Podcast Guesting: The Basics
“It’s safe for me to have BIG dreams for my podcast. No guest is out of reach.” – The Podcast Space (@thepodcastspace)
And it couldn’t be more true both directions, there is no guest or no show for you to be on, that is out of reach! But, you may not know where to start when it comes to podcast guesting. It can be a great thing for your show. Whether that is having guests on your own show or you yourself being a guest on other shows. Both has their benefits but the reasons behind why can vary.
If you have been thinking about either option for yourself, this resource will help give you better guidance if it is the right decision for you.
Podcast Guests for Your Own Show?
Have you been thinking about having guests for your own show, but you may be caught on the question of, why would I want podcast guests?
There can be a few reasons to bring guests onto your show, such as
It helps bring variety to your show both in knowledge and personality.
Guests can also bring expertise on topics you may not know much about. Depending on your show, you may be really knowledge on certain things but we can’t all know everything. Sometimes it’s best to ‘stay in our lane’ (as the Messy Mom Podcast likes to say) and bring on people who know a matter better than yourself.
Sometimes this can help tap into their communities and networks if they share the episode with their followers. However, this will have more of an effect later.
But sometimes you might not want guests because they don’t fit your structure or style of the show. That’s okay, this just won’t apply to you. Let’s chat about the benefits of guest podcasting on other shows.
Guest Podcasting for Other Shows
Having guests on your show is great. But it doesn’t bring the same benefits that being a guest on other shows can bring. There are a few different reasons why being a guest has its pros.
You are able to grow your own exposure. Since you are sharing your knowledge with other show audiences you are building your authority and showing your expertise. If the show does show notes it can help create backlinks to your website, share your services, link to your own podcast for them to tune in, or other ways to connect with you depending on what they are looking for.
You are growing your network. From the hosts who, if fit your own audience, you could offer to have them on your own show as well. And with their audience, you never know who is listening and could become a new connection.
Can be a great place to repurpose content for your own brand. You can share the podcast on your channels, email list, and more.
Now that you know the benefits of both having guests and being a guest yourself. You may be wondering where you can find guests/places to be a guest for your show, we have a few places to look for them.
Where to Find Guest Podcasting
Here are a few ways to get you started
Social Media is a great starting point. Whether you try Instagram, Facebook Groups, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). Wherever your ideal guests may be hanging out, you may have some in mind already. And there may be shows you already follow that you could be a great fit for.
Check out some podcast guest websites like PodMatch or MatchMaker
Take a peek at similar podcasts like yours, who guests there? Are there any that could be potentially a good fit for your audience as well? These are great people to look at reaching out too. And these could also be a great place to find podcasts to offer to guest on.
Another place is to look at similar industries whether that be authors, blog writers, social media influencers, or anyone who may have interacted with your similar guests or could be good guests on the show.
Think about going local. Is there anyone around you that could be a great fit? Such as local business owners, friends, family, etc. Or are there any other local podcasts that you can swap with.
Don’t forget to ask your audience who they would like to see be a guest on your show. This can be a great place to gather suggestions as a starting point.
And don’t forget to include a place somewhere that guests can find you. This could be on your website or just a form that you have linked in your bio. This allows you to have a spot where guests can submit their submissions when they come across you (from doing their own research like you are). Plus, this is great benefit since these are people who are looking to be guests on other shows.
Put your Podcast Guesting to the Test
It can be a lot of work to find guests as well as to pitch yourself when it comes to guest podcasting. But it’s worth it, there can be a ton of benefits in both directions for your brand and your show if you push fear aside, take the leap, and begin adding some guests to your show or scheduling a few engagements for yourself.
If you want to learn more about podcasting, check out our blog for more tips or reach out to us directly for specific questions.
Aleea
