Michelle L. Evans

Pitch Yourself As A Podcast Guest Like A Pro

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Yesterday I shared why being a PODCAST GUEST is one of the BEST ways to move your business into sold-out status.

(Hello clients + thriving business!)

But… there is a right way and a WRONG WAY to pitch yourself as a guest.

Trust me, I’ve seen some fantastic pitches and I’ve seen some disasters. Fantastic = airtime, disasters = delete.

Let’s get you in that fantastic zone, shall we?

Before you set out to pitch yourself to various podcasts, take a few minutes to think about the value YOU bring to an audience. Including:

  • Your background, story or other interesting tidbits that would make your interview interesting
  • Specific topics/teaching points you can bring to the audience
  • Why you would be a great guest

Here’s the template I use to pitch. I keep all this information in a OneNote (or EverNote) file that is easy to access so I can simply copy and paste the information (which makes it a LOT faster!):

  1. Friendly introduction
  2. My topic areas/the value I bring to the podcast’s audience
  3. My bio
  4. Where else I’ve been featured (note: if you haven’t been on any podcasts yet, you can link to your blog, YouTube channel, any guest blogs, etc…)
  5. My equipment/environment
  6. My audience stats
  7. My online calendar link
  8. My contact information
  9. Thanks + Sign off

1. Friendly Introduction

Keep this short and to the point. Here’s an example:

Hello [podcast owner’s name],

I’d love to be a guest on [insert show name [to add value to your audience. Of course, I’ll happily promote our interview to my audience as well.

2. My topic areas/the value I bring to the podcast’s audience

Specifically, here are a few of my topic areas that could benefit your audience:

Topic area 1:

Topic area 2:

Topic area 3:

Topic area 4:

3.  My Bio

Include your bio along with links to your website so the podcast owner can check you out. They want to see if your vibe connects with them/their audience.

4.  Other places I’ve been featured

Include hyperlinks to any other podcast, guest blog or other appearance where you’ve been featured.

 

5.  My audio equipment

Ugh. If you do NOTHING else, PLEASE invest in audio equipment! I had a few interviews I had to throw away because the guest had TERRIBLE audio quality.

Most podcasters do interviews via Skype, so make sure you have a good internet connection.

Along that note… make sure you:

:: Turn off all devices, phones, etc… that can make noise (so IRRITATING for listeners)

:: Have a quiet and private place to do the interview (no kidding… one guest actually FLUSHED A TOILET while taping an interview with me. I flushed that interview J)

:: Take off any noise-making jewelry (like bracelets) that can be incredibly distracting and annoying!

:: Shut down any internet using applications during your interview so Skype has the best chance to actually work.

I invested in a Blue Yeti mic because I was doing my own show for 18+ months. You don’t have to invest at that level, but I do suggest at the very least getting a headset from Amazon or your local electronics store that will give you great audio quality.

6. My Audience Stats

I always include my audience stats so the podcast owner knows that I’m serious about promoting this interview to my community. Specifically, here’s what I include:

·         A commitment to send a solo email to my email list + the number of active subscribers

·         Twitter followers

·         Facebook fans

·         Facebook group

·         LinkedIn connections

7.  My online calendar link

Most podcast owners will want to use their own online calendar, but I include mine for simplicity in case they’d like to simply schedule a time, which happens about 20% of the time.

8.  My Contact Information

So important! I had a number of people who pitched to me through my online form and didn’t include ANY way for me to contact them. At the very least, include the following:

·         Your email address

·         Your Skype ID

·         Your website

·         Your cell phone/preferred phone

9.  Thanks + Sign off

Keep it really simple – here’s what I typically say:

Thanks so much! I look forward to connecting soon.

Michelle Evans

 

 

I’ve used this exact template to be a guest on some of the TOP podcasts out there (and just last month I pitched myself to 30 more podcasts… so stay tuned for even more shows from me). [/et_pb_text] [/et_pb_column] [/et_pb_row] [/et_pb_section]

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10 comments
Brandon Uttley says January 14, 2016

Michelle,

This is awesome advice! I talk a lot about the benefits of being a podcast guest in my new book, Pod Castaway (http://podcastawaybook.com).

I also wrote a popular post last year on How To Be The Perfect Podcast Guest (http://goforlaunch.io/become-perfect-podcast-guest). I love your idea about including audience numbers and suggested topics when approaching podcast hosts.

Like you, I am amazed at some of the terrible pitches I get as a podcast host. I can tell when someone hasn’t really listened to my show or taken the time to understand the types of guests I am looking for.

Being a great podcast guest is a fantastic way to promote yourself and your business—if you do it correctly.

Thanks for the great tips!

    Michelle L. Evans says January 14, 2016

    Brandon, thanks for your comments! Looks like we’re on the same page with our views of guest pitching.

David Shriner-Cahn says March 31, 2016

Michelle,

As host of the podcast Smashing the Plateau, with over 150 guests, I can tell you that your straightforward and informative approach is the way to let hosts know about your expertise and interest in being a guest.

Keep up the great work.

    Michelle L. Evans says March 31, 2016

    Thanks David – and thanks for having me on your show too. You’re putting great work out into the world.

David Bedrick says November 28, 2016

Question: What is the best way to contact podcast hosts? I have a well crafted e-mail, but I would be happier if I could make contact by phone before sending it. Is that the best way? Is there a best e-mail address Is there a way to find phone numbers?

thank you much, David

    Michelle L. Evans says January 19, 2017

    Hey David –
    Most podcast owners do not provide their contact phone number because they’d be inundated by pitches all day long. If you want to connect with a podcast owner prior to sending your pitch, you could follow them on social media (like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc…), like, comment and share. That’s a FANTASTIC way to get on people’s radar. Another way is to purchase one of their offerings and become the best case study ever. 🙂

Katie says January 19, 2017

I just wanted to say thank you so much for this, Michelle! I had been kind of nervous about pitching myself to podcasts (even though I know how important it is!), but reading your steps made it seem so much easier + doable. I just sent my first pitch today!

    Michelle L. Evans says January 19, 2017

    Katie – I’m thrilled for you! Let me know how it goes – I always like to celebrate business owners getting out there with their story to reach and help more people. Doing a happy dance for you!

Beckett Haight says February 21, 2017

Thanks for the great tips. Just hearing your template ideas was a great help, but then to have examples of each really took the cake.

    Michelle L. Evans says February 21, 2017

    Glad you got a lot out of it Beckett!

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