How To Become An In-Demand Podcast Guest
Being interviewed on a podcast is a tremendous opportunity to showcase your unique experience and expertise to a new audience. As long as the podcast’s premise and content is a good fit for your brand, don’t worry too much about its audience size. Do make sure the content is appropriate for your brand, and that both you and the show will mutually benefit from your guest interview.
We don’t want you to be overly concerned about the size of the podcast’s audience because a podcast often has a lengthy, evergreen lifecycle, and people will discover your interview months, and possibly years after its recording. Also, podcast audiences grow over time. You may be booked as a guest on a new podcast with a small audience, but as that show matures, and their audience increases, so do the value of your guest appearance.
Being a guest on a podcast is not to be taken lightly. By preparing for your guest appearance, and doing some simple things that most podcast guests don’t do, you can maximize the short and long-term impact of your interview.
By being a superstar guest, you will attract the attention of other podcasters, bloggers, customers, and event producers. When that happens, you will experience unexpected opportunities for yourself and your business.
How You Can Be An In-Demand & Unforgettable Podcast Guest:
Before The Show:
Listen to at least three episodes of the podcast before your interview. Get a real sense of the show, its guests, and the format. This preparation will be obvious to the podcast host(s) and you will be a lot more comfortable as a guest.
Get your online assets in order. Make sure your social profiles and website have current information and accurately reflect your current business. Your online presence will see an increase in traffic, and you want to make sure it represents you and your business in the way it should. If any of your social media platforms have been neglected, this is a great time to reinvigorate them with some fresh content.
You need a professional headshot. A flattering snapshot does not cut it as a professional headshot. Again, this is an opportunity to shine professionally, and without a professional headshot, you risk looking amateurish. An outdated headshot is almost as bad. Your headshot should be current and reflect your personal brand.
Promote the show prior to your guest date. Use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, your email list, and your website to announce that you will be a guest on an upcoming episode of the podcast. Make sure to tag their accounts, & follow the podcast, the hosts, and any other people related to the show on social media so they see your promotional posts.
Subscribe to the podcast and give them a 5-star review. Take a few minutes to write a positive review on Apple Podcasts. It doesn’t have to be more than a couple of sentences, and this small effort will be greatly appreciated. Podcasters love and need reviews.
Be technically prepared. Typically, the podcast host or producer will send you details on how to join a remote interview. Make sure you understand the instructions and have everything you need so there are no technical difficulties. At a minimum, this includes a reliable internet connection, headphones, a quality USB microphone, and a quiet room with no interruptions such as kids, barking dogs, etc. Small, carpeted rooms work best for sound quality.
Prepare your answers and talking points. If the host sends you their questions in advance, make sure to take the time to review your answers. If they don’t, consider the primary points you want to make based on the topic of the episode and the spirit of the show. If it is a half-hour show, you will probably only have time to communicate a few solid messages.
During The Show:
Be early. Whether you are a call-in guest or studio guest, respect the show and be 5 minutes early. If you are running late, call as soon as you can to let the show know, so they can act accordingly.
Wait to be introduced before you start talking. The host has most likely prepared a nice intro to make you look awesome–don’t trample it. Let them bring you on like the superstar that you are.
Give a gift. We aren’t talking about a bottle of wine! Reveal something on the show that hasn’t been shared on another podcast or blog. Chances are, you are going to want to be on multiple podcasts. If every interview is a carbon copy, you will become less interesting, and podcast producers are going to lose interest. Repetitive interview content comes across as inauthentic and is a fast pass to overexposure. Consider sharing a personal story you’ve never told in public, an announcement/breaking news, a special offer for just their listeners, or even a murder confession (That’s a good one, j/k!). And a bottle of wine is actually pretty nice too.
Don’t over-promote your product, show, or website. Believe me, the show host(s) want to and will plug your business/products. The most effective way of promoting your brand or business is by being overly generous with valuable content, and authenticity. Be real, be interesting and the listeners will respond. Using someone else’s platform for aggressive self-promotion will annoy the podcast host, and decrease the likeliness that they will recommend you as a guest, or invite you back at a later date.
Don’t take over the show. Bring your personality and good energy, but don’t take over the show. Podcast hosts want to hear what you have to say, but they also want to have a conversation with you. A real conversation. A podcast is an intimate art form that works best when the conversation is balanced and truthful. You may want to get your whole, long story out, but that might not be appropriate for the show. Trust your podcast host(s) to guide the show for their audience.
Be real and present. Drop your agenda, eliminate distractions, and listen intently to your host. Don’t try to perform or put on a “show” unless you were booked to specifically do that. If you are asked a question, answer it honestly and avoid trying to cram in an agenda item or talking point unrelated to the question. That creates a wall and prevents the host and their audience from getting to know, like, and trust you. Listen hard, be a little vulnerable, and it will all be better than ok. Pinky promise.
After The Show:
Promote the show after your guest spot. Share your episode to all your social networks (including LinkedIn), and to your email list the week that it airs, and continue to share to your social channels on a monthly basis. Make sure to post the link to your podcast interview on your website as well. Do it all in the name of podcast power moves!
Refer another guest, for extra bonus points! Podcast producers spend a lot of time booking guests, so they appreciate it when a great guest refers another great guest to them. There is a built-in comfort level for the referred guest and it keeps the podcast love rolling like a big ball of awesome.
Write a LinkedIn recommendation: This is another post-podcast power move because it is something that is unexpected but highly appreciated.
Send a thank-you note. It may seem a little old-fashioned, but a handwritten thank you note will never ever go out of style. Taking the time to send a sincere thank you for the opportunity to be featured on their podcast will make a lasting impression.
Opportunities, introductions, and collaborations: We like to consider a podcast interview the beginning of a positive business relationship. With that in mind, what opportunities can you facilitate for the podcast host? Maybe you know of a speaking opportunity or another podcast host in the same space who might like to interview them. Can you think of any ways you can collaborate? Is there anyone in your sphere of influence that could help them in any way? Maybe you have a shared interest, and you can share an interesting article or book on the topic. These are all methods for strengthening the relationship after the podcast interview.
If you do these things, we bet you will be asked to be a return guest, get invited on a lot more shows, and benefit from unexpected opportunities. You and your business will shine brighter as a result of your efforts!
Need help getting booked as a podcast guest? Sparent can handle that! :)