Podcasting: Interview Techniques and Guest Booking Best Practices
Starting a podcast is fun, but doing great interviews can feel daunting. Don’t worry – this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about booking guests and having the conversations that your listeners will love.
Guest Booking 101
Finding Your Dream Podcast Guest
Identifying the right guests for your podcast is like matchmaking – you’re looking for people who will resonate with your audience. Start with these simple steps:
Make a list of your dream guests who fit your podcast theme. To find guests, consider networking, utilising online communities, and offering value to potential guests.
Look for guests who are promoting books, projects or businesses
Start with smaller names and work your way up
Connect with guests on social media before pitching them
Remember, the best guests aren’t always the most famous ones – they’re the ones who can provide the most value to your listeners.
Always remember that your guests are important but they’re only there for one (or a few) interviews. Your listeners should be with you a lot longer and once they tune-out, they’re probably gone forever.
The Perfect Pitch
When you reach out to potential guests, keep your emails brief:
Introduce yourself and your podcast in one sentence
Why them? Make sure to highlight why they would be of genuine interest to your audience
What’s in it for them
Give them clear next steps
Additionally, consider sending a direct message via social media as a personal and effective way to initiate contact with ideal guests. Here’s a simple template:
“Hi [Name], I host [Podcast Name], a show about [topic] for [audience]. I loved your work on [specific project] and would love to share your insights with my listeners. Would you be interested in joining me for a 30-minute conversation about [specific topic]?”
Pre-Interview
Before the Day
Good prep is key to a great interview. Here’s your pre-interview checklist:
1. Research Your Guest
Read their recent social media posts
Listen to other podcast interviews they’ve done
Read their latest blog posts or articles
Make notes of things to talk about
2. Question Framework
Start with these:
Soft opening question to get them comfortable
3-5 main topics
2-3 follow up questions for each
Closing question to wrap up
3. Technical Stuff
Test your mic and recording software
Have a backup recording method
Send your guest clear instructions on how to join the call
Do a quick sound check before you start
The Interview
Getting Started
The first few minutes are key. Here’s how to begin:
Chat casually to help them relax
Give a brief intro – try to flatter them but not too blatantly
Ask the easy first question
Show you’re interested in what they’re saying
Interview Hacks
1. Active Listening
Practice active listening by letting them finish their thought
Take notes for follow up questions
Use “mm-hmm” sparingly, and only to encourage them if they pause too long
Listen for tangents to explore (and note them down)
2. Question Types
Good questions to ask:
Can you tell me more about...?
What surprised you most about...?
How did you...?
What would you advise someone who...?
Bad questions to ask:
Yes/no questions
Multiple questions at once
Leading questions
Questions that can be answered with “maybe”
3. Keep it Flowing
Use their answers to ask next questions
Have transition phrases ready
Keep track of time without being obvious
Be prepared to steer the conversation back on track
Common Issues and Solutions
Problem: Guest gives short answers
Solution: Ask for examples or stories
Problem: Technical issues
Solution: Stay calm and have a backup plan. In the case of a remote interview, ensure that both parties are familiar with the technical setup and consider time zone differences to avoid any disruptions.
Problem: Guest goes off-topic
Solution: Acknowledge the points made and redirect them with a relevant question
Post-Interview
Right after:
Thank them
Get their social media handles
Let them know when the episode will be published
Ask if they want to review any sensitive content
Promotion on Social Media Platforms
Make it easy for them to share:
Send them pre-made social media posts
Leverage social media platforms by creating quote images for them to share
Write a clear episode description
Include links to their projects
Long Term Success
Growing Your Network
Each guest can lead to more:
Ask for intros to other potential guests and listen to other podcasts within your niche to discover potential guests who share similar interests and audience overlap
Stay in touch with previous guests, including podcast hosts, to build valuable partnerships and consider inviting them back for updates
Share their content after they’re gone
Consider having great guests back for updates
Learning from Each Interview
Keep a simple notebook noting:
What questions worked and provided valuable insights
Technical issues to watch out for
Guest feedback
Audience response after publishing
New Interviewers
1. Start Small
Practice with friends first
Keep early interviews short
Stick to topics you know well
Build up gradually
2. Be Yourself
Don’t try to be like other interviewers
Show you’re curious
Admit when you don’t know something
Let your personality show through
3. Keep Going
Here are a few tips to help you keep improving your podcast and booking great guests:
Listen to other interviewers
Ask guests for feedback
Review old episodes
Join podcasting communities
Learning from Others
There are many traps for the new podcaster. Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid.
Pre-Interview Mistakes
1. Not enough research
Relying on the guest’s bio
Not listening to previous interviews
Not up to date with the guest’s recent work
Not checking pronunciation of names
2. Bad scheduling
Not checking time zones
Not sending calendar invites
No cancellation policy
Booking guests too close together
Using a service like Interview Valet can help mitigate these issues by providing pre-screened guests with strong social and professional audio equipment, ensuring a smoother scheduling process.
3. Technical mistakes
Not doing equipment tests
No backup recording plan
Not briefing guests on technical requirements
Not checking guest’s audio setup before
During the Interview
1. Conversation Killers
Sticking to your prepared questions too closely
Interrupting guest’s answers
Making the interview about you
Reading questions out loud
Not following up on interesting points
2. Energy Management
Starting with your toughest questions
Leaving dead air while searching for questions
Not showing enthusiasm
Getting too excited and talking over guests
3. Rookie mistakes
Recording without headphones or not having your own podcast to understand the pitching process
Not having water nearby
Forgetting to hit record
Not recording backup audio
Checking phone or email during recording
Post Interview Blunders
1. Follow up Failures
Not sending thank you notes
Not confirming promotion details
Not providing release dates
Forgetting to share final episode link
2. Promotion mistakes
Waiting until release day to promote
Not creating shareable assets
Not tagging guests correctly
Not tapping into guest’s audience
Professionalism Mistakes
1. Communication
Overpromising on audience size
Being too vague about interview length
Not respecting guest’s time boundaries
Sharing sensitive info without permission
2. Relationship
Not nurturing potential guest relationships
Not crediting properly
Not supporting guest’s projects
Missing opportunities for future collaborations
Content Issues
1. Structure
No intro or outro
Jumping between topics
Not providing context for listeners
Not defining industry terms or acronyms
2. Value Proposition Failures
Not defining takeaways
Missing opportunities for actionable advice
Not serving your audience
Failing to highlight the value of being a podcast guest, such as through personalised outreach and emphasising the benefits of participation
Getting bogged down in industry speak
Quick Fixes for Common Mistakes
1. Create Systems
Use scheduling software
Have equipment checklists
Guest info templates
Follow up calendar
2. Build Habits
Wear headphones
Record backup audio
Have water nearby
Turn off notifications
Take quick notes during interview
3. Communicate Better
Send clear confirmation emails as a podcast host
Include technical requirements
Timing expectations
Share promotion rules
Prevention
1. Before
Standardised prep checklist
Scheduling software
Backup equipment
Test twice
2. During
Water nearby
Backup questions
Monitor recording levels
Keep an eye on time
3. After
Follow up template
Promotion schedule
Content distribution plan
Notes on what went wrong
Recovery
When things go wrong:
Stay calm and professional
Have a plan B
Tell your guest about the problem
Learn from it
Save solutions for later
Conclusion
Every experienced podcaster was once a newbie. So remember:
Be interested in your guests
Prepare but be flexible
Learn from each interview
Build relationships
Most importantly, have fun. Your enthusiasm will show and make the interview more enjoyable for everyone.
Quick Reference
Before
Research guest
Prepare questions
Test equipment
Send guest info
Notes for next time
Post
Guest
Promotion info
Release date
Follow up