Welcome to another exciting edition of *Next Future Today*!

I'm your host, Dan Keldsen, and I'm thrilled to share insights from our recent episode featuring Alan Cassinelli, Brand and Product Marketing Manager at Blaze.ai.

This episode is a goldmine for anyone interested in harnessing the power of podcast appearances for personal branding and thought leadership!

Episode Highlights:

Strategic Outreach Tactics:
Alan reveals his innovative approach to securing podcast spots, including how he strategically identified and contacted the CEO of a competitor by utilizing Spotify to filter by podcast appearances.

Crafting the Perfect Pitch:
Learn how Alan developed concise, compelling pitches by focusing on unique deep knowledge areas, such as Harvard Business School experiences and remote work philosophies, rather than direct company promotion.

The Power of Preparation:
Discover Alan’s advice on the importance of media training and using bullet points to plan key talking points and calls to action for podcast appearances.

4-Stage Pitching Process:
Alan outlines his methodical four-stage process for successfully pitching podcasts – from researching to developing a tailored offer, executing outreach, and following up effectively.

Tools for Success:
Gain insights into how Alan uses Airtable to maintain a database of influential contacts and track outreach efforts, ensuring sustained and informed engagement.

Podcast Marketing Strategy:
Understand the strategic choice of guest appearances as a top or middle of funnel marketing strategy designed to build trust and showcase personality to a wider audience.