On this episode of Rhodes to Success, we cover the 5 reasons podcasters will not book you. These tips come from my personal experience booking guests as part of the thousands of bookings completed by the Interview Connections team.
Key Lessons Learned:
1. Bad Headshot
- When you are a guest on a show, you become a brand ambassador of that podcast. If you have a bad headshot, it reflects poorly on the host and the show by association.
- You need to look professional.
- It’s nice to have a professional photoshoot, but smart phones such as the iPhone 6 do an amazing job.
- The type of photo you choose is a branding decision. It says a lot about you as a person and signals how you conduct business.
- Make sure your headshot matches your brand.
- When your headshot doesn’t look like you actually look in real life, it builds a level of distrust.
2. One Sheet
- There needs to be an established online presence, which includes social media and a website that confirms your experience and accomplishments.
- The purpose of a one sheet is to provide podcast hosts with all the information they need in one place.
- The one sheet should be designed and branded as an extension of your business.
- Ensure your bio is on your one sheet. This must read in third person so the guest can use it as your introduction.
- Include interview topics and questions on the one sheet as a sample for the host.
- Also have your contact information, socials, and Skype ID on the sheet so the host has all your details in one place.
3.Bio
- If your bio is too short, the host won’t have enough information about you to decide if you are credible and a good fit for the podcast.
- If the bio is too long, the host may not read it.
- The best length is 3-5 sentences and written in third person.
- Highlight the best part of your professional life that showcases you as a great guest for the podcast you are pitching.
4. How You Communicate Over Email
- If the guest doesn’t reply to emails promptly, hosts will question if the guest is actually interested in being on the show.
- Are you showing gratitude in your email communication?
- Are you being a giver and asking, “What else do you need?”
- Are you showing ‘diva-like’ tendencies and not trying to make the show a success?
- Tone is lost in text, so communicating in email can be lost in text. Be careful with how you communicate with show hosts over email.
5. Content
- Having content that is not valuable or relevant to the host’s audience will mean you get rejected.
- Each email you send should be customized to the show you are pitching.
- Spotlight the relevant part of your personality, expertise, or interest according to the show.
- It is not the host’s job to read your bio and figure out how you would fit into their show.
- It is your job to show the host how your content is valuable and relevant to their audience.
- If a show is weekly, then you need to convince the host that you are one of the top 52 people in your industry.
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