Appearing on podcasts as a guest is a fantastic way to expand your audience and position yourself as a subject matter expert. It’s incredibly simple; you don’t even need to start your own show. You just need a good topic that’s helpful for the show’s audience and reach out to the podcaster with your pitch. It’s a win-win situation.
The key to success is understanding what makes a great podcast guest.
Listen to the Show
When you find a podcast you think would be appropriate, start by listening to an episode or two. You’ll get a feel for the atmosphere of the show and the topics they cover, then you can use this to be a more suitable guest. You’ll know the range of issues discussed, which will help you create a better pitch for your own ideas.
Prepare Your Message
What will you teach or share in your interview? What is the main point you want to convey to the show’s audience? What is your goal in appearing on the podcast? Take some time to prepare, research your topic, and have a solid idea of what you’re going to cover so that your interview is focused. You might want to rehearse it before the appearance or prepare notes for your own reference.
Be Natural and Be Yourself
Save the sales talk. Listeners expect their podcasters to be natural and real. Listening should feel like having a conversation with a friend. During the course of your interview, you might naturally mention your blog, social media presence, or a new product or initiative you’re promoting, but keep promotion to a minimum. Focus on using your natural strengths to help people.
Focus on the Listener
Keep your focus on the listener. You are appearing on the show to offer your knowledge and expertise to help them contend with the issues they’re facing. Share the information audience members like to know and help them achieve their goals. If you stay focused on them, you can provide true value, which will make listeners want to seek you out elsewhere.
Be Clear and Easy to Understand
It’s important to speak clearly and naturally. You should practice by recording yourself talking and listening back. You’ll notice habits in your speech that need improvement. Your voice should be loud and clear. Avoid distractions such as saying “um” or “like.” Make sure you don’t sniffle or make mouth noises. Avoid “upspeak,” which is when you inflect “up” at the end of a statement so that it sounds like a question.
Relax and Have Fun
One of the main reasons people love podcasts is that they’re fun. They’re both informational and entertaining. If you want to be a great podcast guest, get into a relaxed state of mind and think of it as having coffee with a colleague or a friend. If you’re having a good time, this will come across to the listener.
How to Get Started
Check out some podcasts in your niche and you’ll start to get an idea of what they’re all about. Picture yourself on the show. What would you discuss? How would you help the listener with your expertise? This is a great place to start getting ideas.
If you want to know more about how to polish your appearances to help you reach your communication goals, head over to oratorio.teachable.com. By the time you finish the courses, you’ll be prepared to confidently appear on any medium.