96. The $3,500 Podcast Appearance Fee w/Alex Sanfilippo

04/11/23 • 63 min

2 Listeners

Pitched: Real Stories of Pitching Bold Ideas

For the final part of this mini-series about paid podcast interviews, after talking about the practicalities and legalities, I wanted to speak to someone who had actually paid a significant podcast appearance fee to guest on a big show.

I've known Alex Sanfilippo in the podcasting space for a number of years, and I knew he had guested on John Lee Dumas' Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast. And I KNOW that EOFire charges a $3,500 appearance fee per interview. So I asked. And he said yes!

Alex Sanfilippo is the CEO and founder of PodPros, a software company focused specifically on the podcasting industry. He is also a podcast host of Podcasting Made Simple and a lead educator in podcasting.

Together we talk about why he decided to pay the podcast appearance fee, and what the whole interview process was like - from pitching to interview to the impact on his business. We also talked about what happens when a podcast interview is viewed as a transaction, rather than part of a mutually-beneficial relationship - does it change the value of the information being presented?

There's also a special offer for Go Pitch Yourself listeners if you want to try out PodMatch, Alex's software that automatically matches ideal podcast hosts and guests for interviews. Get 10% off through my affiliate link.

Topics covered include:

Alex's background in aerospace and how he started a podcast interviewing successful entrepreneurs, in order to learn how to become one himself
Alex's experience of appearing on John Lee Dumas' Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast, including why he chose to pay the $3,500 podcast appearance fee, and the impact it had on his business
Why he talks to the people he coaches about the value of appearing on smaller, niche podcasts, over big shows
The various products that Alex has created under the umbrella of his PodPros brand
Details of the special offer I got for Go Pitch Yourself listeners to try out PodMatch, Alex's service that matches podcast guests with hosts and vice versa - get 10% off through my affiliate link

Full show notes and resources: https://www.thepodwizegroup.com/podcast-appearance-fee

Topics covered include:

Alex's background in aerospace and how he started a podcast interviewing successful entrepreneurs, in order to learn how to become one himself
Alex's experience of appearing on John Lee Dumas' Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast, including why he chose to pay the $3,500 podcast appearance fee, and the impact it had on his business
Why he talks to the people he coaches about the value of appearing on smaller, niche podcasts, over big shows
The various products that Alex has created under the umbrella of his PodPros brand
Details of the special offer I got for Go Pitch Yourself listeners to try out PodMatch, Alex's service that matches podcast guests with hosts and vice versa - get 10% off through my affiliate link

Full show notes and resources: https://www.thepodwizegroup.com/podcast-appearance-fee

Previous Episode

95. Podcast Laws: Are there any? with Gordon Firemark

Are there podcast laws? If so, who writes them? And what do they regulate? In this episode, I chat with the Podcast Lawyer about what podcast laws exist, which ones don't, and how to navigate the legal implications of podcast guesting and hosting.

Why now? Well, on the previous episode of Go Pitch Yourself, I talked about the pay-to-play phenomenon where podcast hosts are charging their guests. Are there laws governing this type of relationship? And are hosts required to disclose that relationship? Not to fear, Gordon Firemark is here to answer all of these questions, and more.

Gordon has practiced media, entertainment, and business law since 1992 and is often referred to as The Podcast LawyerTM. He helps creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, and others achieve the dream of getting their messages out and making a meaningful impact with their craft.

A podcaster himself, he's been producing and hosting the Entertainment Law Update podcast since 2009 and recently launched the Fuzzy Lawgic podcast with Elsie Escobar, where they navigate the legal, social, and ethical questions facing creators today.

Together we talk about disclosure guidelines, contracts to have in place when podcasting, and other legal considerations for hosts and guests.

Topics covered include:

Gordon's background in entertainment law and why he saw that the rules were different when podcasts started to emerge
What Gordon has seen and is seeing with regards to podcast guests having to 'pay to play'
The audience's need for transparency when podcast guesting slides into paid advertising
Things that hosts should bear in mind when beginning a podcast, and how these can help you to avoid 'podfade'
Do hosts and guests need a podcast prenup when arranging guest appearances?

Full show notes and resources: https://www.thepodwizegroup.com/podcast-laws

Next Episode

97. How I Escaped A Podcast Sales Funnel

We've likely heard of sales funnels, but did you know there are podcast sales funnels, too? Candidly, if you have a podcast and are using it to grow a business, it should have some elements of an effective funnel in place. Lately, though, I've seen an interesting twist on how hosts are using podcasts, which includes them hosting interviews so they can invite 'guests' on who they would love to work with. Basically, they're using the show as a way to get time with someone who would otherwise not spend 30 minutes talking to them.

I don't have any issue with using this as a strategy. In fact, I've advocated for some podcasters using it. What I DO have an issue with is using your show as a way to funnel people closer to working with you and not truly being interested in showcasing their expertise or story for your audience.

And, I have an issue with it because I was recently stuck in a podcast sales funnel. Luckily, I managed to escape and am sharing all the ins and outs of my experience with you.

In this episode, I show you how to recognize when you've stumbled into a podcast sales funnel. I also explain how to evaluate if the guest visibility opportunity is still a good use of your time.

Topics covered include:

My recent experiences with podcast sales funnels and how I managed to escape them
Why the audience is of little or no importance if a podcast host's primary goal is to convert guests into clients
The red flags to be on the lookout for if you think you're in a podcast sales funnel
How to tell if the visibility opportunity on offer is still worth your time

Full show notes and resources: https://www.thepodwizegroup.com/escape-podcast-sales-funnel