Marketing your business through podcasts is a great way to show yourself to be an expert in your industry. A recent study showed that 75% of the adult population in the U.S. was aware of podcasting. Podcasts have become a trend in how we consume content and market our businesses. You don’t have to have your own podcast, necessarily. Guest podcasting allows you to reach podcast listeners in your target market, leading to new prospects. So how do you become a podcast guest on your favorite podcast?
How To Get Booked As A Guest On Podcasts
First, you will need to brainstorm. Come up with a list of podcasts you would like to appear on for an interview. What podcasts are you most interested in? Can you find any new podcasts that are about your niche or often discuss topics relative to your line of business? Research to find out what podcasts your target market likes to listen to. You could conduct polls and surveys on your social media and email subscribers asking for their feedback.
Once you get an idea of the type of podcast content your target market is listening to right now, you will have a better feel for what podcast shows to reach out to. Make sure you listen to some episodes of each podcast to get an idea of what their show is about. And, as always, make sure it is something you want to be a part of as well.
Don’t just go with one podcast, but reach out to as many as you can. When you finalize your podcast list of shows you want to reach out to, write a proposal to send to the host of the show. The proposal should highlight your unique skills and expertise and what you can offer to their listeners. Make your proposal all about their audience!
The podcaster will want to know upfront what your plan is and how you will benefit their audience and their show.
- Start with your credentials or credibility – who you are, what you do, and ways you can help the listener and the podcaster.
- Provide a detailed summary of what you would like to discuss on the podcast.
- Include a list of keywords you are targeting in the episode title.
- Advise why you think their audience will find you interesting and informative and what benefits the audience will receive.
- Advise of the ways you will promote the episode to drive traffic to their show.
You can email the proposal or record a video. A video proposal will be more beneficial as the podcaster will get an idea of your personality, voice, and tone. They will appreciate the effort you put into the proposal. Better yet, be sure to mention what you like about their show!
How To Prepare
Once you have been selected to be a guest on a podcast, it’s time to get prepared for it! Since you’ve already provided a detailed summary of what you would like to discuss, your podcast host will most likely prepare for the interview as well. The podcast host may come up with a list of questions to ask you during the interview. Ask the host if you can see this list of questions ahead of time so that you are well prepared. Nothing is worse than the dead air silence because the podcast guest is trying to recall information to answer the question.
In addition to questions about the topic you agreed to discuss, your podcast host may also ask some other questions so listeners can get to know you. Some examples of great podcast interview questions are, “What are you NOT very good at?” or “Name something about yourself that most people don’t already know”.
Some other suggested preparations for your guest spot on a podcast would be to make sure you are clear on the audience demographics. Prepare accordingly so you can have your answers ready to target this particular audience. Decide ahead of time on what your call to action (CTA) will be.
Finally, make sure your audio is top-notch before and during the podcast interview. Use quality headphones and a USB microphone. Unstable internet connection can also be a problem, so look into getting an ethernet connection to use instead. Eliminate possible noise interruptions like a squeaky chair, shuffling papers, background noises. Eliminate distractions like your dog barking or your children calling for you, if possible. Unless the podcast is all about pets or kids, these sounds can be annoying to listeners.
Use The Podcast Episode To Market Your Business
After you wrap up the podcast, ask the host when and how the podcast will be published. Your host may already have some great ways to use the podcast episode in marketing your business (and the host’s business). Your host may have share buttons on all of their website and social media accounts to make it easy to share, as well as tag you on the episode. Some hosts may even provide show notes with an image that can easily be added to Instagram and Facebook. The host may even provide you with pre-written social media blurbs that you can use to promote the podcast episode. As a real estate professional, be sure you use proper social media marketing etiquette specific to your niche. Use the host’s promotional suggestions only if they fit in with your own marketing style.
As a real estate professional, there are many reasons why promoting your business on podcasts is a great idea. If you are new to podcasts or just need some inspiration for getting started and researching, check out this list of the top real estate podcasts every agent should follow. Podcasts that are specific to your niche are a great way to stay motivated and help with your self-development.
