If you listen to podcasts, you’ve likely heard at least a few terrible interviews. Wandering off on tangents. Clumsy segues. Questions that are tedious to answer. A host who can’t seem to stop talking about himself. You see what I mean.
When done correctly, podcast interviews appear to be simple. The conversation flows smoothly from one topic to the next, and both the host and the visitor appear to be having a good time. That, however, does not happen by accident. Interviewing is a talent that can be learned. It also takes time to master.
Furthermore, genuine curiosity, going further, extracting tales, defining the unclear, avoiding uncomfortable, and being aware of this are all important. It’s hardly their fault if a guest doesn’t give you much. It’s all yours now. As the interviewer, you must create something worth listening to.
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How To Set Up A Guest Interview For Your Podcast
Believe it or not, there is a method and etiquette in podcasting regarding scheduling guest interviews. However, this is especially true if you’re just getting started and don’t yet have a large following or audience.
Interviewing experts and learning from the finest in their professions is one of the most rewarding aspects of podcasting. Recognize that each guest’s time is valuable and that the more efficient your procedure is, the better their experience will be.
Don’t know where to begin? Let’s take a look at how to set up a guest interview for your own podcast.
1. The Interview:
The first step is to reach out to potential influencers and guests for your show. Send them a short, succinct email introducing yourself, explaining your podcast, and saying why you’d like to interview them.
It’s also a good idea to let them know what they’ll be talking about on the program and maybe even send them a preview of previous episodes so they can get a sense of the type of information you generally deliver to your audience.
Another wonderful suggestion is to ask the possible visitor if there are any specific themes about which they feel most at ease because when they are talking about their preferred topic, you are guaranteed to receive the best results.
Finally, financial incentives are critical! There has to be some sort of exchange, and presenting these potential guests with additional incentives to join your program is the icing on the cake.
There should be something in it for them, whether it’s exposure to a new audience, marketing for their new book, or simply spreading their message.
Read Also: 12 Best College Interview Tips To Help You Prepare Well
2. The Schedule:
After accepting the invitation, the next step is to set a date and time for the interview. This is where the majority of time can be squandered. With all of the potential back-and-forth and waiting for responses, scheduling an interview can take weeks.
At this point, it’s critical to use a strategic scheduling technique. Attempting to reach the guest directly by phone is the best approach to assure effective scheduling.
No matter who the visitor is, don’t be intimidated by this strategy. A simple phone call allows you to get rapid responses, connect your schedules, and choose a date with the proper amount of time provided.
3. The Preparation:
It’s usually a good idea to do some homework before jumping on an interview call. Top influencers are frequently interviewed on podcasts, and they are frequently asked the same questions. So, how can you set your interview with them apart from the rest? This is where a lot of planning and research comes into play.
Immerse yourself in their content, learn about their past, and delve a little deeper to come up with unique topics to discuss during your interview. Because you only have so much time with them, make the most of it by being well-prepared and knowledgeable about their profession.
Read Also: 10 Best Tech Podcasts That Will Leave You With Bags Of Ideas In 2023
4. The Interview Questions:
Besides preparing yourself for the interview, it is critical that you also prepare your guest. This can significantly impact the quality of the interview you receive. Sending your visitor the interview questions ahead of time is a fantastic way to allow them time to read through the topics and consider possible responses.
They can also take notes on other pieces of advice so they don’t forget to mention them during the interview. When they’re ready to answer your inquiries, you may spend more time understanding their responses and without wasting time.
5. The Quality Checks:
Realizing after the interview that you never pushed records is one of the most upsetting things that can happen. You can’t afford to lose out on quality inspections because this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Record a brief part before the interview checks the sound quality and make sure everything is in working condition.
Next, make sure that all other gadgets are turned off or set to silent mode so that they do not disrupt the interview. Regarding landlines audio content, quality is crucial; when the foundation is in place, the ultimate product will be far more valuable. It’s also a good idea to try to schedule the guest interrogation as soon as possible.
Read Also: Effective Tips for Conducting A Podcast Interview
6. The Recording:
You can record your interview in a variety of ways. Zencastr and the old standby, Skype, are popular among the select few. Because of its VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology, recording Skype to Skype interviews produces a significantly higher audio recording than cell phones, land lines, and other call software.
It’s easy to start, and most visitors already have a Skype account. Mac users can use eCamm Call Recorder to record the actual call, while PC users can use Pamela. Zencastr, which runs straight in your web browser, is another excellent piece of software. This makes inviting visitors or recording from any location with an internet connection is simple.
7. The Follow Up:
The next stage is to create a promotion strategy when your episode has been edited, processed, and scheduled for release. Do your visitor’s honour by broadcasting their interview to as many people as possible, ensuring their time is well spent.
Send your guest a thank you email a few days before or on the day their interview goes live, with a big thank you and a message or lesson you took from the conversation. You can give them a “thank you gift” along with your thank you email as a remembrance of their time on your program, to indicate how much you respect the value they have added.
That’s all there is to it! You’re now all set to schedule your own podcast interview! In the comments section below, let us know if you have any more recommendations for setting up and conducting a successful interview. We’d love to hear from you and share it with the rest of the incredible podcasters out there.
Read Also: Effective Tips for Conducting A Podcast Interview
10 Tips For Conducting a Podcast Interview
So here are ten crucial podcast interview tips to remember when conducting podcast interviews:
1. Each episode should have a purpose:
Our first podcast interview tip is having a purpose for each podcast. What do you hope your listeners will take away from each episode? There should be a reason for interviewing someone. Why are you talking to them, and what do you want to talk about?
If you have a business podcast and you know your listeners want to improve their public speaking skills, make an episode on it and then find a guest who can teach those skills to your audience. I discuss how to find guests for your podcast in Episode 9 of Podcasting Step by Step.
2. Find Guest You Really Are Interested In:
So choosing interesting guests is half the battle regarding producing better podcast interviews. And the most important thing to consider is whether you’re interested in hearing what they have to say.
Interviewing someone merely because they’re famous or have a high-ranking job title isn’t enough. Listeners will catch up on your phoney inquiry in your queries if you don’t care about what they do. They’ll come across as stiff and pre-packaged. And the discussion isn’t going to get any more intriguing.
3. Do Some Research on your Guest:
Spend an hour researching your guest and bulleting out some questions once you’ve identified them and they’ve agreed to appear on your show. Some podcasters claim they like to go into an interview with no preparation so that they may have a “more honest dialogue.” This is something with which I absolutely disagree.
If you know something about your guest and their area of expertise, you’ll be able to ask better questions. So go on to your visitor’s website and see what they’ve been up to on social media. Have they been questioned by anybody else? Those interviews should be read and listened to.
4. Read the Book:
Next on our list of podcast interview Tips is reading the books of your guest. Many podcast guests are eager to spread the word about something fresh they’ve written, such as a book.
And having written your own book, especially in the business realm, improves your credibility in the market, which is why so many individuals are turning to book-writing these days.
But keep in mind that if a guest is appearing on your show to promote a book or its message, you must read, or at the very least skim their book. You’ll be able to ask more intriguing questions, and your guest will feel welcome and appreciate your attention to their efforts.
5. Prepare And Ask Good Questions:
Preparing and asking good questions is also part of our podcast interview tips. Consider what questions you could ask when you conduct your investigation.
Try to come up with unique perspectives. Because if you ask the same questions as everyone else, you’ll almost certainly get a scripted response. Ask why and how questions if you want your program to help listeners learn. Attempt to elicit tangible examples, anecdotes, advice, and case studies from your guest.
Listeners will find these more engaging than abstract theories. Always strive to put yourself in your listeners’ situation and ask the questions that they truly want to be answered. Furthermore, making a list of questions is an excellent way to prepare.
However, you should not adhere to it rigidly. Throughout the dialogue, it’s critical, to maintain a level of flexibility and openness. The conversation will not flow organically if all you do is read off your list, and the interview will not go into any depth.
These are open-ended queries that provoke emotion. They are:
- Tell me a story about a time when…
- How did you transform from X to Y?
- What would the new you say to the old you if you could talk to them?
- What was your reaction to that?
- What was the point of contention in your mind?
- What were your thoughts about that? (If you realize they want to talk about something in particular)
6. Set Your Guests Up For Success:
Send an email reminder to your visitor before the interview. Tell them about the show’s format and answer queries like, “Is this a live show?” Is it going to be edited? Is it only available in audio format? Knowing that I’ll be editing afterwards makes my guests feel a lot more at ease.
Furthermore, if I have any questions that would put the guest on the spot, I will share them ahead of time. Although there is some controversy about whether you should send questions, I strongly advise you to do so. Sending questions ahead of time lets your guests feel more at ease and saves you from having to edit a lot of “Um….I’ll have to think about that.”
7. Don’t Interrput:
Another great podcast interview tip is not interrupting your guest when there are speaking. When your guest is speaking, avoid interrupting them. It can come across as impolite, and listeners usually find it irritating. Of course, there may be moments when interrupting your guest is vital to get the conversation back on topic. However, these are the exception rather than the rule in this case.
Your duty is to set the tone for your guest by asking the correct questions and then letting them lead the conversation. If your guest says something you wish to explore more, jot it down on paper and bring it up after they’ve finished speaking. Also, be silent when your guest is speaking. It’s tempting to make noises like “uh-huh” to agree.
8. Always Show Up Early:
Next on our podcast interview tips is showing up early. Ensure you’re sitting in that chair at least 15 minutes before your interview. This is likely the most critical point that people overlook, and I’m no exception. However, you believe you have all the time in the world, but your interview is in five minutes, and you’re hurrying to get your technology ready.
Your computer or program may decide to upgrade or do something strange. Instead of turning up panicked, do yourself a favor and take your time to relax into the interview. You also don’t want to be late for your interview. Get your bum on that chair as soon as possible!
9. Learn how to listen:
While your guest is speaking, try not to think about the next question you’ll ask. Listen. If you don’t, you’ll miss their point entirely, and your response will come out as uncomfortable and disconnected. When you’re first starting, this can be difficult.
Obviously, you don’t want dead air once your guest has finished talking, so practicing your next question in your brain can make you feel more prepared. However, it will impede the discourse from flowing naturally. Pay attentive attention to your guest as he or she speaks.
Consider visualizing what they’re saying. As a result, you’ll be able to develop a more natural response, and your interview will sound better. If the worst happens and your mind goes blank (it happens! ), you may always refer to your question list.
10. Listen to another podcast:
Last on our list of podcast interview tips is listening to another podcast. You should study the masters when acquiring a new skill.
Try to break down an interviewer’s style more granularly if you find one you like. What is it about them that makes them unique? And how may you put any of these tactics to use in your interviews?
But be careful not to camouflage yourself as someone else. In their questioning, the finest interviewers let your personality come through. Listen to others you admire, take notes, and then add your own unique twist to the situation.
Conclusion
I hope these podcast interview tips are useful to both new and experienced podcasters. People interviewing is a skill that may be honed. The more you practice, the better you will get and the more you will enjoy your time with your visitor.
Read Also: 10 Best Tech Podcasts That Will Leave You With Bags Of Ideas In 2023
FAQ
Instead of a scripted response that they use for everything, your guest will be more likely to deliver engaging and honest responses this way. Also, refrain from asking questions that would elicit “Yes” or “No” responses, which will inhibit discussion. To assist you delve into greater detail, look for questions that begin with “Why” or “How.”
Every podcast has a message it wants to get through to its listeners. This can range from a specific political position to providing information on a specific topic. Good podcasts have the clear notion of what they’re attempting to convey and how to deliver it in the most effective way possible.
Say the name of your podcast, your name, the topic and value of your podcast, the title and topic of each episode, and the date if necessary. Introducing your podcast will guarantee that all of your listeners are familiar with the name of your podcast, your name, and information about the podcast and episodes.
Keep your podcast between 20 and 30 minutes long if you know your audience will be listening during their commute. 15 to 60 minutes will keep your listeners amused if they perform their household while listening.
Each episode of a podcast is made up of segments. Those pieces serve as the foundation or outline for your episodes. Although not every episode will follow the same format, there are a few crucial components that should be included in every episode regardless of the format, which I will discuss in the episode.
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