How to Attract High-Quality Interviewees to Your Podcast: The Complete Guide

In this article, you’ll learn how to:

• Perfect your pitch and guest invitations
• Manage the guest experience
• Deliver value to your audience with every interview

Strategies for Attracting High-Quality Podcast Guests

An important aspect of running a successful podcast is creating an environment that attracts the best possible guests. Why? Because exciting, knowledgeable guests transform a good podcast into a GREAT one. A guest-driven podcast provides a platform for the interviewees to share their expertise and experiences.

But how exactly do you attract these high-quality guests? Here are some strategies that have proven effective over the years as I’ve been behind the scenes of dozens of successful shows:

Automate the Guest Application Process

Setting up an automated guest application form is a proactive step that allows you to attract and filter potential guests to your podcast. Sending an automated application form is a great way to kick off the process. This form lets potential interviewees share what they would like to talk about on your show and how they could benefit your audience. It also allows you to screen applicants to ensure you’re choosing guests who best fit your podcast’s theme and target audience.

Make your life easier by using well-prepared email templates to save time and start the professional interaction between you and the potential guest off on the right foot. My top tip is to customize your email templates to reflect the nature of your podcast and the objectives of the interview. Don’t copy and paste – personalize! No guest will feel like a star if the welcome email starts with “Hello Everyone!”

Perfecting Your Pitch

Your desire to attract ideal guests can be advanced with a “perfect” pitch and invitation process. Amazing guests are worth their weight in gold, so it is crucial to get it right.

Top Tips for Pitching Podcast Guests

Your pitch standing out is all about showcasing why your podcast is unique, what your guest will gain, and how your audience aligns with their message.

• Showcase your uniqueness: Share what’s unique about your podcast and why they should be interested in being a guest. Emphasize how their expertise or experiences fit your podcast’s focus.
• Align with their message: Let your potential guests know how your audience aligns with their message or their target market. This will make the opportunity more appealing to them.
• Emphasize the benefits: Illustrate what they will gain from being a guest on your show, like reaching a new target audience or promoting their latest project, book, or research.

The Strategies Behind Inviting High-Profile Guests on Your Show

Inviting sought-after guests to your podcast may seem intimidating, but with the right approach, it can be simpler than you think.

• Don’t be afraid to aim high: You might be surprised by who is willing to participate. After all, the worst they can say is no.
• Offer flexibility: Be accommodating with scheduling, as high-profile guests typically have busy schedules.
• Personalize your invite: Show that you have done your homework and you know about them. Tell them why you think they will be a great fit for your podcast.

Build Trust with Your Guests

Building trust with your guests is essential to making them feel comfortable enough to share their whole story on your show. Depending on the topic of your podcast, digging deep into your personal journey can make even the most seasoned pro feel vulnerable, so it’s up to the host to make them feel like they’re in a safe space and that the podcast’s community is supporting them.

• Set clear expectations: Be transparent about what the podcast interview will entail, including the subject, interview duration, format, and any preparation they might need to do.
• Offer pre-interview session: A pre-interview session helps you iron out any technical glitches, get to know the guest better, and prepare them for the main interview.
• Keep communication open: Maintain consistent communication leading up to the interview, respond to their concerns quickly, and reassure the guest about any concerns they might have.

Manage the Guest Experience

I’m not talking stretch hummers and $$$$ gift bags! What I mean when I say treat them like a star is about providing an environment where they feel valued, respected, and prepared. Be respectful of their time and of their story, and make them feel valued.

I find that offering a pre-interview interview can effectively make your guests feel at ease. This preliminary conversation can help you get to know one another a little, quash any nerves, and go a long way in helping you, as a podcast host, understand the interviewee’s expertise, areas of passion, and the angle they’ll bring to your topic. It also provides an opportunity to clarify any queries, set expectations, and assure them that you’re organized and professional.

Know What to Leave Out

Some content may not make the final cut with podcasting or any other type of interview. As a host, you need to be sensitive to the fact that not everything you record needs to be broadcast. If you feel like you wandered into any areas that your guest might prefer to keep private, then double-check with them so you’re both clear on which aspects of your conversation are on and off the record. I cannot emphasize the importance of respecting your guest’s privacy and not publishing anything that may be potentially embarrassing or controversial without their consent.

Make it Easy for Guests to Share Their Interview

Guests are SO much more likely to share their podcast interviews when it’s a simple process! I recommend setting your interviewees up with ready-to-post social content to make sharing a breeze. I recommend you include a direct link to the episode, promotional graphics, suggested social media posts, and videos. The easier you make it for your guests, the more likely they will be to spread the word about your show and help you get more visible.

Match Your Guest to Your Audience

Your ultimate goal is not just to land high-profile guests, but to ensure that every podcast episode is valuable to your listeners. The key is making sure every interview you conduct and every guest you invite to be part of the show is helping solve a problem your listeners face. And when you do that, your audience will continue to tune in, and your show will attract new listeners—and potential high-quality guests.

With such an array of podcasts available, it is essential to maintain focus on providing high-quality content that offers value to your audience. Whether it’s actionable advice, a unique point of view, or an inspirational story, your content needs to offer something your listeners can’t find elsewhere. Remember, even if a guest is well-known, the substance of the episode will keep listeners coming back for more.

Your Show is a Valuable Resource

Your focus for your show needs always to be your listeners. Of course, there are certain strategies that can help you attract high-quality interviewees to your podcast, but those guests aren’t the be-all and end-all. Those high-quality guests are just the icing on the cake of your fabulous show.

To develop a guest-oriented podcast that attracts high-profile interviewees, I recommend you treat your guests with the utmost respect and importance, making them feel that you really value their input on your show. When you create an environment of trust with your guests, their input helps enhance your podcast’s reputation AND ensures a continuous flow of high-value guests lining up to participate in your show!

Attracting High-Quality Podcast Guests FAQs

How do you generate a guest-driven podcast?

A guest-driven podcast is created by centering the content around the guests you invite to your show. This approach involves selecting guests with insightful knowledge and unique perspectives on topics that interest your audience. To generate this, focus on creating a podcast environment that supports open dialogue and rich discussions with a wide range of guests.

What are automated guest application forms?

Automated guest application forms are digital forms potential guests can fill out to express their interest in appearing on your podcast. These forms streamline the guest-invite process by helping you gather relevant information about potential guests, their expertise, and what they can contribute to your podcast. It creates a systematic approach to guest screening and selection. I suggest using something like Google Forms or Jotform or a plugin contact form on your website.

What’s the importance of treating your guests like a star?

Treating your guests like a star means providing a pleasant, respected, and supportive atmosphere during their participation in your podcast. It involves clear communication, quick responses, and genuine interest and respect for their insights. This encourages a positive guest experience and influences them to share their episode, further promoting your podcast.

What is a pre-interview?

A pre-interview is a preliminary chat before the actual podcast recording. This conversation helps the host and guest understand each other better, set expectations, and build rapport. Pre-interviews can also help clarify the topic of discussion, identify possible questions, and alleviate any anxieties the guest might have about the process.

Why do we need to be selective in publishing from a recording?

Being selective in publishing from a recording ensures that the published content is of high quality and brings value to the audience. It helps to maintain the integrity of your podcast by publishing content that aligns with your podcast’s objective and audience expectations.