Five Tips For Being a Better Podcast Guest

This episode is for you. If you want to find out how to be a

better guest on other podcasts, let's get into it.

Hello and welcome back to Podcasting Insights with the

Podmaster. I am Neil Velio, the Podmaster, and

this episode is for you. If you've been approached by podcasts

but you're not confident enough to come

across well enough on the shows, or

maybe you've been on shows and you want to know how to get better results

from your appearances. So let's go through my five key

points on how you can be a better podcast guest.

Number one Know the host and your audio

setup. Every single podcaster that's

worth their weight will tell you. Do your homework.

But that's not enough. Honestly. You need to do a bit of research into

what gear they're using. So are they using Zoom? Are they using

Riverside? Are they using a bespoke audio tool

like CleanFeed? Find out ahead of time

what you're going to be using and then test your kit. Five minutes

of checking your equipment's compatibility with their software

can save you a cringeworthy echo one hour into the

recording. And if they're sending gear out to you as their guest

for use, come prepared with a mic or headset you

trust, just in case. Never rely on what you're sent.

The second thing you need to bear in mind is you're talking to your listener,

not just the host. I mean, sure, it's great if you admire the

host and you've been asked to come onto a big podcast, but your

message should serve their audience first.

So ask yourself who's listening into this and what are they?

Tired of hearing from other guests? Shape your own

story accordingly. And don't just tailor what you think

would be a great message to this particular podcast.

Bring something fresh that nobody's heard before, or

at least they've not heard it in the same way that you deliver

it. The third thing you need to think about is serving

first and selling second. Forget the pitch. At this

stage, you haven't earned it yet. First of all, give

away actionable tips during the beginning of the recording.

Whether it's a smart stat or a quick hack, make it count.

Now, certainly in those first few minutes where

retention is going to be very low, that will earn

trust with their listener. Forget them.

It's the listener you need to earn trust with. And if their listeners

trust you and like you, your inevitable pitch at the end

will have more ears on it and it will be more

effective. The fourth thing you need to do

is prepare like a professional, but breathe

like a buddy. Don't completely script all your answers because you will

sound robotic and wooden, but instead map out a

story arc in your head that you can share with the

audience. Maybe a situation, a challenge, a

aha moment. Oh my God, I sounded like Alan Partridge.

Then jot down some bullet points, add some gestures,

I don't know, like leaning forward for particular points or pausing for other

points. That helps you feel natural and not robotic.

And the other thing you need to think about is presenting this as a conversation,

not a lecture. So talk a bit less

and listen a lot more. If the host says something awesome,

mirror it. Don't jump over it. Say something like,

that's interesting. Can you expand on it? If they

pause, offer a follow up. It shows that you're listening to

them and it builds rapport, producing better

audio. Plus you're demonstrating to their audience

that actually you're a better interviewer anyway.

And that's not gonna hurt, particularly if you have your own podcast.

Some extra quick tips for you Record in a bedroom corner, because

small spaces control the sound better. You don't want loads of

reverb. So if you're recording in a big lounge or in a conservatory

with lots of windows, probably worth avoiding that.

Use the host's name constantly. It's how we

build human connection. And after the show, don't

ghost them. Use those short clips or quotes they send you

once they've released the episode. That, again, is what

builds real connections. They won't ask you back

if you don't help them grow. So there you

have it. Those are my tips for being a better guest on other people's podcasts.

Nail these down and you won't just be a guest, you'll be someone

they want back as a regular. If you found this

useful, make sure you follow this show in whatever podcast app you're

listening. Drop us a review, let us know what you thought about the show,

and share this episode with anybody you know who's trying to get more

guest slots on podcasts. And until the next episode of

Podcasting Insights shows up in your library, good

luck attaining pod mastery.