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How To Land Your First Podcast Guest – Episode 186
Interview podcasts are quite popular. Having a guest provide their knowledge is a great way to create content for your show with less work on your part. So, where can you find guests? More importantly, if you are just launching your show, how can you land your first podcast guest?
What is the trick? How do you land that big podcast guest?
Let’s face it. Asking a busy, successful entrepreneurs to give up an hour of their time to give you an interview is a tough ask. Their time is money. How can your podcast be more valuable than their other options?
Finding and landing guests are two different tasks. You first find the guest. Then, you work to convince them to be on your show.
Let’s take this in two steps.
FIND THE PODCAST GUEST
Before you go fishing for guests, you need to determine what you hope to accomplish on this particular episode. You need to set a goal.
If you are hoping to lay the foundation for your affiliate program, we need to find guests that support that affiliate content. If you hope to demonstrate your mastery of a subject, we need to find guests that show your expertise by association.
Once you have determined your goal and subject matter for your episode, you need to make a list of possible guests that support that topic. These people could include …
- People in your contacts in the same niche
- Authors who have books out or coming out on the topic
- Entrepreneurs who have created products around the information
- Journalists who write about the subject matter
- People who teach the subject
- Experts who work in the niche
Take five minutes and brainstorm a list of people. When you brainstorm, don’t allow the crazy ideas to stop you. Write down every idea. Let the crazy ideas inspire the brilliant possibilities.
Once you have a solid list of 15 to 20 names, rank them. Start with the best podcast guest first.
LAND THE PODCAST GUEST
Now, let’s figure out how we get these great guests on your show.
Remember, you may not succeed in your first attempt to land these guests. It is probable that the really big names will not accept your first request. Don’t let that stop you.
Work to create a relationship. Keep at it until they agree to be on your show.
Here are six useful tips to help land those big names.
1. FIND THE INTRODUCTION
Find people that know your prospect. See if they will introduce you.
A radio colleague once came to me seeking an interview with Taylor Swift. I have interviewed her a couple times. He knew I was able to make an introduction for him. I couldn’t land him the interview, but I could put in a good word for him.
Use the same process to help yourself.
2. THE GATEKEEPER’S FRIEND
There are times when big names have people that run their schedule. This could be a personal assistant. It might be a booking agent. You need to make friends with these people.
In the music business, I always go through the record label. I need to create a strong relationship with that person in order to be at the top of the list when interview opportunities come about.
When the big stars do radio interviews, they typically perform about 15 to 20 in a day. There are typically 150 radio stations in the format that create the music charts. Not all 150 stations will get an interview. I need to create the relationship that will keep me at the top of the list to get the interviews when the opportunity comes along.
3. WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
To score a guest interview for your podcast, you need to begin by explaining how the interview will benefit your prospective guest. The fact that your audience will love it has no bearing. It really doesn’t matter to your guest if your show or your audience will benefit from the guest’s appearance.
When your podcast guest makes the decision whether to appear on your show, they will only consider how the appearance will benefit them personally.
We were able to help a very sick young girl meet Taylor Swift … from her hospital bed.
Lolo was a young 11-year-old girl. Her wish was to see Taylor Swift in concert. She was getting tickets for Christmas. However, when Taylor came to town, Lolo was in the hospital fighting for her life. She was in Children’s Hospital fighting leukemia.
I passed along Lolo’s wish to Taylor’s record label. It wasn’t only the story that got Taylor. I know she loves giving back in very special ways. The Taylor Swift tour was coming through town for two days. I knew there would be some down time the day of the second show.
I made it as easy as possible for Taylor to make Lolo’s dreams come true. That is exactly what happened. You can see the story HERE.
What is in it for your podcast guest? Make it easy.
4. SHOW THEM WHAT YOU’VE GOT
Provide your prospects some examples of your great work. If you have endorsements, share those as well.
This is great when you have an endorsement from somebody your prospective guest knows and trusts.
If you can show your prospective guest that you are a professional with experience by showing them samples of your previous interviews, you will make them more comfortable saying yes to your request. Create a 90-second highlight reel of your show to provide as a sample.
5. SIZE ISN’T THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS
Many podcast hosts use their audience size to lure guests. If you have a reasonable audience size, surely use it to your advantage. However, don’t stop there. You may be overlooking many other ways you could benefit your guest.
You could offer to give your guest exposure on your website. You may have visitors to your site that do not listen to the show. Promote your guest on the site with a link to their content. This will be an additional benefit.
Mention your guest and interview in your blog. Again, your guest will be reaching additional audience. You are helping them spread their message beyond your podcast.
Offer to promote the interview and your guest’s information to your mailing list. You may have many people that receive your newsletter who may never listen to your podcast. By including a link to your guests website in your mailing, your guest will reach additional people. Take credit for that.
Your audience for any one of these avenues may be small. However, when you combine the benefit of each distribution method, your proposal for the interview will be more appealing to your guest. Use every audience you have to your advantage.
6. DON’T TRIP OVER THE NAMES YOU DROP
Play to your podcast guest’s ego by dropping a few names. If you have had other notable guests on your show in the past, let your guest know. Tell your prospective guest they will be among good company. They will feel more comfortable saying yes to your request.
We were booking our annual acoustic concert after country duo Brooks & Dunn broke up. The year prior, Kix Brooks played this charity show for us and did a fantastic job.
Ronnie Dunn, the other half of the duo, had a new album out. We submitted a request to have him play the show. In that request, we made sure to mention that his partner played the show the year before.
Not only did Ronnie Dunn play our acoustic show, he played it fully plugged in with his entire band. That was one of our best shows ever.
It is amazing what a little associated peer pressure can do for you.
If you conduct interviews as part of your podcast, use these six steps to land the bigger names. It will not happen overnight. However, consistent fishing with this better bait will surely land you some larger fish.
Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.
You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.
Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.