There are a lot of different podcasts out there today, and that’s why it’s important to prepare as well as possible. Only in this way will you stand out from the competition and become more successful, loved and popular. What does it take to make a good podcast? Let’s see… It’s certainly a good idea, diction, speaking technique, knowledge of audio editing, as well as knowledge of marketing. You’ll also need money, time, space, and most importantly, guests! To make sure your podcast stands out from the crowd, pay attention to your guest selection.
That’s a key thing for every episode, because not all of them have an interesting story that will appeal to your audience. Additionally, you should bring someone with excellent communication skills. It is desirable that your guest is witty and has experience with these media formats. To invite guests who have unique perspectives on your topics, read the following tips.
1. Look for someone with charisma
In order to have quality content, you should define the purpose of the podcast. Focus on the topics you’re going to cover, and that’s not just about picking individual topics for each show. We also think of a general theme that will run through the entire podcast. For example, it can be a healthy life. You can create a bunch of subtopics based on that. Then think about which target group you want to address. In this way, you will save a lot of time, energy and resources. It is illogical to jump into some topics if you know nothing about them. So, research the topic well, learn all about it if you want to be an expert in a particular field. It is an opportunity to establish good communication with him and check his expertise.
2. Find a guest
It may be easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult if you take the necessary steps. So, ask yourself who really interests you. To begin with, focus on people who have some charisma. There are many popular guests who keep going from one podcast to another, but the reality is there are better ones out there. Choose someone whose opinion you really care about, not just because they have an impressive title. In that case, the listeners will also appreciate your content more and you will awaken their curiosity.
Otherwise, they will discover your intentions, because they will recognize fake curiosity during the interview. To help you find the right person, contact experts who deal with this issue. Thanks to a rich client base, you will be able to browse through a large number of different profiles and narrow down your choices. If you are constantly failing at finding best possible guests, check www.norrinradd.org and see what you can do to improve your podcast even more.
3. Do your research
After you’ve narrowed down your choices and found candidates, you need to research them. Of course, it can also be one guest. However, the most important thing is that you have enough information about his life and work before making any decisions. On the other hand, you don’t have to be too careful. In that case, your conversations can become stiff, uninteresting to the people listening to you. The most important thing is to find a balance, because that way you will still sound very interested, without being rude. Try to find something in the middle, and to succeed in this focus on the basic information. To get started, read their information page. There’s no need to dwell too long on the career history and list of achievements, although those are great things.
However, they are not the basis of your interview. It consists of those hidden features of the guest that you want to show people. So always think of them as the people whose profile you’re researching. In this way, you will get the feeling that you know a part of them, you will find out which aspect of their personality you want to further explore, etc. Don’t forget to check out the profiles on social networks as well. For example, search Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Check to see if they’re active on them, but also what they’re posting – it’s a great way to spark discussion during the interview.
You also show the guest that you’ve done your homework and given them a chance to talk about topics that interest them. Include in the research the other media appearances they have behind them and listen to at least a few. There you will understand whether they give long or short answers, and prepare good exam questions.
4. Prepare pre-interview questions
You don’t need to prepare every word you’re going to say, but it’s important to have a basic list of questions you intend to ask. It also helps if you have time to have a secondary list of potential questions. Try to lead the guest to answers they have not heard before. Ask questions that encourage the guest to expand on the answer, but avoid leading questions. It is also important not to combine multiple questions into one unless they are closely related, as this will confuse your interviewer. This is especially important if there is a lot to say.
Focus on creative ideas, because if you ask the same questions as your colleagues, you will get a speech memorized. Take them a step further by phrasing the sentences differently. During the pre-interview, put the guest at ease. Offer him something to drink and be positive the whole time. All the time you should remind them of your target group when it comes to the audience. However, before you meet him, write him some simple instructions in an email. In this way, you will create the best conditions for interviewing and you will save a lot of time.
Conclusion:
Try not to make hasty decisions and seek professional help if you cannot do everything yourself. You need people who do things differently, who don’t follow trends and aren’t average. We’re sure it’s not an easy task, but with the right guest engagement strategy, everything is much easier. Otherwise, you will have to turn away a lot of guests who repeat themselves too much and sell everyone the same story.
