Podcast Guests - Where To Find People Worth Interviewing
Inviting a guest speaker to your podcast can be a fantastic strategy for expanding your audience and network. Not only does it bring a fresh perspective to your content, but it also leverages the guest's own social network, potentially drawing in fans who might not have discovered your podcast otherwise. In addition to that, the collaborative nature of such episodes often leads to dynamic conversations that can captivate new listeners and keep them coming back for more. It's a win-win situation where both the host and the guest can enjoy increased visibility and engagement. Podcast guests bring expertise, value, and fresh perspectives to your podcast.
Does it matter who guests on your podcast? Isn’t the most important thing to have content and someone to listen to? No, it is worth the effort to find the right guests that would attract your potential listeners and keep your current ones pressing play on your podcast.
What are the benefits of having guests on your podcast?
Different Perspectives: Having a variety of guests allows for a dynamic exchange of ideas and can introduce a fresh perspective to the discussion. Guests bring their unique experiences and knowledge, enriching the content and potentially expanding the podcast's reach. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for the host to delve into new subjects with the guidance of an expert, making complex topics more accessible and engaging for listeners. This collaboration not only diversifies the content but also fosters a sense of community and connection among those with shared interests.
This allows for a wide range of topics and the introduction of varying viewpoints, even if you don’t always agree with your guests’ opinions. This dynamic can create a rich variety of dialogue, encouraging listeners to consider different angles and form their own opinions.
The Guests’ Own Audience: A major benefit to having guests is that they can bring their own audiences, expanding the podcast's reach and potentially increasing its popularity. Your guests’ followers and network are more than likely to listen to a podcast they are featured on so it can give you a chance to expand your show’s reach. For it to be mutually beneficial, not only do you need to have an effective marketing strategy, but the guests would need to do promotional work on their side too.
Ultimately, the exchange of ideas between host and guests can foster a community of curious and informed listeners.
Enhanced Credibility: Featuring well-known guests can lend credibility to your podcast and attract new listeners. Cross-promotion can be particularly effective if the guest has a significant following or is recognized as an expert in their field.
How do you find the right guests for your show?
There are several different ways to find people worth interviewing on your podcast.
Audience Interests:
Research into what topics excite your listeners. Use your analytics to see what kind of episodes your listeners are more likely to play.
Look into trending subjects within your field of expertise to find guests who can speak on these themes.
Engagement Potential:
Evaluate how well potential guests communicate their ideas.
Listen to other shows that the guest you are interested in has been on.
Consider their social media presence and how they connect with audiences as this can enhance your podcast’s visibility and promote engagement.
Expertise and Experience:
Look for individuals who are not only experts in their field but also align with the theme and tone of your podcast.
Guests who have relevant backgrounds and experience can provide valuable information and increase the authenticity of your content.
Finding the right guests for your podcast involves a mix of strategy and networking. Social media is one of the biggest tools that can help you. Use social media, tap into your own network, and ask your listeners to help you find your next guests.
SOCIAL MEDIA
You can find people all over the world in industries, companies, and niches that will serve your audience especially in professional fields.
Steps for using LinkedIn:-
Do a search for who the top people are in individual companies.
Use the groups within LinkedIn. You can search for groups that are specific to the topics talked about on the show.
Use LinkedIn Pulse to see who is publishing articles with topics that your audience will love. The authors of these articles could be your future guests.
X (Formerly TWITTER)
Twitter is a fantastic source for finding great podcast guests because you can directly communicate with them.
Steps for using X:
Follow key influences in your niche and reach out to them striking up regular conversations to get to know them to see if they are the right fit for your podcast.
Create a list of potential guests.
Ask your followers for their input on who they would like to hear on the show.
It is more than likely that your listeners are Facebook users so use it frequently. You can get to know potential guests because people put their passions, interests and show their personalities to some extent.
Steps for using Facebook:
Ask friends of friends to introduce you to a person via Facebook Messenger.
Share content from the potential podcast guest’s website and tag them in the post – follow up with a Facebook Message telling them why. This will create a reason to reach out.
Post about wanting guests on Facebook – from your personal account. Your personal account gets more eyes than your podcast page.
Pinterest is a widely used website where you can search for ideas on almost anything. Many artists, authors, bloggers and creative people network on the site.
Steps for using Pinterest:
Browse by category to help you explore and find a variety of guests under a particular topic.
Create a board for best guest practices. Pin items like microphones, headsets, and guides for good sound from would be guests.
Create a board to highlight past guests on your show – it might encourage others to reach out.
Instagram is one of the most popular social networks used with 2 billion users. Celebrities and influencers as well as rising content creators share their stories on this visually based platform.
Steps for using Instagram:
Hashtags are an integral part of sending users to your content. Do a browser search for hashtags related to your podcast content. The profiles who are producing the best content from those hashtags could be good options.
Use a post or reel to ask for ideas on who your followers would like to see appear on your show.
YouTube
Owned by Google, YouTube is one of the biggest search engines in the world. While it can be used for influencers and entertainment, it also is filled with experts in every field.
Steps for using YouTube:
Do a search for topics you are going to be discussing in upcoming episodes to see which YouTubers would be a good fit for your show.
Look for YouTubers that show themselves comfortable and interact well with their viewers as they will likely be comfortable with audio too.
Take a look at people subscribing to individual channels – the subscribers might be people with interesting stories within your niche.
Amazon
There are many authors that publish on Amazon and that want to promote their books. They are great guests as their books can be about any topic so can cover a variety of episodes.
Steps for using Amazon:
Look for upcoming books – those authors need promotion.
Check within your niche for authors – look at their bios for contact information.
Check the editorial reviews – you can find great experts there.
Networking
Old fashion networking is great for creating relationships that will bring you podcast guests. Look for opportunities at industry events and small town talks.
Steps for using networking:
Mention you have a podcast when appropriate.
Have business cards with your podcast information on it.
Follow up with people you meet, put a link to the show and have a call out for guests.
Write for an industry publication
Every industry has a trade publication or blog. Find out what they are and pitch some ideas about what you could write for them. Getting your name and podcast out into the world is crucial to finding great guests.
Steps for using industry publications:
Offer to write a series about your podcast and how it’s helped you in your business.
Ask the editor of the publication to come on the show.
At the bottom of each article ask if you can have a call to action requesting guests.
Conferences
Go to a conference as you will meet all kinds of experts in the specialities you choose.
Steps for using Conferences:
Try to converse with them casually before bringing up the guest pitch.
Take business cards to hand out and then follow up after the conference.
Remind them of something you talked about or something specific you liked about the show and then offer an invitation to your show.
HARO
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) on Cision’s app is a place to connect journalists and bloggers with relevant expert sources so it is a place for some great press exposure. Reporters from all over the world send out queries looking for sources for their stories. You’re a podcaster, so you’re part of the media too therefore you can use HARO to find excellent sources (i.e., podcast guests) too.
Steps for using HARO:
Go through the success stories and you may find some potential sources with stories for upcoming episodes.
Send out a query via HARO – just know it might take a few weeks.
Look through the queries and find writers concentrating on your niche.
Blogs
Bloggers can make wonderful podcast guests. Find some with a decent following, but don’t let that limit you too much. If they’re a good guest, then their following won’t matter.
Steps for using Blogs:
Set up a Google search to land in your email regularly from bloggers in your niche.
Take a look at blogging networks to see who is writing about your niche.
Write a blog on your site about what you’re looking for in a guest.
Masterminds
Masterminds are groups where entrepreneurs discuss business. They can be in person, on social media, video conferences, or other mediums. While some use them to close deals, for others masterminds are simply an organized way to meet like-minded people. These groups are for entrepreneurs and marketers who are eager to interact with others in a similar situation and looking to make meaningful business relationships in their local area.
Steps for using Masterminds:
Looks for forums where you can do a post asking for guests. Make sure to put your criteria and what you’re specifically looking for in the post.
Pay attention to what people bring in their advice. If they give great advice during meetings or calls, then they might be an excellent podcast guest.
Guest Booking Services
Did you know you can go through an agency to help you find great guests? Guest booker services like The Expert Bookers act as your show’s booking agent. They do all the research and even help onboard the guest to your show. Contact michelle@expertbookers.com to see if you show qualifies. Expertbookers.com does not charge for this service.
Action steps for using a booking service:
Go onto the website https://expertbookers.com and look through the testimonials.
Fill out the application form under Contact us and you will be contacted promptly.
You can email the team leader Michelle@expertbookers.com and she will contact you.
Indeed, guest appearances on podcasts can significantly enhance the show's appeal and reach. There are many ways to find the right guests for your show who align with the podcast's theme and resonate with the target audience.
WE ARE PODCAST BOOKERS
Who we are: Simply put we are expert podcast bookers. We have been busy for years now, booking guests on podcasts for business owners, podcast hosts, book authors, business coaches, financial advisors, retail brands, SaaS, Apps, tech companies, fitness and health professionals - really anyone who wants to tell the world who they are. We also work with marketing agencies who would like to offer podcast guest booking to their clients, but want to use our team. We are proud of our team - we have been around long enough to know that it takes hard work to book our clients on top podcasts - but when we see our clients successfully grow their client base and build a great online reputation - it is worth all the effort and more.
Email our team manager Michelle. She will set you up with our team so you can enjoy the many benefits of being a podcast guest. michelle@expertbookers.com