How to Be a Sought After In-Demand Expert Guest on Multiple Podcasts! Podcasts continue to grow in popularity and have long-since become one of the best ways to market yourself. Unlike shows on TV and the radio, the vast majority of podcasts are designed to appeal to specific markets. This means you have more opportunities than ever before to land a guest spot on one of these podcasts and get attention from your demographic. If you nail your appearance, you ll be called back again and again. This kind of expert status will go a long way toward landing you more leads and increasing your authority. Here s how to become that indemand expert. Be Easy to Work With First and foremost, don t be a primadonna. Even after you become the hottest expert in your field, always remain easy to work with. Many podcasts are essentially one-man shows. Others may have some production staff. In either case, you won t be doing yourself any favors if you show up late, aren t prepared, are rude, neglect the rules of the show or display some other kind of unappealing behavior. Always remember that every episode you do is an opportunity to improve your brand and increase your bottom line. You may be doing the podcast a favor by supplying your expert opinion, but don t forget it s a two-way street. Use the Host s Name This may not seem like the most important tip to remember and, in truth, it s not but it s still a classic piece of public speaking advice that s worth remembering. Using the host s name ensures that they remain engaged with you. If you can keep the host engaged, it will be that much easier to do the same with their audience. Note: you don t need to end every sentence with their name. Just sprinkle it in as you go. If you only say their name when they first introduce you, you re doing something wrong. www.jessicarhodes.biz 1
Tell Stories Speaking of engagement, stories are a great way to keep listeners rapt. There is definitely a time for statistics and cold, hard facts. However, those won t have nearly the same effect on your listeners as telling them a good, well-rehearsed story. For example, if you re trying to explain the benefits of lifting weights, you could read off the results of any of a number of studies that exist and prove your point. Instead, tell the listeners a story about how this new workout style personally changed your life. You want them to slide right into your shoes and walk through the entire experience with you. Another type of story is simply the kind that sets you apart from others in your industry. What kinds of accomplishments make you unique? What kinds of challenges have you had to overcome? Don t just read off your resume in an attempt to establish authorities with the listeners. It will be far better to tell them a story that they ll remember. Speak with Confidence It doesn t matter what you re speaking on, if you don t do it with confidence, don t expect the audience to care. Just because you re not selling a product or service doesn t mean you can slack when it comes to infusing every word with a self-assured tone. Timidity never comes across well. Also, don t fool yourself: you re always selling something. If nothing else, you re selling yourself to the audience. Being on a podcast, you may think you don t have to worry about sitting up straight, maintaining eye contact and smiling. However, taking on the confident posture you would need to speak in front of a room full of people will come across in your tone of voice. If you re slouching, letting your eyes fall to the floor and keeping your mouth rigid, listeners will catch on that something isn t quite right. www.jessicarhodes.biz 2
If it helps, use a headset and stand up while you speak. This way, you can walk a bit if you like and use hand gestures to emphasize your points. Lastly, take your time. You almost never hear someone say, That person spoke way too slowly. On the other hand, the complaint that someone spoke much too fast is a fairly common one. People who speak fast betray a lack of selfconfidence. It s like they can t wait to stop talking so they can run back under their bed. Deliberately slow yourself down and be sure to breathe. In time, this will become something you do without having to even think about it. Practice You most likely can t anticipate every single topic that will come up on the podcast, but you probably have a pretty good idea. Request a list of questions the interviewer plans on asking beforehand. Going back to tip number one, they ll most likely appreciate the thoughtfulness on your part. Again, even if you don t know the exact topics or questions, you can still do plenty of practicing. Prepare notes too. Just be sure you re not necessarily writing out whole sentences as you don t want to sound like you re reading off points. Having statistics or just reminders available, though, will go a long way. Practice will definitely pay off during the interview. If nothing else, it will make you confident in your responses because you ve already made them numerous times before. Some may even find it beneficial to go through mock conversations with someone who plays the role of the interviewer. Give the Listener Something Lastly, you absolutely have to leave the listener with something. No matter what the interviewer or the staff of the podcast thinks of you, if listeners want you back, you ll get that invite again and again. Every episode, you should be giving the audience something that will improve their life. If it s advice, make sure it s actionable. It should also be something they couldn t just find online. www.jessicarhodes.biz 3
Sometimes, the thing you provide could just be your unique point of view or a personal experience. As long as it benefits the listener, it s a win. Don t shy away from controversy either. If everyone is saying one thing, look around and see if there isn t a way to say the exact opposite. Not only will listeners love it, but if that interviewer ever wants someone back on to articulate that fresh viewpoint, you re the only option they have. Being an expert guest on a podcast is something everyone in just about every industry should strive for. However, you also want to make sure you implement the above steps so you are constantly invited back. Interview Connections is the premier source for booking outstanding podcasts guests. Visit InterviewConnections.com/Guest to learn how we can be your booking agent! www.jessicarhodes.biz 4