Podcasts have become increasingly popular

Being a guest on a podcast is not only an exciting experience but also an incredible way to expand your reach and grow your business. It’s an opportunity to gain visibility and speak to thousands of like-minded people. Podcasts offer you a direct channel of communication with your target audience.

They are incredibly popular these days. No matter what the field or industry, there is an abundance of podcasts addressing the exact topics you and your audience are interested in. Podcast awareness has risen  22% in the U.S in the last 15 years.

In this time period, the number of monthly podcast listeners in the U.S has risen from 88 million to 120 million. It’s forecasted that number will continue to increase by almost 20 million each year. One more fact for you is there are over 2,000,000 podcasts with over 48 million episodes. So we know podcasts are here to stay.

Again, this means there is a podcast for virtually anything you can think of. I have discovered the art of being a podcast guest. The value of being a podcast guest can help you and your business in several ways:

Establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and showcase your expertise. Podcast hosts invite guests who have valuable insights to share with a particular target audience. So if you are entertaining, energetic, and have the ability to clearly communicate interesting information, a podcast is the perfect place to do that.  Not only will you earn respect and trust from a large audience, but you will also put yourself out there as a transparent leader and an expert.

Gain more exposure and engagement. Regular podcast listeners tend to have a specific set of tastes and preferences. They are highly targeted individuals who regularly tune in to their favorite shows. In just one episode, you can gain visibility, exposure, and engagement from new audiences.

Develop relationships and personal connections. Podcasts tend to be real, close, and personal. They allow you to open up and discuss your personal experiences, successes, and failures in a productive and welcoming environment. As a guest, you have the opportunity to develop a bond through the power of conversation. Moreover, you get to dive into relevant issues from your point of view. This allows listeners to get closer to you, both as a person and a brand.

Landing a Guest Spot on a Podcast

What you need – Here’s Your Podcast Guest Checklist

My goal is to be a guest once a week this year. I know I’ll be the expert at the end of the year as I get better and better with every episode. I’m excited that I’m on track.

Here’s what worked for me.

  • A well-crafted bio that displays your headshot.
  • Researched and insightful interview topics and questions.
  • A designed One Sheet that conveys who you are and what expertise you bring to the table.
  • A promotion strategy to increase and track lead generation before and after each podcast.

Now if you don’t know any podcast hosts in your immediate circles, landing a guest spot can be a bit difficult. Rising to the challenge means enhancing your networking skills and connecting with different podcasters across social media.

To get started, find the shows that best align with your core values, mission, and vision. Listen to a few episodes. Then highlight the ones that you would like to appear on and reach out to the host with the perfect pitch. Your understanding of the podcast’s audience, its main objectives, as well as the typical topics they cover should convince the host that you, as a guest, have the potential to make an exceptional episode together.

If you’re unsure of how to approach guest speaking on established podcasts, you can go the professional route and hire a podcast booking agency to carry out the pitching for you. Whether you have a compelling story or a wealth of knowledge/experience to share, podcasting is one of the best platforms to resort to, as very few others share this platform’s flexibility, functionality, and creative freedom.

I challenge you to flex your muscle and give podcasting a try to develop stronger relationships so you can stand out from your competitors while managing your reputation and legacy.

Are you up for this challenge?