What are the best ways to get high-profile guests on your podcast?

Having a checklist for the perfect guest is very helpful when looking for "the right fit" for your podcast, get a checklist together of things like: - Has a substantial audience - Has industry knowledge - Has a sense of humour - Has spoken on other podcasts before - Already creates content - Has a good network of Thought Leaders - Works for a company you want to network with - etc. There may not be many who tick every box, but maybe your criteria could be that they have to tick 75% of the boxes in order to be considered as a guest.

Start with your own professional and personal networks to see if you have any connections to your desired guests. A personal introduction or connection can significantly increase your chances of getting a positive response.

Un camino para intentar atraer a esos invitados puede ser LinkedIn. Si esas personas son activas y con gestión constante en esta red, te animo a intentar conseguir captar su atención por aquí. Filtra, busca adecuadamente usando todo el potencial de esta red encaminada a seleccionar a los mejores invitados que quieres en función de sus conocimientos. En esas búsquedas (si se hacen con cuenta básica) un filtro muy interesante siempre será el de "Sector", que te ayudará a afinar más en ese filtrado.

Finding the right guests for your podcast is crucial for its success. Start by finding who would resonate with your audience and bring unique insights. Personalize your invitations to show genuine interest. It's not just about getting big names; it's about finding guests who genuinely connect with your audience and add value to your content.

To get high-profile guests on your podcast, follow these simple steps: - Know Who You Want: Think about who your audience would love to hear from and who fits your podcast theme. - Do Your Homework: Learn about your potential guests. What do they like? What have they been up to lately? - Make a Good Offer: When you invite them, explain why they'd be a great fit for your podcast and what’s in it for them. - Use Your Contacts: Ask people you know for introductions to get closer to your dream guest. - Keep Trying: If they don’t say yes at first, don’t give up. Be polite and try again later.

Cuando ya tengas localizada a la gente que crees te aporta en tu podcast (si lo has hecho a través de LinkedIn) analiza los caminos más adecuados para intentar hablar con esa persona. Puedes hacerlo a través de una primera invitación (siempre personalizada) o a través de un mensaje si ya es contacto tuyo. Si eres usuario premium, te recomiendo usar los mensajes InMail ya que te dejan escribir bastante y, tal vez, puedas ya explicar tu invitación al podcast de una forma atractiva y personalizada.

Personalization is key. Show genuine interest in your guest's work. Research them thoroughly. Highlight what's in it for them – audience reach, expertise showcase, etc. Be concise and respectful, and avoid generic pitches. Specificity is persuasive; mention potential topics and interview duration.

Crafting a compelling pitch is like extending a personalized invitation to a distinguished guest for a conversation that promises mutual benefits. Begin by expressing genuine admiration for their work, perhaps mentioning a specific achievement or how their expertise aligns with your podcast's theme. Next, introduce your podcast succinctly—describe its essence, the audience it caters to, and why this guest would resonate with your listeners. Then, propose a few thought-provoking questions or themes you'd like to explore with them. Remember, the goal of your pitch is not just to secure a guest but to start building a relationship based on mutual respect and interest.

Before reaching out to a prospective guest, it is important that you have done your research. You might want to talk to them about the value add that they can do to the show and how their expertise can help. Personalize your message. Tell them about what your show is, what kind of guests come on your show and tell them that you can give them links to some of your previous interviews or, feedback and testimonials, in case they would like to see them. The key is in giving them the confidence that they are talking to a good host and that the show is something where they can add value and that will help them promote their brand as well.

To make your podcast pitch compelling and effective, consider these additional concise tips: Personalize Your Approach: Tailor each message to show genuine interest in the guest’s work, mentioning specific achievements or projects. This personalized touch demonstrates that you’re not mass-emailing. Clarify Mutual Benefits: Quickly highlight how appearing on your podcast offers value to them, whether it's reaching a new audience or sharing their latest project. Keep It Concise: Respect their time with a succinct pitch that gets straight to the point—outline your podcast's purpose, why they're a great fit, and what you hope to cover in the conversation.

I always say to my clients that 9/10 pitches will not receive a reply until the second or third follow up. Much like a song on the radio, you never love it after hearing it only once and pitching is the same. You need to reintroduce the idea, the topics, yourself and throw in new concepts. Follow ups are not rude, people will often have full inboxes, voicemail or a mountain of txts to get through and you're not top of mind. It is often just correct timing and consistency. Follow ups are not the worst thing in the world and are often appreciated.

When you do get a response, whether it’s an acceptance or even further questions about your podcast, it’s important to reply promptly and professionally. Confirming the details as you’ve outlined—date, time, format, and any technical requirements—helps ensure both you and your guest are on the same page and sets the stage for a successful interview.

When pitching to a high profile guest, it is important to keep in mind that you might necessarily not get a reply in the first instance itself, because of various reasons. Don't be disappointed. Follow up in a couple of days. Do this at least twice. If you can reach out to them on a different channel, then do that. And once they agree, ensure that you are making it easy for them to finalize the interview. Use a calendar app to book them and send them an invite so that it is there on their calendar.

Understand Their Current Projects: Research any current projects or recent achievements to ask timely and relevant questions. Check Social Media Activity: Look at their latest social media posts for insights into their current interests or opinions, which can help guide the conversation. Practice Your Questions: Run through your questions with a colleague to refine them and ensure they flow naturally during the actual interview.

Your thorough research not only demonstrates respect for your guest's time and achievements but also enriches the conversation, making it valuable for your audience. By familiarizing yourself with their previous appearances, you can glean insights into their communication style and interests, allowing you to tailor your questions to their expertise and personality. Crafting open-ended questions is key to sparking a dynamic exchange. These types of questions invite depth and reflection, leading to more insightful and engaging content.

The objective of bringing a high value guest on your show is to extract as much value as possible from them. And for that, it is important to have as much information about them as possible. So research about the guest, listen to their earlier interviews and read their blogposts, articles etc. Then prepare your questionnaire that you can use during the interview. Keep in mind that as a host it is your duty to extract valuable information from them. So ask questions that they have not been asked in other shows. Dive deeper into their answers to get more information. All of this becomes possible only when you research and prepare well.

I think your success getting good guests for your podcast is not about your pitch but about your podcast itself. Ok, a good pitch can be useful for some people, but in general what a potential guest wants to know is how your podcast is, and then you'll have an answet about its acceptance. When you are famous and have a big audience it's quite easy to get guests for your podcast and many times you don't have to look for them: they come alone. But until that moment comes you have to see how people seem to be too important and too busy to pay attention to you, even more for comming to your podcast. Get the opportunities you have and make good interviews, make your guests feel right and that will be your best tool for future ones.

Have friendly curiosity, the kind of curiosity you'd have with a friend that you haven't caught up with in a while. This genuine curiosity will allow you to ask interesting questions and will make the conversation even more valuable. Another way to make sure there's a lot of value in the podcast is to ask questions from the perspective of your audience 👌 Don't be afraid to have fun and integrate humour into the conversation too (only if the moment calls for it)!

Making your podcast enjoyable and valuable is key to attracting high-profile guests. When guests feel respected and engaged, they're more likely to share their insights openly. Being a good listener, asking relevant questions, and maintaining a friendly atmosphere fosters a productive conversation.

Actively listen to their answers, allowing them to fully express their thoughts before asking more in-depth or clarifying questions. This approach helps avoid interruptions and ensures the dialogue flows naturally. Employ humor and share relevant anecdotes, which can help make the interview feel more engaging and less formal. Sprinkle in some compliments where appropriate to create a positive atmosphere and foster a sense of camaraderie. Conclude the interview by summarizing key points. Post-interview, follow up with a thank-you note to express your appreciation and invite feedback from your guest, which can be invaluable for improving future episodes.

To consistently attract high-profile guests, refine your approach: Review Performance: Assess past interviews to identify successful strategies and areas for improvement. Leverage Networks: Seek referrals from previous guests and tap into your network for new connections. Listen to Audience: Gather feedback from listeners to understand their preferences and interests. Craft Compelling Pitches: Tailor your pitch to highlight the value for guests and invest time in preparation. Diversify Guests: Explore new industries and backgrounds to bring fresh perspectives to your podcast. Adapting and refining your process can elevate your podcast and engage your audience effectively.

Once you have a "high profile" guest, ask them who they'd recommend to come on to the show. As we know, birds of a feather usually flock together, so they'd most likely know some other "high profile" potential guests too.

I have a threefold strategy for outreach and finding guests for my podcasts. Once you've identified the type of guests you seek to host, use Google to search for them using the key SEO terms. Secondly, use the platforms that journalists use, such as HARO, and post a notice to connect with PR reps to actively propose suitable guests. Lastly, utilise your networks like the ones on LinkedIn to connect and be actively recommended to suitable people to interview.