Anyone can and should be a Podcast guest. People who run successful businesses or ventures or have a story or advice to share should be grabbing the chance to be a guest on multiple podcasts. Being a guest on a Podcast is an amazing free marketing and networking tool.

Podcast hosts are always looking for interesting guests, I have clients across a number of different niches that are crying out for new people to speak to. Right now, it’s an untapped marketing technique.

As a podcast guest, it's important to remember that you will be representing yourself and your brand. By following these simple tips you will create a good impression on the listener and the Podcast host

Check your internet connection.

A very simple and obvious one, but often overlooked. Before starting the call, make sure you have a stable internet connection. 

A slow internet connection will cause havoc with a remote podcast recording. Think of how zoom and teams act up when a connection is slow, this is a nightmare when it comes to Podcast recording. It can often cause large sections of a Podcast to be removed.

Use one of the very many speed tests online and make sure you have a fast and stable internet connection. If you don’t require video, turning it off can help.

Find a small, quiet space.

The best possible room for recording is small and soft.

Large, empty spaces cause significant echoes, and hard surfaces reflect sound. The smaller the room, the better and the more soft furnishing, the better the sound recording will be.

This might sound like a strange one, but inside your car is a good place to record! (provided you can rely on the internet connection and you’re parked in a quiet area). A car is small and has soft furnishing, making it a good place to record audio for a podcast or video.

Turn off all notifications and any loud mechanics.

Mute anything that might interrupt the podcast. This includes phones, email notifications or anything else that will make a noise.

Turn off anything mechanical that isn't essential such as fans. Low air conditioning or computer hum is generally okay.

Wear Headphones or Earphones

Whether you are in a studio or remote, you should always wear headphones or earphones when recording a Podcast.

Using speakers during a Podcast recording will cause a feedback loop. As you listen to the host, your mic is still on, so it’s recording everything from your speakers.

Most Podcast hosts don’t realise how important this is, so they probably won’t ask you to do it. This becomes a nightmare in the edit as there can be horrible feedback, delay or echo issues.

Headphones don't need to be fancy or expensive. Any working set will do, even the ones you plug into your phone.

Use an external microphone.

The biggest thing that lets podcast guests down is the lack of an external recording device. Inbuilt laptop microphones are of poor quality and it’s extremely hard to listen to a recording made on them for longer than a few minutes.

If you are or would like to be a regular guest on podcasts, it is worth spending a small amount of money on a microphone. Even a $20 spend can make you sound 10x better.

Headset mics are an excellent solution for podcast guests. They are inexpensive, easy to use and have sound clarity in any room. They will also double up as headphones and require little in the way of microphone technique.

Suggested headset mic:

I recommend something as simple as this, it will cost you 30 dollars/euro and is of perfectly fine standard for a podcast recording.

Take a listen to the difference in quality between an inbuilt mic, and a headset mic:

If your only option is to use an inbuilt laptop or computer mic, sit close to your computer.

ADDITIONAL TIP: Make sure your external mic is selected before the interview starts:

If you have gone to the effort of using an external mic, make sure it's selected as the input. All recording platforms require the mic to be chosen. Otherwise, your inbuilt computer mic may be getting recorded instead.

Do a test: Don't speak when testing your mic. This can be misleading as it will still be picked up by another mic. Instead, tap the microphone you want to use and ask the person at the other end if they can hear the tapping. This will ensure the correct mic is being recorded.

ADDITIONAL TIP: If using ZOOM, learn how to enable original sound:

I wrote previously on how enabling original sound on zoom gives a much better quality audio recording. Check out the article here.

Be yourself & don’t hard sell

The best podcasts sound like a natural conversation and provide value to the listener. Don't hard sell; don't worry about trying to sound polished. The conversation is two-way. Chat as you would with someone you were meeting for coffee.

Share stories, anecdotes, tips and insights. Ask the host counter questions if it feels right (I always think this sounds great in a Podcast). By giving value to the listener, they will trust you. This is far more likely to convert to sales than simply telling people how great your product or service is.

The listeners want an insight into the real you. Speak as you would to a friend you were meeting for coffee.

Follow up

Be sure to follow up with the Podcast host. Ask for feedback or listener figures and ask if they know of any other Podcasts that would be interested in having you on a guest (chances are they do as Podcast networking is HUGE).

If things went well, leave the podcast a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is hugely helpful to the Podcast.