By Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting
Your marketing and PR quest to gain recognition as an expert in your industry is working —you’ve booked your first podcast interview! Your message is about to reach more prospective clients and colleagues than ever before. But wait—it’s not quite time to celebrate just yet. You have to invest some time and effort in honing the message for maximum effectiveness. So, how does an event professional adequately prepare for a podcast interview?
Be a good listener
Pay attention. If you are not already, become a regular listener leading up to the recording. While listening, ask yourself, “Which episodes do I like the best?”
What is it about those episodes that appeal to you so much? How can you incorporate those qualities into your answers?
Get the right equipment
The podcast knows best. If they say they need earphones and a mic, make sure you follow their recommendations. If they say their podcast sounds better if you call in, make plans to do so. On that note, if you’re using your computer, they’ll more than likely recommend hardwiring to your internet. It pays to make plans well in advance.
Connect in advance
Speaking of “in advance,” reach out to the host before your podcast and ask if sharing the questions prior is possible. Not every host does—some prefer broadcasts that are more improvisational. If that is the case, ask for general topics or themes that they expect to cover with the goal of being able to practice in advance.
Engage in pre-promotion
Like any kind of publicity, press continues to live on only as long as you keep it alive. This is true for podcasts as well. Set up a content calendar along with calendar prompts so you can be ready when the time comes to promote the interview on its publish date. Have promotional graphics ready for Instagram and consider changing out your Facebook page’s cover temporarily. Maximize your social media publicity possibilities to get the most out of your podcast experience.
Get organized
This is key with regard to all aspects of podcast interviews. Get organized with an equipment checklist, calendar prompts for promotion, and specific time set aside to practice with a critical audience that will give you honest, constructive feedback. Be accessible both before and after your interview in case the host or team has questions, concerns, or follow up for you, making you an obvious choice for future opportunities. And ensure that you’ve blocked off the appropriate time on your calendar to have the meeting recorded with sufficient wiggle room before and after.
Engage in some targeted preparation, promotion and organization to make your podcast experience the most effective marketing opportunity it can be!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
