Has your listenership hit a plateau?
Perhaps you have established a good listener base but want to reach an even larger potential audience. It might be time to consider podcast guesting.
Collaborating with other podcast hosts in the form of guesting is an effective way to gain more exposure and tap into a larger but still relevant and interested audience. While getting your foot in the door might seem daunting, it is a relatively straightforward process if you do it correctly.
As a guest on another podcast in your niche or even a related niche, you can introduce yourself and your podcast to an entirely new audience.
But before you start sending out requests to podcasts, there is a little leg work involved in preparing you (and your show) for the experience.
How to Prepare for Guesting on Podcasts
If you’re just starting out or have a small listener base, it can be intimidating to consider reaching out to bigger shows.
But with some basic preparation, you’ll be well on your way to podcast guesting success.
Research other podcasts in your niche: Take some time to explore the podcast landscape and determine which shows have similar topics or interests as yours. You can also look for podcasts with a larger listener base than yours, as this will give you greater exposure opportunities.
Connect with the host: Reach out to the podcasts you are interested in and introduce yourself. Tell them why you want to be a guest on their podcast and how your content can benefit their listeners.
Don’t oversell yourself, as this may turn the host off. Be sure to include a link to your podcast and any relevant social media accounts so they can get to know you better.
This is a lot like sales… you need to find some common ground and present yourself as a valuable asset. The more you can give the other podcast host, the more likely they will be to accept your invitation.
Prepare some potential topics: Try to prove your value to the conversation. Research potential topics that would be interesting for both you and the podcast host.
Create compelling content: Once you have secured an interview, prepare for it by creating compelling content that highlights the topics of interest in your show or other projects
Learn about their recording platform: Before recording day, reach out to the host and ask how they record their podcast. Ensure you familiarize yourself with the platform, which will help ensure a smooth recording process.
For example, if the host uses a remote podcast recording, do you need to download an app? Or if they record via Skype, what settings do you need to adjust ahead of time? If their using a tool like Boomcaster, the setup should be relatively simple, but it’s still best practice to check.
Be ready to pivot: Although you have prepared content (or answers), don’t get caught off guard if the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Be prepared to adapt and pivot in order to keep the conversation interesting and engaging.
Be professional: This is important! Once you have been invited to another podcast, it is essential to act professionally. Show up prepared with interesting topics and questions that are relevant to their audience. Be sure to thank them properly.
Follow up: After the podcast guesting experience, be sure to thank your host for their time, reach out with any follow-up questions or insights you may have from the discussion, and don’t forget to mention upcoming projects or topics that could be of interest to their listeners.
Tips for Writing Your Outreach Messages to Other Podcasters
If you’re ready to become your niche’s next great podcast guest, it’s time to start your outreach. But before you hit “send” on those emails, here are a few tips to remember.
Be brief: Keep your message concise and easy to read. This is not the time to go into long-winded explanations of why you want to be interviewed; instead, focus on how this collaboration will benefit the other podcast host and their listeners.
Include your contact information: Make sure you include your name, website or social media links, and other relevant contact information so the podcast host can easily reach out to you.
Show enthusiasm: Although being professional in your outreach messages is important, don’t forget to show your excitement for wanting to be a guest on their podcast. People are more likely to respond positively when they can see your enthusiasm and engagement.
Make yourself available: Don’t forget to mention any potential dates or times that would work for you regarding scheduling an interview.
Provide examples of past interviews: If you have been on other podcasts before, include a link to the episodes so the podcast host can get an idea of what it would be like to have you on their show. If this is your first time, don’t worry. You can use your own show as social proof that you have what it takes to hop on the mic.
Don’t Gatekeep… Build a Community!
As you complete guest appearances on other podcasts, it’s important to remember that podcasting is about building a community.
Invite the show host to join you on your podcast, so everyone can benefit from the collaboration and build a long-lasting synergy between your two brands.
It’s also important to remember not to gatekeep. Don’t be afraid to let loose and provide valuable content to the other podcast’s audience. You want to prove your expertise to not only the host but their listeners as well. After a few successful appearances, you’ll have the confidence and exposure to start approaching podcasts with larger listener bases — spreading the word about your amazing show.
Good luck!