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(By Traci Long DeForge) You’ve got podcasting questions, and Traci Long DeForge is here to answer them. Traci is the founder of Produce Your Podcast and a member of the PBJ Editorial Board. This week Traci answers questions on podcasts as a networking tool, writing a high-impact podcast description, and finding guests for your show.
1. How can I use my podcast as a networking tool for my business? Podcasts are the hottest new relationship development tool. Your podcast can serve as a great way to build brand awareness and build stronger relationships with new and existing customers.
Below are 3 networking tips to put into place today: 1) Reach out and invite a new client or networking contact to be a guest on your show. Let them share their story as it relates to your episode topic. This is a good way to offer exposure for your guests while also giving you a chance to generate a deeper connection to your new client or contact without putting on a full-court sales pitch 2) Interview an existing client to share industry expertise with your audience. This will give an alternate perspective to your audience on a relatable topic and can even result in them giving an impromptu testimonial about how much they benefit from working with you. 3) Elevate your expert status by reaching out to podcasts in your niche to be a guest on a show where your audience is likely to hear you. This will increase your visibility and showcase your industry expertise.
2. What’s the key to making my podcast description more impactful? Your podcast description provides an opportunity to give more detailed information about you and your podcast. Being short, succinct, and to the point is important when writing your description. 1) Use the characters in the first few sentences wisely. Don’t waste space on starting the first sentence with “In this podcast…” or restating the name of the podcast. You’ll catch the attention of people searching for podcasts by starting your description with words that describe your show’s content. For example: If you’re hosting a show about mental illness you could start out by phrasing a question, i.e.: Do you or anyone you know suffer from Anxiety, Depression or Mental Illness? 2) Have you interviewed any high-profile guests with name recognition in the content space of your show? Highlight their names in the show description to set the tone on what your listeners can expect when they download existing episodes and set future expectations on the quality of your content. 3) Include your website URL in your description. This gives people the opportunity to visit your site, drive engagement to other offerings on your site, or sign up for your newsletter to keep in touch.
3. Help! I’m running out of people to be guests on my podcast after already reaching out to people I know. Do you have any suggestions on how to find people to be on my podcast? Getting guests on your podcast can be time-consuming but the time you put into it will make for a better quality listener experience. Here are some suggestions for researching and finding guests: 1) Review profiles on LinkedIn. This is a quick and easy way to find experts in your podcast content category. Make a list of profiles that fit your show and then send direct messages to potential guests inviting them appear on the podcast. Be sure to include a link to the show and/or your website for them to review 2) Join Facebook and LinkedIn Groups focused on your content category and you’ll find many opportunities to find qualified guests within these targeted groups. You can learn more about the people posting and gauge if they are a good fit. You can also post about your podcast and let the group know you’re looking for guests and have interested people post a reply. Several podcast-focused Facebook groups have specific days when you can post if you’re looking for guests. This is helpful because they are typically podcasters themselves and understand the importance of being a good guest. 3) Hire out guest management services who specialize in finding you a guaranteed number of guests per month. If budget permits, this is an efficient way to secure guests and also be pitched to be a guest on other shows.