Gill Moakes (00:01.87)
Welcome, welcome to the Heads Together podcast. I'm your host, Jormoaks, and thank you so much for joining me again this week. Good to have you here. Well, I'm gonna start with a bit of a rant, to be quite honest. This is a very unprepared recording, prompted by the submission of another horrendous pitch from someone who wanted to be a guest on the podcast.
And honestly, I don't know what some people think is going to be the host reaction when they send in just the lamest pitch ever that tells me nothing about them, nothing about why they would want to be a guest on the podcast and nothing about what value they would add to you, my beloved listeners. So I thought actually, because I know that for lots of you,
guest podcasting would be such a good strategy. You know, thinking back to the episode I did recently about, you know, those three strategies that form your marketing, overall marketing strategy. And, you know, this visibility piece, a brilliant way of getting more visible is to leverage other people's audiences. So if you would like to pitch to me to come and be my guest on this podcast,
I felt like the decent thing to do would be to share with you what a podcast host is looking for in terms of someone pitching to them. So that is what this episode is going to be all about. Let's dive in.
Okay, so first thing that comes to my mind is that loosely what I need to know when someone pitches to me is that they really want to be my guest on this podcast because they feel they've got something to offer my audience. That's like the main reason. And yet, honestly, some
Gill Moakes (02:18.286)
people kind of pitch as if they, they just want me to do them a favor and have them on as a guest for their own benefit of exposure. And they think about it. Why would I do that? This podcast is so precious to me. I love doing this podcast. really protective of it. And I really want every episode to be delivering something that my listeners
really want to hear. having people on as my guests isn't about doing them a favor. It's about serving my audience. So think about that when you're pitching to a podcast host or a video show host or whoever you're hoping that you can be a guest for. Think about coming at it from an angle of what do you have?
that my audience would really benefit from? And is it something that is complementary to the things that I talk about on the podcast? So another thing that happens quite often is that people will pitch to me and it's almost like I'm pitching myself because they clearly do the exact same thing I do.
And I think, you know, a bit of common sense, isn't it? It's like, if you are a business coach who serves the very same people I do, then it's unlikely that I'm going to invite you on to be my guest to offer the same thing that I offer my clients. Now that doesn't mean that you wouldn't be a great guest for the podcast because I am all about abundance and I'm all about collaboration over competition.
So there is space for all of us, but if you want to be a guest on the podcast, I'm not going to invite you on if you're just offering to serve up the same thing that I deliver. I want you to offer something different that I don't offer so that it's beneficial to my audience to have you on as my guest. Yeah. So really being specific about what
Gill Moakes (04:40.376)
can you bring that's a bit different but still aligned that will benefit my audience? And that piece around still being aligned is important too. What was it? had someone pitched to the podcast the other day. Now what was it they do? it slipped my mind, but it would have been such a good example because I remember reading the pitch and thinking, what the fuck? Like that hat, what?
Why would they even want to be a guest on my podcast because my audience you guys are not going to be in any way, shape or form the right audience for them.
So sometimes I think this is lazy marketing. know, this is probably, you know, something very generic. They've got this huge prospect list of podcasts that they're to pitch to and they're not taking the time and effort to craft the right pitch to the right podcast. And if that's the case, you're not going to get far because, know, as a podcast host, can see straight away if someone is not in any way familiar with your podcast.
So that brings me on to the next thing. First, I want to know that you have something to offer my audience that is really beneficial to them and aligned with the other episodes that I put out, the kind of things that we talk about on this podcast. Secondly, I really want to know that you've taken the time to listen to some episodes of the podcast to know what my style is to...
understand who my audience are. Right? If you if you haven't done that, and you're just working from a prospect list of potential podcast hosts, again, it's going to be kind of obvious. Or if it's not obvious, it's going to be an omission. So if you don't include in your pitch to a podcast host, something that reassures me that you know, and like
Gill Moakes (06:47.502)
podcast and have listened to it. Now I'm not saying that the only people who can who I want to have as my guest have to be lifelong listeners of the podcast. That would be a bit up my own arse. But I do think if you're pitching to me, if it's not me coming up to you and saying please will you be my guest, then if you're pitching to me, you know, that's kind of the least you can do right is listening and check.
that you would be a good fit. I think it's such an easy thing to do. It's such an easy way to then create a really good pitch that sums up why you think you'd make a good guest. Because if you can say, listen, I was listening to the episode you did about such and such. And I think that's quite aligned with what I talk about when I talk about such and the other.
And, you know, if someone pitches to me like that, so that it, you know, it doesn't make it hard for me to say yes, because they've done the work for me. They've absolutely outlined why it would be of benefit to my audience, and why it's aligned with what I talk about. They've done that work for me. They've made my job easy. And that's what I'm looking for. And it just shows that they've taken the time to listen and that they know that they would
be a good fit. So I think that is the other thing. I know that I do get a lot of pitches from agencies, so I PR companies who are, you know, pitching on behalf of their clients. And I don't think that's a bad thing. Don't get me wrong. I think that's great. And some of the agencies out there really do a good job of that. Some not so good.
So it's not necessarily that it comes from an agency that will put me off. It's about the way the agency does it. So if you are someone who's going to thinking of using a PR agency to pitch you onto podcasts, then I would really do your homework around, you know, that agency. Ask to see some examples of the kind of emails they send out for a start.
Gill Moakes (09:08.29)
because with the best in the world, they could be getting the right information from you. But if they're not conveying that in the right way to the podcast host, that's going to be a barrier to you getting a good take up on your offers of guesting. So yeah, agencies, not a bad thing, but just be really careful, make sure that they're doing it in the right way.
Sometimes it can sometimes an agency, PR agency could be really good to work with with a guest because they're really organized. You know, they get they make sure that the intake form gets completed efficiently and in time and that the headshots there and that the bios looking good, you know, so there can definitely be some advantages. But I think, you know, you've got to make sure you've done your work around the strategy. In other words, what kind of podcasts you want to be pitched to.
And also you've got to have that assurance that they do it in a really good way so that the podcast host is left thinking, yeah, actually that's a yes, because that sounds like a brilliant guest. And they're going to offer value to my audience. And this agency has done this in a really good way and they're making it easy for me. Okay. And then I think the, the last thing I want to talk about is, you know, as a, as a guest, if you pitch.
to the podcast host and you know the podcast host says yeah absolutely love to have you on as my guest. You know do make sure that that host gives you the time to just talk through the angle that they would like you to come at or that you want to come at together. You know make sure they give you enough time to do that. Make sure that they you know furnish you with everything you need.
to get the most out of being a guest on the episode. So for me, when someone's a guest on the heads together, my team and I make sure that they get a Google Drive folder and in that it will have images and quote tiles or pictures, audiograms, things that they can share to promote the episode. Because this is a really big one, is that
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podcast host really wants to know that there that you are going to make the most of the opportunity and share and promote that episode to your audience because it's a two way thing. You're going to get the benefit of visibility in front of my audience, but I would really like it if you then promoted it in front of your audience so that it becomes this real win win for us. So again, in your pitch email,
really outlining how you would propose to promote the episode is such a good standard, you know, just a really great standard to hit. And again, agencies, PR agencies actually quite good at that. They're quite good at saying how that, it would be promoted. But if you're pitching yourself, you know, why not include that too? Because it just demonstrates that you get it, you get the exchange that's going on here in terms of value for each other.
And once you've been accepted, then I think it's about honouring that and doing your best to promote, doing your best to be a good guest, get your form in time, get your headshot over, get your bio clear, make it nice and easy, and then really wholeheartedly promote the episode to your own audience.
however big or small that is, right? Maybe you're sharing it with your LinkedIn followers. Maybe you've got a small email list, but you're gonna do a specific email out to them just saying, hey, look, I was on this podcast, have a listen in. That's the exchange and that makes it feel good for everyone. I've been really lucky to be interviewed on other people's podcasts where they've done such a good job of this.
quite recently, Di Gillett interviewed me for the Power of Women podcast and she does a brilliant job. You know, she made sure I had everything I needed to promote the episode on her podcast. You know what, actually, this is funny story. This is true story. Di, if you're listening, this is, this made me laugh. must remember to share it with you. But after, after I'd promoted the Power of Women podcast episode that Di interviewed me on,
Gill Moakes (13:56.842)
I was actually approached by one of my clients saying, you didn't tell me you were rebranding the podcast. And they actually thought that the episode I was promoting was my new rebrand of Heads Together. And I thought about it and I thought, gosh, actually, I've done a good job there in promoting it because they actually thought it was my own podcast. And that's being a good podcast guest in my book. And
know, Dai's a fantastic host. So between us, we, it was a really good episode that we created. I was proud to be promoting that. And that's really that win-win situation that you want when you are a guest on someone else's podcast. It's, you know, create something, create a piece of content together that you both are eager to share. And that's the win-win.
Okay, I've calmed down from my rant at the beginning now. Have I missed out anything because I haven't even outlined or prepared this episode at all. I literally just hit record. Anything else I look for when yeah. Other one is it's really interesting for a host if you're pitching to a host. If you have been on other podcasts, definitely drop the links in there. You know, don't be afraid of being a name dropper. Because it gives a good indication that
know, yeah, you're someone who knows how to be a good podcast guest. If you've done it a few times, you've probably, you know, got over that initial nerves of doing it. And that's always a good sign for a podcast host. Not that we don't like first timers. But yeah, of course, it makes it easier if someone knows what they're doing. You know, so don't be afraid to share other things that you've been a guest on. And almost, you know, this is an insider one, but
I would love it if someone worded their pitch to me and said, I really would love to be on your podcast, Jill, here's why. And all of the things I just said about, you know, here's how I'd add value. And then if they put at the end, I promise you, I know how to be a good podcast guest. And, you know, I really will honor that commitment. For you, I feel like that would go a long way with me because that would show this awareness that, you know, hosting a podcast is a
Gill Moakes (16:20.0)
It's a job. It's like, it's, it's fun. I love doing this, but it's a serious thing too for me. This is my primary content platform. And if I invite someone to share that platform with me, it really has to be right. And I really, I would appreciate it if someone was really demonstrating in their pitch email that they understand that, you know, that is a
it's quite a gift to be invited on as a guest on someone else's podcast. Unless you are Mel Robbins, or Brene Brown or anyone else like that. And if you're listening and you want to be a guest on the podcast, you can be any kind of shitty guest you like, because I still have you on. Just want to make that clear, just in case you're listening, which probably are. Anyway, I hope that has been helpful as fellow coaches and entrepreneurs, guest podcasting, really good strategy. And
how to get your best chance of being accepted as a guest on a podcast. If you would like to be a guest on this podcast, I will put a link in the show notes where you can apply. And yeah, or just email me. In fact, just email me and then you can demonstrate what you've learned from this episode. So email info at Jormoaks.com and we will get back to you. All right.
Listen, have a really good week, everyone. And I will see you next week. Same time, same place. Bye for now.
