Send a pre-pitch before your podcast pitch
Writing pitches is not just for sponsorships. The same skill can help you secure paid partnerships, book guest spots, arrange promo swaps, pitch your show to newsletters, and create other opportunities that lead to audience growth or revenue.
A good pitch doesn't need to be long, packed with details, or even be 100% certain in what it's asking.
It does need to quickly show: why this podcast? Why this idea? Why now? What are you asking them to do?
But even before any of that, we need to warm ourselves up to the person / publication we're pitching to. ESPECIALLY if this is our first point of contact with them.
Send a pre-pitch BEFORE you share your official pitch.
Suggestions for Implementation
On pre-pitching: if you've never met the person you're pitching, you don't want your first interaction with them to be "hello, please do me this solid by featuring me / writing about me."
We want to be helpful, kind, and to acknowledge that they are a human with a workload too.
Before we even do this, check their website. It's possible they already outline how they like to receive pitches. It's also possible that they don't take pitches!
I've crafted a few pre-pitch templates you can use as a jumping-off point. The goal is to get a sense from your pitch receiver what they're looking for, how they like to receive pitches, and what to include in your actual ask. Make sure to customize them.
Here are a few tips on what goes into the actual pitch. I'll be brief with them and have you read more about them here / see some examples.
- Reframe your goal: you're not pitching... you're offering.
- Use a specific subject line. Think like a producer: what's the benefit for the audience?
- Genuinely. Really. Truly: listen to / watch their show or know the product you're pitching yourself to. Be a student of the craft.
- Lead with relevance. Explain the connection between their goals or audience and your idea.
- Make one clear ask. Your partnership can evolve later, but be clear in the early stages.