whether the podcast aligns with your personal brand and if it provides the right platform to showcase your work. Make sure that while you're doing your research you pay attention to the podcast's audience size and engagement. Look for shows that have a significant following and active listeners who engage with the content through comments, reviews, or social media interactions. A high-profile podcast is not only about having a well-known host; it's also about having a dedicated and passionate audience.

Once you have narrowed down your podcast options, create a list of potential shows to target. Start a google sheet or excel spreadsheet for your contact list. Prioritize them based on relevance, audience size, and engagement. This will help you focus your efforts and increase your chances of connecting with the right hosts.

Step 2: Highlight Your Zone of Genius

In VOP world, we call this BRAND POSITIONING—and we actually have a whole 4 step methodology on how to create an iconic brand, which we highly recommend before pitching yourself.

It's super important to have a clear understanding of your unique strengths and areas of expertise. Consider what makes you stand out from others in your field and what valuable insights you can bring to the table. This will help you craft a compelling pitch around your expertise and position yourself as a valuable guest.

We have created a 4 step process to building a drool-worthy brand. We teach these four steps inside our diy, totally bingeable course, Find Your Irresistible.

• Discovering Your Authenticity – what your brand wants to be in its most authentic state. This is about values, vision and mission. All big businesses have a bigger mission than just making money.
• Uncovering Your Brand Personality – where you add style and flavor to the way you talk about your business. This is where you develop a unique way to speak about what you do and why you do it. Think about it...Nike doesn't sound like Patagonia. Starbucks doesn't sound like Dunkin. They each have their own personality.
• Creating Your Brand Positioning Statement – where you define your brand in the marketplace, its differentiators, process, transformation, & results. This is what sets you apart from others in your industry.
• Defining Your Brand Message – how you best communicate your brand's value. This is where you uncover your message, who it's for, and why someone would want to be invest in working with your brand.

Start to ask yourself some questions...

• Who is my work/product/service for?
• How can your brand position itself in a way that serves a certain group of people with a specific need, want, desire or problem?
• What makes this company different from those around me in my industry?
• What impression does my business make on the world?
• Is the brand memorable?
• When people think about my business, what words and values come to mind?

Step 3: Craft an Irresistible Pitch

Ok, now you know exactly what makes you standout and have an awesome list of podcasts to pitch and connect with further. Start by connecting on social platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to show the host that you are also a listener of the show. It's always helpful to build a relationship before sending out your pitch.

You're going to want to personalize your pitch to each podcast host. Take the time to listen to their show, research their story, and understand their interests and their people, aka their audience. Show that you genuinely appreciate their work and why you believe your expertise could bring value to their audience.

When crafting your pitch, be concise and to the point. Podcast hosts receive numerous pitches, so it's important to respect their time. Inside Pitch Party, our media pitching course we help you craft a standout pitch that positions you as an expert in your industry. Check out the program here.

Make sure that you highlight what we call the value intersection. It's that cross-over point between what podcasts hosts (or media in general) want vs your expertise, knowledge and experience. Make sure the pitch showcases your background, your business, credentials (aka a stellar credit line) and includes what topics you'd feel comfortable speaking on. This is going to help the podcast host see if the topic is good for their audience.

Step 4: Follow Up for Success

You've sent the pitch, now what? 

1. Be timely: Timing is everything when it comes to follow-ups. Generally, it's best to wait about a week before reaching out after sending your initial pitch. This allows the host or producer enough time to review your proposal. However, if you know the podcast has a rapid turnover or a specific deadline, adjust your timing accordingly. Remember, being respectful of the podcast's schedule is essential.

2. Customize Your Follow-Up: When following up, don't simply send a generic email asking if they received your pitch. Take the time to personalize your message and remind them of what makes you a great fit for their show. Highlight any relevant expertise or unique insights you can bring to their audience. Show them that you've done your homework and genuinely care about their podcast.

3. Keep it concise: When following up, keep your message short and to the point. Podcast hosts and producers are busy people, so they appreciate concise emails that get straight to the ask. Remind them of your initial pitch, express your continued interest, and nicely ask if they require any additional information to consider you being featured.

As podcasting continues to grow as a powerful medium, it's important to remember the words of Christopher S. Penn: "The strength of a podcast is not just the content, but the ability to have a conversation with a human being in your earbuds." Music to our ears, Chris!!

We have a self-paced, 2 hour training on how to get booked on top podcasts (not just your friend's friends btw!) to help you create an awesome pitch and be a stellar guest who gets invited back time and time again. It's $75. Click Here.