8 Ways Podcast Guesting Amplifies your Business & Career

If I knew fifteen years ago what I know now about the power of being a podcast guest to support and super-charge your career - I might have made it more of a focus. Now I appear on one or two podcasts each week. In this post I’ll share why I do that an what the effect it.

I focus on a lot on business owners in my content because for the longest time it’s been business owners who pay my bills. In this post I want to focus on the benefits of being a podcast guest for literally anyone’s career, but in particular, for someone in a leadership role or who want’s career progression. Business owners enjoy all the same benefits and some additional very special ones which I’ll deal with separately.?

When you look at each of these benefits I want you to understand that there are two forces at play. ?

One is the compounding effect of time. The Longer you do the work the greater the impact becomes and then one day you hit the end of the hockey stick and you meet the holy shit moment.

The other is that any one of the benefits below would be great - but you will enjoy them all.? It’s not the case that you have to move through them sequentially - you will enjoy them all in equal measure as you show up more and more often.

Being a podcast guest might seem trivial. It might seem like a small action. But imagine this.? You’re being regularly introduced, by a trusted and acknowledged expert host, to a passionate and loyal audience, as an expert in your field. Often the audiences are in their hundreds or thousands.? This is no small thing and taken regularly is nothing short of transformative in the ways I’ll now explain.

Network

Your network is your net-worth.? In your normal day to day it’s unlikely that you get many chances for really exceptional networking.? All opportunity comes at the hand of other people so it makes sense that you spend time, on a regular basis with well connected people. Podcast hosts are some of the best connected people in any industry.?

Everybody’s needs for networking are different. If you’re in a sales role then this can be a game changer. If you’re looking for career growth then knowing who to ask for advice, being able to enlist mentors or any of the other benefits of being super well connected can’t hurt.

Authority

When you show up as a podcast guest your authority is implied.? Repeat it on a regular basis then the impression is sustained and gains traction in the minds of those exposed to it. That’s true of the audience and those who actually listen to or watch the show but it doesn’t end there.

Sharing your interview journey or appearances on social media isn’t just something you do to promote your appearance - although as a podcast host I really appreciate when guests do this. No, as a guest you do this because it allows you to spread that impression of authority far beyond those who will listen to the show.? This has a powerful effect on your personal brand.

Greater Advocacy

We love it when people go out to bat for us. Whether it’s our staff having more pride in their team or our network referring us more often - people like to support those they they feel pride in being associated with.? That’s true of those inside your organisation and also outside.? In simple terms the world starts to turn your way a lot more often.

Thought Leader

Everyone in business likes the idea of thought leadership but nobody want’s to do the work.? Thought leadership is about leading with your thinking and is a rare thing.? I like writing or making videos but I’ll be honest - it’s time consuming. From a content creation perspective there is nothing quite as efficient as podcast guesting. You show up - you chat … and then the host literally does all the work.

Am I saying this should be your entire content strategy? - no way.? What I am saying is that being a podcast guest is a potent amplifier to even a modest thought leadership content strategy and unbeatable for the time.

Persuasion

When I first started podcast guesting I rambled. That’s not a problem because I still enjoyed every benefit in this post. Don’t let that put you off. Something happened over about ten interviews which surprised me.? I got focused and way more precise in how I expressed myself. ?

If you’re like most people you don’t actually know what your signature stories are.? Everyone has a bunch of stories and talking points which can provide amazing value and once you uncover them you become compelling and develop what I call an Attractive Character. ?

Confidence

Confidence is the result of practise - but the confidence draw from this practise of being a podcast guest goes far wider than the field of play. All these effects compound up into an authentic broad based self belief. The net effect being that you’ll likely look at the potential for your career ( or business ) in some surprising new ways.

Social Proof

Whether you’re going for a job or you’re trying to sell something, you need to get people on side.? They need to believe in you before they buy from you.? Nothing gives people permission to do this more than when other people have visibly done it before them.? When people can see that you’re a trusted industry voice ( and they really do check you out ) … then they are far, far more likely to fall in line and believe I you too.

Know, Like & Trust

People do business or support those they know, like and trust. If you’re not known by many then that really sucks and you won’t get much business or support.? Being a podcast guest is one of the simplest, more systematic and least expensive ways of exponentially scaling Know? Like & Trust I can imagine short of regularly showing up on TV ( Or having your own podcast )

Making it happen

There are millions of podcasts on pretty much any topic you can imagine.? I’m pretty sure this article has triggered a lot of reactions and if you’re normal then you’re probably trying to trick yourself in thinking that you’re not fancy enough to be a podcast guest. You’re wrong. It’s that simple.? I don’t care who you are - there are podcasts out there hungry to have you as the star of the show for the day. ?

Becoming a podcast guest is as simple as reaching out the host of the show and making them an offer. Sometimes they say yes and sometimes no.? As long as they say yes more often than no then you are golden.? People say no way less than you might think.