Have you ever thought about being a guest on a podcast? More than 55% of the U.S. population have listened to podcasts, and about 24%—68 million—listen to multiple podcasts weekly.
Being a podcast guest is a great way to share your expertise and engage listeners on what’s happening in your business, organization, or community.
Getting on a podcast might be easier than you think. With more than 700,000 active podcasts and 29 million episodes available, there are many options.
How do you get invited to be a guest on a podcast? It starts with some research. What podcast(s) fit the message you want to convey. While being on a national podcast might seem appealing, it’s probably best to start at the regional or local level.
In South Georgia, there are several chamber and governmental podcasts, like Let’s Talk Thomasville and Let’s Talk Valdosta.
As the host of South Georgia Insider, I have guests that share a wide range of topics of interest to listeners in our region and beyond. Topics include business and manufacturing, entrepreneurship and rural prosperity, economic development, agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, and the arts.
Once you’ve selected a couple of possible podcast options, it’s time to develop the pitch. Basically, what do you have to say, and why would a podcast listener be of interest?
If you’re successful in getting a podcast invite, here are a few tips to make sure you’re an incredible guest:
- Do your research. Make sure you’ve listened to a few previous podcast episodes. Do you know how to pronounce the host’s name correctly and the correct name of the podcast? Get a feel for the general flow of the show and the host’s personality. If the host sends you some prep questions, answer them and send them back ASAP. Remember, the host wants you both to sound good.
- Interview space. A podcast is all about the audio, so be serious about where you conduct the interview. Do not multitask during the interview. It’s evident if you are ruffling papers or eating lunch! Give the podcast host your full attention. Absolutely, do not conduct the interview while you are in the car. Yes, the door slamming and engine starting are all being recorded.
- Podcasts are a conversation, not keynote presentations. Have you ever asked someone a question, and then they give a 10-minute response? As a host, if I ask you, “What time is it?” Don’t tell me how to build a watch. On the flip side, don’t give a one-word response, the conversation should be a light banter back-and-forth between the host and guest.
- Avoid the elevator pitch with a bunch of cliché marketing messages. It’s okay to have some facts, and a few data points to interject throughout the conversation. But, for the most part, you want to tell an engaging “story” about your company or organization.
- Have a good time. Use some appropriate humor and answer the question but do not ramble. Be relaxed. Unlike a live radio show, most podcasts are recorded. So, if you have something that just didn’t sound right, discuss that with the host, and most likely, it can be edited out of the final show.
Be our Guest:
We are looking for podcast guests for the 2022 season of South Georgia Insider. The weekly discussions include business and civic leaders and community influencers talking about some of the region’s exciting and sometimes challenging issues. You can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Podcast, or online at southgeorgiainsider.buzzsprout.com
Thressea Boyd, Editor
South Georgia Business Magazine
editor@sgamag.com
