Successful Podcast Guest Management
Podcasts are all the rage! From individuals to organizations, podcasts are everywhere. Whether you are a global podcaster like Joe Rogan, or you have a small niche audience, options are available for recording, sharing, and promoting your podcast to the world. You don’t need to be a celebrity to have a podcast, but you do need interesting guests. Whether you are doing a daily, weekly, or monthly podcast, having someone to interview or converse with is key to an interesting episode.
But where do you find guests? And how can you make it comfortable for them?
Finding guests is a little easier than it might sound; your own personal and professional network is full of interesting people. Whether your neighbors, coworkers, or professional colleagues, you can find people with expertise and experiences that will resonate with your audience.
When you invite someone to be on your podcast, ask them to discuss a specific topic. Don’t ask “Hey, do you want to be on my podcast?” Know in advance what you want to talk with this person about and tell them in the invitation: “I would like to invite you to be on my podcast to discuss how you migrated from one AMS to another.”
If the person would rather talk about a different topic, then negotiate, or you could have them back for another episode. You may even find during the podcast episode other topics that the guest could discuss on a future episode; don’t shy away from inviting the same guest for multiple episodes if they have something to say.
Another great technique for finding guests: invite people you don’t know. If you read an interesting blog post or online article, or hear an interesting presenter, and you would like to explore the topic further, send an invitation. The worst thing that will happen is that they will say no. Or they won’t answer you. But you won’t know if you don’t try.
I met my friend Cheryl Ronk years ago because she had a last-minute cancellation on her radio show (what we would today call a podcast) and needed to find someone fast. The topic was white papers and I had just posted something to a (now defunct) ASAE wiki on that topic. Cheryl found my name and contacted me “out of the blue” to invite me to fill in the next day. I said yes and we’ve been connected ever since.
Make your guests as comfortable as possible. While many professionals have made presentations, most people have never been on a podcast. Ask your guests their comfort level and answer any questions in advance. I like to send people an email outlining steps for the podcast and how the episodes usually go.
Build in extra time the day of the episode (whether live or recorded) so that you can make sure all the technology works for everyone. Have a short conversation before you begin so that everyone is relaxed and confident in the topic.
Successful guest management includes briefing them before the episode; answering their questions; and helping them do their best.
