The Power of Podcasting with Andrew Allemann

It’s easy to see that, in the past couple of years, podcasts have become more and more prevalent in the world of business and digital marketing. With the shift from offline to technological, having a way to reach the masses that exist in your area of expertise and interest is a necessity, and podcasts are—very clearly—one of the best ways to do so. However, if you’ve never been on a podcast before and have a want and need to get into the game, finding a good place to start can be a little overwhelming. With so many podcasts floating around in the internet sphere, how do we know where to start, and which podcasts are the best fit for us?

That’s where Andrew Allemann comes in. The founder of Podcast Guests—an online directory of people that are willing to be guests on podcasts that match their area of expertise and qualifications—Andrew has found a way to connect people with ease, and for free, too! This week, Andrew and I talk about the importance of podcasts, how his website works, and what you should do if you’re looking to get into making your own podcast, or trying to be a guest to others. Let’s get started!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Where Andrew got the idea for his podcast! He was running his own podcast, and after 50 episodes, Andrew realized he was repeatedly searching through his Rolodex of contacts to get guests. He needed a broader look and to get different people for the show, and while there’s a lot of services out there that can help, they can be expensive. So, Andrew wanted to create something that was more a platform, and Podcast Guests was created!

How it works when you sign up for Podcast Guests. Weekly, Andrew sends out a letter to over 6,000 people featuring podcasts that are looking for guests and what their qualifications are. If you need those qualifications, you simply click a link, full out a form, and the information is sent to the host! It’s really that easy! Andrew also tells us about the paid version of his website, explaining that it makes it easier for people to find you by uploading you into a directory of guests. That way, hosts can come to you, and not the other way around.
Which is better if you’re just starting out, hosting or being a guest. Andrew definitely encourages people to be a guest first, because it’ll help you understand if podcasting is something you want to do in the long term. You’re making a commitment not only to yourself but to your listeners as well, so being a guest for a while lets you understand and create your style, what you think works and your niche. Then, if you find that you excel at it, you should look into starting a podcast of your own!
How to host a podcast. Andrew explains that, honestly, it’s easier than most people think! You want to talk about your area of expertise, and a podcast is a lot easier to manage than a radio show, for example. It’s lower risk, it’s not live and audio can be edited to erase any mistakes or awkward moments, and there’s a smaller audience that hears you, making it less nerve-wracking than being in front of live people. Andrew also explains that podcasting is the perfect medium to get more comfortable with public speaking and interview styles.
What you should do in order to get accepted onto a podcast! Andrew explains that you should make it as easy as possible to have the podcaster on the show and make the interview even easier. Additionally, you should be using what’s called a “one sheet”, which is basically a pitch about yourself. It explains what your expertise is, why you’re qualified, specific topics you can talk about, and example questions the host can ask you! Andrew also explains that you should talk about what you can do for them in terms of expanding their audience, and how you can make it grow larger with your presence.
Why it’s more important to be of a high quality, rather than meeting a certain amount of listeners every week. 200 downloads might not seem like a lot, but Andrew encourages you to reframe it to show how valuable podcasting is as medium. If you picture those 200 people in an auditorium every week, people who are willing to hear what you have to see, it becomes a better number to accept!
How to create your own podcast! Andrew explains that, if you’ve spent time as a guest, you have an idea of what’s out there, the topics that people discuss, and the level of professionalism that’s required in order to host. First and foremost, you need to pick a topic that you’re passionate about, otherwise, you won’t be able to stay consistent. Write down what your goals are for doing the podcast, and think about one of the best benefits about podcasting, which is having one on one conversations with people you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get ahold of.
What some great resources are for learning, especially on the technological side. Andrew suggests Dave Jackson’s School of Podcasting, and Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income, for starters. Additionally, Andrew encourages you to not overthink it! It looks him extra months to get started due to focusing too much on making everything perfect, and it’s much better to just get going rather than wait. Get a few episodes under your belt, figure out the editing process, and release it!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Did Andrew not get to answer a burning question on your mind? No problem! You can get ahold of Andrew through the contact tab on his website here, or at any of the social media listed above. So many of us use podcasts to help other people within our community and share our extensive knowledge about digital marketing, and it’s wonderful that someone like Andrew exists to bring us all together in ways that make it possible for us to connect and reach out!