In my last article, I covered guest blogging and gave you a few tips on getting your posts accepted by leading publications, and I’ll build on that subject today by looking at a different medium that uses similar tactics. I’m talking about honing your message by appearing on podcasts. Podcasts are often overlooked as a marketing tool, but the truth is that they’re an underutilized utility and so it’s therefore easier to cut through the noise. Approximately nine million Americans listen to six or more podcasts every week, while over a quarter of American men have listened to a podcast in the last month.
In fact, podcasting can be a fantastic way to expand your reach while simultaneously branding yourself as an authority in your niche. That’s why today I’m sharing my top tips for getting featured on a podcast to help you to boost your public speaking business.
1. Find your niche
In the same way that it’s a good idea to specialize in a niche when you launch a blogger outreach campaign, it’s also a good idea when you start to look for podcasts. The more relevant the podcast is to what you do, the more likely they are to respond positively when you pitch them.
2. Check directories
Take some time to look around the different podcast directories on services like iTunes to get a good feel for what’s out there on the market. The good thing about these directories is that they also allow you to look at specific genres, which is going to come in handy when you’re trying to find your niche.
3. Get to know the landscape
When you’re first getting into podcasting, it’s a good idea to check out the most popular podcasts in a variety of different niches to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. This will make it easier for you to judge quality when you approach a podcast and to make sure that you don’t waste your time teaming up with someone who’ll reflect badly on your brand.
4. Look for crossovers
While you’re checking out those popular podcasts, you might be able to find niches that are similar to but not the same as your field of expertise. For example, if you teach people to become better writers, you might be able to team up with a marketing podcast to share blogging tips or a literary podcast to weigh in on different writing styles.
5. Listen to the podcast
You’d be amazed at how many people fail to actually listen to the podcasts that they’re pitching to. If you don’t listen to their show then you can’t personalise the message you send, which is vital if you want to catch their attention. Remember that many podcasts receive hundreds or thousands of emails, so you’ll need to make sure that you can offer them something super relevant if you want to pique their interest.
6. Befriend the host
One way to make sure that your pitch isn’t ignored is to reach out to the host on social media sites and to join discussions around the show. Make sure that you’re contributing to a discussion instead of just spamming them, though. By taking part in the community, you get a chance to demonstrate your expertise while increasing the odds that they recognise your name when it appears in their inbox.
7. Be clear in your message
When you send your email to ask for a guest spot, make sure that you actually ask. Be very clear about what you could contribute and why you want to take part, and be sure to include contact details and further links so that they can find out more about you. If you’ve got a media kit, some press coverage or further proof of your credentials, make sure you share it.
8. Know how it fits in with your marketing plan
There’s no point appearing on a podcast if it doesn’t actually offer you any value. That’s why you’ll want to take some time to figure out how you can make the most out of your podcast appearance, whether that’s by publishing website content about it or whether it’s by creating a dedicated landing page for podcast listeners to offer them some sort of free gift in exchange for their contact information. If you do create such a landing page, make sure that the URL is easy to say and easy to remember so that there’s no miscommunication when it’s time to plug it.
9. Thank the host
After your appearance in the podcast, be sure to drop the host and their team an email to say thank you and to follow up with them. They may invite you back in the future, or perhaps you’ll be able to recommend a friend who would also like to feature. Stay in touch with the host as time goes by and if there are further developments in whichever area you discussed, let them know and offer to come back on the show.
10. Engage on social media
If the podcast and its host have gone out of their way to feature you, the least you can do is share the links from your social networking sites to help to promote them. It’s also a good idea to monitor any chatter about the show and to join in with any conversations so that you can keep the engagement going long after the episode airs.
What’s Next?
Now that we’ve ticked off guest posting and joining forces with podcasts, the next step is to look at how to work with other presenters to host the perfect webinar. Webinars are great for lead generation and can show potential clients your public speaking prowess, and done correctly they can take your business to the next level. Be sure to check back soon to find out more.
Cydney O’Sullivan
Best Selling Author, International Speaker and Founder, Celebrity Experts & Motivational Speakers International
If you have found this article helpful, and would like to add your own insights on this topic, we’d love your feedback in the comments below. Please visit www.CelebrityExperts.com to find out more about being a highly paid author, expert or speaker.