By: Katy Hearne-Church
So, someone’s invited you to be a guest on their podcast. That’s exciting! This is a great opportunity to grow your audience, get your voice out there, and make new connections (and friends!) in your field.
But, just like anything else worth doing, being a good guest on a podcast takes a little work. Put your best foot forward and come prepared. Here are some tips on how to be a guest they will want to invite back again!
Allow The Host to Lead the Conversation
If you were invited to a dinner party at someone’s home, you’d allow the host to make the introductions and lead the flow of the evening, right? Treat your invitation onto someone’s podcast the same way you would an in-person invitation.
Chances are, the host has taken the time to prepare questions for you that they know their audience will find engaging. So, allow the host to lead the conversation and ask their questions. If you take the reigns of the conversation, you may not be allowing the host to make the points they need to make to resonate with their core audience. Never intentionally speak over the host or try to steer the conversation to the topic you’d prefer to speak on.
Be Prepared
While the host will be the one expected to lead the conversation, make sure you’ve done your research on the podcast you’ve been asked to speak on. Ideally, you should listen to the two most recent episodes. However, even if you don’t have time to do this, you can still be prepared to speak to points of interest for your guest audience.
Visit your host’s social media pages. Guage how many followers they have and the type of content fans and followers have engaged with. This will help you not only familiarize yourself with subject matters pertaining to this specific show but will also help you predict the cadence you can expect once recording day comes. Is the show relaxed like Queens Podcast, or is their show a little more family-friendly? Knowing the tone to expect will help you go into the recording with the appropriate vibe.
Be Positive
We’ve all had bad days and while no one is above the urge to sulk from time to time, try to leave this negativity at the door before joining a chat on another creator’s show. If the host has invited you on, they believe you’re someone that their audience will be delighted to hear from. If your energy is low or dark at the beginning, this could set the tone for an interview that is fun for no one.
Whatever you do, do NOT make jokes or offhand comments that may insult your host or their audience. Even in jest, this could be taken the wrong way and result in the host never inviting you back and their audience to have a bad taste in their mouth for you as a creator.
Of course, there are exceptions. Some shows will have a different tone and may allow for some day to day gripes and complaints. In that case, great! Otherwise, do what you need to do to get in a positive mind frame before dialing in.
Set Up Beforehand
In this world of long-distance interviewing, initial tech issues are common and usually expected. So, don’t sweat it if you and your host have to test the connection before beginning to record. However, do your part beforehand by being prepared. Have your microphone plugged in, do a soundcheck, have your headphones, and any other materials you use to create ready to go by or before the agreed-upon time of recording. This not only shows a level of professionalism but shows respect for your host and their time.
Another way to show your readiness and excitement to be there is to make sure all other noisy distractions are not an issue. Silence your phones, put your pets in the other room or in their crates, let your roommates or partners know that you’ll require space for an hour. Anything that could cause a distraction should be anticipated before it’s time to record.
Feel Free to Ask to Start Over
Maybe a few minutes into the interview you realize you misspoke or made an inaccurate statement, full stop. That’s okay. Be honest with your host and ask if you can start over. We all make mistakes, and your host would almost certainly rather have correct information on their show anyway.
Look, we all say things we regret. Maybe you made a joke that you found in bad taste as soon as it escaped your mouth or you accidentally threw some shade that you didn’t fully wish to throw. Ask your host if they wouldn’t mind cutting the gaff. If the host is worth knowing, they will respect your request. Remember, this should be beneficial for you both and make both of your look stellar. Be honest with your host and everyone wins!
Rembmeber to Have Fun!
With all the research, set up and tech to take into consideration, it can be easy to forget why you were asked to be a guest in the first place. In the end, you and your host are more than likely passionate about a similar subject and you have been invited on to discuss that topic. Isn’t that awesome? Someone wants to hear from you about your passion!
Get out of your head and have fun. Treat the interview like a conversation with a friend, not a job interview! The more fun you are having, the more fun the audience will have.
Afterwards
The following day, email your host and make sure to thank them for having you on. Express your gratitude and excitement at the chance to connect with such an amazing host.
And, for the benefit of both of you, make sure your promote your guest spot, too! Share on social media and tag your host. Everyone gets exposure and everyone wins!