Where is the best place to source guests for podcast interviews? During this episode of Rhodes to Success, we discuss why you want to have guests on your show and the value that guests bring to your podcast.

 

Key Points:

Dangerous Mindset

• A dangerous mindset is thinking that guests are a route to getting more downloads.
• If you start looking at guests as tools for higher downloads, you will get agitated if they don’t share the show.

 

Guests Bring Value

• Understand the purpose of why you bring guests on your podcast.
• Guests can bring value to your show by helping listeners be more engaged with you and the podcast.
• Guests bring information you can’t provide, or discussion that supports your topic.

 

Where to Find Guests

Your Community

• Who is in your circle of trust?
• If you are just starting out, interviewing people within your circle is an easy way to get practice.

 

Current Clients

• When you interview clients, you build your relationship with them and increase retention.
• This gives you an opportunity to talk to your clients in a space that is not what they are paying you to do.

 

Ideal Clients

• A lot of people want to be speakers at conferences, so a useful strategy is to have a podcast and interview people who run conferences.
• Serve first by interviewing ideal clients. This is a great way to start a relationship.

 

No-Names

• There is huge value in interviewing people regardless of how well-known they are.
• The content is what makes a good podcast, not necessarily a big guest.
• Have guests on your show that listeners can relate to.

 

Recommendations from Guests

• Ask your guests if they have someone they think you should interview.
• Ensure you do your due diligence before asking for an introduction.

 

Ask Your Listeners

• The audience will tell you who they want to hear.

 

Look at Other Podcasts in Your Niche

• People who are interviewed on other shows are more likely to say yes to be interviewed on your show.

 

Amazon

• There are lots of subject matter experts on Amazon.
• Search for authors.
• Use the keyword search, and sort by publish date.

 

Twitter

• Click ‘follow’ on the person you want to approach, and Twitter will show you three other similar people.
• Put a tweet out for people you are looking for.

 

Radio Guest List

• Subscribe to the emails.
• You can also pay $5 per month to be a member.
• This provides shows that need guests.
• You can also pitch yourself as someone who wants to be interviewed.

 

Know Your Why?

• Why are you podcasting?
• Know your goal before you know what guests you want.

 

Take A Step Back

• Think about how to incorporate guests on your show.
• You don’t have to choose a solo show or a guest-based show. It’s not either-or.
• It is okay to change the format of your show.

 

Resources Mentioned:

Together Podcast

School of Podcasting

Real Estate Investing for Cash Flow

Horse Radio Network

Solopreneur Hour

Radio Guest List

Podcast Guests

Biz Chicks

 

Live Webinar: 

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic 

How can you evaluate what podcasts are doing for you as a podcast guest? After listening to this episode of Rhodes to Success, you will walk away with a clear blueprint on what you should be doing in order to get value and measurable activity and results as a podcast guest.

 

I’m not sure if and when these podcasts are being released.

• Stay in the loop when interviews are being scheduled.
• Create an internal spreadsheet to track the hosts, recording date, website, mailing address.
• Most hosts should email the guests when the podcast is live.
• If 6-8 weeks have passed and you haven’t heard if an interview has gone live, reach out to the host and ask.
• As soon as the interview ends, ask when the episode is scheduled to be released.

 

I’m not sure if anything of value, measurable activity, is coming out of them [podcasts] for my sales funnel.

• In order to get measurable activity from podcast interviews, you have to give a clear call to action that can result in measurable activity.
• Give one clear and specific call to action.
• Be clear on who should be taking the action. E.g. “If you are…, I invite you to set up a free 15-minute call with me.”

 

John Pollock’s Advice

• Rather than give out the corporate site, give out a funnel, such as LeadPages, and test them.
• If the people from the podcast go into a funnel and it doesn’t work, then you need to change the page.
• Podcasting is marketing. Think of every podcast as a different audience, and you need to share that you are on a podcast.
• Podcasting is a symbiotic relationship. Guests need to promote the podcast too.

 

What makes a landing page convert?

• Be really specific with the headline.
• Headlines are the number one thing you can change out to increase conversions.
• Make sure your images speak to what is going on with your landing page.
• Ensure the form has a huge call to action button.
• The call to action button should not simply be ‘submit.’
• Landing pages shouldn’t have menu items. There should be one specific goal.   
• Spend time on copywriting. This will convince someone to take action on your page.

 

Promoting Your Episode

• Doing the interview is only one part; there is a lot more you have to do in order to leverage the interviews.
• To get results from podcast listeners, you can’t just rely on the host to do all the marketing to your audience.
• The strategy is to use a multimedia approach using images, videos, and podcasts.
• Use Meet Edgar to republish old content and cycle in new images.
• Add your podcast interviews on a media page so they are in one place.
• Always tag the host when you post on platforms.

 

Resources:

John Pollock

One-Click Lindsey

Angelagreaser@gmail.com

 

Live Webinar: 

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

 

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic

Everyone wants to be a guest but how can you be a great guest? This episode on Rhodes to Success I share my top tips for being an in demand guest and make the experience the best for both you and the host.

 

Key Lessons Learned:

1. Be easy to work with and help the host prepare.

• Make the host’s job as easy as possible. 
• When the host feels you are being helpful they will be more excited to interview you.
• Be easy to schedule.
• Have your SkypeID, headshot, bio and potential interview questions ready.

2. Confirm the date/time with the host, show up on time and don’t reschedule.

• Respect the hosts time.

3. Use a good microphone and headphones and record in a quiet space.

• ATR2100: Audio Technica 2100 is a good microphone.
• Always wear headphones so the hosts voice doesn’t come out of the speakers and go back into the recording.

4. Send the host a copy of your book ahead of time.

• This is sending a gift as well as information to help them prepare for the interview.
• Offer to send a hard copy rather than an e-book.

5. Listen to the show before your interview so you know what the host’s style is and read the host’s bio so you can connect with them better 

• Listen to at least one episode or part of a few episodes.
• Get to know the hosts show flow.
• If you listen to the show it gives you an opportunity to give them a review on iTunes.

6. Thank you!! You can’t say it enough.

7. Ask the host who their target audience and ask how you can make the interview a home run.

• Most hosts will be surprised by this approach.
• This demonstrates to the host you care about their show and not just promoting your own agenda.
• Tailor your interview to the audience based on the host’s answer.

8. Use the host’s name throughout conversation 

• Using the hosts name wraps them into the interview and spotlights them to their audience.
• If you spotlight the host, you will be spotlighted in return. This is the power of reciprocity.

9. Tailor your answers to them and their audience. Help make them look good. Compliment them 

• Make the host look good.

10. Give a ton of value. This is not an advertisement for your business. 

• Podcasts aren’t about talking about your services but rather about providing value to the audience.

11. Give a clear call to action for what you want listeners to do and it’s all about how you position your free gift. Make it special and make it valuable. 

• Only give one call to action.
• Position your offer so the listener feels that only they are receiving it.
• More than 50% of podcast listeners hear podcasts via the phone. So a text based call to action is a solid approach.

12. Follow up with the host and thank them again.

• Find a way to help the host reach their goals.

13. Share the show and help their audience grow. 

14. 20% of the work is the interview, 80% of the work is you promoting and marketing it.

• Don’t just share the show once when it goes live. Put it in your social media rotation.

15. Decide to commit.

• This strategy does not always produce immediate results.
• Sometimes the kind of show you think you want to be on is not putting you in front of the people who most resonate with your message. 
• Be prepared to tweak the content.
• Know you might not see a return on investment immediately.

 

Resources:

Mobit 

Traffic and Leads

  

Live Webinar: 

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

 

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic

In today’s episode I’m sharing with you a list of my favorite podcasts that I subscribe to and listen to every week. In episode 103, I talked about discovering new podcasts and focused on how to discover new podcasts in iTunes but most people listen to new podcasts because their friends recommended it to them.

I want to share with you all the podcasts I listen to so you can get to know me better and so I can share the big lessons learned from these shows. All of the podcasts are linked to their iTunes page so click through, listen and let me know which of these podcasts you start listening to!

 

1.  RED - The Marketing Podcast for influencers

• The number one lesson I get from this podcast is consistency.
• David Hooper is the host and when the podcast started (he’s over 200 episodes in now) he had a co-host, Laurel Staples, his now wife.
• She started focuses more on other business ventures but that wasn’t the end of the show. David kind of refocused the show and kept it going mostly as a solo show with some interviews.
• This podcast teaches me a couple lessons:
• • Number 1- David grabs your attention with the topic of the episode before the intro song starts
  • Number 2- He KNOWS his target audience and he tells you who the podcast is for every single episode.
  • Number 3- His is BIG on actionable content and big lessons but I believe places entertainment value over that. In one series he talked all about the IRS phone scam and even though he didn’t see a clear business lesson come out of the first episode in that series, he continued. I subscribed because I was so entertained.

2.  LadyGang

• This is a guilty pleasure show for me. It’s hosted by 3 women in Hollywood: Becca Tobin, actress most known for her role on Glee, Jac Vanak, CEO of clothing line Jac Vanak and Keltie Knight, an entertainment news reporter
• Each week they interview a female celebrity in Hollywood about what it’s really like to be in ‘the business’
• They have total girl talk on air and are NOT lady like at all; they are snacking while they’re recording and they share super embarrassing moments like having an itchy butt after a wax or pooping your pants (I think those were both from actress, Becca Tobin).
• I am in their private facebook group for fans of the show and the biggest thing I learn fro this podcast is how they also know exactly who their listeners are and their listeners are HUGE FANS. Their listeners can’t WAIT for Tuesday; they end each episode with “See you next Tuesday”.
• Most importantly, they have fun recording. You can tell the three co-hosts look forward to their time together each week and listeners do too.

3.  Congressional Dish

• In my last episode of Rhodes to Success, I interviewed the host of Congressional Dish, Jennifer Briney so you’ll hear in that episode exactly why I like this show so much!
• The biggest lesson you can take away from this podcast and from Jennifer is: She did almost no marketing for several years and has over 10,000 listeners an episode.
• How much time do you spend promoting and marketing your show vs. creating a quality episode?
• As a guest, I agree with Jason Swenk, who I interviewed for a client feature video. Jason said 80% of the work is promotion, 20% is the interview. If you are the HOST, I believe 80% of the work is creating a high quality show, 20% is the interview.
• The more time you spend on creating a high quality show, THE MOST people will share it organically! And that is what happened with Jen. Listen and learn!

4.  Sounds of the Trail

• A podcast about the ups, downs and switchbacks of trail life. This podcast is an audio journal of lots of people who hike trails for long periods of time. Host, Gizmo (that’s her trail name) runs the podcast, but she has correspondents, listeners of the show who now take part by recording their story while they are hiking and send it to Gizmo to use in the podcast.
• Have you ever considered having correspondents on your podcast? What a creative way to include your listeners and create more content.

5.  Respectful Parenting

• Oh what would I do without my virtual parenting coach, Janet Lansbury!
• Each week Janet answers a listener question about a parenting struggle for those with babies, toddlers and 3-4 year olds.
• The episodes are short and to the point but because they’re actual questions from real parents, you can relate to them.
• The marketing lesson: without fail, at the beginning and end of every show, Janet reminds you that both her books are available on audible.com, apple.com and Amazon. It’s smart that she’s only telling you about the audio books because as podcast listeners we are MOST likely to want an audio book; we are auditory learners!

6.  The Biz Chix podcast

• Natalie has allowed her podcast to change and evolve over the years as her business has grown and evolved.
• She didn’t get locked into a format or consistency that didn’t work for her and because of her focus on her target audience her downloads have grown dramatically.

 

Below are the podcasts I recommend you check out, but not podcasts that I talked about in detail on today’s episode:

The Messengers

Reply All

Science Vs.

The Way I Heard It

The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast

Homeschooling IRL

On Air With Ella

She Podcasts

Mostly Mom with Tia Mowry

Profit Boss Radio

School of Podcasting

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Serial

Podcast Movement Sessions

Start Up Podcast

The Walking Dead ‘Cast

The Ask Gary Vee Show

ParentCast

Glambition Radio with Ali Brown

Slate’s Working

Slate’s Mom and Dad are Fighting 

 

My other podcasts:

The Parenting Rhodes

The Podcast Producers

 

Join me for my live webinar!

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

The music in today’s episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic