finding & attracting guests for your podcast

Finding & Attracting

Guests For Your Podcast

Shimeka Williams

Disclaimer: This slide deck was created to complement a presentation. They have been updated to provide a more detailed explanation of the major topics covered in the presentation. However, they are not all inclusive. To fully understand the context of the slides, it may be beneficial to watch the video of the actual presentation.

Video: https://youtu.be/QhMww71XGzM

Agenda

Be Attractive

Best places to find guests

Pitching Guests

PitchingInfluencers

About MeAugust 2014

Decided to Launch a podcast

January 2015Intended launch date

April 2015Launched 4 months late

why? Fear of Rejection from guests

November 2015Host of Escaping Cubicle Captivity

60 episodes

13k downloads

Be AttractiveIt Starts with Communication

describe your podcast with confidence

Avoid belittling terms/phrases

“little”, “Give this podcast thing a try”

Get a WebsitePotential Guests will research you

Adds credibility and shows you are invested in this process

Social MediaStart building your following before you launch

Potential guests will research your social media activity

Guests To AvoidPeople unfamiliar with podcasting

Their lack of understanding will prevent them from taking action

People who don’t meet the basic technology requirements

You take a risk when using unfamiliar software (i.e. Sound quality, reliability)

DivasIf they do not like your rules, move on

You will waste a lot of time trying to accommodate these guests

Best Places To Find GuestsPeople You Know Apryl Roberts

Podcasts Michelle Ngome

Traditional Media Kim Springer

Social Media Chelsea M Logan

Facebook Groups Adrienne Dorison

Conferences Zephan Blaxberg

Referrals Jen Stringer

Introductions Cheryl Tan

Guest Finds You Siedah Mitchum

Organizations Erin Marshall

RadioGuestList.com Lisa Woodruff

Pitching GuestsIn Person

Ask questions to qualify them as a guest

Make a short informal the pitch

Follow up with a formal invitation

In writingStart with a Specific compliment

Tell them about your show

Explain why they are a good fit

Explain the Benefits of being a guest

Share your Accomplishments

Set Expectations

link to schedule the interview

Chasing InfluencersIt’s no secret

you want to Leverage Their Popularity to Grow Your Audience

They do a lot interviewssharing all of them would be overwhelming for their

communities

They are telling the same storiesEven their raving fans get tired of hearing the same stuff

Is this really the type of content you want to share with your audience?

Pitching InfluencersBuild Relationships

Start a dialogue and/or buy their stuff

EX. Her Power Hustle - Michelle Talbert

Be originalContact Influencers in Different Niches

Ex. Sports Gal Pal - Ramona Rice

Get some experience Gives you a chance to get the kinks out

Shows you are committed vs following a fad

Guests can listen to your latter episodes vs the early ones

After The InterviewAsk for immediate feedback

What they tell you is likely what they will tell others about their experience

Send a follow up surveyAllows you to collect info to improve the interview

experience

Continue to promote the guestSocial Media

refer to them on your other Episodes

refer to them on Other Podcasts

Feature them in content You Create

Support their future endeavors

Shimeka WilliamsPodcast: Escaping Cubicle Captivity

www.EscapingCubicleCaptvity.com