You’ve written the book (or created the art), and now it’s time to market it. You look through your publicity options, look up a few podcasts and then send out a pitch. Now it’s time to talk to people about your book, and you don’t know what to say or how to put your best foot forward. I’ve interviewed over 40 guests on my podcast, Journey of the Art, and in this post, I’ll share three common podcast mistakes guests make and how you can avoid them and represent yourself and your work well.
Before we get into it, please bear in mind that while this post is speaking largely about video podcasts, some tips apply to audio podcasts as well.
They treat a podcast like a Zoom call and not a media coverage.
Here’s one truth many people don’t recognize. Being on a podcast is leaving a digital footprint. It’s a media production (no matter how well or badly produced it is), and it should be given due importance. Show up as if you’re going to be on TV (because you kind of are!) Put on some makeup (if you do), make sure you’re in a well-lit room, and come to the interview with the right amount of energy.
- Here’s an example of a guest who brought a lot of energy to the show.
They don’t understand the economy of words and the importance of a viral moment
Few things are more frustrating to a podcast host than a guest who goes on and on. If you’re going to be a guest on a podcast, make it your goal to simply answer the question. A podcast is an opportunity to go viral (for the right reasons, of course) and get yourself and your work in front of people who don’t know you. Come prepared to say something insightful and concise, do your best not to derail the conversation, and make sure your response is connected to the question.
- Here’s an example of a guest who stayed on the point.
They’re unprepared and lose the subject matter expert moment.
If you’ve been invited onto a podcast, the host has trusted you to come and say something meaningful to their audience, to share something they may never have considered before. Please be prepared. Study your work and be an expert on it. You’ll inspire confidence and get the host’s appreciation for honouring their time (and yours) with your unique perspective.
- Here’s an example of a guest who owned the moment as a subject matter expert.
Let me know if this helped or if you have any thoughts on these podcast mistakes.
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