Podcast Guests: How To Find Them
There comes a time in a podcaster’s life when they realize they need podcast guests on their show. Maybe you want to feature someone with a particular skill, or maybe you just want to hear what someone else has to say about your topic. Whatever the reason, getting guests on your podcast can be a great twist on your show.
What Are Podcast Guests?
Podcast guests are people who appear on your show to talk about a topic. They can be experts in the field you’re covering, sharing their own experiences and stories. Invite entertaining personalities who will help bring more listeners to your podcast.
They appear on podcasts as a way to build authority and credibility, as well as to increase their own exposure. For example, a nutrition expert may be an ideal guest for your show if you have a health podcast.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Guests for Your Podcast
Before you start inviting people to your podcast, it’s important to have an idea of what type of person will be most beneficial.
Choosing guests for your podcast can be a challenge. It’s important to choose guests that are relevant, have a wide reach, and can provide the content you need for your audience. Here are some factors to consider when choosing guests:
Relevance
If your podcast is about fitness, then it makes sense to invite someone who has expertise in the field. The more relevant your guest is, the better chance they have of providing quality content for your show.
A guest who is not relevant to your podcast is not going to give you the content that you need. They may also be less likely to promote their appearance on your show, which can hurt your brand recognition and sales.
Audience Reach
Who do you want to reach? Is it a specific type of person or everyone? If so, who has the most influence over that group? You’ll want to find someone who has influence over that group. If you want to reach everyone, then it makes sense to invite someone who has influence over a wide range of people.
You also have to keep in mind that you might have to spend on guest fees if you want to reach a specific group. This can be worth it, though, if it means that you get more sales from your podcast.
Your Budget
As mentioned above, there might be guests who would charge you for an appearance on your podcast. This is especially true if you want to reach a specific audience or have a high-profile guest. If this is the case, then it’s important to factor in how much money you have available for guests when making your budget.
You don’t have to go overboard, though. You should be able to find guests who will appear on your podcast for free or at a low cost if you’re willing to do some research.
Schedule
Once you have all of the above figured out, it’s time to think about your schedule. You’ll want to make sure that you’ve got enough time to plan, record and edit each episode before it goes live. Planning ahead and considering your guest’s schedule will help avoid overwhelming yourself and keep you from missing a deadline.
A good rule of thumb is to plan your podcast episodes a few weeks in advance. This will give you time to line up guests, schedule interviews, and make sure that everything is ready for recording.
How to Find Guests for Podcasts
If you’re just starting out with podcasting, finding guests can seem intimidating. But it’s really not as hard as you might think! Here are some tips for finding great podcast guests:
1. Look at your network. Who do you know? Who do they know? Start there first. If you’re launching a podcast about travel, for example, then reach out to your friends who travel often. Ask if they would be willing to come on the show and share their tips and tricks with listeners.
2. If you need to expand your network, consider asking around at meet-ups or events in your area to see who might be interested in being on a podcast.
3. Think about who is already successful in your niche. Who are the thought leaders? Who do people listen to for advice? Then reach out to them and see if they would be interested in being on your show!
4. Let Google do the work for you. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, then search for other podcasts in your niche and see who else is hosting shows. Reach out to those hosts and ask if they would be willing to come on your podcast!
5. Don’t forget social media! Post about the opportunity on Twitter and Facebook, and ask any friends who are podcasters if they have any suggestions for potential guests. They may even be able to introduce you to someone new in their circle!
These are just a few of the ways you can find guests for your podcast. It will always be a challenge to find the right people who are willing to come on your show, but with a bit of research and patience, you’ll be able to build up your roster of regulars in no time!
Benefits of Inviting Guests to Your Podcast Shows
There are a lot of benefits to having guests on your podcast. Here are just a few of them:
Helps You Grow Your Audience
Having guests on your show can help you grow your audience in a number of ways. First of all, it will present you with a chance to introduce your podcast to new listeners and spark their interest. For example, if one of your guests is an influencer or well-known expert in their field, this could bring in listeners who have never heard of the show before.
Your guests’ audience may also be interested in hearing what you have to say and could become regular listeners as well.
It Helps You Learn More About Your Topic
Having guests on your show can help you gain valuable insight into your subject matter. For example, if you are hosting an expert who has been in the industry for years, they can come with additional knowledge than you already have about the topic. They’ll probably know some things that even surprise you!
You might think that you already know everything there is to know about your topic, but it’s always good to get some fresh perspectives. Your show can be a great place to learn from other people in your niche. We all love to learn something new.
Creates a Sense of Community Among Listeners
Inviting guests over to your show can create a sense of community among your listeners. They’ll feel like they’re part of a larger community, and this will make them feel more connected to you and your show. You can also get feedback from your listeners by polling them after each episode airs or asking questions during an interview.
Listeners love to feel like they’re part of a community and this can be a great way to build that sense of belonging.
Build Connections
Your show is a great way to connect with other podcasters, influencers, and brands. By inviting guests to your show, you can build connections that could lead to future collaborations or partnerships. You may even meet new people who become regular guests on your show in the future!
Don’t forget to keep in touch with your guests after the show. You never know when you might need to reach out for a favor or request an introduction.
Brand Exposure
Increase awareness of your brand by inviting guests on to your show. You can also use this opportunity to promote products, services, or events that relate to the topic of conversation.
When you collaborate with a guest, you’re building a relationship with an influential person who can help promote your brand. The more you collaborate with others, the more likely people will be introduced to your brand.
These are just some of the many benefits of inviting podcast guests to be a part of your show. It’s a win-win situation: You get high-quality content, and they get exposure. What’s not to love?
How to Invite Your Guest to Your Podcast
If you already have a list of potential podcast guests, the next step is to send them an invitation. Here are some tips to help you do that successfully:
1. Create an email template
You don’t want to be that person who doesn’t know what to say when you invite someone onto your podcast. So make sure you have a template ready to go and use it every time!
You can use this template as a starting point, but remember to customize it for each guest. Add their name, mention what show you’re from, and then tell them why you want them on your podcast.
2. Send the email from your business domain
Don’t send an invitation from your personal email account! It’s important that your guests know who they’re working with—and using your business email will help create trust between the two of you. Just make sure to include your business info in the email signature!
3. Be personal
If you’re inviting someone on your podcast, chances are you’ve been following them for a while and feel like you know them pretty well. So take the time to write something that’s personal and authentic—they will appreciate that!
4. Make it easy for them to say yes
If you can, provide a link to your podcast so they can hear an episode before agreeing to be on one. If not, send over some links to episodes in which you’ve interviewed people with similar backgrounds or professions as your guest—this will help them see how engaging interviews can be!
5. Be specific about what you want
If you’re inviting someone to your podcast, be sure to clearly outline what kind of content they will provide and how long their segment should be. You don’t need every guest to come up with a fully fleshed-out topic—just something that can get the conversation started!
These are just a few tips on how to get a guest on your podcast. If you’re still having trouble, try asking around and reaching out to people who’ve done interviews before. There are plenty of podcasters who would be happy to help!
How Often Should You Invite Guests to Your Podcast?
You know what they say, too much of anything isn’t good. The same goes for your podcast. You shouldn’t invite guests on every episode—it will be too much and your listeners won’t be able to connect with you as easily. Instead, try inviting guests every few episodes or once a month at most. This is mostly applicable or only applicable if you don’t have a purely interview-only podcast because for interview-only podcasts of course you need the guests.
It’s not always a bad thing if you don’t have a guest for a show, either. You can still have a great episode with just you on the show. Your listeners will appreciate the authenticity of your podcast and the fact that you’re not simply interviewing someone to fill up time.
Remember that your listeners don’t need to hear from someone else every time they listen to your show. They want to hear from you!
Final Thoughts
Finding guests for your podcast can be a challenging task. It will take time and effort to find the right person for your show, but it is worth it in the end. As long as you are open to new connections, willing to reach out and ask people if they would like to be on your podcast, and ready to accept some rejections along the way, then you’re going to find great guests.
We hope this guide has helped you learn how to find guests for your podcast. Thanks for reading!
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