💌 The newsletter edition about pitching podcasts to newsletters 📬

🤸‍♀️Podcast marketing: let's have some fun.🌈

Bonjour.

Here’s some advice that could apply to almost all of you: spend less time posting your podcast to social media and more time pitching newsletters. While a great way to engage the audience you already have, social media does not generally get you new listeners. Newsletters do.

I’m going to get into some podcast newsletters, many of them take pitches. But don’t just think podcast newsletters. Google “YOUR PODCAST SUBJECT + newsletter” to find the ones that might love to feature you. Newsletters are the shit right now, I’m sure you can find tons that fit perfectly into your niche.

Last week, Arielle Nissenblatt led a great Twitter Spaces conversation about pitching your show to newsletters. It was a fun and info-filled session. She posted an amazing thread with notes. Here are mine:

• Subscribe to every newsletter for a few weeks you before you pitch. Read as many issues as you can so you get a sense of what kind of content the newsletter editor is looking for.

• Pitches should not be more than 300 words. Most people prefer 100-200.

• Formal press releases have been cancelled, CANCELLED, I say. Make your pitch feel like a personal note.

• Start the note off proving that you know what the newsletter is all about, WHY you think the newsletter should feature your show.

• Everyone likes to be pitched differently. It is okay to straight-up ask “how can I pitch you?” Find out about length, timing, what shows the editor likes to include, etc.

• If it’s an industry newsletter (like PodNews) only pitch if there is something industry people would be interested in. Are you using a new Spotify feature to produce? Are you telling a story in a unique way?

• Include photos of you and the team. Not just show art!

• The most important point to get across: Why should they write about you NOW? Be timely with your pitch.

• Only pitch if you can give the writer something to listen to. “My show is coming out in a month and there is no trailer” is a pointless pitch.

Here’s a list of newsletters you should subscribe to. Remember that they’re not all looking for the same thing. Subscribe, learn, then pitch if appropriate.

• Podcast the Newsletter (mine:) Recommendations, takes pitches.

• EarBuds: Curated by a different person each week (could be you!)

• Podcast Gumbo: A short list of Paul Kondo’s favorite things.

• Hurt Your Brain: A collection of thinkey podcast episodes from Erik Jones.

• Inside Podcasting: Industry news and spotlighted shows.

• Podyssey: Recommendations (helps if you are Podyssey community member)

• Podcast Bestie: Interviews, recommendations

• Podcast Brunch Club: Monthly curated podcast list based on a theme

• PodNews: Industry news

• Find that Pod: Recommendations

• Podcast Review: Recommendations

• PodMov Daily: Interview, news, recommendations

• HotPod: Industry news

• Great Pods: Critical reviews

• AIR’s newsletter: Grants, gigs, jobs and updates for indies.

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PITCH OF THE WEEK

I’m going to be publishing the best pitch I get in every issue of Podcast Marketing Magic. Submit your DYNAMITE pitch to lauren@tinkmedia.co.

I got this pitch from Keith Korneluk, the maker of Modem Mischief. It feels like it was written to me and only me. (I think it was.) I can tell Keith didn’t blast this to 1,000 people, so I feel special. You guys, I just want to feel special. (I’m kind of kidding, but making me feel special is a way to get me to read your pitch.)

Here are some other compliments that I respond well to:

• I love your outfit.

• Your eyelashes/nails look great.

• I think it’s great you have an unhealthy obsession with Disney World.

• Your cat is actually cuter than all of the other cats.

• I read your entire newsletter every week.

• I loved it when you recommended _____________.

• Have you considered running for office?

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LET’S SWAP

I am currently looking to swap for the podcasts Caper, How to Do the Pot, Our Body Politic, and PEOPLE Every Day. Fill out the form if you want to talk with me about a promo, newsletter, or social media swap.

Here are just a few other shows seeking to swap.

Big Fat Positive: Big Fat Positive is a smart and funny podcast about two best friends who found out they were pregnant at the same time. The show follows the moms-to-be on their journey through pregnancy and into new motherhood, week by week. With weekly check-ins, special guests and segments such as "OMG I’m Freaking Out," hosts Shanna Micko & Laura Birek recount the often hilarious and always honest highs and lows of being a pregnant woman and new mom. We have a loyal and engaged following of new parents, people who are trying to conceive, and pregnant folks. We just released our 175th weekly episode and have never missed a week!

An Eyesore and a Plague: An Eyesore and a Plague is a narrative podcast with an original music score about the creation of the NYC suburbs. It tells the story of five municipalities around New York that were founded by rich people to avoid local taxes, exclude outsiders, ban tourism and undermine local infrastructure. In-between bonus episodes are talk show style and discuss interesting facts that didn't make it into the main narrative, plus behind-the-scenes details about recording the musical score.

The Purple Principle: The Purple Principle is a nonpartisan bi-weekly podcast exploring the perils of partisanship in the U.S. Created and hosted by lifelong Independent Robert Pease, along with co-host and Civic Genius Executive Director Jillian Youngblood, the show tackles issues on polarization through engaging in-depth interviews, and each episode incorporates archival clips and an original score.

The Clip Out: People are drinking the Peloton kool-aid and each week we’re there to brew a fresh batch. We interview instructors, employees, and fellow Peloton fanatics. The community is inspiring and increasing exponentially. The Clip Out is a weekly audio magazine that’s a must-listen for all those people who can’t stop talking about Peloton.

Follow Friday: The podcast about who you should follow online! Every week, a creative person talks about who they follow, and takes us on a guided tour to the best people on the internet.

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