What’s the best way to get featured in industry publications or podcasts?

Getting featured in industry publications or podcasts is an excellent way to boost your credibility and reach. Here’s a framework inspired by my experience that can help you achieve this:

1. Capture Your Expertise: Begin by identifying your niche and expertise. What unique perspective or experience can you offer that others can’t? Maybe it’s a specific success story, a failure from which you learned valuable lessons, or an innovative process you've developed. Capturing this essence is crucial because it defines your story and what you bring to the table.

2. Develop Your Pitch: Your pitch should be concise, compelling, and tailored to the publication or podcast’s audience. Research the outlet’s previous content—what do they value? If you're pitching a podcast, listen to a few episodes to understand the host’s style and what themes resonate with their listeners. Consider sharing anecdotes that highlight your expertise or the journey you've taken from the corporate world to freelancing.

3. Expose Interested Parties to Your Work: Reach out to editors, journalists, or podcast hosts in a personalized way. Mention specifics about their work that resonate with you—authentic praise goes a long way. Provide value by suggesting how your story or insights would engage their audience. It’s not just about what you want to share but also how you can enhance their content.

4. Engage and Build Relationships: Follow and participate in the community surrounding your target publications or podcasts. Engage with their content, share it, comment thoughtfully, and join any related forums or discussions. Building genuine relationships often opens doors to opportunities you weren’t actively seeking. For instance, I’ve connected with hosts simply by being an active, insightful participant in their content.

5. Prepare for Opportunities: Once you secure a feature, be prepared with talking points, media, and a clear message. Practice your interview or draft your piece to be concise and impactful. Remember, it’s not just about getting featured but ensuring you deliver value when you do.

6. Reflect and Iterate: After any feature, reflect on what worked and what didn’t. How did the audience react? Did it help you make new connections or grow your influence? Use these insights to refine your approach for future opportunities.

Success in getting featured often stems from redefining what value means to you and how you communicate that to others. It’s less about self-promotion and more about sharing meaningful experiences and insights that contribute to the larger conversation in your industry.