Grow Your Network Globally Through Podcasting Connections and Collaborations
Most podcasters unknowingly limit growth by focusing exclusively on the United States market, ignoring that 90 percent of internet users live outside America. This geographical myopia creates an artificial ceiling on audience size, business opportunities, and networking potential. When you restrict your podcast to a single country, you're competing against thousands of established shows fighting for the same limited audience rather than accessing billions of potential listeners worldwide.
In this episode of the Podcasting Secrets podcast with host Nathan Gwilliam, Alejandra Avalos Carranza, founder and CEO of ACMG Digital, shares how she built an international network through podcasting by landing high-profile guests including Dreamworks and 20th Century Fox executives as relatively new podcaster. Her journey from real estate investor to global digital entrepreneur demonstrates how strategic pitching, authentic collaboration, and embracing rejection transforms podcasting from hobby into powerful business development tool.
Alejandra's strategies for pitching big-name guests, handling rejection, and monetizing through collaboration fees provide an actionable framework any podcaster can implement regardless of current audience size or industry experience.
90 Percent of Your Potential Audience
Only 10 percent of internet users reside in the United States, meaning podcasters focusing solely on the American audience ignore 90 percent of potential listeners, customers, and collaboration partners. Ali emphasized that globalization represents the fastest path to scaling any podcast, advising podcasters to examine analytics to understand where listeners actually consume content rather than assuming they know audience geography.
Global opportunity extends beyond audience numbers to business resilience. Focusing exclusively on the single market creates vulnerability where economic downturns or political changes can devastate entire businesses overnight. Diversifying across multiple countries provides stability through varied revenue streams less affected by localized disruptions. Mexico particularly represents emerging opportunity as technology companies relocate there, creating a new market with less competition than the saturated United States landscape.
For podcasters thinking globally, rewards include accessing untapped markets with minimal competition, connecting with international experts who bring fresh perspectives, and building a truly global brand transcending geographical limitations. Alejandra's podcast features guests from Europe, Mexico, and Latin America, creating international network she never could have built focusing only on local community.
Pitch to Big-Name Guests on LinkedIn
Ali landed the CEO of Dreamworks and 20th Century Fox as guest through strategic pitching approach any podcaster can replicate. Her method centers on offering genuine marketing value rather than asking favors, reframing outreach from awkward requests into mutually beneficial business propositions.
The execution begins on LinkedIn, where professionals maintain updated profiles including contact information. Ali recommends identifying people matching your niche and messaging them with a clear value proposition: you'll interview them and actively market their book, speech, or event to your audience. This works because established experts constantly need new eyes on their offerings, making your podcast a valuable marketing channel.
Most people say yes because the proposal offers free marketing they'd otherwise pay for through advertising or PR agencies. The ones who decline typically operate at an elite level where management teams handle all media appearances. Ali also secured Forbes Real Estate Council member as a guest who reached out after hearing her podcast, demonstrating how initial outreach creates momentum where future guests seek you proactively.
Finding contact information requires creativity but rarely presents an insurmountable obstacle. Beyond LinkedIn profiles listing direct emails, Ali recommends identifying assistants who screen requests, commenting on potential guests' YouTube or TikTok content expressing interview interest, and crafting organic email pitches feeling personalized rather than mass-produced. The key involves making outreach so compelling that ignoring your message feels like a missed opportunity.
Handling Rejection a Necessary Skill for Growth
Alejandra's path to interviewing Hollywood executives required weathering rejection 20 to 30 times from people who questioned her credibility and dismissed her emails, making her cry from frustration. This vulnerability represents honest reality about the podcasting journey that contradicts sanitized success stories suggesting growth happens effortlessly.
Her perspective shifted when she recognized that giving up meant permanently staying at a beginner level and never reaching the point where executives agree to interviews. Persistence through discomfort separated her from aspiring podcasters who quit after five rejections. Ali reminds podcasters that high-level guests they're pitching faced identical rejection on their own journeys, meaning they understand the struggle even when declining your specific request.
Handling rejection involves accepting that "no" doesn't indicate personal failure but simply wrong timing, mismatched audience, scheduling conflict, or hundreds of other factors unrelated to your value as podcaster. The willingness to cry, process disappointment, then immediately pitch the next potential guest demonstrates a mindset shift from needing validation to viewing outreach as a numbers game where consistent action eventually produces results.
Beyond guest rejection, Ali identified getting comfortable on camera as a second major challenge. Self-consciousness from watching yourself on video and hearing your voice prevents many talented people from starting podcasts despite having valuable knowledge. Alejandra's advice centers on accepting discomfort as a temporary condition diminishing through repetition rather than waiting until you feel completely ready, which never happens.
Monetizing Through Collaboration
Ali challenges conventional wisdom, suggesting podcasters must build a massive audience before generating revenue. Her monetization strategy focuses on leads, audience access, and referral agreements rather than waiting for platform payments requiring significant download thresholds. Platform monetization represents only one revenue stream, often not the most lucrative, while charging guests flat fees for audience access creates immediate income regardless of show size.
The philosophy behind charging collaboration fees recognizes that when guests appear on your podcast, they access your audience while you access theirs through cross-promotion. This mutual benefit justifies a flat realistic fee making exchange transactional business arrangement rather than a charitable exposure swap. Ali believes podcasters undervalue their audiences by providing free access to guests who monetize that exposure through sales without compensating the podcaster who facilitated the connection.
Referral fee agreements provide alternative monetization where podcasters help guests generate leads through effective marketing and then receive a percentage of resulting sales. This performance-based approach aligns incentives ensuring podcasters genuinely promote guests they believe in rather than accepting any sponsor regardless of audience fit. The key involves establishing a clear agreement upfront defining what constitutes a successful lead, how attribution gets tracked, and what compensation structure rewards marketing efforts.
Ali emphasizes that real money in podcasting comes from leads and connections rather than advertising revenue, making relationship-building more valuable than vanity metrics like total downloads. When you help guests acquire customers, you've delivered measurable business value commanding premium pricing. When you facilitate introductions between guests creating profitable partnerships, you've generated relationship capital producing referrals and opportunities for years.
Why Every Entrepreneur Needs Their Own Media Channel
Ali predicts every entrepreneur will eventually have their own podcast or YouTube presence as visibility becomes non-negotiable for business growth. This evolution mirrors how having a website transformed from an optional luxury to an absolute necessity over the past twenty years. Podcasting represents a modern radio station accessible to anyone with a microphone and internet connection, democratizing media creation previously controlled by gatekeepers.
The entrepreneurial case for podcasting extends beyond marketing to fundamental business development through authentic relationship building. Alejandra's experience demonstrates how podcast creates a pipeline where guest convert to clients, become referral partners, or evolve into valuable connections. Even when individual episodes don't generate immediate revenue, the compound networking effect positions you at the center of industry relationships, producing opportunities months or years later.
Starting a podcast now provides a competitive advantage over entrepreneurs relying on outdated marketing methods like cold calling or expensive advertising. Your podcast becomes an owned media asset appreciating in value as episode library grows, creating evergreen content that attracts new audience members years after publication. Unlike social media posts disappearing in algorithmic feeds within hours, podcast episodes remain discoverable indefinitely through search engines and directories.
Ready to grow your network globally? Start identifying LinkedIn contacts matching your niche and craft personalized pitches offering to market their books or events through your podcast. Expect rejection but persist through discomfort knowing high-level guests require multiple touchpoints. Consider charging flat collaboration fees recognizing audience access represents a valuable business asset. Most importantly, embrace a global perspective, understanding your most valuable connections likely exist outside your immediate geographical area.
Key Takeaways:
Pitch high-profile guests on LinkedIn by offering free marketing for their books, events, or services.
Target global markets instead of just the US. Ninety percent of internet users live outside America.
Check podcast analytics to identify where listeners are concentrated, then create content targeting those regions.
Charge guests flat fees for audience access instead of relying solely on platform monetization.
Rejection is inevitable. Expect 20-30 rejections before landing major guests and keep pitching anyway.
Collaborate with other podcasters to share audiences rather than building from scratch alone.
Strong branding starts with a memorable logo, catchy name, and emotional storytelling about your purpose.
AI clipping tools eliminate days of manual editing work and accelerate episode publishing schedules.
Media features on outlets like Forbes build credibility faster. Start small with affordable publications first.
Entrepreneurship and podcasting are merging. Every entrepreneur will eventually need their own media channel.
Energy and excitement during interviews create reciprocal opportunities from guests with large followings.
Monetization comes from leads, referrals, and connections more than advertising revenue alone.
Share this global networking strategy with entrepreneurs building international businesses and subscribe to Podcasting Secrets for weekly tactics from creators expanding their reach beyond borders.
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Podcasting Secrets: Website: podcastingsecrets.com | YouTube: @podcasting-secrets | Instagram: @podcastingsecrets | LinkedIn: poduppodcasting | Apple | Spotify
Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: @NathanGwilliam
Alejandra Avalos Carranza :
Website: TheACMGCompany.com | LinkedIn: @Alejandra-Carranza
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