To Pay or Not to Pay to Be on Podcasts

Recently, a client was invited to be a guest on a podcast. The host highlighted some big numbers and assured her she was a great fit.

When I asked if there was a fee, she said nothing had been mentioned. Something felt off, so I encouraged her to dig a little deeper.

The next day, she told me that after spending time completing an online application, the final step was to pay nearly $300 for “production costs.” There had been no indication of a fee until that point.

She asked if she should go ahead. I researched the show and discovered that the numbers the host promoted were not as spectacular as my client had been led to believe. In fact, they were nowhere close. Since there are plenty of quality shows that do not charge, I advised her not to pay.

What I found misleading was that the fee was hidden until after the time investment of filling out the form. Transparency matters. If a show charges, that information should be clear upfront.

Here’s the truth: most podcasts do not charge guests. Charging is very rare and usually limited to top-tier shows with massive audiences and significant production budgets. For the majority of podcasts, the exchange is about valuable content, not fees.

If you want to learn how to get on podcasts without paying, how to pitch the right way, and how to avoid costly mistakes, join me this Wednesday, September 17th at 10 a.m. PT for the GET BOOKED ON PODCASTS" FREE WEBINAR From Pitch to Podcast: The Proven Path to Getting Booked

veganvisibility.com/podcast-booking-webinar