👆👆👆 The Podcast Hotline 👆👆👆 (Click to listen!) 👆👆👆
Devin here! Even though I’m Canadian, I need to tell you about a hotline that’s better than Drake’s hotline bling. A unique podcast marketing opportunity in a really fun disguise.
You may have heard that Lauren and Arielle are dedicated call-in girls. They love any opportunity to call in to a show. But before calling in to podcasts was a thing, hotlines had their moment. They Might Be Giants had Dial-a-Song, and then there were 900 numbers, as recently covered on Twenty Thousand Hertz episode. That episode was released as we at Tink were preparing to launch a hotline of our own and it got us even more stoked about the idea. It highlighted why hotlines were so popular and the many different uses they could serve. We recognized an opportunity to put a podcast-spin on hotlines and how one could be useful to podcast listeners and creators.
If you’ve called Tink’s podline already, you've heard how it works. We feature a new podcast recommendation every week day and you can leave your own recommendation at the sound of the beep. Honestly, the voicemails make our day. There’s something so delightful about the soundscape as someone is describing a podcast they’re excited for you to listen to.
This leads us to how podcasters can get involved and do a little shameless, self-promo and fun marketing.
The voicemails we receive are added to our list of recommendations for the chance to be featured on the hotline. That means calling in could get your show featured! Of course, just like any time you’re talking about your show, your recommendation should be as captivating and intriguing as possible!
What does that look like? Here are some examples we’ve featured:
Meet Lauren Ober. Through her exceptionally raw and honest storytelling, she’s taking us along on her journey of being diagnosed as autistic at the age of 42. In The Loudest Girl in the World, she challenges the stereotypes society holds about autism and helps us rethink what society could look like if it was more inclusive to autistic and neurodivergent people. Lauren is making herself the subject of a very up close and personal documentary to help us all realize how we can be more understanding of ourselves and those around us. Experience neurodiversity in a way it’s never been portrayed before.
How does a film go from an idea to the big screen? And what happens to the filmmakers behind them? Get ready to find out how our favorite filmmakers made it happen and how it changed them on How I Got Greenlit. It’s hosted by creator of HBO’s Project Greenlight, Alex Keledjian, and Emmy Award Winning Producer Ryan Gibson. Past guests have included Craig Perry, Ryan Donowho, and Anthony Jaswinski.
When you’re dealing with a dark season of your life, it can feel like the light is so far away. Thankfully, All the Wiser is here to prove that there is hope and possibility on the other side of pain. Host Kimi Culp brings you dramatic stories of survival, the realities of life when facing death, and unforgettable lessons on love and loss. All while donating $2000 every episode to a nonprofit making a difference in the world. Today's episode is an interview with Meyli Chapin, who survived an attack on a hotel complex in Kenya by Al-Shabaab terrorists that left 22 civilians dead.
What makes these examples effective?
They pose questions that you’ll want to learn the answers to
They mention the show’s unique value offering (what makes them different or stand out)
They mention a specific episode to start with
Want to hear some more examples? We mixed some of our favorite voicemails into our own radio show, which you can listen to at the top of this newsletter (transcript available at link).
Now that the podline has been open for a few weeks, we’re switching things up and offering podcasters another way to get their show featured. But again, it’s a lesson in perfecting your messaging.
We all know the questionable responses you get when you post a tweet looking for podcast recommendations, right? Maybe it’s just a link. Maybe it’s the whole show description. Whatever it might be, they aren’t usually making the most compelling pitch. (fun fact: Tink’s first tweet kinda proved this)
Instead of those typical responses, we want to encourage podcasters to really hone their pitches, of any length. In this case, one sentence.
We did the thing you don’t usually do and actually asked for podcast recommendations on Twitter, BUT with the stipulation that it can only be one sentence. From these submissions, we’ll be featuring shows on the hotline each week. But you gotta call to find out which ones!
How does this one sentence fit into your podcast marketing?
Ideally, this one sentence is a logline that you’ve developed. You might alter it depending on who you’re pitching to, but a strong logline can go a long way and come in handy very often. It makes it easy for you and even your listeners to easily convey what your show is about in a compelling way. It’s like a quick elevator pitch. Ma’ayan Plaut wrote a really great article with tips and examples for effective loglines.
You want to be:
Emotional and evocative, without being cliche
Intriguing without being vague
Descriptive without being wordy
So podcasters, now’s the time. Go forth, perfect your voicemail pitches. Perfect your loglines. And give us a call or send us a tweet. The hotline is open!
If you haven’t called the hotline yet today, here’s a hint for which show is featured:
☎️ Listen to Tink's Call-In Show (& how it can help you market your podcast) 🪄