Even if you don’t have a podcast, it doesn’t mean that you cannot benefit from being a guest on somebody else’s podcast.
In this blog post I’m going to share what you need to do to increase your chances of being featured as a podcast guest.
First, you need to attend to two technical requirements.
When I look for guests for my podcast, it’s important to me to maintain the production values. A large part of this is down to sound quality. I feel I owe it to my listeners to have decent sound quality wherever possible. There is an argument that if the content is good enough that people will put up with poor sound quality but I desire both good quality sound and excellent content.
In an ideal world I would record these interviews over the Internet, because that is convenient and gives me access to a lot more people across the world. Unfortunately I have found that most people do not have a good enough set-up to make it work well. What this has meant is that I either rely on interviewees on my doorstep (people I can travel to) or those people who are well equipped (inevitably other podcasters).
In case you’re thinking this means installing expensive studios, it doesn’t. We are talking about a very small amount of money that should see a return on investment in no time.
Invest in a Decent Microphone
Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting recommends using the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB. It costs $36 from Amazon and sounds incredible for that price. [Currently it’s not available from Amazon’s UK store but you can often buy them from Ebay for around £50.]
Invest in the Best Internet Connection Possible
If you’re not on a fibre connection already, it is definitely the time to upgrade. Most cities and towns have the option, even if the cost per month is more than you’re used to paying. Think of all the time you’ll save as well and the price is likely to come down in the long run. You want this connection because it will eliminate most glitches that could occur in the audio as it records – again it’s back to the production values.
Doing these two things will also work in your favour if you want to get involved in Google+ Hangouts as well. Next you need to get proactive!
Research Who is Creating the Content
If you’re interested in your subject matter then you may already have done this analysis, but you need to know who is operating in your niche.
1. Search Google and the iTunes library by using a few keywords that are relevant to your niche. Who is podcasting?
2. Listen to the podcasts to get a feel for them. Ideally you would have consumed a lot of the content but if you don’t have time, check out the most recent episodes.
3. Ask yourself whether you can add value? If you can then this could be a potential avenue to explore.
Get on Their Radar First
By far the best way to become a guest on a podcast is when they come to you rather than the other way around! For that to happen you need to have some visibility in your niche already. If that is not the case yet, it may be harder but not impossible so . . .
1. Be part of the community with which you want to get involved. This means leaving intelligent comments on blog posts, tweeting the host or sharing their content on social media.
2. When you feel the time is right, approach them with a plan. Suggest a topic which would be perfect for the podcast and explain why you are the best person to help – share your passion and experience.
3. If you’ve been a guest on another podcast already, make them aware of it. They may well go and listen. If they like the content and can hear the superior sound quality, they may well be tempted. Make sure your website is presentable, too, as they will be linking to you and will probably want something that reflects their brand values.
Fit into Their Schedule
Richard Branson always says that if CNN come knocking he will drop everything to help out. Okay, this may not be CNN but it’s the same notion. Podcasters may be in different time zones or they may ask you very suddenly if you can help. Say yes! They may not ask again.
Don’t Promote Your Business, Share Your Best Knowledge!
Publicising your business is not about constantly mentioning your company name or hammering home the services you have on offer, it’s about making people so interested in you that they naturally want to find out more. Do this by sharing the best knowledge you have. Don’t hold back. Sometimes this can be counterintuitive but this will work in your favour.
Be as Professional as Possible
There are lots of little things you can do to make sure you come across as professional. Here are some examples:
1. Be on time when it comes to recording.
2. Switch off any notification noises on your computer.
3. Close the doors and windows of your office or do anything to reduce the background noise.
This is an era where there’s a lot of opportunity. You could even use a similar approach with your local radio station.
Have you got any tips or tricks to get free publicity for your business? What’s worked for you?
