Valuable Podcast Lessons Learned From Following Some Popular Advice
Hindsights from conducting more podcast interviews since I have had more free time
My husband and I started the podcast journey two years ago. It was my idea for him to start a podcast to help build confidence, share value with others, and build his brand. He rolled his eyes and reluctantly went along with me at first, but now he loves doing it.
When we started learning about how to grow an audience, the main piece of advice given was always to be a guest and have guests. My husband turned a blind eye to this advice and proceeded on his own path. He has done very well as his business has grown, and so has his audience. So, it’s not impossible to have a successful solo podcast.
I started the first of my two podcasts last April. I would occasionally bring on a guest, but for the most part, I was a solo podcaster. Why? Mainly because it was faster for me to record my episode as I travel a lot, and I wanted to get better writing my content vs. having guests that supply their own story. I also have a lot of value and story to tell, and my podcast was a way to pay it forward. It’s gone well for me too, but with the virus and not being able to travel, I thought I would give the long-standing advice a try.
Have I been missing out?
Why do other podcasters advise having guests?
What can I learn from trying this?
I have made some great connections!
The connections I have made have been my biggest win. It was one of my intentions this year to build more relationships. However, I didn’t have podcast guesting as a way to do this. But since the virus and now I have more time on my hands, I have been able to spend time networking and having guests and also being a guest.
It is essential to call out that it does take more time. If you are a solo podcaster, you get your thoughts together, ie, create the content, record, and publish. But if you have guests, you need to schedule them, do more prep, and then record. There are a few extra steps but if you have the time, it is worth it for the connection as well as learning and sharing the value your guest provides.
Take the time to research your guest.
Do some homework. Over the course of my first year, I have come across interesting people that have a unique skill with a story to tell. Initially, I only had people on my podcast whose services I used, books I read, and even met in person. I still try to do that now, but it’s not a guarantee with every guest for various reasons.
If you research your guest, read their book(s), listen to their podcast, or content, it takes some time to prepare. It’s a good thing to prepare and see if they, as well as their topic, are a good fit for your audience. Unfortunately, it does become easy to get into the routine of interviews just to do interviews.
Shouldn’t we be doing interviews with our audience in mind?
It’s hard to turn down someone who may not be a great fit. How do you do that?
I have had three conversations this week with fellow podcasters who batch their interviews and have still not aired ones from last year. Batching sounds like a great idea, but then your content may not be current by the time you are ready to air it, causing you to shelve it and wasted everyone’s time. Let alone the guest was excited to be on your podcast. That can be one of the pitfalls of having guests as well as batching.
Make sure there is an excellent story to share
Now that there is a flood of interview podcasts. So another thing to consider is who are these guests and do you have time to listen to them all? Often, they are not even sharing any story. I listened to one today, and it was information she learned in school, nothing that helped me relate to her. As a listener, I have become more discerning with my time and choosing which episodes to listen within each show vs. listening to all episodes my favorite host may release.
I still love a solo podcast.
In the grand scheme of things, I like and appreciate interviews, but I also love solo podcasts. I subscribe to someone’s podcast because I think they add value, and I want to listen to their stories. I get more value and ROI out of a six-minute solo podcast where the podcaster shares a quick story and then some action behind it than listening to someone I don’t know and probably won’t follow for 45 minutes. And to boot, quite often, the interview guest has a lot of jargon.
If the podcast host isn’t sharing their own story and If they are never sharing their value and their story, why am I subscribing? It’s just another podcast.
What are my final thoughts and suggestions?
I view podcasting like art. Everyone has their taste and opinion. Variety It’s what makes the world go round. At this moment, I will continue to have guests but also look to do a few solo episodes here and there.
The great thing about being an entrepreneur is that we get to pivot and change just like the wind.
Variety is the spice of life. William Cowper
So, carve your path, use your judgment, be mindful, and create your niche.
Don’t just follow because it’s the trend, and that’s what a course told you to do.