How to Be A Great Podcast Guest: A Guest Post by Maggie Smith
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.
How to be a Podcast Superstar: A Guest Post by Maggie Smith
Podcasts are here to stay. There are currently over two million of them with new ones popping up every day. If you’re a writer with a new novel, memoir, short story collection, or poetry chapbook, your marketing plan should definitely include podcast interviews—it’s an effective way to reach beyond your local community to a wider audience of readers. But what does it take to be a great guest, one whom listeners will enjoy, remember, and look for at their favorite bookseller?
I’ve hosted the podcast Hear Us Roar for the last four years and interviewed over 160 debut authors of women’s fiction. Some came off as knowledgeable, friendly, and just plain fun, while others didn’t shine as bright. What made the difference? How can you succeed at the podcast game?
Here’s my tips:
Before the Show
Ask the host to describe their target audience. This not only signals your interest but lets you gear your remarks to that demographic. For example, older listeners will be interested in the fact you wrote your book after you retired whereas book clubbers want to know whether your book focuses on topics which will lead to lively group discussions.
Most hosts will give you a tentative list of questions so you can prep ahead of time. If they don’t, ask them for topics they’d like to discuss. And make sure to listen to a few segments of their show beforehand to get a sense of their interview style, the general flow of the conversation, and the length of the segment.
Note the date and time zone on your calendar and save the link. Podcasts often book months in advance so make sure you don’t forget the appearance or double book. Likewise, make sure all your equipment is working properly, including your microphone and internet connection.
How to Be A Great Podcast Guest
Right before the show.
The host usually does a sound check to ensure your voice comes across at an appropriate volume and there are no other mechanical difficulties. Ask other people in the household to refrain from heavy computer use during the interview to free up bandwidth. Close doors to pets and children. Turn off any sound alerts on your computer and shut off your phone. Close windows if you can hear street noise.
During the recording.
This is no time to be shy. The most difficult interviews I’ve had were with authors who answered in one succinct sentence and then shut down. You’ll be doing most of the talking, with the host feeding you questions or asking for follow-up. It’s okay to pause before responding but try not to hem and haw too much. Think of it as a conversation with a nice person you just met who’s interested in hearing about your book and your writing career. And along those lines, use the host’s name several times during the interview. It’s a nice touch and makes them feel good. Ditto “That’s a really good question” or “I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me that before.” Trust me, hosts love that stuff.
How to Be A Great Podcast Guest
Be open and honest about your struggles.
Don’t come across as perfect. Listeners want to hear about your challenges. Did you turn to experts for help? Did you depend on critique partners to cheer you on? Did you suffer through rejections before you found an agent? Did you flub up an interview? Let them know you’re human, that everything didn’t come easily, but eventually with perseverance, you were able to achieve your goal.
Tell personal anecdotes.
My most memorable interviews have been when authors pull back the curtain and share an inside “scoop.” Barbara Conrey described her tongue-in-cheek Twitter post which resulted in a top-notch blurb for Nowhere Near Goodbye. Stephanie Newman’s book (Barbarians at the PTA) debuted on a social media black-out day, Gina Wilkerson’s best friend spied on her when she lived in Iran (When the Apricots Bloom) and Eldonna Edwards (This I Know) found her title in a Sunday School class. Tell funny stories to make yourself memorable and let readers hear about your challenges.
How to Be A Great Podcast Guest
To wrap up.
Always end with a call to action. If you want people to purchase your book, tell them where it’s available. If you want them to sign up for your newsletter, ask them. You can mention your interest in doing book clubs or speaking at libraries. If you’re appearing at a venue in town, plug the time and place.
Thank the host and say how much you enjoyed being on the show.
After the podcast
Link to the podcast in your social media posts, on your author website, and in your newsletter. Send a thank-you to the host for having you on and provide them anything else they asked for, like an author photo or a short bio, immediately after the show. Let them know you would be available for future follow-ups or panel discussions.
The best tip of all.
Relax. Enjoy the ride. Remember, this is only one interview out of dozens you’ll probably give. If you flub it, analyze what to do differently next time and move on. The most common feedback I get from authors is how nervous they were ahead of time but that when we were done, they realized they’d actually had a great time.
How to Be A Great Podcast Guest: A Guest Post by Maggie Smith
