Podcast Guesting for Small Business Growth: A Comprehensive Outreach Guide

This guide will show you how to use podcast guesting and outreach to grow your small business.

As a small business owner, you always look for new ways to reach your target audience. You’ve probably considered online ads and social media, but have you thought about podcast outreach?

Podcasts are a great way to connect with potential customers and build relationships.

By the end of this guide, you’ll learn how to find relevant shows, how to craft a winning pitch and get accepted as a guest by podcast hosts, and what to do once you’re featured to get the most out of your podcast appearance.

So if you’re ready to start reaching more customers through podcasts, keep reading!

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Want to increase your brand exposure and connect with potential customers through podcast guesting? Our free podcast outreach tracker template can help! Download it today and start landing more guest spots on podcasts.

The importance of podcast guesting for small businesses

Podcast outreach is a powerful and often overlooked content marketing tool for small businesses. Not only does it equip entrepreneurs and experts with the opportunity to increase their visibility, but discourse of their product or service amongst an engaged audience increases the chances of organic referrals.

Being a regular expert guest on top podcasts can be a fantastic way to generate free publicity and connect with new listeners.

Furthermore, podcasts provide an excellent resource for gathering feedback from loyal customers and business partners alike.

With relative ease and minimal costs, guest podcasting has become an essential component of any comprehensive marketing strategy – now more so than ever before.

Don’t just take our word for it. Let’s hear from a business owner who has directly benefited from podcast guesting.

Case study: How Meryl Johnston grew her accounting and bookkeeping practise with guest podcasting

In her article titled “How to Guest Podcast” Meryl shared the following:

“As part of our marketing strategy at Bean Ninjas we focus on sharing content both on and off our website. Since I personally prefer speaking to writing, I decided that podcast interviews would be the most effective way for me to interact and engage with our current and potential clients.”

Meryl adds:

“Once you’ve been on a few podcasts you’ve amassed a body of evidence that points to your credibility within your industry. Credibility leads to trust, trust leads to referrals and ultimately sales. The field of bookkeeping is a high trust industry and at Bean Ninjas we’ve discovered that if someone’s heard us interviewed on a podcast, they’re more inclined to work with us.

As your business grows and you become more of an authority in your field, your story becomes more interesting. People want to learn from your experiences, your failures, your triumphs, hacks and solutions. Guest podcasting is a perfect way to share your story in a valuable way while simultaneously expanding the online presence of your business.”

(Side note – It’s been a few years since Meryl shared her experience, and Bean Ninjas has since pivoted to supporting 7-figure e-commerce brands with their accounting. We are currently working with Wayne, Meryl’s business partner, to help get him booked on a series of podcasts.)

The key benefits of podcast outreach and guest podcasting for small businesses

Through creating and taking part in podcasts, small businesses can expect the following benefits:

• Lead generation – podcasting enables direct conversations with potential customers and cross-promotion with other like minded podcasters

• Brand awareness is enhanced when leads discover a business on their favorite podcast

• Strategic partnerships between businesses and podcast hosts or guests

• Networking on steroids – sixty minutes of chatting with a host on a podcast is equivalent to multiple coffee dates.

• Be the expert – You can just show up and teach what you know. Don’t need to worry about hosting your own events and other time-consuming activities.

• Save time on building your own audience and borrow other people’s audiences – Guest podcasting compliments other activities you do to build your own audience.

• You don’t need to struggle with hosting your own podcast – as sensational as it might sound to create your own podcast and be the next Tim Ferriss, the reality is far from sexy. Hosting your own podcast requires a lot of effort and investment. It can also become a huge distraction.

Podcast guesting can bring in significant ROI, boost visibility and exposure, increase conversions, and more.

Identifying the Best Podcasts for Your Small Business

Finding podcasts for your small business to appear on

If you’re a small business owner, podcast research should be a key part of your podcast outreach strategy.

A quick google search will reveal that there are many podcasts, so it’s a good practice to narrow down the list.

Appearing on popular and relevant podcasts is an effective way to get more visibility, build relationships with potential customers, establish yourself as an industry leader, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

5 places to find podcasts looking for guests

1. Podcast Directories:

Search podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts for shows that are relevant to your niche or industry. Look for contact information on the podcast’s website or social media pages to reach out to the host.

2. Guest Booking Platforms:

Use guest booking platforms such as PodMatch, MatchMaker.fm, and PodcastGuests.com to connect with podcast hosts who are actively seeking guests.

3. Social Media:

Join relevant social media groups (like I’ll Guest For That Podcast or Clubhouse Room!) and engage with podcast hosts and other members in your industry. Use hashtags related to podcasting and your niche to find opportunities to be a guest on a podcast.

A quick search on Twitter for “podcast guests wanted” can reveal opportunities like this:

4. Podcast Networks:

Look for podcast networks in your niche or industry and reach out to them to inquire about guesting opportunities. Some networks manage a roster of shows and can help connect you with podcast hosts.

5. Personal Network:

Tap into your personal and professional network to see if anyone you know hosts a podcast or knows someone who does. Personal referrals can often be the most effective way to land a guest spot on a podcast.

Strategies for identifying the best podcasts for you to appear on to reach your niche and audience

It’s tempting to make a list of two-hundred potential podcasts and attempt to book a guest appearance on all of them.

However, this probably isn’t the best use of your limited time and resources. The goal is to schedule interviews with your industry’s most relevant and authoritative shows.

In other words, getting booked on podcasts allows you to appear in front of prospective clients and partners and be seen as the expert.

So I suggest you shortlist fifty or one hundred podcasts you want to appear on.

Tips for conducting audience analysis and outreach techniques to get on targeted podcasts

If you want to connect with podcasters and get your name out there, audience analysis and effective outreach techniques are important steps to success.

To perform audience analysis, you’ll need to research the podcast – look into the topics they cover, their guest list, and the style of their material. Once you know what kind of show it is, you’ll want to learn more about who’s actually listening.

Tune into past episodes, carefully observe the topics discussed and get a sense of who their guests are.

Review the previous guests and companies they represent to determine how you could be similar to them and their businesses.

If a podcast often features big-name guests like Gary V, Brene Brown, or the equivalent high-profile influencer in your industry, it’s unlikely that you would be suitable if your business and profile aren’t at their level. That’s OK.

When starting out, seek podcasts that feature stories and businesses with a similar journey to yours.

The research process can be time-consuming, but it’s usually worth the effort. If you’ve put in the effort and done your homework, you’ll improve your chances of getting booked as a guest and give hosts the confidence that you’ll impress listeners.

Crafting the Perfect Guest Podcast Pitch for Your Small Business

Why it’s important to craft a pitch that will get your small business noticed by podcast hosts

Including all the important details in your pitch and making it compelling can be the difference between a host choosing you as a guest or looking elsewhere.

Five Tips for crafting the perfect guest podcast pitch for your small business

Crafting the perfect guest podcast pitch is not easy. To ensure your success, here are five tips to consider when crafting your perfect pitch:

1. Keep it simple and don’t make assumptions about what the host may be looking for.

2. Keep it short. Podcast hosts get a lot of pitches and may not have the time to read something complex.

3. Show credibility. Podcast hosts are always looking for interesting stories and guests who will be able to engage and educate listeners. Mention any notable results, achievements, or awards that you’ve received.

4. Be clear about what you can bring to their show. It helps to reference a past podcast episode where a guest spoke about a similar theme or topic. Are you offering a different position or angle?

5. Be relevant. Podcast hosts want to know why you’re interested in appearing on their show specifically. Show that you’ve done your research by referencing past episodes or guests they’ve had on their show.

Dos and don’ts of pitching your business to podcast hosts

Knowing what to say (and not say!) when reaching out to podcast hosts is a key step in successfully pitching your business.

As an expert in the field, you may think what you have to say is interesting, but if it doesn’t align with the podcast host’s interests, they will likely pass your pitch up.

Guest podcasting do’s:

• Do some research and ensure that your business is right for that particular show.

• Do be clear about the value you can bring and why you’d make a good podcast guest

• Do listen to a few episodes and reference them in your pitch

• Do focus on helping hosts to produce high quality interviews

Guest podcasting don’ts:

• Don’t forget to give specific examples related to their topic in order for them to better understand how you can help their audience.

• Don’t be too pushy: It can come off as desperate and make podcast hosts uninterested.

• Don’t focus on taking from guest podcast appearances. Instead, focus on giving and sharing valuable tips, insights, and unique stories.

• Don’t use a copy & paste template without personalizing and customizing it for each podcast host you’re pitching to. That’s lazy, and hosts don’t respond kindly to such pitches.

Remember these tips, and you should be able to nail your pitching!

For detailed steps on crafting your podcast pitch, including a pitch email template, refer to our step-by-step guide.

Networking Strategies for Becoming a Podcast Guest

The importance of building relationships with podcast hosts and influencers in your niche

Making strong connections with podcast hosts and influencers in your niche is one of the best ways to increase your brand’s visibility. This would be a smart strategy even if you weren’t trying to appear on podcasts.

You benefit from their influence and knowledge when actively seeking out and building relationships with podcast hosts in the same industry.

Establishing a mutually beneficial relationship is an incredibly valuable opportunity that opens up even more doors for your creativity, marketing strategies, and growth.

As you build these relationships, ensure that you are respectful, authentic, and genuine – this will help foster stronger connections between you two that are likely to last beyond any single podcast episode or guest podcast interview.

Tips for building relationships with podcast hosts and influencers in your niche

Building relationships with podcast hosts and influencers in your niche doesn’t have to be overwhelming or intimidating.

Here are some tips that have worked well for us and our podcast outreach clients:

• Offer value first and then suggest opportunities for collaboration. Offer something that works for both of you (even if it’s just a phone call).

• Instead of diving straight into promotion, include bits of helpful content in your communication. Examples of this could range from a blog post you’ve written that adds value to their audience or a connection between you two that may increase the host’s or influencer’s reach.

• Introduce and connect hosts to other podcasters and relevant guests. This shows you care about the host and not just trying to get something from them.

• Show genuine interest in what they offer – comment on their social media posts, build a connection, and share their content as often as possible.

Here’s a real-life example of how sharing an insightful comment about a host’s podcast episode led to them asking for a referral.

Relationship building this way can take time but can have rewarding results.

Outreach techniques for being a guest on podcasts

Making a mark in the podcast world requires an organized outreach strategy.

Define your ideal podcast criteria

Just like you would define your ideal client before you start a lead generation campaign, you should do the same for podcasts.

Identify the type of podcast you want to appear on, that is relevant to your target audience. Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes, even niche topics.

Create your podcast outreach list

It’s a great idea to make a list of 50-100 podcasts and create a spreadsheet with all the information so you can keep track of your progress. (You can also use our free template, or your CRM software to do this)

Make sure to keep this list updated, so you can send pitches to different podcasts when the need arises.

You can find podcasts using any popular podcast platform like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Youtube, etc.

Each of these platforms will display categories so you can quickly navigate to the relevant ones and find ideal hosts to connect with.

Leverage podcast matchmaking websites

Sites such as Matchmaker.fm, PodcastGuests, and Podmatch provide a directory of hosts looking for potential guests. You can sign up and speak directly to hosts via these websites.

Add any podcasts you identify through these sites to your spreadsheet.

Connect via social media

To catch the attention of key players in the industry, connect with them on social media, join their Facebook groups, and discuss topics relevant to their audiences.

Create engaging social media content related to their topics, watch their shows, and interact – before you even make a proposal to have them feature you on their podcast.

Send pitches via email

Once you’ve established some kind of rapport with a podcast host, you can ask for the host’s contact information (our preferred option) or use a tool like hunter.io to find the host’s email address.

Draft an email that speaks directly to the host and clearly outlines why you’d make a great guest on their show.

Include any other relevant information in the email, such as links to your website, podcast episodes you’ve been featured in, and more.

Be sure to keep the email concise and to the point – include helpful content but don’t go overboard with long emails.

Follow up

Podcast hosts are busy people, so it’s best to follow up after a few days if you don’t receive a response right away. Use your tracking spreadsheet or CRM to keep track of your follow-up dates and stay organized.

When you get a response, make sure to thank the host for their time and respond quickly to any requests they may have. Hosts or their admins will typically ask you to schedule interviews directly using their scheduling link.

Be flexible with timings, and do what you can to cater to the host’s schedule. You may not get a second chance.

Promoting Your Small Business on Podcasts

Once you’ve scheduled your guest podcast appearance, your job is far from done. Remember that your #1 goal with all this is to generate new leads and sales for your business.

Why it’s important to promote your small business as a guest on podcasts

As we discussed earlier, promoting your small business by being a guest on podcasts is a great way to lead generate, build brand awareness, and show thought leadership.

Where many business owners go wrong when guesting is they fail to effectively promote their business during a podcast interview. Don’t make the same mistake!

Tips for promoting your small business while being a guest on podcasts

Promoting your small business while being a guest on podcasts can be incredibly effective and engaging.

Get the most out of your podcast appearance by teaching listeners to want your service or product.

You can do this by sharing case studies and stories about how other businesses have used your services – this helps establish trust in you as an expert. Telling stories in this way is also engaging for listeners.

At the end of your segment, let listeners know how they can find more information about you and your services.

Pro tip: When a host asks, “how can our audience get in touch or find out more about you?” rather than just responding with your website or social media handles, direct listeners to a relevant lead magnet or a podcast bonuses page you’ve prepared beforehand.

Content creation, engagement techniques, and other promotional tactics to consider

After you’ve appeared as a guest on a podcast, what comes next?

Remember that guest podcasting is only one part of your content marketing strategy. To get the most out of your guest appearances, leverage content creation and engagement strategies to spread the word about your interview. Check out the below visual from Nathan Barry for ideas on what you could do with each recording.

Building Lasting Relationships with Podcast Listeners

The importance of building lasting relationships with someone else’s podcast listeners

Building lasting relationships with someone else’s podcast listeners is critical for growing your business.

Think of each guest podcast interview as the first date with someone’s podcast audience.

As with meeting anyone for the first time, that’s often not enough for them to become a paying customer of your business.

The good news is that they’re now a part of your audience! So you’ll need to continue adding value through value-added lead nurturing.

Tips for creating content that resonates with your audience (after they’ve discovered you on someone’s podcast)

One great strategy to take is creating buyer journey-specific content that leads prospects from awareness to action. To do this, offer a lead magnet on the website or landing page related to the topic touched on during the podcast so viewers are compelled to opt in for more.

Finally, use lead nurturing techniques such as email campaigns and retargeting campaigns that reach out to prospects at each stage of their buyer journey to ensure each visitor gets the support they need before making a purchase.

Techniques for keeping your audience engaged over the long-term

Keeping your audience engaged over the long term is always a challenge. But by utilizing a few key techniques, you can maintain their interest and loyalty.

Here are some ideas for continuing to engage your new audience members:

• Invite them to join an online community such as a private Facebook group and invite open discussion of relevant topics.

• Host events that take place in person or virtually, run special offers on key products or host contests to mix things up.

• Post high-quality content frequently to keep everyone interested, including blog posts, podcasts, or videos.

All these strategies will help ensure that your audience remains engaged with your brand over the long term.

Building a Community Around Your Small Business

Building a community around your small business can help you create a loyal customer base that can provide valuable feedback on your products or services.

How to leverage appearing as a guest on podcasts to create an engaged community around your small business

Appearing as a guest expert strengthens your credibility, builds trust, and establishes your business as a key player in the industry.

This also provides new relationships with potential partners or customers.

Use these conversations to present your services, discuss new innovations, share brainstorming ideas, and expand your reach into niche markets that were previously inaccessible.

Invite fans of the podcast who have inquired about your service to join virtual events or purchase products on special offers created for them exclusively.

Make sure to promote every appearance on social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram, etc., so people interested in what you do can find it easily and react quickly – this further broadens your customer base and grows the community of fans around your business.

Strategies for building a tribe of passionate supporters

Building a tribe of passionate supporters doesn’t happen overnight. Still, with the right strategies in place, you can create a thriving online community and wield the power of your supporters to reach common goals.

Some proven ways to build your tribe include:

• Focusing on finding ways to engage your followers online,

• Offering incentives for participation,

• Creating paid levels of membership that reward loyal supporters with exclusive access and resources,

• Leveraging strategic partnerships.

Creating a sense of community among your audience

Creating a sense of community among an audience is one of the most important things you can do as a content creator.

After all, it’s the interactions between people that help build connections and forge relationships.

It doesn’t have to be hard, though – simple steps such as introducing yourself in the comments, encouraging conversations by asking thoughtful questions, and reacting genuinely to what your followers post are just some of the things that can help cultivate a sense of belonging and create an engaged online community.

The Best Recording Equipment for Small Business Podcasts

Why it’s important to select the best recording equipment for being a guest on small business podcasts

If listeners can’t hear you clearly during your guest appearance, it’s a waste of time for all parties involved.

Selecting the right audio recording equipment ensures that your message is delivered to your audience in the clearest possible way.

Tips for selecting the best recording equipment for your needs

When it comes to selecting recording equipment, there are plenty of options out there.

Some factors to consider when selecting recording equipment include:

• budget,

• sound quality,

• portability, and

• ease of use.

It’s also important to think about the environment you’ll be recording in and whether you need accessories like a pop filter or shock mount.

Options for microphones, video cam, lighting

Cameras, microphones, and lighting have improved drastically over the years, but there are still many options out there that can enhance your content.

Depending on your budget, choosing a microphone could be as simple as a basic USB or lapel mic or as complex as a high-end condenser setup for recording live music.

If you’re into video production, look for DSLR cameras with audio inputs and built-in image stabilization features.

Finally, don’t forget about lighting! Understanding what type of light best suits your projects is key to setting your shots apart. From LED lights to studio kits with adjustable power and color temperature controls, there are lots of affordable ways to add professional-level illumination to any shoot.

Podcast guesting FAQ

Final thoughts on podcast guesting for small business growth

Podcasting is an excellent way to spread your message and build relationships with potential customers.

You now have the steps and have seen examples of how to start a podcast, find relevant shows, and pitch yourself as a guest. You also have some tips on being great on podcasts and how to use them best for your business.

Our free podcast outreach tracker can help you stay on top of your podcast guesting efforts. Download it today and start landing more guest spots on podcasts.

No matter what you do, you are sure to succeed with patience and practice.

Are you pressed for time and want help getting booked on podcasts? Contact us today about our done-for-you podcast outreach service.