Best for your Guest

How do you get the best out of your guest?  Six little tips:

Tip One: Do your research, there is nothing worse than not actually knowing who you are talking to, bone up on wiki, read some blogs and check out their Facebook page.

Tip Two:  Tell them what you plan to ask them, you don't have to be specific, put it in an email, tell them how long you plan to speak to them, tell them if there is anybody else involved in the discussion or show.  But most of all tell them.

Tip Three:  Get down to business pretty much as soon as you start recording.  The same applies if they are a face to face interview.  Take a quick bit of level, .. not what they had for breakfast but kick things off with them by getting them to tell you who they are and who they represent or what they do.  (That way you have a record of their title, website address etc on the recording)

Tip Four:  Charm to disarm, try not to overwhelm or intimidate your guest, be human.  Again make your first question something easy to answer, for instance asking them about their journey to where they are now, where did they begin, why did they first become interested in the subject.  You don't have to use this material.

Tip Five: Try to stay on the pathway, it is very easy to meander off into meaningless questions, ..unless that is the purpose of your Podcast.  Stay on track, unless you think what they have to say is more interesting than what you planned, then take that call, and turn a corner.

Tip Six:  ENJOY talking to your guest, revel in their knowledge - encourage them - if face to face with a nod, or if down the line - with a "that was a great answer"  Caution -  try to avoid saying yes as they answer.  Again those words of encouragement can be edited out before you start the next question.

In the next blog, six little techie tips to help your Podcast. To find out about Podcast Editing from $35 an hour/episode - click here