One of the easiest ways to promote yourself and your brand is to show up as a podcast guest. Even well-established podcasters know it’s wise to appear on other shows—it maintains visibility and builds connections with new listeners.
But you don’t want to be just a good podcast guest; you want to be a great one!
Thankfully, you can use this guide to build your interviewing skills and make the most out of every podcast appearance.
Let’s start with the basics:
- How to Be a Great Podcast Guest and Maximize Your Appearances
1. Before the Show: Preparation and Pitching
Here are some tips for preparing your podcast debut:
Research the Show
Before you pitch yourself as a podcast guest, start by doing your homework. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the show and listen to multiple episodes beforehand.
- Start by listening to several episodes of the show you’re interested in; doing this can help you understand the show’s format, the type of guests they usually have, and the interests of their audience.
- Don’t forget to pay attention to the host’s interview style, the themes they explore, and the overall tone of the podcast.
- You may also want to do some research on the podcast’s audience. Are there any metrics you can use to identify who’s listening?
Remember: guesting on podcasts isn’t just about self-promotion — it’s about sharing your story, expertise, and passion with others. Being authentic, prepared, and engaging with your audiences can make a lasting impact and create valuable connections.
Personalize Your Pitch
When you take the time to familiarize yourself with a show, you can tailor your pitch to fit seamlessly with its content—this shows respect for the host’s work and demonstrates that you are genuinely interested in contributing to their show (rather than just promoting yourself).
You may want to:
- Avoid sending generic pitches that could apply to any podcast. Instead, personalize your pitch by referencing specific episodes or themes from the show.
- Highlight why you would be a valuable guest and how you can contribute to the conversation. A personalized approach shows the host that you’ve put thought into your pitch and are genuinely interested in being on their show.
- Explain how you will provide value and connect authentically with listeners, which will naturally lead to promoting your brand and expanding your reach.
So, how do you get the conversation started?
You’re welcome to try using this simple template:
“Hi [Name]! I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am an avid fan of [Podcast Name]. I really enjoyed your recent episode on [topic], and I believe my expertise in [related field] could provide further insights for your audience. I’ve spent [number of years] years [briefly describe your experience or achievements]. My journey has been driven by a passion for [related passion or goal], which aligns closely with the themes you explore on your podcast.”
Build Relationships
Building a genuine rapport with a podcast host can significantly increase your chances of being invited to their show.
There are two different tools you can use for this task: social media, and email/letters.
In the case of social media, you should engage with the host and their content before you pitch yourself. This may include commenting on their posts, sharing their content, and showing genuine interest in their work.
In terms of email, consider sending a friendly message expressing your appreciation for the podcast host’s work. You don’t have to necessarily use this as an opportunity to pitch yourself — just build a meaningful relationship and see where it goes.
2. During the Interview
Here are some ways to build better relationships with your hosts during the interview process:
Be Authentic and Engaging
Again, it’s a good idea to focus on delivering value to the audience rather than just promoting your product or service.
Some pointers:
- Tell lots of personal stories and insights
- Speak genuinely and from the heart
- Avoid rehearsed answers or scripted-sounding responses
If you do your best to share unique perspectives and anecdotes, you’re more likely to say something that resonates with listeners. Authenticity matters more than bragging, and it’s best to keep things honest when you’re debuting on a podcast.
Answer Questions Thoughtfully
You may want to provide insightful and actionable advice during the interview rather than repeating plugs for your book or services.
Here are some tips and tricks to consider:
- Offer detailed, thoughtful responses that go beyond surface-level answers.
- When faced with a question, delve into the specifics and share examples from your experience.
- Explain specific strategies and give actionable advice (making your suggestions as practical as possible,
Don’t forget that thoughtful answers demonstrate your expertise and genuine interest in helping the audience, which enhances your credibility and makes the episode more enjoyable for listeners.
Technical Preparedness
If you’re debuting remotely, you may want to invest in a professional-quality audio setup. This means looking for a high-quality microphone and a good pair of headphones, and ensuring you have a stable internet connection.
Are you debuting in a video podcast? Be sure your podcast camera is up to snuff.
You can also test your equipment to avoid disruptions during the show. If requested, be prepared to record your audio locally as a backup and send it to the host.
Need help figuring out how to sound your best? One of these resources may be able to help:
- Podcast Microphone Positioning and Accessories
- Podcast Microphone Tips
- Handling Room Reflections and Reverb in Your Podcast Recordings
3. After the Interview
Here are some steps to take after your podcast appearance:
Post-Interview Follow-Up
Showing appreciation to your host is a common courtesy (as well as a networking opportunity).
There are multiple ways to do this effectively:
- Share the episode on your social media channels and thank the host for having you on their show.
- Tag the host and the podcast in your social media posts to give them credit and increase their visibility.
- Consider sending a thank-you email to the host.
As always, it’s important to consider the long-term relationships you can build with hosts, which may lead to ongoing collaboration, referrals, and continued exposure for your brand.
Engage with the Community
You’ll want to engage with the podcast’s community just as much as the podcast’s host. It would be wise to respond to comments and questions on social media, participate in discussions related to the episode, and show appreciation for the listeners’ feedback.
You may want to carry this interest and momentum into future podcast episodes. You should ask your audience what they’re looking forward to seeing from you, or host AMAs on your personal podcast.
Remember: any level of engagement demonstrates that you value the audience and are committed to providing ongoing value.
Leverage Your Podcast Appearances
You can also use your podcast appearances to build content and credibility by sharing excerpts or highlights on your blog, social media, and email newsletters. This showcases your expertise and also provides additional value to your audience.
You could also create a blog post summarizing key takeaways from your interview and link to the full episode. This may help drive traffic to the podcast while providing new and old audience members with valuable insights.
Additional Tips for Being a Great Podcast Guest
Here are a few more ways to maximize your podcast appearances:
Practice Consistency in Branding
Use consistent usernames across all platforms to make it easy for listeners to find you—direct listeners to a central hub, such as your website, where they can choose their preferred way to follow you.
For example, if your Instagram handle is @johnsmith_author, your Twitter and Facebook handles could be something such as @johnsmithauthor or @johnsmith_author.
You may want to think about creating a dedicated page for podcast appearances on your website. You could list all the shows you’ve been on with links to the episodes and a brief description of each interview. This would provide a central location for listeners to find your content while demonstrating your experience and credibility as a podcast guest.
Follow a Call to Action
By ‘call to action,’ we mean communicating actionable steps for the audience, such as visiting your website or following you on social media. Make it easy for listeners to take the next step after listening to your interview.
A well-crafted call to action should be specific, concise, and relevant to the content of the interview. For example, you might say, “If you enjoyed our discussion today, you can find more resources and insights on my website. You can also follow me on Twitter for daily tips and updates.”
Including a call to action in your interview ensures interested listeners know exactly what to do next and can easily connect with you and your content.
Focus on Ways to Improve
Nothing goes perfectly in any podcast interview, so try to treat each podcast appearance as a learning opportunity.
After each interview, take some time to listen to the episode and evaluate your performance. Then, consider the following questions:
- Did I provide clear and valuable insights?
- Was I engaging and authentic?
- Did I effectively communicate my key messages?
- How well did I handle unexpected questions or technical issues?
You may also want to seek feedback from your host. Ask if there are any areas where you could improve or if there are specific aspects of your performance that they particularly appreciated. How can you improve, or what could you do better next time?
All of these will help you grow as a podcast guest.
The Bottom Line on Being a Great Podcast Guest
The easiest way to maximize your podcast appearances is to learn how to be a great podcast guest. By following these guidelines, you can build meaningful relationships with hosts, engage with a broader audience, and further your business goals one episode at a time.
Curious to learn more about the art and science of podcasting? You’re welcome to read some of our resources below: