Why Guesting Beats Starting a Show From Scratch

A smart podcast guesting strategy is a brilliant way to reach and build an audience without the legwork of creating your own show. You can book appearances based on your niche, giving you immediate access to each host’s established audience, exposing you to corners and communities you might never have reached on your own. The relationships podcast hosts cultivate with their listeners work in your favour, as audiences are far more likely to trust a recommendation coming from a voice they already know, love and trust.

It takes a village to build a community, and when it comes to guesting vs. hosting a podcast, guesting on ten shows allows you to grow your audience, spread brand awareness, and disseminate your ideas and influence en masse, in far less time than it would take to create, produce, and promote your own podcast from scratch. The guesting ROI for creators is clear: leaning on other creators and their established platforms is a smart, mutually beneficial move: you bring your expertise and fresh insight and value to the host’s listeners, in return, gaining exposure to an audience, often in your niche, that is already engaged and ready to listen.

The Expert Guest Set-Up: What You Need (& What You Don't)

To make an impression during a podcast guest interview and build your reputation, there are a few things you should think about.

Equipment

Investing in high-quality equipment almost guarantees a professional image. A clear sound, uncluttered background, and zero background noise demonstrates respect for the podcast host’s reputation/image and standards, projects you as a serious professional guest, and makes for a more engaging and smooth listener experience.

• Microphone: This is what carries your voice and captures your insights, so it’s worth investing in. Good sound doesn’t have to mean overspending, either. The Samson Q2U and Rode NT-USB are great budget-friendly options, the Blue Yeti and Rode Podcaster sit comfortably in the mid-range, and the Shure SM7b and Electro Voice RE320 represent the higher end of the spectrum. Check out our guide for a more in-depth look at the best podcast microphones.

• Headphones: Tasked with monitoring your audio output, headphones are crucial to ensure you hear what you’re recording, how others sound, and ensure it’s clear. Especially if you’re guesting remotely, your speakers can pick up unwanted audio. Closed, wireless, over-ear headphones are best, with the Sony MDR-7506 a frontrunner.

• Internet: With all its uses, the internet can be notoriously unreliable/temperamental. Cutting out mid-interview won’t reflect well on your image as a guest, or a professional/expert, and neither will pixelated, blurry, or lagging screen/connection. As a precaution, it’s much safer to use an ethernet cable which provides you with a secure and stable connection, and reduces interference and lag.

Environment

This matters particularly if you’re appearing as a remote guest. Much like investing in high-quality equipment, ensuring your recording space is also professional is equally important. Equipment like sound blankets, shock mounts, and pop filters can go a long way in eliminating background noise, air blasts, and accidental noises like keyboard clicks, creaking chairs. Recording in a furnished room also helps to improve acoustics, absorbing sounds and reducing echo. Close your windows, turn off your phone, and let anyone around you know you’re going to be recording.

For video, a clear, uncluttered background goes a long way. Keep decor neutral and minimal, or utilise blurred background options if you need.

Preparation

Perhaps the best way of showing how to be a professional guest is showing up prepared. Take the time to research the show you will be appearing on beforehand: how are episodes typically structured, what is the host’s interviewing style, and what topics resonate with the audience. Additionally, loosely map out the discussion points and anecdotes you want to bring up, but try not to memorise it, using keywords to jog your memory instead and keep the conversation natural and conversational. A great storytelling hack is the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) - a framework that keeps your anecdotes and stories succinct and relevant, and keeps your answers engaging without waffling.

While podcast guesting is a lucrative way to grow your audience and brand, securing the right interviews is often the biggest challenge. This is where MatchMaker.fm comes in. With a guest profile, you are instantly connected to thousands of shows actively seeking guests - filter your search to by niche, make contact immediately, and manage all arrangements in-app. Join MatchMaker.fm today to remove the hassle from showhunting and stay booked and busy.

How to Turn Podcast Listeners into Email Subscribers

So, you’ve guested on a podcast and made an impression. Now, how do you turn that impact into active engagement?

• Strong Lead Magnets

A lead magnet is a free, valuable resource offered to listeners and potential customers in exchange for their contact information, with the end result being to establish a consistent line of communication, such as an email list or newsletter.

One of the most effective ways to build a personal brand with podcasts is by turning passive listeners into active consumers through direct communication via email lists and newsletters. This enables stronger and deeper connections to be built and nurtured. Integrate the lead magnet into the newsletter: an exclusive guide or bonus tips and tricks, ensuring it links to the interview content - this gives listeners an incentive to head there after the podcast episode is over.

• Clear Landing Page

Having a clear, dedicated place for potential subscribers to land to is vital for keeping those potential leads engaged. Good landing pages work because they are simple and direct, without distractions in order to retain attention. Remember the context that may have connected you and the listener in the first place - the podcast interview - and ensure the landing page reflects that. Connecting the interview’s theme to your offer creates a smooth experience for the subscriber.

A well-constructed landing page that incorporates the podcast episode theme, a lead magnet, and some social proof (reviews or brands that endorse or support you) can achieve conversion rates of 8-20% in comparison to just 1-3% for a general website.

• Direct Calls-To-Action

Potential subscribers can’t commit to your brand or content if they don’t know where to find you. Throughout your guest interview, mention your email list or newsletter - engagement tends to peak halfway through and at the end of the podcast, so these are your prime moments to call listeners to action. Give listeners a reason to follow through by attaching a clear benefit: tell listeners exactly what they’ll be gaining by subscribing.

• Exclusive Content

If you immediately start pitching to and charging potential customers, interest can drop pretty quickly. Instead, entice them in by offering them something valuable straight out of the gate - exclusive early access content, free downloadable guides, or behind-the-scenes material. This proves to new followers from the start that they are gaining something worthwhile by being a part of your audience.

Someone Else’s Audience Could Be Your Goldmine

Podcasts are one of the most powerful forms of media, and their popularity is only increasing. But you don’t have to kickstart your own show in order to benefit from its influence. Many podcasts are built entirely around featuring different guests from all sorts of industries and backgrounds, because these unscripted, open conversations unearth unique perspectives that keep podcast listeners coming back. Appearing as a guest on various shows in your niche allows you to tap into audiences that are already established, already tuned in, and already loyal. These loyal and dedicated listeners are more likely to both trust and take action from a recommendation that comes from their esteemed host.

With the Podcast Guest Academy, you can refine your podcast guesting strategy and develop your on-air persona and prepare for appearances that build your brand.

Podcasts are powerful because they are naturally conversational, but there is still an art in how to be a professional guest. Our specially designed modules cover the entire guesting process - from crafting a podcast pitch for experts and securing bookings, all the way through to interview preparation, managing nerves, and maximising your impact post-interview. As a compelling and charismatic guest, you can add another level to your marketing strategy, utilising networking and collaboration to build your personal brand with podcasts, reach new audiences and build industry authority in record time.

Check out our Podcast Guest Academy today to avoid costly interview mistakes and instead, breeze through like a pro.