The podcasting landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. What was once a fringe medium populated mostly by hobbyists has become a mainstream force, with big names like Serial and This American Life leading the charge.
As the popularity of podcasts has grown, so has the demand for guests. If you’re looking to get involved in the podcasting world, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Want to get booked as a guest on a podcast? It’s not as hard as you might think. With a little effort and the right strategy, you can increase your chances of being featured on some of the best shows in your industry. Here’s how to be a guest on a podcast.
1. Start by creating a list of target podcasts.
Before you can start reaching out to podcasts, you need to have a list of shows that you’re interested in being featured on. To create this list, start by thinking about the topics that you’re passionate about and the podcasts that align with those interests.
Once you have a good understanding of the type of podcasts that you want to be featured on, you can begin your research. Your list of target podcasts should include both big shows that have a large audience and smaller shows that might be a better fit for your niche.
Create a spreadsheet with the following columns: podcast name, podcast URL, contact information, and notes. As you find new podcasts that you’re interested in, add them to your list.
2. Listen to a few episodes of each podcast.
Once you have your list of target podcasts, it’s time to start listening. This step is important because it will help you determine whether or not you’re a good fit for the show.
As you listen to each episode, take note of the format, the length of the interviews, and the type of questions that are asked. You should also pay attention to the guests that are featured on the show. If you feel like you could add value and contribute to the conversation, then the podcast is likely a good fit for you.
Listen for clues that will help you prepare for your interview. For example, if the host asks a lot of personal questions, then you should be prepared to share some details about your own life.
In addition to listening to individual episodes, take some time to read through the show notes. This will give you a better understanding of the type of content that the podcast covers.
3. Reach out to the podcasts that you want to be featured on.
Now that you’ve listened to a few episodes of each podcast and identified the ones that you’re a good fit for, it’s time to reach out to the hosts. The best way to do this is to send a personalized email or message.
In your email, introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in being a guest on the show. Be sure to mention any relevant topics that you could contribute to the conversation. You should also include links to your website or blog so that the host can learn more about you.
Here’s an example email template that you can use:
Hi (name of host),
I’m (your name) and I’m a big fan of your podcast. I really enjoy the conversations that you have with your guests and I think that I could contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
I’m particularly interested in (topic that you want to discuss). I have a lot to say about this topic and I think that your listeners would benefit from hearing my perspective.
If you’re interested in having me as a guest on your show, I would be more than happy to chat with you about (topic). You can learn more about me by visiting my website at (your website URL).
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
4. Follow up with the podcasts that you’ve reached out to.
After sending your initial email or message, it’s important to follow up with the podcasts that you’ve reached out to. This shows that you’re really interested in being a guest on the show and it increases your chances of hearing back from the host.
To follow up, you can send a quick email or message that says something like, “Hi (name of host), I just wanted to make sure that you received my previous email/message about being a guest on your show.
I’m really interested in contributing to the conversation and I would be honored to be featured on your podcast. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Following up can be a bit of a balancing act. You don’t want to come across as pushy or desperate, but you also don’t want to be too passive. A quick follow-up email or message is usually the best approach.
5. Prepare for your appearance.
If you’re lucky enough to land an appearance on a target podcast, it’s important to prepare for your interview. This means doing your research, preparing for questions, and practicing speaking about the topics that you want to discuss.
The more prepared you are, the better your interview will be. And the better your interview is, the more likely you are to be invited back for future episodes. Find out if your podcast will be video recorded or if it will just be audio. If it is a video, then you should also consider what you will wear.
Many podcasters are taking advantage of Youtube to host their videos. If this is the case, then you should also consider how you will be framed on camera.
How to be a Good Guest on a Podcast
Have you ever considered being a guest on a podcast? It’s a great way to build your brand and reach a new audience. But before you start pitching yourself to every show out there, it’s important to make sure you know how to be a good podcast guest. Here are some tips:
As the popularity of podcasts continues to grow, more and more people are looking for ways to get involved. And one of the most popular ways to do that is by being a guest on someone else’s show. After all, it’s a great way to build your brand and reach a new audience. But before you start pitching yourself to every show out there, it’s important to make sure you know how to be a good podcast guest. Here are some tips:
1. Do Your Research
Before you pitch yourself as a potential guest, make sure you’ve done your research on the show. You should have a good understanding of what the show is about, who the target audience is, and what kind of guests they usually have on. This will not only help you decide if the show is a good fit for you, but it will also help you prepare for your appearance.
2. Prepare for the Interview
Once you’ve landed the gig, it’s time to start preparing for the actual interview. The best way to do this is by coming up with a list of talking points that you want to make sure you hit during the conversation.
But don’t make the mistake of trying to memorize your talking points verbatim—you want the conversation to sound natural, not scripted.
For example, let’s say you’re a business coach who specializes in helping people start their own businesses. Some of the talking points you might want to hit during the interview could be:
- The biggest mistakes people make when starting their own business
- The most important things to focus on in the early stages of starting a business
- How to know if you’re ready to take the plunge and start your own business
By having a general understanding of the topics you want to discuss, you’ll be able to steer the conversation in the direction you want it to go. And you’ll sound more polished and professional than if you’re just winging it.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
Now that you have an idea of what you want to say, it’s time to start practicing. If you can, find a friend or family member who will be willing to listen to your run-through and give you feedback.
This is a great way to get some constructive criticism and make sure you’re sounding your best.
If you don’t have anyone who can help you out, don’t worry – there are still plenty of ways to practice on your own. One option is to record yourself speaking into a recorder or your phone so that you can hear how you sound out loud.
You can also try reading aloud from a book or article – this will help keep your mind fresh and prevent filler words from creeping into your conversation.
No matter how you choose to practice, make sure you do it! The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel – and that confidence will shine through in your interview.
4. Be Professional
This one should go without saying, but it’s still worth mentioning. Show up on time (or early), dress appropriately, and be respectful of your host’s time and energy. This is not only common courtesy, but it also shows that you’re professional and serious about being a guest on their show.
5. Prepare Your Answers
Once you have a good understanding of the show and its hosts, it’s time to start preparing your answers. If you know what kind of questions you’re likely to be asked, you can have well-thought-out answers ready to go.
This doesn’t mean that you should memorize your answers or sound like you’re reading from a script—you still want your answers to sound natural. But taking some time to think about your responses in advance will help you sound confident and collected on the air. Plus, it’ll help prevent those awkward pauses while you try to come up with something on the spot.
6Be Engaging
An interview is a two-way conversation, not a one-way monologue. In order to make a good impression, it’s important that you be engaged with both the host and the topic of conversation.
This means listening closely to what the host is saying and asking thoughtful follow-up questions when appropriate. It also means being open and honest in your own answers—don’t be afraid to share your opinion or tell personal stories that relate to the topic at hand. If you can keep the conversation flowing naturally, it’ll make for a much more enjoyable listen for everyone involved.
Conclusion:
Podcasting is a great way to build your brand and reach a new audience—but only if you know how to be a good guest. By doing your research, preparing for the interview, and being professional, you’ll greatly increase your chances of having a successful appearance—and maybe even land yourself some repeat bookings!
