5 things to do right now to get the most out of your podcast interviews
Make an impact with podcast guest interviews.
By Ryan Estes
1. Podcast Prep Punch List
A little preparation goes a long way when getting ready to be a guest on a podcast. A podcast interview is a relaxed conversation full of personal discovery. Podcasts allow you to connect to the host and their audience in a meaningful way. It’s helpful to have an intention going into a podcast interview if you expect results. Use this punch list to prepare for each podcast interview properly and soothe any big emotions that may arise.
- Set a plan for the conversation.
- Make sure your recording hardware/software is functioning correctly.
- Close all browser tabs.
- Speak 10% slower than usual.
- Allow for pauses in your speech so the host can interject.
- Guide the conversation to the topics on your agenda.
- Relax, there are no podcast emergencies. 😎
2. Craft Your Story
Make a little time for some introspection and uncover your compelling narrative. Organize your personal stories to invoke an emotional connection with the listeners. Attract them to you, and keep them engaged. Some leaders are assigned their positions by employers, while others seek out these roles through entrepreneurship, community engagement, or political involvement.
Different leaders will have different comfort levels for sharing personal stories. By all means, challenge yourself, but don’t go crazy. Focus on stories you have told in the past, which get a good laugh at cocktail parties. Traits such as introversion, extroversion, intuitive abilities, emotional tendencies, and intellectual capacity will factor into a person’s speaking style. Take time to reflect on personal anecdotes you can use in interviews to endear yourself to the audience. Act natural and be yourself – the audience will love you for it. If you want some one-on-one support crafting your story, join the hundreds of entrepreneurs who have already improved their podcast performance with Kitcaster.
3. Look Good, Sound Good, Feel Good
You don’t have to break the bank to get great vocal recordings for your online podcast interviews. We reached out to fellow podcast hosts to assemble this list of hardware recommendations. There we cover microphones (USB and XLR), headphones, accessories, and a quick video to optimize your Zoom recordings.
4. Convert Your Podcast Audience
Simple traffic won’t always drive the greatest return on investment. Unless your company has a very high lifetime customer value and a sales cycle where a single customer can make a huge difference in your sales quarter, it will benefit you to supplement this web traffic by repurposing content, including podcast interviews, that will cast a wider net and help you reach a bigger audience.
“Big” podcasts aren’t the only thing worth your time. Though it might be fun to land a spot on one of the “name brand” podcasts, the truth is that most people listening to some of the biggest business podcasts aren’t always looking to take action — they’re more interested in entertainment. On the other hand, suppose you’re featured on a more niche podcast that caters to an audience of people who are genuinely looking for a product like yours. In that case, you’ll be able to nerd out a little bit on the show, impressing like-minded listeners with your technical skills and encouraging prospects to look into your product.
Podcasts aren’t just an opportunity to talk. Podcast conversations can be an incredible source of “aha” moments. For example, when participating in an interview, the podcast host might share something that will equip you to talk to prospects and customers differently — maybe even more clearly — about your product or service.
5. Connect to a Qualified Niche
Once you’ve spent time with broad audiences, discovered how telling your story on podcasts can help your company, and are ready to convert specific targets, it’s time to look at shows with niche audiences. Here, things are a little more straightforward. Some think “niche” means “small,” but it doesn’t mean that the audience is small. Instead, a niche audience is that the podcasts they enjoy are intentionally more technical and delve deeper into their addressing topics.
These audiences present a unique opportunity to connect more personally because the audience is closer to converting. By the time they’ve arrived at a particular podcast, they already know the market intimately, have defined their pain points, and are looking for the solution. The great opportunity here is that we seek to find podcasts for our clients that address the specific market, searching for the pain points your company addresses, leaving you to captivate the audience and draw them to your brand.
Bonus: Repurpose Podcast Content
Are you looking for new sales prospects? Do you want to leverage your expertise and thought leadership? Are you searching for strategic partners? Maybe some of those VC dollars? Podcasts have the potential to deliver these outcomes. (We have the case studies to prove it.)
Podcast content can play an integral role at every stage of your marketing and sales process. It is a two-way conversation, and you can guide the conversations towards beneficial topics.
In this article, we will explore how to use repurposed podcast content to
- Generate leads
- Create sales assets
- Validate new products
- Raise funding
- Create new opportunities with podcast hosts
Or, if you are looking for a done-for-you service to create content that converts, the Podcast Content Studio transforms your podcast episodes into robust sales and marketing assets. The Podcast Content Studio will create artwork, pull quotes, a blog post, and transcribe the audio for a price that won’t break the bank. This content is designed to publish on delivery.
What are the essential steps to prepare for a podcast interview?
To ensure a successful podcast interview, it’s important to set a plan for the conversation, check that your recording hardware and software are functioning properly, close unnecessary browser tabs, speak slightly slower than usual, and allow pauses for the host to interject. It’s also helpful to guide the conversation towards your agenda and stay relaxed, remembering that there are no podcast emergencies.
How can you craft a compelling personal story for podcast interviews?
Crafting a compelling story for a podcast involves introspection and organizing your personal anecdotes that can connect emotionally with the audience. Focus on relatable stories that have previously resonated well in social settings. Reflect on your traits like introversion or extroversion and consider how they influence your speaking style. Being natural and authentic will make the audience resonate with you more.
What equipment is recommended for high-quality podcast recordings?
For high-quality podcast recordings, especially when done remotely via platforms like Zoom, it is advisable to use good microphones (both USB and XLR types), headphones, and essential accessories. A simple video tutorial can also help optimize your recording settings to ensure you look and sound your best during the interview.
How can you effectively convert your podcast audience into customers?
To convert podcast listeners into customers, focus on repurposing your podcast content to reach a broader audience. Engaging in niche podcasts that closely align with your target audience’s interests can be particularly effective. These niche audiences are typically more invested and closer to making a purchase decision, providing a unique opportunity to present your products or services as solutions to their specific needs.
What are the benefits of repurposing podcast content?
Repurposing podcast content can help generate leads, create sales assets, validate new products, and even raise funding. By strategically using podcast content at various stages of your marketing and sales process, you can create new opportunities and partnerships. Additionally, companies like the Podcast Content Studio can transform your podcast episodes into a variety of marketing assets, further enhancing your reach and impact.
