Get on Podcasts: Your Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Coveted Guest
- Favour Obasi-ike (@flaevbeatz)
- Jun 26
- 14 min read
Why Podcast Guesting Is Your Secret Weapon for Business Growth
How to get on podcasts is one of the most powerful yet underused strategies for business owners looking to expand their reach and authority. The numbers don't lie - podcast listeners in the US are predicted to hit 164 million in 2024, and these audiences are highly engaged, educated, and ready to take action.
Here's how to get on podcasts in 8 simple steps:
Create a targeted podcast wishlist (30-40 shows in your niche)
Research hosts and audiences before pitching
Choose your outreach method - direct email or matching platforms
Craft personalized pitches (keep under 200 words)
Prepare a professional guest bio and one-sheet
Set up quality audio equipment (even $13 headphones work)
Deliver value as a five-star guest during recording
Repurpose and promote your appearance across channels
The beauty of podcast guesting lies in its compound effect. Unlike paid ads that stop working when you stop paying, a single great podcast appearance can generate leads, backlinks, and referrals for years. As one expert noted after landing 30+ podcast appearances in 3 months: platforms like PodMatch and MatchMaker.fm are responsible for over 90% of successful bookings when used strategically.
The key is treating podcast guesting as a relationship-building exercise, not a sales pitch. Hosts receive dozens of generic "interview me" emails daily - but the 5% who put in extra effort with personalized, value-focused outreach get the bookings.
I'm Favour Obasi-ike, host of the globally-ranked "We Don't PLAY" podcast and founder of Work & PLAY Entertainment, where I've helped hundreds of entrepreneurs master how to get on podcasts through our proven 8-step system. Over 500+ episodes and 6 years of podcasting experience has taught me exactly what hosts want and how guests can deliver maximum value to audiences.
Why Guesting on Podcasts Is a Game-Changer
After helping hundreds of entrepreneurs master how to get on podcasts, I can tell you this strategy consistently delivers some of the highest ROI of any marketing channel. Let me break down exactly why podcast guesting is such a powerful business growth tool.
Trust building happens instantly when you appear as a podcast guest. The host's audience already trusts them, and when they introduce you, that trust transfers to you immediately. You're not interrupting someone's day with an ad - you're being welcomed into their ears by someone they already know and respect.
The networking opportunities alone make podcast guesting worthwhile. Every appearance connects you directly with the host, often leading to joint ventures, referrals, and partnerships that can transform your business.
Podcast audiences are incredibly valuable. Scientific research on podcast audience growth reveals that 45% of podcast listeners earn over $75,000 annually. These aren't casual browsers - they're engaged, educated people who actively seek out content and take action on recommendations.
The SEO benefits compound over time too. Most podcasts create show notes with links back to your website, giving you high-quality backlinks from relevant domains. Google now indexes podcasts directly, creating even more opportunities for organic findy.
Podcast episodes live forever. Unlike social media posts that disappear, your podcast appearance keeps working for you years later. New listeners find old episodes constantly, creating an evergreen lead generation machine.
Tangible ROI You Can Expect
Let me share real numbers based on what we've tracked with clients across different industries. These are realistic expectations when you approach podcast guesting strategically.
Qualified leads flow in consistently after each appearance. A single interview on a well-matched podcast typically generates 5-15 qualified leads within the first month. We track this through custom landing pages and unique offers mentioned during interviews.
Your SEO juice grows steadily with each appearance. Every podcast episode usually results in 1-3 high-quality backlinks pointing to your site. Over time, this compounds dramatically - improving your domain authority and search rankings.
Content creation becomes effortless when you repurpose strategically. One 45-minute interview transforms into 15-20 pieces of content across different channels. That's months of social media posts, email newsletters, and blog content from a single conversation.
The magic happens when you commit to consistency. Clients who appear on 2-3 podcasts per month see exponential growth in their authority and lead generation within 6 months.
How to Get on Podcasts: 8-Step Roadmap
Here's the truth about how to get on podcasts: it's not rocket science, but it does require a thoughtful approach. The difference between entrepreneurs who book consistently and those who struggle isn't talent or luck - it's having a proven system.
The biggest mindset shift you need: you're not there to sell. You're there to serve. The best podcast guests understand they're educators first, not salespeople. When you focus on delivering genuine value to the audience, everything else follows naturally.
Step 1 – Make a Smart Podcast Wishlist
Your podcast wishlist is the foundation of your entire strategy. Too many people skip this step and end up pitching random shows, wondering why they're not getting responses.
Start with niche alignment as your north star. You want shows where your expertise perfectly matches what the audience craves. If you're a marketing consultant, don't just look for "business podcasts" - find shows specifically about digital marketing or entrepreneurship.
Listen Notes is your secret weapon here. This platform lets you filter podcasts by topic, popularity, and recent activity. Focus on shows that have published episodes within the last 30 days.
Apple's "You Might Also Like" feature is pure gold for findy. Start with one podcast that's perfect for your message, then explore the algorithmic suggestions. You'll often find hidden gems with incredibly engaged audiences.
Create a detailed spreadsheet to track everything: show names, host contact info, audience size, recent episode topics, and your pitch status.
Step 2 – Research Hosts & Audiences Before You Pitch
Generic pitches die in crowded inboxes. Personalized pitches that show genuine familiarity with the show get responses.
Sample recent episodes to understand the host's style. Are they conversational or formal? Do they ask rapid-fire questions or prefer long-form discussions? This intel helps you tailor your pitch and prepare for the actual interview.
Social media research is essential. Follow hosts on LinkedIn and Twitter. Engage with their content genuinely before you pitch. A thoughtful comment on their recent post can warm up your outreach significantly.
Look for content gaps in their recent episodes. What topics haven't they covered lately that align with your expertise? Position yourself as the perfect person to fill that specific knowledge gap.
How to Get on Podcasts with Direct Outreach
Direct email outreach remains incredibly effective when done right. The key is treating it like a conversation, not a sales pitch.
Your email subject line needs to be crisp and specific. Keep it under 60 characters. "Guest idea for [Podcast Name]" or "Quick question about [Recent Episode Topic]" work beautifully.
Follow the 200-word rule religiously. Busy hosts appreciate brevity. Structure your pitch simply: brief introduction, why you're a good fit, one specific topic you'd discuss, and a soft call-to-action.
Follow-up timing matters. If you don't hear back, follow up after 2-4 days. Don't be pushy, just bump your original message with a brief note.
Mutual connections are podcast booking gold. Mentioning a previous guest you know or a shared connection creates instant credibility.
How to Get on Podcasts Using Matching Platforms
While direct outreach works well, matching platforms can turbocharge your booking process. These platforms eliminate much of the manual work while improving your success rate.
PodMatch automates the matching between hosts and guests using AI. Users report saving over 3 hours and 14 emails per booking. The platform's smart matching helps ensure better alignment between your expertise and show audiences.
MatchMaker.fm focuses specifically on business and marketing podcasts. Rather than casting a wide net, they prioritize quality matches, which leads to higher booking rates and better interview experiences.
PodcastGuests.com reaches over 47,000 subscribers through their newsletter, dramatically increasing visibility for listed guests. Their basic package at $15 monthly provides excellent value for consistent guest opportunities.
Step 5 – Craft an Irresistible Guest Bio & One-Sheet
Your guest bio and one-sheet are your marketing materials. They need to sell your expertise quickly and compellingly. Most hosts make booking decisions within 30 seconds of reading your bio.
Start with a headline hook that immediately communicates your unique value. "The marketing strategist who helped 500+ businesses double their revenue through podcast guesting" beats "experienced marketing consultant" every time.
Authority metrics give you instant credibility. Specific numbers work better than vague claims. "Featured on 50+ podcasts" carries more weight than "experienced podcast guest." Quantify everything you can.
Create a talking points menu with 5-7 specific topics formatted as potential interview questions. This makes the host's job easier and dramatically increases your booking likelihood.
Include a professional headshot and one clear call-to-action link. Don't overwhelm with multiple websites - give them one primary destination where listeners can learn more about you.
More info about SEO for Podcasts can help you optimize your bio for maximum findability.
Step 6 – Tech & Prep Essentials for First-Class Audio
Here's a secret that'll save you hundreds of dollars: you don't need expensive equipment to sound professional. A $13 pair of quality headphones often delivers better results than a $200 USB microphone. The magic is in reducing echo and background noise.
Your recording environment matters more than your gear. Find a quiet room with soft furnishings - carpets, curtains, and furniture absorb sound naturally. A closet full of clothes often provides better acoustics than an expensive studio setup.
Use an Ethernet connection whenever possible. Wireless internet can cause audio dropouts that ruin otherwise brilliant interviews.
Have backup recording software running on your end, even though the host handles the main recording. Audacity or GarageBand work perfectly.
Test everything 15 minutes early. Join the call, check your audio levels, and ensure everything works smoothly.
Step 7 – Be a Five-Star Guest On-Air
Great guests get invited back and recommended to other hosts. The difference between good and great comes down to preparation and delivery style.
Master story arcs in your responses. Use the "situation, action, result" framework when sharing examples. This keeps listeners engaged and makes your advice memorable.
Keep answers concise - aim for 60-90 second responses to most questions. Longer answers can lose audience attention and frustrate hosts trying to maintain good pacing.
Respect the host's time and show format. Arrive early, stay focused during recording, and don't try to dominate the conversation. You're there to serve their audience, not hijack their platform.
Always end with value - close your key points with actionable advice listeners can implement immediately. This creates a positive final impression and encourages audience engagement.
Send a thoughtful thank-you email within 24 hours. Mention specific moments from the conversation and offer to help promote the episode.
Step 8 – Repurpose & Promote After the Episode Drops
Your work isn't done when the recording ends. Strategic promotion multiplies your return on investment and builds stronger relationships with hosts.
Create audiograms by extracting 30-60 second clips with visual waveforms for social media. These perform exceptionally well on LinkedIn and Twitter, extending your reach far beyond the original podcast audience.
Develop short-form video content by pulling key quotes and insights for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. This reaches audiences who prefer visual content.
Email your subscribers about the episode, highlighting key takeaways and encouraging them to listen to the full interview. This shows the host you're actively promoting their content while providing value to your own audience.
Use strategic backlinking when appropriate - link to the podcast episode from relevant blog content. This provides SEO value while demonstrating to hosts that you're committed to long-term promotion.
More info about Effective Strategies to Skyrocket Your Podcast Audience offers additional promotion tactics that benefit both you and your hosts.
Platforms, Communities & Tools That Accelerate Booking
While mastering how to get on podcasts through direct outreach is valuable, the right tools and communities can transform your booking success from a slow trickle to a steady stream. After helping hundreds of clients steer this landscape, I've seen how the right combination of platforms can cut booking time in half.
PodMatch deserves special attention here. This platform has revolutionized how guests and hosts connect, using smart matching algorithms to pair you with shows that actually fit your expertise. The beauty of PodMatch lies in its simplicity - you create one profile, and the system continuously matches you with relevant opportunities. We've seen clients go from struggling to book one show per month to landing 5-6 quality appearances through this platform alone.
IndiePod Community offers something different - genuine relationship building. This free community connects independent podcasters with potential guests in a collaborative environment. Unlike transactional platforms, IndiePod focuses on building real connections. The conversations here often lead to multiple booking opportunities from a single connection, plus valuable insights into what hosts actually want from their guests.
Calendly integration might seem like a small detail, but it's a game-changer for busy professionals. Set up a dedicated booking link specifically for podcast interviews, complete with pre-interview questionnaires and automatic reminders. This streamlines the entire scheduling process and eliminates the endless back-and-forth emails that can kill momentum with interested hosts.
Your CRM spreadsheet system becomes your command center for tracking everything. Monitor which outreach methods generate the highest response rates, which types of shows convert best for your goals, and which follow-up timing works most effectively. This data-driven approach helps you refine your strategy continuously rather than guessing what works.
Social media management tools like Buffer or Hootsuite become essential once episodes start dropping. Schedule promotional content across multiple platforms automatically when episodes go live. This consistent promotion not only maximizes each appearance's impact but also demonstrates to hosts that you're serious about amplifying their content.
The combination of these tools with our 8-step system creates a powerful booking engine. Clients who accept both the manual relationship-building aspects and the automated efficiency tools consistently see the best results.
More info about Podcast Booking Agencies explores professional services that can handle the entire outreach process if you prefer to focus on content creation and interview performance instead.
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
After helping hundreds of entrepreneurs learn how to get on podcasts, I've seen the same mistakes repeated over and over. The good news? These pitfalls are completely avoidable once you know what to watch for.
The Generic Pitch Trap is by far the biggest mistake I see. When you send the same template email to 50 different hosts, it shows. Hosts receive dozens of these cookie-cutter pitches daily, and they can spot them immediately. The solution is simple but requires effort: always reference something specific from a recent episode or the host's background. Even a single sentence showing you've actually listened to their show will put you ahead of 90% of other pitches.
Audio quality issues can instantly kill your credibility, no matter how valuable your content is. I've watched promising interviews get scrapped because the guest's audio was unusable. The irony is that most audio problems aren't equipment-related - they're environmental. Recording in a bathroom or kitchen will sound terrible even with a $300 microphone, while recording in a carpeted room with your laptop's built-in mic often works perfectly fine.
Here's what really surprises people: some of our clients' biggest wins have come from smaller podcasts with just 1,000-5,000 downloads per episode. These hosts often provide more personal attention, have incredibly engaged audiences, and are more likely to promote your appearance across their networks. Yet many people ignore these opportunities while chasing the big-name shows that are nearly impossible to book.
The follow-up failure is another costly mistake. Great relationships with hosts develop over time, but most guests disappear after their episode airs. The hosts who've become long-term referral sources for our clients are the ones who received genuine thank-you notes, saw their episodes promoted enthusiastically, and were offered help with future projects. Building relationships, not just booking appearances, is what creates lasting results.
Finally, there's the pitch-without-listening mistake that kills more opportunities than any technical issue. Hosts can immediately tell when you haven't actually consumed their content. It's like showing up to a job interview without researching the company - it demonstrates a lack of genuine interest that's impossible to hide.
The solution to all these pitfalls comes down to one thing: treating podcast guesting as relationship building rather than transaction hunting. When you genuinely care about serving the audience and supporting the host, these mistakes naturally disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions about Podcast Guesting
After helping hundreds of entrepreneurs master how to get on podcasts, we hear the same questions over and over. Here are the most common concerns and the honest answers based on our real-world experience.
Why am I not getting responses to my pitches?
If your inbox is staying frustratingly quiet after sending out pitches, you're not alone. Low response rates usually point to one of three culprits that are totally fixable.
Generic pitching is the biggest killer of response rates. Hosts can spot a mass email from a mile away, and they delete them instantly. If your pitch could be sent to any podcast without changing a word, that's your problem right there. Take the extra five minutes to mention a recent episode or reference something specific about their show.
Poor timing trips up many people too. Email deliverability rates can be surprisingly low, especially if you're sending from a new domain or your emails are getting caught in spam filters. Try following up through LinkedIn or Twitter if you're not hearing back via email.
Misaligned targeting is the third major issue. Just because you're an expert doesn't mean you're the right fit for every business podcast. Really dig into whether your expertise matches what their audience actually needs. Sometimes the problem isn't your pitch - it's that you're pitching the wrong shows.
The good news? Once you fix these issues, response rates typically jump from 5-10% to 30-40% almost immediately.
Should I ever pay to appear on a podcast?
This is where things get a bit nuanced. Generally speaking, legitimate podcasts don't charge guests for appearances. If someone asks you to pay for a "standard" guest spot, that's usually a red flag.
However, there are some legitimate exceptions worth considering. Some high-profile shows offer sponsored guest opportunities where you're essentially buying an interview slot. These can be worth it if the audience alignment is perfect and you have a clear ROI plan.
Certain educational or conference-style podcasts may have participation fees, similar to speaking at a paid conference. These are typically industry-specific shows with highly targeted audiences.
The key is doing your homework. If you're considering paying, make sure it's a reputable show with genuine audience engagement. Check their download numbers, read reviews, and verify that their audience actually matches your target market. Never pay for what feels like a pay-to-play scheme where the "podcast" exists mainly to extract money from guests.
What timelines should I expect from booking to release?
Planning your podcast strategy means understanding the timeline reality. Most podcasts are booked 2-3 months in advance, which catches many people off guard. Popular shows often book even further out - sometimes 4-6 months ahead.
Once you record your interview, episodes typically release 2-8 weeks later. This varies wildly depending on the host's production schedule and how many episodes they batch record.
This timeline reality is crucial for your marketing planning. If you're launching a new product in March, you need to start booking podcast appearances in November or December. Always ask hosts about their typical timeline during the booking process so you can plan accordingly.
The silver lining? Once you understand these timelines, you can build a consistent pipeline where new episodes are dropping regularly, creating steady momentum for your business. It's all about thinking ahead and being patient with the process.
Conclusion
You now have everything you need to master how to get on podcasts and transform your business through strategic guest appearances. This 8-step system isn't just theory - it's the same proven approach we've used to help hundreds of entrepreneurs secure meaningful podcast bookings that actually move the needle.
The beauty of podcast guesting lies in its compound effect. Every great interview you give creates ripples that extend far beyond the initial audience. Hosts recommend you to other hosts. Listeners become clients. Episodes get shared and reshared. Before you know it, you're the go-to expert that podcasters actively seek out.
What separates the 5% who succeed from everyone else: consistency and genuine service. The entrepreneurs who treat podcast appearances as relationship-building opportunities rather than sales pitches are the ones who see changeal results. They understand that serving the audience with real value naturally leads to business growth.
At Work & PLAY Entertainment, we've witnessed this change countless times. Our full-stack digital marketing and SEO expertise helps clients integrate their podcast appearances into comprehensive strategies that maximize every opportunity.
The path forward is simple but requires commitment. Start with creating your targeted podcast wishlist today. Research those hosts like you actually care about their work. Craft pitches that demonstrate genuine familiarity with their shows. Then be the kind of guest who makes hosts think, "I need to have them back on the show."
You don't need perfect equipment or years of speaking experience to get started. You just need valuable insights to share and the willingness to serve others generously. The rest - the leads, the authority, the business growth - follows naturally when you focus on delivering real value.
Ready to turn how to get on podcasts from a mystery into your secret weapon? We'd love to help you develop a customized strategy that aligns perfectly with your business goals and gets you in front of the right audiences.
Your expertise deserves a bigger stage. The podcasting world is waiting for what you have to offer. Take that first step today, and six months from now, you'll be amazed at how many doors have opened simply because you decided to share your knowledge with the world.
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