Before:
- Find a good pair of headphones. The earbuds that came with your phone can work, or you can go with something higher quality like the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x (Affiliate Link). Good headphones will prevent echos and make sure you fully understand the questions, even on a bad connection.
- Invest in a good microphone. Your built-in mic will make you sound like an amateur and will reduce future interview opportunities. This could be the second best investment you make.
- Check out our episode on how to prepare for a podcast interview.
During:
- Smile!
- Be ready early & show up on time.
- Crank up the energy. I have a hard time with energy and record these episodes standing up.
- Use the host’s name.
- Keep your comments brief. Be easily interruptible.
- Mention your book title but don’t go on and on about your book. Let the host guide the conversation. The knows what will resonate with the audience.
- Find the mute button.
- If the episode will be cut down and edited (ala NPR) feel free to take a moment before answering each question to gather your thoughts. That pause will be cut in post production.
- Have fun!
- Practice
After:
- Send a thank you email.
- Include any links you mention in the episode so the host can add them to the show notes.
- Make sure to put your website in that list of show notes.
- Send other topics you would be happy to do an episode on. If the interview went well expect to get a follow up with those other ideas.
- Find out when the episode will air and help promote it on launch day.
- Listen to the episode. Take notes on how you can improve for the next one.
- Encourage your followers to leave a positive review for the podcast on iTunes. Positive reviews are like catnip for Podcasters. If word gets out that bringing you on a show will lead to a flood of positive iTunes reviews you will become an in demand guest right away.
- Keep a copy of the episode to send to other podcasts. Podcasters like to interview people they know will be good guests.
