10 Best Practices for Podcast Interviews

If you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to make sure that you make the most out of your podcast experience, then you have to make sure that you prepare in advance and that you also make sure that you are carrying out the best practices. Want to find out more? Simply take a look below.

How Do I Prepare for My First Podcast Interview?

If you want to make sure that your podcast goes well, preparation is key. Preparation could include trying to take the time to learn more about your guest or creating some interview questions. If you can do this then you will soon find that your interview goes smoothly and that you don’t run into any issues at all.

How Do You Ask an Interview Question for A Podcast?

Simply phrase the question as you would if you were talking face to face. It’s important that you take the time to really build up to the question though so that you can introduce it naturally during the conversation. Remember that 20% of listeners tune in on a weekly basis, and 18% say that they listen to more podcasts now when compared to 10 years ago. If you want to tap into this market, you have to be comfortable, engaging, and alert.  Good questions provide the foundation you need to make this happen.

What Are Good Podcasts Questions?

Good questions for a podcast will include what someone’s opinion is on a particular topic or even how they feel about a certain trend in the industry. All in all, you need to try and ask open-ended questions if possible as this will help you to make the most out of every moment you have.

What are the Best Practices for Podcast Interviews?

There are a number of ways that you can try and grow your podcast subscriptions. One way for you to do this would be for you to carry out interviews with people who you believe would add value to your channel. Doing an interview for the first time can be nerve-wracking, but at the end of the day, you really have nothing to worry about. Here are some of the best practices you should be following.

Don’t Choose any Guest

You have to make sure that you don’t just pick any guest. You have to choose the one that you are interested in the most. Pick someone who is genuine and who can add a tremendous amount of value to your channel.

Familiarise Yourself

As mentioned above, it’s vital that you familiarise yourself with the guest. It’s really not rocket science. Whenever you do an interview, the first thing that you should be trying to do is getting to know the person better. It’s fine for you to have another person do the research for you, but if you can, you need to put in the work yourself as well.

Make them Feel at Ease

Make your guests feel as though they are at ease when they are talking with you. If it is your guest’s first time doing an interview, then make sure that you talk with them beforehand so that they know what to expect.

Always Prepare your Questions

Always prepare creative questions if you can. You have to remember that your guest might have done some interviews before and the last thing that you want is to ask them the same as what they have already been asked.  Make your questions creative and make sure that you leave your questions open-ended where possible.

Don’t Stray from the Topic

You have to make sure that you don’t let your guest stray from the topic if possible. If you notice that your guest is straying, then guide them back to your main point. You may think that 30 minutes is a long time to do an interview but it’s really not if you have a lot of ground to cover.

Let your Guest Speak

The purpose of having someone on your podcast is that you give them the chance to share the secrets to their own success and the challenges that they have encountered. Don’t be afraid to let them take the lead.

Remember to Listen

When you listen to your guest, you will reassure them that you understand their perspective. This will give them the confidence to know that they aren’t just there as “someone to interview”. They are there to add a lot of value to your content.

Be Engaging

You have to make sure that your questions are engaging. Never settle for a simple yes or no question. Make them as engaging as possible. If you want to keep your listeners engaged, then this is essential.

Keep your Questions Short

Keep your questions short and also make sure that they are concise. Your listeners know that you are great at hosting, so don’t brag by asking lengthy questions. Be mindful of the fact that your listeners actually want to hear your guest speak too.

Have your Guest Explain

Dealing with some technical questions? Make sure that you have your guest explain. Ask them to explain any technical answers in a simple and easy-to-understand way. You have to remember that your guests are probably not industry experts, after all. So, if you follow this guide, you’ll soon find that it is very easy for you to make the most out of your podcast and you may even find that you can make your guests feel way more comfortable as a result.