t e e h S t a e Ch
How to Prepare as a Guest for a Podcast
CRAIG PRICE
1
PODCAST INTERVIEWEE CHEAT SHEET
You’ve been invited . . . to be the guest of a podcast. As opportunities go, it’s thrilling – but also nerve-wracking. You want to appear well prepared, smart and persuasive in communicating your ideas. How can you prepare to be in the “hot seat?” Here are some tips that will help you make the most of this opportunity:
ASK FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE INTERVIEWER Ask the interviewer for a list of questions well before the date of the podcast. This will help you to get a clear idea of the scope of the topics he or she plans to cover during your interview. It’s also an excellent time to build rapport with the interviewer and collaborate on the topics and issues you will focus upon. Your host will appreciate your willingness to brainstorm together, and chances are, it will result in a more interesting interview.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW
2
PREPARE YOUR 5-10 KEY POINTS Create a set of notes that you can refer to as needed during your interview. They can be hand-written, typed or even in visual form. A colleague of ours outlines his talking points in a mind map, which gives him a convenient 50,000-foot view of them. Be sure to include a few “sound bites” – concise, memorable nuggets that listeners can easily share with their followers. In today’s world of social media, these “tweetables” are a great way to spread your influence. Don’t use your notes as a crutch, however – your natural passion for your subject needs to come through during the podcast. No one likes to listen to “canned” answers to questions. Be sure to leave room for spontaneity.
HAVE SEVERAL OF YOUR “SIGNATURE STORIES” READY Interesting stories engage people like no other form of content, because our brains are hard-wired to respond to them. Prepare talking points for two to four of your best stories, which you can weave into your discussion with your host. Know the key points of your story, and be prepared to answer questions in the middle of it. The interviewer may ask you to expand on one part of it, to clarify another part or engage you in a deeper discussion of some aspect of it. Remember: This is a dialogue, not a monologue. Be ready for give and take, just like you would in a face-to-face conversation with a friend.
3
PODCAST INTERVIEWEE CHEAT SHEET
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW
4
ANSWER THE QUESTION THE INTERVIEWER IS ASKING YOU
LET YOUR PERSONALITY SHINE THROUGH
Listen closely to the question your host is asking, formulate a complete answer in your head and communicate it as clearly and concisely as you can. There’s nothing more aggravating to a podcast host than dealing with a guest who goes off on a tangent, answering a question THEY wanted to answer.
The best podcast guests are energetic, passionate and confident. They are almost always approachable, not aloof. They tend to thoughtfully pause before answering a question, which enables them to quickly gather and organize their thoughts and respond intelligently to it. For added impact, use language that’s consistent with the way you communicate on your blog, in your videos and other forms of content.
HAVE FUN Approach your podcast interview with the idea that you’re “there to play.” In other words, have fun with it. Let your personality shine through – not just your expertise. Many interviewees don’t realize they can have fun during an interview; coming at it with this kind of a playful attitude usually results in a more interesting and engaging discussion.
LISTEN TO SEVERAL PODCASTS BEFORE YOU GO ON THE SHOW Get familiar with the podcast’s style, tone and format. Get a feel for the host: What does he or she typically look for from interviewees? Are there questions he or she tends to ask each guest? This level of preparation can make a dramatic difference in your ability to meet the expectations of the interviewer and his or her audience. Don’t be “that guy” who shows up for the podcast with no preparation, or your online reputation could suffer and you may never be invited back for another interview.
5
PODCAST INTERVIEWEE CHEAT SHEET
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW
6
LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT
PROMOTE IT
Find a place that is free of distractions, such as a room where you can close the door. Use a “land line” wired phone connection if possible; cell phone connections are just too flaky to be trusted for a lengthy podcast interview. Use wired headphones and a microphone instead of Bluetooth. Wherever possible, use a wired internet connection instead of Wi-Fi. In other words, use the most reliable technologies to reduce the chances that something will go wrong during your interview.
If you want your podcast episode to be successful, you must take responsibility for promoting it on your blog and social media channels. Don’t rely on the podcaster to handle all of the promotion. Working together, you can reach a much larger audience. Send messages to your e-mail list. Promote it on social media. Reach out to the key influencers in your niche and ask them to help spread the word, too. As Craig Price explains, “The audience for my show is YOUR audience.”
HOW CAN LISTENERS FIND YOU ONLINE? Be prepared with one or two channels where podcast listeners can find your work online. Don’t give an exhaustive list. For best results, select the social media channels that your target audience tends to use the most. This will increase the likelihood that they will follow your work online. Be sure to spell your name, so listeners can find you easier.
AVOID THOSE INTERVIEW GAFFES Don’t chew gum during your interview. Avoid breathing deeply into the microphone before you talk, because it causes a lot of background noise in the audio. To keep your voice from becoming congested, have a glass of warm water next to you, and take a sip of it as needed to keep your vocal cords clear of phlegm.
7
PODCAST INTERVIEWEE CHEAT SHEET
CRAIG PRICE Craig Price is a professional speaker and podcaster who hosts of the popular podcast, Reality Check with Craig Price http://realitycheckpodcast.com. The podcast focuses on the "reality" of a person’s profession, life, philosophy or any number of topics, debunking myths and offering new perspectives. He lives in Houston with his wife and 2 pugs, snapping pictures, recording podcasts, writing books and occasionally traveling outside to various speaking engagements across the country.
If you are interested in having Craig help your next conference or event with quality podcasts visit http://therealistsguide.com/conference or email him at craig@speakercraigprice.com
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW
8