251. Podcasting for Good: How to Pitch Yourself to a Podcast - Jonathan McCoy, CFRE, Becky Endicott, CFRE, and Julie Confer
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Overview
Your feedback on our 5-part Friday series Podcasting for Good is giving us all the 🥰 ! We've broken down why we think you should take the plunge, how to build a show, how to launch a podcast, and this week we're talking about How to Pitch to a Podcast for yourself or your organization. We’re sharing our entire playbook, frameworks, marketing plans and tools too. Join us!
🎧 What we'll cover:
1️⃣ How to pitch yourself and/or your org to a podcast
2️⃣ How to find a podcast to pitch (that makes sense!)
3️⃣ We share the best pitches we've received
4️⃣ Lots o' PRO Tips (from Julie!🦄)
5️⃣ PITCH CHALLENGE": Tune in and hear how to land an interview on our show!
“This is really a first formidable step of getting outside of your physical community. This is really about stepping into the digital world and finding your people podcast listeners are learners. And they’re everywhere.”
Episode Transcript
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Episode Overview
Growing your reach by being a guest on podcasts (3:00)
How to pitch to a podcast: set your goal & do your homework (4:00)
How to find podcasts to pitch to (7:00)
The pitch (9:00)
Examples of pitches we received and loved (15:00)
What to do if you hear “no” (20:00)
Pitch Challenge: submit your pitch for a chance to be highlighted during our annual “Community Week” in November! (21:00)
We Podcast for Good: Sign up for our bootcamp to receive a pitch script, crafting the pitch worksheet, and more tools to help you implement! (
One Good Thing: Share with the podcast about the gap in content you could speak on.
Powerful quotes
“This is really a first formidable step of getting outside of your physical community. This is really about stepping into the digital world and finding your people podcast listeners are learners. And they're everywhere.” -Becky
“This is really about socializing your mission, what you have to offer and the value that you bring to this world and doing it in a digital setting.”- Becky
“Being clear on your goal is going to help you also identify the opportunities that make sense to go after and really prioritize spending your time on the most important thing based on your goals.” -Jon
“Do not focus yourself so tightly, that you're missing such a broader audience. You don't have to go just to the nonprofit category.” -Becky
“Your mission is serving a unique purpose. And so what is that universal meaning that you could share with different audiences.” -Julie
“You're a thought leader and you're specifically educated to speak to some of these things that you're working on in your mission.” -Julie
“That's just the kind of ethos and vibe and the type of people that we love to connect with that just show that they're kind of here for the greater community good. And all those things can be kind of put together for a pitch that's really going to stand out from the rest.” -Jon
“Cold pitches rarely land. I have so many cold pitches in my inbox right now that I'll just already throw the caveat out there that inboxes are a very scary place.” -Julie
“Just know on the other side of that cold pitch is a producer trying to keep everything rolling. And if it's just a cold pitch, sometimes it's hard to stand out from the crowd.” -Julie
“Not saying it doesn't work, but just remember to be human.” -Julie
“If you as a listener see a gap that you can speak into absolutely pitch that to the producer, because we're always trying to fill those gaps, especially from someone who is listening and knows our ethos and thinks they'd be a good fit.” -Julie
“My message to you ladies out there is that men have got the pitch down, they know who they are, they're boldly putting it out there. Well, guess what? Our sector is 75% women, women, we need your voices. We need your pitching. We need you to be out there and pitching yourself.” -Becky
“I think so much of this is just like reciprocity like in the most positive way.” -Jon
“Your mission deserves to have its story told, so get on our website, give us a pitch, we want to hear from you. And we'd love to bring you on to the podcast and highlight your incredible mission.” -Becky
“Everybody has a story to tell whether it's on this platform here, or it's one that talks about the topic that you're trying to perpetuate. Or maybe you're trying to challenge. Your voice is needed there. So don't hold back.” -Jon
1. Set your goal.
Awareness? Volunteer Acquisition? Program Promotion? Drive Social Media?
2. Do your homework.
Define your target audience
Is it mothers? Cancer patients? Millennials? Catholic school parents?
Ask yourself: Where are my people hanging out?
Start with local podcasts then expand to national and international podcasts
For those who might be a fit - listen to at least one episode to get a feel for the interview (you’ll want to reference this episode later!)
Employ the Five Minute Favor for those who seem like a good fit
Leave a rating or review
Invite a friend to listen to the podcast
Check out their website or subscribe to their email list
Go be their social media friend, if your values align
3. Find podcasts to pitch to.
Starting point - don’t just play in your own sandbox. Think outside the box!
Once you find their websites, don’t haul off and send an email to their general email inquiries. They may have a guest submission form for you to fill out that helps them understand if your content fits within their framework. And allows them to filter content easier.
PRO TIp - Use our go to Podcast Search Engine: Listennotes.com
4. The Pitch
When you pitch, be personal, show your love and knowledge of the podcast and show the value you can bring to their community.
Start your list of potential podcasts
Get to know the podcast to find fit
Research (is the topic the right fit?)
Listen! (Rate + Review!)
Website
Social media (IG, Twitter, FB, LinkedIn)
Hosts
Find the Pitch Gatekeeper
Producer? Host? Connection?
Put together the pitch
Connect (reference review)
5. Pro Tips
Greet host, producer, gatekeeper by name (no “Dear Sir” or “Podcast team”)
Be human
Provide unique topic suggestions
Inboxes are a scary place - Don’t shy away from LinkedIn DMs
Consider a one-sheet document
Talk about your reach and how you will share with your network
Follow-Up and close the deal
No means maybe!
Ready to Podcast for Good?
Access our favorite resources + join our insider’s list for a podcasting BootCamp - launching soon! Sign up today at wepodcastforgood.com
Connect with Jon
Connect with Becky
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