How to pitch to be on a podcast

The things you should do (and not do) when asking to be a podcast guest

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For many creative entrepreneurs, DIY PR is more than enough to get the word about yourself out there. If you are confident chatting rather than writing, pitching to be on a podcast is an excellent option for raising your profile, building brand awareness, and promoting your products and services.

Here is my top do and don't tips on writing a pitch to be featured on a podcast.

Research the podcast and its audience

Before writing your pitch, research the podcast and its audience to ensure that your topic and expertise are a good fit for your own subject.

If you have found the podcast through a pre-existing list online, you need to check whether it’s recorded in series and even if it is still recording or taking new bookings.

Look for information on the podcast’s website or by listening to a few episodes to gather details about whether the guest list is controlled by the producer or even for any hints or tips as to how the host selects their guests.

Identify your unique perspective or expertise.

In your pitch, highlight your unique perspective or expertise on the topic you would like to discuss right up top.

Then expand on why you are the best person to discuss this topic on the podcast. This should still be short and succinct, and I always include an additional biography or links underneath the pitch email itself. You don’t want to overwhelm the reader on the other side of the email pitch, but you do need to explain how your topic will be relevant and of interest to the podcast’s audience.

Build a rapport with the host

Rather than trying to hit a media list of x100 podcasts to be featured on, I recommend starting with a list of 5.

Take 2/3 more prominent podcasts and 2/3 that are more achievable or that you may already have a connection with.

I often take the time to listen for a few months and build a relationship with the podcast. Submitting positive reviews, sharing favourite episodes, and helping to promote and engage…