How do you set up a Podcast Interview in 2021
In the world of podcasting, believe it or not, there is a methodology when it comes to preparing for guest interviews. This is particularly true when you are the first to start and have yet to build a follow-up or meaningful audience. One of the most enjoyable aspects of podcasting is meeting experts and get a chance to learn from the best in their profession. For any guest you bring, remember that their time is precious, and the more effective your process is, the better their experience will be.
Let’s go over the steps to set up a guest interview for your own podcast.
Inviting Guests
The first thing is to reach out to the influencers and guests you’d like to feature on your show. Give them a short, succinct email telling them who you really are, a quick rundown of your podcast, mentioning that you’d love to interview them and why. It’s also a nice idea to let them know what they’re going to have a chance to chat about on the show, and maybe give them a preview of previous episodes so they can get a sense of the material that you normally bring out to your audience.
Another useful suggestion is to ask the potential guest if there are particular subjects that they feel most interested in talking about, so when they’re on the subject of their choice, you’re guaranteed to get the maximum quality content out of the interview.
Finally, the secret is an incentive! There’s supposed to be some sort of give-and-take, and giving these potential visitors extra incentive to come on board with your show is essentially the cherry on top. If the pledge is to expose a new audience, to market their new book, or simply to make their voice heard, there should definitely be something in it for them.
“Incentivize the guests for their appearance on your podcast”
The Schedule
If the request has been accepted, it is time to organize the date and time for the interview to be held. This is a place where most of the time can be lost. With all the possible back-and-forths and waiting for answers, it can take several weeks to arrange the interview. At this point, taking a proactive scheduling approach is key.
The fastest method to guarantee efficient scheduling is to try to contact the guest directly by phone. Don’t be rattled by this tactic, no matter who the guest is. Straight phone conversation gives you the opportunity to get instant answers, to compare your schedules, and select a date with the right time.
“The best way to confirm your guest’s schedule is through a quick call”
The Preparation
It’s always better to do the analysis before simply jumping on to an interview call. Top creatives are being interviewed on podcasts all the time, mostly answering the very same questions again and again. But how do you make your interview stand out from the rest?
This is where rigorous preparation and analysis work comes in. Indulge yourself in their content, get acquainted with their context, and dig a little deeper to find fascinating conversational points to use in your interview time. Your duration with them is minimal, so make the most of it by being well-prepared and well-versed in your work.
Next, make sure they’re all set up with the best equipment, have a quiet place to record, and feel relaxed on a podcast. Often, even with respected guest experts, podcasting gigs are fresh! Send over a few tips to help them feel as relaxed as possible.
Make sure you confirm the time and date of the interview with them and go through the finer information, such as approving a consent document for any material produced during the interview. Using a release helps you (and only you) to decide how to edit, distribute, and generate revenue from your show.
“The better prepared you are, the better will be the interview”
The Interview Questions
Apart from preparing for the interview, it’s imperative that you train your guest as well. This will make a massive difference to the standard of the conversation you’re going to get. A smart idea is to submit your guest interview questions ahead of time and give them a chance to read through the topics and work through the possible responses they would like to give.
This way they are also able to make notes on extra nuggets of wisdom so they don’t neglect to add it during the heat of the interview. When they’re able to answer your questions, you can devote more time to unwrapping their answer and not letting the time go to waste.
“Make the guest’s job a bit easier by giving them the questions beforehand”
Quality Checks
One of the most frustrating things to happen is to remember that after the interview, you’ve never actually pressed the record button. It might be an opportunity once in a lifetime, so you can’t afford to waste out on quality tests. Before the interview starts, record a short segment to test the integrity of the sound and make absolutely sure that all is functioning in order.
Next, check to see whether all other devices are either switched off or quiet so that they do not disturb the interview. Quality is important, particularly when it comes to audio content; when the baseline is working correctly, the final product will have a much higher value.
“Get the pre-checks done and ensure everything is in order”
Wrapping Up
The only way to do right for your guest is by putting their interview out to as many listeners as possible so that their time has been well spent. A few days prior or the day that your guest’s interview goes live, give them a thank you email that comprises a Hearty congratulations to you and a message or lesson that you apparently took from the interview with them. Your gratitude can never be taken for granted, and it is a perfect way to build a friendship with your guests for possible future partnerships.
