There are numerous ways to market your podcast. One of these is to appear on other podcasts. While you might be used to the podcasting process, being a guest on another podcast is not the same as hosting your podcast, and you need to take time to prepare.
So, in this article, we’ll discuss how to prepare as a guest on podcasts.
Why Guest on Podcasts?
There are numerous advantages of being a guest on podcasts. For one, you can tap into their network of listeners, raising awareness for your brand, services/products, and podcasts. Therefore, your time can benefit your brand financially.
In addition, being included in other podcasts improves your authority. As an expert, you can demonstrate your knowledge, helping you to assert yourself as a go-to person in your niche. It can also help your website’s SEO by linking from the host’s podcast episode description directly to your website.
The higher your domain authority, the higher you’ll rank on Google and other websites, which will increase sales. Those on the first page of Google get 99% of all users searching, whereas all the other results get about 1% between them.
So, the more you can do to improve your website’s rank, the better.
Another benefit is that it allows you to improve your skills. Part of being on podcasts as a guest is that you’re being interviewed about your news, skills, and knowledge. As a business leader, these are essential skills because you should be regularly talking to media outlets to help expand your reach in the local/national news.
Podcasts are an excellent platform to develop these media interview skills.
How to Prepare for Being a Guest on a Podcast
But you can’t simply turn up as a guest on a podcast. There are steps that you should take before you get to the mic. Here are some of the tips that we recommend.
Listen to Previous Episodes
It’s important to listen to previous episodes of the podcast with the host. Get a feel for the types of questions and the style of the podcast. It can also put you at ease by giving you forewarning of what’s being asked of you.
You don’t have to listen to every episode. The last three or four episodes should be enough to get a feel, remembering that listening to older podcasts could be from older formats or changes could have happened.
Write and Supply a Bio Without Being Asked
Another key component is to create a podcast guest bio ahead of the show and send it to the host’s team. You need to focus on adding value to your presence on the podcast. The host will use your bio as part of the marketing for the episode and it can mean that you’re going to build an audience for the podcast quickly.
In addition, it allows you to choose the keywords and the links you want in the bio, makes you look more professional to the host, and makes their work easier.
Make Suggestions on Questions or Topics
You make your host’s job easier if you can suggest what questions and topics would be good. It allows you to provide the information that is most suitable for your knowledge and goals on the podcast. It also allows you to steer the conversation which you can prepare for, allowing for better answers.
That doesn’t mean that you’re not going to have surprises. There are going to be questions and moments that you’re unprepared for, but you can counter this by preparing for certain questions. And by making suggestions, you can direct questions into specific niches that you’re going to be more prepared for.
Talk to the Host
It’s critical to talk to the host about what they’re looking to get from the podcast. What topics do they want to cover? What directions do they want to head into and what do they want from you? You might also be able to build a rapport with the host that can improve the conversational tone of the podcast, improving the fluidity of the conversation.
You might not be able to chat with the host over the phone or a chat app, but you might be able to do so through email.
Remember the Point of the Podcast
It is critical to remember that while you’re a guest, and you will want to be driving brand awareness for you, the podcast is the host’s domain and they’ll be looking to turn listeners into sales for their own business. Therefore, remember to be a courteous host and let them promote themselves. They will give you a chance to promote yourself.
Prepare and Practice Your Elevator Pitch
All hosts will give you a segment to pitch your business. You will only have between 30 and 60 seconds to do so, so it is best to prepare and practice your elevator pitch. In the pitch, you need to give a value proposition. What makes you different from everyone else offering the same service/product?
At the same time, you need to give them a call to action and the benefit of reaching out to you first. It might be that you offer a free taster service or perhaps you can offer them a free audit to help them define their specific needs from your business.
Relax
If you’re not someone who enjoys being interviewed, it’s important to take some time out and relax before dialing into the podcast. Do whatever activities help you to get into a positive mindset. But it is also important to not spend too much time relaxing, to set yourself up early for the podcast, to check your equipment, and to ensure your host is ready.
FAQs: How to Prepare as a Guest on Podcasts
How do I find podcasts to be a guest on?
Finding guest spots on a podcast isn’t challenging. You probably listen to numerous podcasts that accept guests and you can contact them directly about opportunities.
Do I need to pay to be a guest on a podcast?
Many hosts will not charge for being a guest on a podcast. Your being on their show demonstrates that they have authority in the niche and provides them with a marketing boost, which is often more valuable than payment.
How often should I be a guest on a podcast?
You can be a guest on a podcast as often as you would like. However, bear in mind that you will need to do your show as well as provide for your current customer list and daily tasks. You don’t want to overdo it.
Final Word: How to Prepare as a Guest on Podcasts
Marketing your podcast can be about social media, blogging, and SEO. However, you can also utilize your current skill set as a podcast host and be a guest on another podcast. This allows you to drive traffic from other podcasts to your show and build brand awareness.
To be a good guest, ensure you prepare for the show in advance and help your host to achieve their aspirations for the episode. Above are some tips that you can use to make sure you’re prepared for your spot and you get the most out of it too.
Produce Your Podcast is a full-service podcast production, editing, and marketing agency specializing in helping brands launch, grow, and monetize successful podcasts that impact their bottom line. With 30+ years of experience in both broadcasting and business development brought to every project we work on, our team of experts is a reliable partner to help you achieve your goals with your show.
Click here to schedule a conversation with our team today and let’s bring your show to life!
