4 Qualities of Podcast Guests Who Boost Your Audience.

Are you struggling to grow your podcast audience? I've got a game-changing strategy that could transform your show's reach and impact.

It's time to get strategic about your guest interviews.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Adam, aren't you the 'don't do so many interviews' guy?"

You're right. I've long advocated for the two-thirds content rule - where you're the expert on your own show for at least two-thirds of your episodes. But recently, I've been reflecting on my approach and realized I might be missing out on some golden opportunities.

So, I've developed a checklist for identifying ideal podcast guests that can help grow your audience and create valuable collaborations. Let's dive in!

The Ideal Guest Checklist

When considering potential guests for your show, look for these four key qualities:

• a) They have their own podcast.
• b) They're actively building an email list.
• c) They have a strong social media following.
• d) They're not a direct competitor.

Where to Find These Ideal Guests

Here's a simple yet effective strategy I've used successfully:

• 1. Go to Apple or Spotify's top 200 rankings in your category.
• 2. Start from the bottom of the list (positions 150-200).
• 3. Look for shows that fit your checklist criteria.
• 4. Listen to a few episodes to ensure they're a good fit.
• 5. Reach out with a personalized invitation to be on your show.

The Power of the "Invite First" Strategy

Instead of sending cold emails asking to be a guest on someone's show, invite them to yours first.

This approach:

• Shows genuine interest in their work.
• Builds a relationship.
• Often leads to a reciprocal invitation.

"If I want to be on someone's show, I don't randomly email them or voice DM them and go, 'Hey, I would love to be on your podcast.' That lumps us into the spam email group."

Optimizing Your Guest Onboarding

Once a guest agrees to come on your show, use your onboarding process to plant seeds for future collaboration. Consider asking about:

• Email list collaboration opportunities.
• Affiliate or referral partnerships.
• Their social media marketing strategy.
• Speaking opportunities.

Post-Interview Collaboration Goals

After the interview, aim for these positive outcomes:

• A reciprocal invitation to their show.
• The guest becomes a client.
• Referral or affiliate partnership.
• Newsletter swap or paid ad opportunity.
• Joint social media livestream.
• Speaking invitation to their events.

Remember, the goal isn't just to create content - it's to build relationships that can lead to long-term collaborations and growth opportunities for both parties.

Busting the "Famous Guest" Myth

One last thing - don't fall for the myth that having a famous guest will automatically explode your downloads. Unless they actively promote the episode to their audience, it's unlikely to have a significant impact.

Focus on finding guests who align with your audience and are willing to engage in mutual promotion and collaboration. That's where the real magic happens.

Are you ready to level up your interview game and grow your podcast audience? Give this strategy a try and let me know how it goes!

What's been your experience with guest interviews on your podcast? Have you tried any of these strategies before? Share your thoughts in the comments!

??For more on this topic check out episode 517 of Podcasting Business School. ??