How can you create excitement and anticipation when announcing upcoming podcast guests?

Tease with Hints: Share subtle clues about the guest’s identity, like a mystery photo or a fun fact, to engage listeners in guessing who it might be. Use Countdown Timers: Build excitement by posting countdown timers on social media, marking the days until the episode release. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content: Post snippets of the recording session, like a behind-the-scenes video or a teaser audio clip, to give listeners a sneak peek. Create an Exclusive Trailer: Release a short trailer featuring the guest's voice or a compelling quote from the upcoming episode. Engage with Interactive Polls: Use polls or questions on Instagram Stories or Twitter, like “Who do you think our next guest is?” to drive engagement.

Tease upcoming podcast guests with engaging hints, like sharing fun facts or mysterious clues about their expertise. Use countdowns on social media, drop short audio clips, or reveal exclusive tidbits about the topics they’ll cover. Build suspense by encouraging your audience to guess the guest before the official reveal

I am going to share this as a newbie, a novice! Start by knowing what the impact is that you want to have and who you think will benefit most by listening to your podcast. That sounds so simple - but I listen to a lot of podcasts that are speaking around their target audience, not having a conversation with them.

Strategic guest announcements can make or break the hype around your podcast episode. If you announce too early, the excitement may die down by the time the episode drops; too late, and you miss out on building momentum. The sweet spot? Two to four weeks before the release. During this time, tease your audience with engaging content—sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes clips, or even cryptic hints about who the guest might be. This keeps listeners intrigued and gives you a solid runway to create buzz and drive up anticipation before the episode airs.

There is no one set rule - based on all of the advice that I have sought. Well, except one. Do your planning and be as consistent as possible. Try to post at the same time, have a common format, strike a certain tone. Yes, you are likely to play around with the content at first - but as you see what works, stick to it consistently.

Find your hook, your reason to be that differentiates you in a sea of sameness. And it doesn't need to be tricky, it just needs to be you. The podcasts that I have enjoyed the most? The ones where the host gets to know you before you appear. Or asks you a question that you haven't been asked before. My favorite question that we ask? What are your three "pivot" points in your life or career that brought you to where you are today. A more creative way for someone to give you their background. My favorite element, and our guest love it - we use caricatures instead of headshots. Puts us all on an equal playing field!

I have three favorite parts of our podcast. First, getting the chance to interact with some really cool, talented people and asking them questions where I know our audience will enjoy the answers. Second, editing the podcast and listening to their answers again, realizing that they've made a point that is going to make a difference in how someone thinks or feels. Third, getting feedback from the audience, many of them my students, and being able to tell the guest the impact that they had. This is the best way to make sure that you are connecting with your audience.