Being invited to appear on a podcast is an exciting opportunity to promote your expertise, business, or personal brand to a captive audience. However, nerves and a lack of preparation can cause you to miss out on making the most of this valuable platform.
To maximize your next podcast appearance, follow these three stages of preparation:
A Week Before (7+ days out)
Don’t wait until the last minute. At least a week ahead of time:
- Listen to several episodes to understand the podcast’s style, tone, format, and whether the host lets guests lead or asks challenging questions.
- Research details like the segment duration, breaks, whether you’ll take live questions, etc.
- Outline your core messaging and talking points. What do you aim to promote or position? Write scripts, record practice videos, and refine your pitch.
Setting the Scene (1-2 days before)
For remote podcasts, create an ideal audio/video environment by:
- Using proper lighting, like a ring light or sitting facing a window, to look bright and professional.
- Staging an attractive, uncluttered background like bookshelves or simple decorations.
- Setting up a quality microphone and earbuds to enhance audio.
- Testing all the technology is working smoothly.
Showtime! (Day of)
A few hours before the podcast:
- Get a good night’s sleep, and leave plenty of time to dress professionally.
- Perform a final tech check on equipment, lighting, etc.
- Eliminate all potential distractions and noise by silencing devices and isolating yourself.
- Stay hydrated with a glass of water to sip quietly.
- Take deep breaths to center yourself before the interview begins.
During the podcast:
- Sit up straight and smile, using natural gestures and facial expressions.
- Listen intently to the host instead of thinking ahead to what you’ll say next.
- Speak slowly, enunciate clearly, and don’t be afraid to use humor to engage the audience.
- Promote yourself authentically, but avoid dominating the conversation.
Most importantly, have fun! An engaging, entertaining podcast segment will leave a lasting impression and could earn you many new followers.
Appearing on podcasts allows you to leverage your expertise and reach new audiences. With proper planning and an authentic, well-prepared delivery, you can maximize this remarkable opportunity for personal and professional growth.
For more tips on being a guest on a podcast, see the article “How to Prepare for a Podcast Appearance” on Entrepreneur.
Being invited to appear on a podcast is an exciting opportunity to promote your expertise, business, or personal brand to a captive audience. Don't let nerves and a lack of preparation be your downfall. Click To Tweet
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