Serving as a podcast guest during conferences’ slow season is a great opportunity to fill holes in your yearly speaking strategy, build on your thought leadership, and speak to a wide, engaged audience on a topic you’re passionate about. 

Podcast listenership only continues to grow, and with the plethora of shows out there, you’re sure to find one that fits even the most niche topic or audience you’re looking to speak to. If you have joined podcasts in the past and felt like you were speaking into the void, the following tips and tricks will make sure you maximize your next podcast opportunity!

Before recording 

Research the show: Before accepting your invitation to join, it’s important to make sure it’s a quality, relevant show. Look into the podcast's focus, typical content, number/quality of reviews, and past guests to ensure it aligns with your goals. Additionally, don’t shy away from asking for specific audience metrics to make sure it’s a worthy time investment. 

Confirm the release date: Once you’ve accepted, it’s time to talk about the timeline. Timing between recording to release tends to vary greatly, so make sure to confirm a rough estimate of the release date to best maximize your opportunity to include company announcements in the conversation. 

Prepare your talking points: While it's important to be flexible and conversational during a podcast interview, it's also helpful to have a few key points on hand in case your mind goes blank. Consider which key points you want to share with the audience, practice delivering them in a clear, concise manner, and be prepared to elaborate on each topic if asked. 

Post-recording 

Use the recording as a speaking sample: If you’re wondering how to get public speaking engagements, one of the easiest steps is having an arsenal of solid speaking samples to provide event organizers. Make sure to keep your recording on file for future speaking sample use, and don’t forget to check out our top speaking sample tips.

Ask for social assets: It’s always important to share your speaking across social media (psst, our best tips for amplifying your speaking on social media here!), and enquiring if the host is already planning to create custom social assets takes another step off your busy to-do list. Sharing your recording on social media is a great way to spread your recording to a wider audience. 

Follow up: It’s great practice to send a quick thanks to the host after the conversation wraps, and don’t forget to enquire on listenership numbers for your episode 3-4 weeks after it publishes. Having these numbers on hand will help inform ROI when considering your next podcast opportunity. 

Don’t forget networking!: If you notice someone you’ve been itching to connect with joined the same podcast in the past, it never hurts to start a new conversation mentioning you have the show in common!

By following these tips, you can maximize your next podcast opportunity and effectively showcase your speaking skills and industry expertise to a new audience. Podcasts can be a great platform for public speaking and can help build your thought leadership, so don't hesitate to seize the opportunity when it arises!

Don’t miss even more tips for crushing your next podcast interview here!