I answered a question on Threads about what makes a great pitch from an author wanting to be a guest on a podcast. Felt worthy of repeating and expanding my answer here. Maybe other podcasters feel differently, but I bet there’s overlap. And this will help other potential guests out there.

The best pitches don’t have the vibe of “if you’re looking for a guest.” I’m not looking for a guest. You’re pitching me!

The vibe you want to give is: “here’s what I can offer your listeners and add to your catalogue of episodes.” The show is for the listeners. Any great pitch leads with the listeners. Then you can say why you’re the right person for that topic.

My show (Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship) is 5 years old so I’ve seen the good and the bad. The good pitches have a VERY specific episode angle tailored to my topic but not an angle I have already covered, which can be noted quickly by scanning my titles. This is true for most podcasts. I get you can’t listen to a bunch of episodes. But you can and should scan the titles and pitch a specific episode idea.

Offering title ideas is also great because it makes the angle clear and demonstrates an understanding of my show.

Some pitches are way too general. “There’s a friendship in my novel” is not an episode pitch. “Friendship is important to me” is not an episode idea. “Friendship is essential to our social health” is not an episode pitch—it’s the entire thesis of my show.

Always be specific, not general. Listeners first, not your book first. Why do the listeners need THIS episode? That’s the right frame of mind when pitching.

Happy to answer questions!