61 - How to Get Booked as a Podcast Guest w/ Kelly Glover

On this week’s episode of the Instant Impact podcast, Elyse is sitting down with Kelly Glover. Kelly specializes in booking podcast tours for entrepreneurs. She has a 19-year track record working in media, which includes starting in podcasting in 2007 and hosting her own syndicated radio show. She’s here today to share how you can use podcast guesting as a vehicle to strengthen your personal brand and gain credibility, authority, and influence. There is a lot of confusion surrounding how we can stand out from the crowd when we’re trying to get booked on a podcast. Kelly’s strategy is grounded in expectation versus reality. Sometimes people are looking to land themselves in a top-level podcast or bust. Being self-aware of the level you’re at is a good place to keep that in check. It doesn’t mean you won’t be on one of those shows at some point, but getting there is a process! Elyse adds that it’s crucial that you think about what shows you’re going on from a lead-generating perspective. You won’t get in front of people that make sense for your industry. By leveraging the influence of the host, you are able to establish yourself in a niche market as an expert. With podcasts, though, it’s important to remember that there aren’t analytics that can tell you a traditional ROI. Know that podcasts turn into social media posts, they turn into conversations, and they turn into thoughts and ideas--sometimes it can be hardly to measure directly. There are a few things to think about and give attention to before you decide to pitch yourself as a guest. The first thing you need, Kelly says, is a one-pager that has your headshot, name, bio, talking point, sample questions, and a way for them to contact you. This won’t get you booked off the bat, but it is a great way to build credibility. On top of that, your pitch needs to be on point. Know who the audience, listen to the show itself, know the background of the show, and be ready to offer something to listeners. Making the host’s job easier is the best way to get your foot in the door. Being strategic about your pitch is absolutely essential. As a host, Elyse talks about the generic-nature of some pitches she sees. There are some pitches that aren’t on-brand with the show, and it demonstrates that they aren’t familiar with the content of it. Kelly recommends emailing yourself to see how it looks in your inbox. This is a great way to shift your perspective to that of the person you’re pitching to. The subject of your email is very valuable real estate. Taking the time to get it right is worth doing. Getting to the point in the first few lines of your email is the next place to look. Bring something new! Let’s say we do the work and we get on the show we want. Some best practices Kelly uses:

1. Practice in private before you go public
2. Have a cheat-sheet open to reference--questions, points, etc.
3. Make sure you have the tech--headphones and a microphone are essential
4. Have a conversation with the host beforehand--ask questions to clarify!
5. Listen to an episode
6. Pay attention to what the audience wants. Incorporate topics you’re asked about.

LINKS kellyglover.com