68. 10 Key Strategies To WIN Podcast Awards and Pitches
What factors determine an award-winning application?
This episode offers insightful guidance for podcast creators aiming to submit their work for awards, drawing on my experience as both a judge and an award-winning Podcast Marketer.
The 10 tips cover a range of topics crucial for a successful award submission, including aligning the podcast's purpose with the award's criteria, thorough research on past winners, understanding the competition, and leveraging personal and podcast achievements.
Timestamps:
00:00 Unlocking the Secrets to Award-Winning Podcasts
01:02 Diving Deep: Crafting the Perfect Pitch
03:52 Leveraging Your Unique Angle for Success
06:55 Harnessing AI and Community Insights for Your Pitch
10:01 Submission Strategies: Ensuring Your Podcast Stands Out
21:18 The Power of Storytelling in Podcasting
What Makes a Podcast Award-Worthy?
It's crucial to align your podcast's purpose with the award's criteria.
Ask yourself: is my podcast relevant to the category I’m entering? Research past winners to understand what judges have celebrated previously. Their profiles and content can provide valuable insights into what makes a podcast truly outstanding.
10 Vital Tips to Win Your Podcast Pitch / Award
Understand the Criteria: Reading the fine print is imperative. Many entries get eliminated for not meeting simple requirements. Make sure you understand the “why” behind each requirement and focus on how your podcast addresses them.
Highlight Your Unique Angles: Whether you're a female entrepreneur or an immigrant, leverage every aspect of your identity or story as a unique angle for your pitch. Consider how these elements shape your podcast and make it special.
Gather Testimonials and Feedback: Collect quotes from listeners and past guests. These testimonials highlight the impact of your podcast in a way that self-promotion cannot.
Effective Use of AI: Don't shy away from using tools like ChatGPT, or Gemini to refine your application. AI can help articulate your ideas eloquently, saving time while ensuring clarity.
Double-Check Everything: From the accuracy of links to the correctness of transcripts, a second set of eyes can catch mistakes you might miss. Seek feedback from someone whose opinion you trust or hire a fact-checker for relevant applications (check Air Media’s pricing guide here).
Enlist Help: Have peers or trusted clients review your submission. They may provide perspectives or notice details that can enhance your application.
Reflect on Your Growth: Recognize your journey as a host. Celebrate how far you’ve come, from initial hesitations to your current comfort level, and let this appreciation boost your confidence.
Emphasize Your Credentials: Having “award-winning” before your title can greatly enhance your credibility. Awards are more than a confidence boost; they signify recognized excellence.
Clean-Up Transcripts: Use AI tools to polish your podcast transcripts. This ensures your submission is professional, accurate, and free of errors.
Select the Right Episode: Choose a clip that provides enough context and demonstrates your podcast’s essence. Avoid clips that are all sound bites without substance or context!
Storytelling: The Heart of Podcasting
Great storytelling doesn’t require special effects or high-budget production. It boils down to creating content that impacts and resonates with your audience.
Keep your focus on moments that evoke emotion or present valuable insights.
A memorable story is often what sets apart an award-winning podcast.
Additional content you may want to check in from our friends at Podcasting Morning Chat, where 23-time Award-Winning Podcaster Dominic Lawson shares his insights and main strategies:
Conclusion:
The aforementioned advice stems from my personal experiences and insights, including being one of the 10 winners of the American Marketing Association Marketing Maverick Award (DFW Chapter) and some of the key elements that I’ve analyzed when judging this year’s entries for the International Women’s Podcast Awards (Languages other than English).
Creating an application that stands out requires more than an expensive mic, and a big budget behind the podcast: it requires having an eye (or ear!) for what creates good content, following directions, reviewing past winners for identifying trends and ultimately, crafting a story that people want to listen to.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Feeling stuck about your podcast’s growth? Do you have no idea where to start and want to partner up with a pro? Start here: https://thepodcastspace.com/services
Maximize Your Podcast Content Instant Access Course - www.thepodcastspace.com/course
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ABOUT THE HOST
Hi, I’m Ana Xavier, a multilingual award-winning podcast marketing and content strategist specialized in generating online visibility for women, multilingual, and minority impact-driven business owners.
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