Here’s what you need to know about getting booked on your first podcast.

Why should you use podcast interview marketing to grow your business?

Podcasting is a great way to market your message by leveraging over people’s audiences. Podcast guesting at it’s base is two people with common knowledge and experience having a conversation. But with hundreds of thousands of shows out there and hosts receiving countless requests daily, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start.

How does one even approach getting booked on their first podcast?

It can be an intimidating process, so where do you even begin? We’re here to share that it doesn’t have to be scary or difficult. The key is building a genuine connection in a way that makes you stand out from the rest. There are some tips to help get you in front of the mic.

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5 things to consider when entering the podcast guesting arena.

1| Establish your target audience

The first step is ironing out who you want to reach. Who will benefit most from your message, product, or business? Who is your ideal client avatar? Doing this will narrow down the podcasts that will be interested in having you on their show.

2| Research through the eyes of your ideal customer

With step one complete, look through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred streaming service for podcasts with audiences similar to yours. Pretend you are your ideal customer. What shows are they already listening to? If you’re unsure, ask your clients directly what they’re listening to. This can be done through social media posts, surveys, or a simple conversation.

3| Pick your five

Choose 5 shows who would benefit from your message and has an audience that matches your own. It isn’t about going after the biggest shows, it’s about going on the right shows. Our motto is bigger isn’t better–better is better. Just because a show has a “big name” doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you. Would you rather talk to 1000 of the wrong people or 100 of the right ones?

4| Have a professional looking one-sheet

Introducing yourself with a professional one-sheet will help you stand out and makes it easier for hosts to say YES to your interview. A one-sheet should include things like a current headshot, contact information, an introduction, topic suggestions, and a testimonial. All laid out in a way that makes sense to the reader, AKA podcast hosts and producers.

5| Be polite in your follow up

Following up can feel awkward but sometimes it must be done. In addition to planning and creating a podcast, most hosts also have a day job. And like the rest of us they’re busy. So no response to your introduction doesn’t necessarily equal a no. We suggest politely following-up each week for a month. If after a month you still haven’t received a response, it may be time to move on to the next show on your top five list.

Getting booked on podcasts does take a lot of time and effort. We know because it is something we help our clients with every day. Our client account managers and podcast relationship managers work diligently everyday to facilitate and nurture connections between two people who should already know each other.

There is a reason professionals reach out to us every day for help. We take the legwork out of podcast interview marketing by serving our clients so they can be the guest and we take care of the rest. We use our proprietary database of podcasts to find shows that match their audience, create their one sheets, and handle the introductions (and the awkward follow-ups). There are definitely hurdles involved in networking yourself in a way that builds genuine connections. But if done correctly it is well worth it for you, the show, and their audience.

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Looking For More?

Here are two great resources that dive a little deeper in the process of getting booked on your first podcast.