Over the last few episodes, I’ve shared about repurposing your podcast content and even how podcast guests can turn their interviews from other podcasts into additional content for their brand. Today, I want to share why you would consider pitching yourself for a podcast guest interview and how you can use these opportunities in your brand.
Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced and brought to you by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.
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Why Podcast Hosts Bring On Guests
Hosts bring guests on to their podcasts to provide fresh perspectives, especially in fields they’re not as knowledgeable in, to their audience. Podcast hosts often get requests for topics that they may be super informed on. Bringing on an expert on this topic answers these requests, as well as many other benefits.
This also means that they’re sharing their audience with the guest in the hope of that guest sharing their audience with them. The expectation is that you, as the guest, will also share the podcast with your channels when it goes live. As I mentioned in last week’s episode, some hosts will even include this in their guest agreements.
Hosting guests on a podcast also presents an opportunity to build a relationship. Connections and networking are so important in the creative industry, yet we’re in a time when networking events aren’t happening or our guests aren’t in our area. Inviting a guest to your show is the simple solution to this new issue.
Now if you’re a podcast host listening to this, I do want to highlight that it’s important to vet your guests and know who you’re bringing on the show and if they’re a good fit for your audience. You don’t want the time of your guest, audience, or even your own time. Some guests may have great information and be very knowledgeable on their subject, but it really just isn’t relevant to your show or audience.
Using Podcast Guesting Opportunities for Your Business
Now, to focus on the guest aspect and why you might want to be featured as a guest on a podcast. There are a variety of benefits, but today, we’re going to focus on the benefits for brands and business owners.
1 Building Brand Awareness
As a business owner, marketing is always on your mind. The more people we reach, the more we can potentially convert into paying clients. This conversion shouldn’t be the focus when you’re going into these interviews, you need to make sure that you’re providing value and serving the audience well through tactical and educational topics.
2 Set yourself up as an industry expert
In addition to building brand awareness, you’ll also set yourself up as an industry expert. This is why selecting your speaking topics is so important for pitching podcasts. When you join a conversation, you want to be sure that you’re offering value to the audience and not just trying to sell them who you are. As you prepare to pitch yourself or jump on an interview, make sure whatever topic you’re talking about leaves the listener ready to take action in some way.
3 Connect with ideal clients
Another great benefit is connecting with potential ideal clients. It’s important, too, that you’re pitching a podcast whose audience aligns with yours. For example, I work a lot in the photography and education space, educators will join podcasts that primarily serve photographers in hopes of connecting with that audience.
4 Content Building for Your Brand
Last week we talked all about repurposing the content from your interviews on other shows, this is a major benefit. You’re not necessarily driving people to your brand but to someone else’s podcast, you’re simply just featured on it. Make sure you check out last week’s episode to hear more about this topic and build a plan for repurposing your interview content!
5 Pitch your services or products.
Now the final benefit is one of the most popular reasons that guests will get on other podcasts- pitching your services and products to the audience. Now, don’t let this be your primary reason for jumping on podcasts. It takes away the value that you could potentially bring to the table. Yes, it’s a great benefit, but you won’t win the audience over if you’re only trying to sell to them.
There are a few things to consider on this final benefit: Whatever you’re trying to sell or promote should be strategic. One of the best opportunities you can provide is a free resource for the audience to download, and then get on your list.
If you’re trying to promote a service or a program, make sure you’re keeping in mind the timelines of podcasts. Your episode may not go live immediately, so having that conversation about live dates is important if you’re promoting an upcoming offering. Another thing to consider is not pushing something that you’re only going to run one time. For example, if you’re doing a one-time webinar, how are you connecting with and capturing the attention of the audience after the webinar date has passed? This is where a valuable strategy for your podcast interviews can make such a difference in your approach and results. I’m not saying you can never run these types of promotions, but just consider offering a reply. Highlight that this program you’re promoting will open for enrollment a certain amount of times per year and where to find that info!
How To Be a Solid Guest on Podcasts
There are a number of things that you can do to prepare for your podcast interview. For a more detailed breakdown of how you can prepare for your interview, check out the previous blog post here. This post shares steps you should take to be a great guest in preparation for the interview-from researching the host and podcast to setting your environment and gearing up for a successful interview.
One of the most important things you can do is to make sure you’re sharing about the show. There are so many times that guests join a show and then never share about it on their platforms. Don’t be this guest. Hosts are giving you access to their audience and you should do the same for them.
Mic Check Society
Ready to land more guest spots and leverage podcast interviews for your brand? Join Mic Check Society, the ultimate membership community for podcasters looking to grow and scale their reach. Gain insider tips, expert trainings, and strategies to pitch yourself as a podcast guest, plus connect with a supportive network of fellow podcasters. With resources designed to help you elevate your podcasting game, Mic Check Society is here to help you shine in every interview. Start building your podcasting success story today—join now!
Time-stamps:
Why Podcast Hosts Bring On Guests (1:47)
Build Brand Awareness (3:45)
Set Yourself Up as an Expert (4:15)
Connect with Ideal Clients (4:53)
Content Building for Your Brand (5:17)
Pitch Your Services or Products (5:50)
How You Can be a Solid Guest on Podcasts (9:45)
Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 049: How Podcast Guests Can Repurpose Interviews for Additional Content
How To Prepare for a Podcast Interview as a Guest
Review the Transcript:
Over the last few episodes, I’ve shared about repurposing your podcast content and even how podcast guests can turn their interviews from other podcasts into additional content for their brand. Today, I want to share about why you would consider pitching yourself for a podcast guest interview and how you can use these opportunities in your brand.
Hey y’all welcome to the clocking in podcast the podcast for entrepreneurs and professionals making their way in the working world i’m your host Haylee Gaffin this podcast is produced and brought to you by Gaffin Creative a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com plus you’ll also find resources show notes and more for the clocking in podcast so let’s clock in and get to work.
Many of us consume podcasts on a regular basis, right? We enjoy the content that hosts bring to their show, we love getting to know the guests, but most importantly, we don’t really mind if we’re being sold to with podcast interviews.
Here’s what I mean… podcast episode (outside of private podcasts) are available for public consumption for free. This means that we’re not paying for the content. If the host or guest throws out a small pitch for something they offer, it’s no big deal, right? Then as a business owner, what’s holding you back from pitching yourself for interviews on podcasts?
Today, I want to dive into why podcasters include guest interviews, how being a guest on a podcast can help your brand, how you can sell on other podcasts, plus let you in on a little secret coming up in a few weeks.
Why podcast hosts bring on guests
To kick things off, let’s talk about why a podcast host would open their audience up to a guest interview.
Well, the first thing is to bring on new, fresh perspectives, especially in fields they’re not as knowledgeable in. When a podcast host gets requests for topics that they may not have the most information on, they’re better prepared to bring on a podcast guest.
This also means that they’re sharing their audience with you in hope of you sharing your audience with them. The expectation is that you’ll also share about the podcast with your channels when it goes live. Like I mentioned last week, some hosts will even include this in their guest agreements.
Another reason that hosts open their podcasts to guests is that they’re building relationships with them. In an industry where connection and networking is so important, yet we’re in a time where networking events aren’t happening (or our guests aren’t in our area), inviting a guest on your show is the perfect way to approach building a connection with someone.
Now if you’re a podcast host listening to this, I do want to highlight that it’s important to vet your guests and know who you’re bringing on the show and if they’re a good fit for your audience.
Using podcast guesting opportunities for your business
Now I want to shift the focus to the guest and why they would want to join a podcast for an interview. There are a variety of benefits, but today, we’re going to focus on the benefits for brands and business owners considering that’s really the niche I’m serving in the podcasting industry.
1 Building Brand Awareness
As a business owner, marketing is always on your mind, because the more people we reach, the more we can potentially convert into paying clients. Now, the conversion shouldn’t be the focus when you’re going into these interviews. You need to make sure that you’re providing value and serving audience well through tactical and educational topics.
2 Set yourself up as an industry expert
In addition to building brand awareness, you’ll also set yourself up as an industry expert. This is why selecting your speaking topics is so important for pitching podcasts. When you join a conversation you want to be sure that you’re offering value to the audience and not just trying to sell them on who you are. As you prepare to pitch yourself or jump on an interview, make sure whatever topic you’re talking about leave the listener ready to take action and adjust their business.
3 Connect with ideal clients
Now, next you’ll connect with potential ideal clients. It’s important too that you’re pitching a podcast who’s audience aligns with yours. For example, I work a lot in the photography and education space. Educators will join podcasts that primarily serve photographers in hopes of connecting with that audience.
4 Content Building for Your Brand
Last week we talked all about repurposing the content from interviews youdo on other shows and this is a major benefit. You’re not necessarily driving people to your brand but to someone else’s podcast, you’re simply just featured on it. Make sure you check out last week’s episode to hear more about this topic and build a plan for repurposing your interview content!
5 Pitch your services or products.
Now the last and final benefit is one of the most popular reasons that guests will get on other podcasts, and that’s to pitch your services and products to the audience. Now I don’t want this to be your primary reason for jumping on podcasts, because it takes away the value that you could potentially bring to the table. Yes, it’s a great benefit, but you won’t win the audience over if you’re only trying to sell to them.
There are a few things I want you to consider on this final benefit… whatever you’re trying to sell or promote should be strategic. One of the best opportunities you can provide is a free resource for the audience to download, then get on your list. If you’re trying to promote a service or a program, make sure you’re keeping in mind the timelines of podcasts. Your episode may not go live immediately so having that conversation about live dates is important if you’re promoting an upcoming offering. Another thing to consider is not pushing something that you’re only going to run one time. For example, if you’re doing a one-time webinar, how are you connecting with and capturing the attention of the audience after the webinar date has passed? This is where a valuable strategy for your podcast interviews can make such a difference in your approach and results. I’m not saying you can never run these types of promotions, but just consider offering a reply, highlighting that this program you’re promoting will open for enrollment a certain amount of times per year and where to find that info!
Now that we’ve highlighted some of the benefits of being a podcast guest in the creative industry, I want to remind you about the importance of being a solid podcast guest.
There are a number of things that you can do to prepare for your podcast interview, which I’ve included in a full blog post that I’ll link in the show notes. From researching the host and podcast to setting your environment and gear up for a successful interview, in this blog post I’m sharing steps you should take to be a great guest in preparation for the interview.
Additionally, you want to make sure you’re sharing about the show. There are so many times that I see guests join a show and then never share about it on their platforms. Don’t be this guest. Hosts are giving you access to their audience and you should do the same for them.
I really hope you enjoyed today’s episode and take it into consideration as you begin pitching yourself for podcast interviews. You may have noticed that I’ve never actually had a guest on the show… but In just a few short weeks, I’ll be introducing my first few interviews on the podcast, can you guess who they are? I can’t wait to drop these episodes so make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast to be the first to know!
This has been another episode of The clocking in podcast. You can find the show notes for this episode and more at Gaffincreative.com. Thank you so much for your listenership and support. If you love this episode, I’d be so honored if you leave me a review in Apple podcast app. Until next time, I’m your host Haylee Gaffin, clocking out.
