How to Pitch Podcasts To Land Yourself Guest Spots to Increase Visibility

Are you tired of shouting into the social media void? If so, podcast guesting might just be the visibility strategy you've been missing. Being a guest on the right podcasts doesn’t just grow your reach... it builds authority, opens up new sales conversations, and makes your message go further with less effort.

I sat down with Carrolee Moore, founder of the Podcast Pitching Society, to unpack how to pitch podcasts effectively on Strategy Talks. Carrolee specializes in helping experts land meaningful guest spots, not just to talk, but to convert.

She joined me to share what makes a pitch stand out, how to prep for a guest spot, what not to do once you land it, and how to repurpose your podcast appearances long after the episode goes live.

As I told Carrolee during the show,

“You're one of only three people this season on my podcast, that I didn’t already know. That means your pitch really stood out.”

And that was just the beginning. Here’s how to do podcast pitching right.

1. Your Podcast Pitch Isn’t About You. The pitch is About the Audience

Most people lead with their credentials. That’s a mistake.

“It’s not about rattling off all of your expertise,” Carrolee said. “You need to be clear, concise, and make it obvious you care about the audience, not just about getting a 45-minute sales pitch.”

If you want to know how to pitch podcasts that actually say yes, start by asking yourself: what value will the host’s audience get from this conversation?

You're not trying to prove how smart you are. You're trying to prove you're a match for their audience’s needs.

Make your topic timely and relevant. Reference past episodes, not just the latest one. Show that you’ve listened, not just skimmed the feed.

As I told her, “It was a topic I’d covered before, but you gave it a new angle. You made it easy to say yes.”

2. Ditch the Templates and Personalize Your Pitch

Carrolee didn’t hold back on what not to do.

“Everyone’s onto that game, you copy-pasted the last episode title. It’s lazy. We can all tell.”

Hosts want genuine engagement, not mass outreach. That means:

• Referencing specific episodes and why they connected with you

• Explaining how your expertise offers a different or complementary take

• Speaking like a human, not like an AI or a marketing assistant

I shared this during the conversation,

“I’ve had people pitch me and say, ‘I loved your episode with so-and-so,’ and I’ve never even had that person on.”

If you’re outsourcing your pitches, make sure the person pitching actually knows your business and your voice. As Carrolee put it, “This is your reputation on the line.”

3. Make Your Pitch Short, Specific, and Strategic

Keep it short. Get to the point. Include the goods up front.

Carrolee’s team includes a guest info sheet with their pitches.

“It gives hosts everything they need in one place,” she explained.

From your proposed topic to your bio, make it easy for a host to say yes.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t send your pitch at 9 a.m. on a Monday. I shared this during the episode: “Most of my podcast pitches come in on Monday mornings. Try a different time if you want to stand out.”

Also, don’t be afraid to pitch outside of email. “If you follow me on LinkedIn, engage with my show, then DM me with a thoughtful message, I’ll read it. That shows effort.”

4. Follow Up More Than Once

Think the host ghosted you? Not so fast.

“Most people assume they’ve been ignored,” Carrolee said. “But they’re just busy. The magic’s in the follow-up.”

Her team often books clients after the second or third email. “We’ve had people reply on the third follow-up and say, ‘I was on vacation. This is perfect, let’s book it.’”

Don't give up too early. Persistence pays off.

5. Prepare Like a Pro for Your Podcast Appearance

Getting the yes is just the beginning. Showing up prepared is what turns listeners into leads.

“This is not just a conversation,” Carrolee said. “This is an opportunity to introduce yourself to people who have no idea who you are and make them care.”

She suggests preparing like it's a mini keynote.

That means:

• Coming with stories

• Using a simple framework: Problem, Solution, Impact

• Practicing your talking points

• Bringing energy and intention

• Speaking with clarity and control

Carrolee explained,

“If you’ve had hundreds of clients, all your stories start to blur together. Pick one or two specific examples that show the impact of your work.”

And, of course, be on time, turn off your notifications, and check your lighting and sound. “You are responsible for the energy of the podcast,” she said. “Even if the host is dry as paint.”

I added my own advice,

“Get in the habit of turning off all your notifications, on both your phone and desktop. Close your tabs. Show up focused.”

6. Don’t Be Boring, and Other Mistakes to Avoid

There’s a short list of what not to do when guesting on podcasts, but it matters.

Don’t be boring. Don’t be late. Don’t rely on the host to make you sound interesting. Don’t show up with bad audio or a messy background. And please, don’t list credentials. Tell stories instead.

“I’ve done this for four years,” I said. “And you can tell which guests are seasoned and which ones say ‘um’ 300 times.”

Carrolee added,

“Your voice needs to be dynamic. Most podcasts are audio only. You need to give people a reason to keep listening.”

7. Maximize the Impact After the Episode Airs

This is where most people stop, but the opportunity is just getting started.

Carrolee advises using podcast content far beyond the initial social posts.

Here’s how to repurpose your podcast appearance:

• Pull short clips of just you speaking

• Send episodes to leads before sales calls

• Create a library of interviews to nurture prospects

• Add media mentions to your site and social bios

• Share with clients as a way to deepen relationships

“Every podcast I go on becomes part of my pipeline,” she said. “I send past interviews to potential clients and they come to the call already sold.”

And if you're not getting assets from the host? Ask.

“Most podcasts will give you something,” she said, “but don’t expect it. Ask for it. And ask if you can have at least one clip where you’re the only one speaking.”

As a host, I love giving guests all the tools to share their episode. I told Carrolee, “I give the transcript, the video, the images, the clips, everything. Because I want you to use it.”

If you're a host, take note. Make it easy for your guests to promote your show.

The Bottom Line: Get Strategic With How You Pitch Podcasts

Podcast guesting isn’t a random opportunity. It’s a visibility strategy. If you do it right, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your marketing mix.

Write a pitch that shows you’ve done the research. Show up prepared with energy, clarity, and purpose. And use every episode to build your brand and fill your pipeline.

As Carrolee said,

“2026 is going to be a game-changer for podcast guesting. This is no longer a well-kept secret.”

And if you’ve been thinking about pitching podcasts, now is the time.

• Find the right hosts.

• Make real connections.

• Show up with value.

That’s how you get on the air.

10 Smart ChatGPT Prompts You Can Use After Reading This Blog

• Write a podcast pitch email using my expertise in [topic]

• Help me draft a guest info sheet for podcast guesting

• Summarize a 30-second clip from this podcast transcript

• List podcasts in [industry] where I could be a great guest

• Turn my bio into a podcast-friendly intro paragraph

• Draft follow-up emails for podcast pitches that haven’t gotten a reply

• Make a list of story ideas I can use in podcast interviews

• Create a checklist to prepare for being a podcast guest

• Repurpose a podcast interview into a LinkedIn post

• Write a short pitch I can send via LinkedIn DM to a podcast host