If you’re a fan of podcasts, you’ll know how popular they have become in recent years. But did you know that getting interviewed on a podcast can be a great way to showcase your expertise and gain exposure for your side hustle?
Simply put, a podcast interview is a conversation between a host and a guest on a specific topic that is recorded and shared with listeners. It’s an amazing opportunity to share your insights, experiences, and knowledge with a specific target audience.
Plus, being a guest on a podcast can establish your credibility and authority in your field or industry, leading to exciting new business opportunities and collaborations.
That’s why we’ve put together this article to help you navigate the world of podcast interviews. We’ll cover actionable tips and strategies to increase your chances of getting booked on a podcast, whether you’re a seasoned expert or just starting out.
So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get ready to learn how to leverage the power of podcast interviews to grow your side hustle!
This week’s newsletter brings you:
- Trends: Is it worth promoting your side hustle on podcasts? We reveal all the data that proves it is!
- Strategies: What’s the secret to landing great podcast interviews? We reveal it all in this week’s strategies!
- Tool of the Week: This week we introduce you to Podmatch, a service that can help you land more podcast interviews, faster.
Trends
Is it really worth promoting your side hustle venture on podcasts? Heck yes it is!
In fact, podcasts are overwhelmingly the preferred way for listeners to learn about new products, services, or brands. Check out the data below to learn more.
Podcasts increase brand awareness
Edison Research and NPR just released their 2022 Smart Speaker Audio Report. The study revealed that 48% of podcast listeners are more likely to consider a brand after hearing an ad via the speaker compared to ads heard in other places.
Podcast ad effectiveness
According to the same report, 69% of respondents say podcast ads increase their awareness of products, brands, and services.
Podcast ads vs other advertising methods
And when it comes to promoting your side hustle, 81% of survey respondents said that they pay attention to podcast ads more than they do to radio, TV commercials, billboards, and even digital ads on social media.
Strategies
With the numbers out of the way, let’s talk about how you can start promoting your side hustle by leveraging other peoples’ podcasts.
Do your research
If you’re interested in being a guest on a podcast, it’s important to understand the target audience of the show and identify relevant podcasts. This will help you pitch your ideas effectively and increase your chances of being selected as a guest.
Firstly, consider the audience you want to reach with your side hustle. What are their interests and demographics? This will help you narrow down your search for podcasts that cater to your target audience.
Next, research podcasts that are relevant to your area of expertise or the topics you want to discuss. Look for shows with a similar focus or niche as your own, and pay attention to their audience size and engagement.
It’s also important to understand the audience and focus of the podcasts you’re interested in. Listen to a few episodes to get a feel for the tone and style of the show. This will help you tailor your pitch to the interests of the listeners and show the host how your expertise or message can provide value to their audience.
Let me give you an example to illustrate this strategy:
Let’s say you’re an expert in personal finance and want to be a guest on a podcast that caters to a similar audience. Your target audience would be people who are interested in improving their personal finances, managing their money better, and making smart financial decisions.
After some research, you identify a few relevant podcasts such as “The Dave Ramsey Show”, “Afford Anything”, and “BiggerPockets Money”. These shows all have a focus on personal finance and cater to an audience that is interested in improving their financial situation.
You listen to a few episodes of each podcast to understand their tone and style. You find that “The Dave Ramsey Show” is more conservative in its approach to personal finance, “Afford Anything” focuses on creating a life you love on any budget, and “BiggerPockets Money” talks about how to achieve financial independence and retire early.
Armed with this knowledge, you can now pitch yourself as a guest to each show, tailoring your pitch to their specific audience and style. For example, you might highlight your experience in helping people get out of debt when pitching to “The Dave Ramsey Show”, and focus on your tips for creating a financially independent lifestyle when pitching to “BiggerPockets Money”.
By understanding the target audience and focus of each podcast, you can increase your chances of being selected as a guest and provide value to their listeners.
Build your personal brand and expertise
Becoming a guest on a podcast is a great way to build your personal brand and establish yourself as an expert in your field. To increase your chances of getting invited onto a podcast, it’s important to focus on building your personal brand and expertise.
To build your personal brand, start by identifying your unique value proposition and creating a consistent brand image across all your digital platforms. This will help you stand out and be recognizable to potential podcast hosts.
To become an expert in your field, stay up to date with the latest industry news and trends, participate in online communities, and share your knowledge through blog posts, podcasts, or social media. This will help you showcase your expertise and provide value to listeners.
Networking and collaboration are also key. Reach out to podcast hosts, offer your expertise, and suggest topics that would be of interest to their audience. You could also connect with other experts in your field and offer to collaborate on a podcast episode together.
Create a compelling podcast pitch
Creating a compelling podcast pitch is key to getting invited as a guest on someone’s show. A well-crafted pitch will grab the host’s attention and convince them that you would be a valuable guest for their audience.
When crafting your pitch, begin with a hook that grabs the host’s attention and highlights your unique value proposition. You should also include a brief bio that showcases your expertise and relevant experience.
Next, outline the topics or themes you would like to discuss on the podcast. This will give the host an idea of what you can offer their audience and how you can provide value to their show.
Finally, include any relevant links, such as your website, social media profiles, or previous podcast appearances. This will help the host learn more about you and your work and decide if you’re a good fit for their show.
Here are a few examples of successful podcast pitches:
- “Hi [Host Name], I came across your podcast and was impressed by your focus on helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses. As a business coach with over 10 years of experience, I would love to share my insights on creating a successful mindset and building a sustainable business. I think my expertise would be valuable for your listeners, and I’m excited to discuss topics such as goal setting, productivity, and effective leadership. Here’s a link to my website if you’d like to learn more about my work. Thanks for considering me as a guest on your show!”
- “Hello [Host Name], I’m a nutritionist and fitness expert with a passion for helping people live their healthiest lives. Your podcast resonates with me, and I would love to discuss topics such as healthy eating habits, fitness routines, and stress management with your audience. I have previously appeared on other health and wellness podcasts, and I believe my expertise would provide value to your listeners. Here’s a link to my social media profiles and my latest blog post on healthy eating habits. Thank you for considering me as a guest on your show!”
A compelling podcast pitch is crucial for getting invited onto someone’s show. By researching the podcast, highlighting your unique value proposition, and outlining relevant topics, you can create a pitch that convinces the host you would be a valuable guest for their audience.
Reach out to podcast hosts and producers
Once you have a compelling podcast pitch, it’s time to reach out to podcast hosts and producers. Here are some tips for finding contact information and approaching them:
To find contact information for podcast hosts and producers, start by checking the podcast’s website or social media profiles. Many hosts will have an email address or contact form listed for guest inquiries. You can also search for the host or producer’s name on LinkedIn or other professional networking sites.
When approaching podcast hosts and producers, be professional and courteous in your communication. Introduce yourself and your expertise, and explain why you think you would be a valuable guest for their show. Be sure to personalize your message and show that you’ve done your research on their podcast.
It’s also important to build relationships with podcast hosts and producers. Even if you don’t get invited onto a particular show, you can still follow up and thank them for considering you as a guest. You never know when a relationship with a host or producer could lead to future opportunities.
Prepare for your podcast interview
So you’ve scored your first interview on a podcast, well done! Here are some tips for preparing for your podcast interview:
Start by preparing a list of talking points or questions you want to cover during the interview. It’s important to have a clear idea of the message you want to convey and how you can provide value to the host’s audience.
During the interview, expect the host to ask you questions related to your expertise or the topics you’ve discussed beforehand. Be prepared to provide detailed and insightful answers that showcase your knowledge and expertise.
When conducting yourself during the interview, be engaging, enthusiastic, and authentic. Speak clearly and concisely, and avoid filler words such as “um” and “like”. It’s also important to listen actively to the host’s questions and respond thoughtfully.
Promote your podcast appearance
Promoting your podcast appearance is crucial for reaching a wider audience and establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Here are some tips for promoting your podcast appearance:
Firstly, share the podcast episode on your social media platforms and website. Create engaging captions or posts that highlight your key talking points or the value you provided to the audience. Use relevant hashtags and tag the podcast and host to increase visibility.
Next, consider creating a press release or blog post about your appearance on the podcast. This can be a great way to showcase your expertise and reach a wider audience outside of the podcast’s listeners.
You could also leverage your email list and send a newsletter to your subscribers about your appearance on the podcast. Include a link to the episode and highlight the value you provided to the audience.
Another effective promotion strategy is to collaborate with the podcast host or other guests on the show. You could cross-promote each other’s episodes on your respective social media platforms or even create a joint blog post or webinar.
Analyze your podcast appearance performance
Analyzing your podcast appearance performance is essential for understanding how your message and expertise are resonating with the audience. Here are some tips for measuring and using metrics to improve your podcast appearance:
Firstly, review the download numbers and engagement metrics of the podcast episode you appeared on. This will give you an idea of how many people listened to the episode and how they engaged with the content.
Next, look at social media metrics such as likes, shares, and comments on posts related to your appearance. This will help you understand how your appearance was received by the host’s audience and how you can improve your social media promotion strategy.
You could also consider sending a survey to the host or podcast producer to gather feedback on your appearance. Ask them for constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.
Use the metrics you’ve gathered to improve your podcast pitch and performance. Analyze what topics or themes resonated most with the audience and tailor your future pitches accordingly. Look for areas where you can improve your delivery or messaging and practice for future appearances.
Tool of the Week
Podmatch is an online platform that connects podcast guests with podcast hosts. It was created to simplify the process of finding relevant guests for podcast hosts and matching guests with relevant podcast opportunities.
To use Podmatch, guests can sign up and create a profile that highlights their expertise, interests, and availability. Hosts can then search for guests based on their criteria, such as industry or topic, and invite them to be guests on their shows.
One of the unique features of Podmatch is its AI-powered matching algorithm, which analyzes a guest’s profile and interests to suggest relevant podcast opportunities. This saves time for both guests and hosts by ensuring that only the most relevant and qualified candidates are presented for consideration.
Podmatch also provides tools and resources to help guests prepare for their interviews, including training on how to be a great podcast guest and guidance on the best equipment and software to use for remote interviews.
Podmatch offers a free basic plan and a paid premium plan with additional features and benefits. The platform is popular among podcast guests and hosts alike and has helped many people find new podcast opportunities and build their personal brands.