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Your Roadmap To Crafting The Perfect Podcast Pitch
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How are you doing in podcasting as a guest, host, or both?
When reaching out to a podcast host to be the ideal guest on their show, your pitch is what makes the first impression, especially if you are connecting with a host for the first time. A media or podcast pitch is a short, to-the-point email or message that tells the podcast host why they should book you as a guest on their show, the value you bring to the conversation, and how you plan to impact their audience. Each pitch must be tailored uniquely to the show you are pitching. In this presentation, you will learn Ashley Graham’s recommended format for the pitch to send to podcast hosts based on your signature message for the podcast interviews you land.
Read The Blog Post: Your Roadmap To Crafting The Perfect Podcast Pitch
Podcasts are an incredible medium for following along with innovative conversations & the latest experiences from our favorite hosts, discovering new trends around our go-to topics and ultimately connecting with like-minded people.
As a publicist in the PR space, I also love how podcasts create an auditory experience between the people behind the mic and the listeners.
Podcasts truly bring the listeners into the room with the host and their guests and make them feel like they are part of the conversation.
That’s why I want to take you on a journey of crafting the perfect podcast pitch. One that will enable you to win the conscious conversations you desire on the podcast that you know and love.
If you have a story and a message that you are ready to share, here’s my secret sauce for landing that podcast guesting opportunity.
This post is a transcription of one of the talks from our PodPros Quarterly Virtual Event.
What Is a Podcast Pitch?
A podcast pitch is a short, to-the-point email or a message that includes information on:
- Why you are the go-to expert for the topic that you’re pitching.
- Why the host should book you as a guest on their podcast.
- The impact that you’ll bring the audience.
- The next step they can take should they want to secure the interview with you.
I believe these attributes and elements to be pretty universal in podcast pitching.
Laying The Foundation
That being said, each podcast has its own tone and language. When reaching out to the podcast host, your pitch essentially makes the first impression, especially if you’re connecting with them for the first time.
That means each pitch should be tailored uniquely to the podcast you’re pitching—the more unique messaging and the unique approach you can bring to the pitch, the better.
Also, keep in mind is less is always more when it comes to pitching. The more concise you can be, the better.
I know this all too well! When we get super excited about something we want to share, it’s so easy to overexpress or over delve into the excitement. You have to resist this urge and instead keep your podcast pitch short and sweet.
You want to refine your message to the podcast host to where it’s a done deal, only two or three sentences into the email.
They do not need a novel about you and your life or expertise. They are more interested in learning about what lights you up and what parts of that will light up their audience.
Now let’s dive into my secret sauce for the perfect podcast pitch.
A Personalized Introduction
When it comes to your personalized introduction, you’ll want to mention how you were introduced to the show, past episodes that stood out to you, and why you’re excited to pitch yourself as a guest.
This is your chance for a great first impression. Wow, the host, by keeping the introduction less about you and more about your reason to connect with them.
We all love to hear great things about ourselves, right? The same thing goes for our podcast hosts. They want to know what transformations they’re bringing through their conversations on the platform. Express this to them in your introduction.
I will always overemphasize this—the more unique your introduction, the better.
Make sure to mention how you discovered them.
- Did you find them online?
- Were they a referral from somebody else?
- Did you happen to accidentally stumble onto their show on Spotify?
They want to know this as it helps them know if what they’re doing online is working for them. So bring that to the table. This will truly spark a connection and interest to continue reading and learn more about what you have to say in the pitch.
A Succinct Pitch
Once you’ve hooked the host’s attention, you’ll want to lead them into the pitch. This should be a one or two-paragraph introduction of you, who you are and the conversation you’re ready to bring to the podcast.
Your pitch should include the essential aspects of your podcast conversation, such as your value media proposition about why you’re pitching to be a guest on their podcast.
This can be a problem you want to solve or address. It can also be the topic or story you want to share in the conversation. Don’t forget to mention how you plan to bring the audience on a journey with you and why you are the expert or the go-to person for that topic.
Again, less is more here. When you think about a paragraph or two, it can seem a little dicey and so easy for your pitch to get a little long. But think about your paragraphs as one to three sentences that offer an overview of the conversation you’re ready to have.
If the podcast host wants to know more information about your suggested conversation, they will definitely inquire to learn more. When they do, you can give them your podcast one sheet, which builds out more of your core messaging and elaborates more on the information you’re bringing to the conversation.
But the pitch itself does not need to include all of that.
The Perfect Closing
Last but not least is your closing, which is your remark to seal the deal. The conclusion to your pitch should include your supporting information, such as how to connect with you further, links to your website, or your social media accounts. Sharing these will let the host learn more about you on their own terms.
Also, share any upcoming call to action that you may have to support your pitch. For example, if you have a freebie or a gift that you want to give the host that talks about who you are, what you do, and the value you offer within your business or just within the message alone, this is a great time to include that.
Again, you want to sell yourself in your introduction and pitch, but to seal the deal, you need to make your closing top-notch.
Give the podcast host adequate information on how to prebook you as a guest without them having to ask for that information.
To Wrap Up
One thing that is often missed in the podcasting space is podcast hosts also have their own identities and roles. Half the time, podcast hosts have a full-time job or are running their own business. Podcasting is just a medium of creativity and inspiration for them.
The more you can front-load the decision-making process for them, the better it will move them further to the end goal—booking the podcast.
My final message to you is:
“You are a thought leader and a radiant human being with a purpose and message that deserves to get more visibility through podcasts. You are ready to elevate the relationships you build online, especially through being a guest speaker on podcasts to boost awareness and credibility.”
Now that you have the inside scoop on the best podcast pitching secrets from the PR and publicity perspective, you are ready to start curating media-worthy pitches that attract the conversations. Happy pitching and may you find success in landing the conscious conversations you deserve.
About the speaker: Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is an Executive Publicist & People-Relations Coach that works with conscious thought leaders in elevating their voices through storytelling, PR & conscious communications. Her focus is bringing awareness to the aspects of the media that might be missed to consciously connect communities for impact and improvement and become better leaders and communicators within their spaces. Ashley’s influence reaches a loyal audience who are craving the right conversations. As a publicist and thought leader in the PR space, Ashley has landed clients in a variety of media outlets such as Forbes, Refinery29, Entrepreneur, and BuzzFeed. As a thought leader, has been recognized in the media on BossBabe, Thought Catalog, Business2Community, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, PRNews, and was recently announced as a potential candidate for the Forbes Next 1000 List.
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