3 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Podcast Guest Appearance

Have you learnt whenever you’ve “arrived” as of late? Whenever you’re on a podcast, both because the host or a visitor! I could also be exaggerating just a bit, however a great barometer of success within the present market is being deemed worthy of a visitor look on a podcast. It means you’ve got attracted curiosity. It means you will have the facility to generate an audience. It means somebody believes you will have one thing essential to say and to share.

So whenever you get the prospect, you will need to be ready. As head of my very own PR firm, a part of my position is prepping and grooming purchasers for podcast appearances. Listed below are the teaching suggestions I cross on to my purchasers to allow them to take the very best benefit of taking part in America’s latest favourite media channel.

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Greatest practices for podcast appearances

As ubiquitous as podcasts have turn into, it is nonetheless thrilling whenever you obtain an invite to be featured on one. Very thrilling. However pleasure also can result in nervousness, intimidation and even stage fright, which might go away you tongue-tied and lead to a missed alternative to take advantage of your second.

You may take steps earlier than and through your look to facilitate essentially the most favorable final result, and I break these steps into three phases.

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Stage #1: Prepping the week earlier than your interview

Don’t wait till the final minute to prepared your self in your look. I do not care how busy you’re, how naked your cabinets are or what number of social gathering favors it’s a must to assemble in your child’s birthday on Saturday; don’t be an eleventh-hour podcast visitor.

No less than per week out, schedule the next duties:

• Take heed to as many episodes of the podcast as you possibly can. As you accomplish that, get a really feel for the host’s model — are they easy-breezy, or do they throw hardballs? Do they speak extra, or do their friends speak extra? Is the tone informal and conversational, or fairly formal, instructional and informational? To be a great match for this present, you will need to be aware of the present’s persona and craft your content material to it.
• Analysis the podcast’s format. How lengthy will you be on? Will there be breaks so you possibly can regroup and reset between segments? Will you be anticipated to discipline listeners’ questions, or will you be accountable for your “script”? Figuring out what to anticipate earlier than taping begins paves the best way for fulfilled expectations.
• Draft your pitch. Now’s the time to start out writing down what you most need to talk throughout your look. Whether or not it is encapsulating the mission of your corporation, positioning your self as a thought leader or driving visitors to your enterprise, try to be clear on what you need to pitch and the way you are going to take action. Listing speaking factors. Make word playing cards. Document voice memos to evaluate the way you’re coming throughout and tweak your angle to deal with weak spots.

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Stage #2: Setting the scene for the interview

Nearly all of my purchasers’ podcast interviews are executed remotely, with my shopper of their location and the podcast host calling from their location. Fairly often, the interviews are videotaped in addition to audiotaped, which provides one other layer of interplay with the viewers.

Assuming you are going to be seen and heard, take the time to make sure that your atmosphere will likely be most conducive to a crisp and clear listening expertise and a visually interesting presentation.

• Equip your interview space with correct lighting. You need your picture to look shiny {and professional}, not darkish and shadowy, which will be achieved by a ring light or pure mild coming by way of a window in entrance of you. (Notice: You don’t need a window behind you, which might create an annoying glare.)
• Stage a pretty background. There is no such thing as a must redecorate or litter your workplace, however a well-placed plant, a knickknack or a considerate assortment of books on a shelf behind you possibly can create a delightful backdrop. Use a preset background from a videoconferencing platform provided that it is prime quality and can seem strong and regular behind you.
• Plan to put on earbuds and arrange a microphone, which might diminish background noise and enhance sound high quality on each ends.
• Earlier than interview day, verify that each one your tools is working so you will not encounter any last-minute expertise glitches.

Stage #3: Exhibiting up for the interview

It is time to get your self camera-ready and your house podcast-ready!

• First, let’s rewind to the night time earlier than. Get a great night time’s sleep so you are feeling your greatest.
• Then, go away ample time to decorate and primp the morning of so that you look your greatest.
• Subsequent, about two hours earlier than go time, do one other fast tech verify to make sure all the things’s operational. If not, you will want time to troubleshoot.
• Take management of all the things round you — turning off all noise sources, silencing your cellphone and close by units and isolating your self from everybody and all the things in your neighborhood (together with your children and your pet!) at some point of the podcast phase.
• Have a glass of water off to the facet and soundlessly sip all through the interview to maintain your mouth hydrated.
• Because the countdown begins, take a number of deep breaths to calm and middle your self, changing into totally grounded within the present moment.
• When the interview begins, sit up, don a welcoming smile, incorporate true-to-life gestures and facial expressions and, most significantly, pay attention intently and deeply to the host. You may be tempted to divert your ideas to your subsequent flip to talk, however in the event you try this, you would miss what the host is saying to you or asking you.
• Belief your pure instincts and belief your expertise. You have been requested to look on the podcast for a purpose — go present ’em why you deserve the invite!

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Go away an enduring impression

Greater than something, podcasts are supposed to be partaking and entertaining. So it is high quality to have enjoyable; you are inspired to have enjoyable. The extra real you’re, the extra listeners will get a way of you as a person as a substitute of a speaking head, and the extra they will belief that what you are saying is coming from a spot of authenticity.

To make the simplest use of your time within the highlight, keep in mind that podcasts are primarily an auditory expertise, the place voice, cadence and readability take middle stage. So enunciate slightly greater than you often do and gradual the tempo of your speech just a bit greater than you usually would. You don’t need your listeners to overlook a single phrase. And do not be afraid so as to add humor wherever and nevertheless you possibly can — regardless of how severe the dialog or earnest your message, you possibly can by no means go incorrect making your viewers giggle.

Podcasts are, on the core, a promotional automobile. When it is your flip to trip in a single, do not be shy about promoting your self, your model or your function. It is a fabulous alternative to shine; simply be sure you embrace the host and the listeners within the limelight too. By the top of the episode, you may earn a slew of recent followers!