Expert insights: How to maximize your podcast guest opportunity

Were you interviewed on a podcast? Discover the many ways you can maximize your podcast guest opportunity and open the door for more. 

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A book publicist mentioned to me recently that they’ve heard authors complain that nobody listens to their podcast interviews.

That’s not true, of course. Most podcasts have regular listeners. A good guest can help bring in more.

But that good guest has to help make that happen. Just as you must promote your book, you must promote the podcast episode that features your insights, experience, and wisdom.

More people are tuning in to podcasts

With podcast listenership on the rise, more and more of you are going to incorporate podcast interviews into your book marketing plan.

The publicist’s comment suggests you might need a little help making the most of those interviews, too. As the 13 experts you’ll hear from here report, leveraging your author podcast interview isn’t just about bringing it to more listeners. It’s also about using that guest role to support your author career.

Here’s what podcast hosts, publicists, and authors recommend you do to maximize your podcast guest opportunity. There’s so much wisdom here!

You’ve been interviewed on a podcast. What’s the best way to maximize that podcast guest opportunity? Experts offer lots of advice here.Click to tweet

Do your best by prepping for the interview

“It’s easy for those with media training to rely on their prior interview experience. But most small business owners and social media influencers are not used to an interview format and you can quickly tell who is prepared and who isn’t. Those who prepare and have subjects they want to focus on for their brand will find more success in repurposing the episode for broader exposure.”

Matt Brandabur, podcast host, Adventures of a Disney Dad

“Don’t treat the podcast interview as a book promotion. Position your book as a valuable byproduct of your expertise. Shape your message around the transformation your book delivers and align it with the host’s audience. A well-framed topic will naturally spark interest in your book without needing a hard sell.”

Dustin Riechmann, podcast host, 7-Figure Leap

Promote the episode before it runs

“I like to do an Instagram story saying how excited I am for the upcoming interview, then another later with a takeaway, tagging the host or show in each.”

Lindsay Dollinger, podcast host, Passports, Profits, & Pixie Dust

“You can also promote your appearance before the episode goes live by mentioning to your followers when it is to be released and maybe teasing a topic or interesting moment. If you have any questions about what you are allowed to reveal, ask the producers, and they will gladly let you know.”

David Meyer, associate podcast producer, The Dave Chang Show and Recipe Club

Connect with listeners by offering a gift

“Before going on podcasts, consider creating a special offer. Invite their listeners to a 15-minute free consultation, a free copy of your book, or a special download they can access when subscribing to your newsletter. This type of free offer can help grow your own audience as well as create a friendly rapport with the podcaster’s audience.”

Nicole Pyles, podcast booker

“Most authors stop at ‘You can find my book on Amazon.’ Instead, create a simple, book-related lead magnet — like a free companion guide, checklist, or bonus chapter — and direct listeners to a landing page where they can grab it in exchange for their email address. This builds your list and turns curious listeners into lifelong readers and buyers.”

Dustin Riechmann, podcast host, 7-Figure Leap

Request marketing resources

“As a publicist, we love when podcast hosts send already-made graphics for our authors to use and share. This makes it much more easy and seamless. Audiograms, Reels, or short clips tailored for TikTok are also extremely beneficial when it comes to sharing your interview. Video content is proven to generate more authentic views than just a simple post!”

Brennah Hermo, publicist, Beyond Words Publishing

“Guests maximize their interview when they request the original video file and cut clips for social media to maximize their exposure. While we (and most podcasts) will also create clips, we are often promoting the episode as the focus. Guests have the opportunity to create clips and videos where they are the primary focus.”

Matt Brandabur, podcast host, Adventures of a Disney Dad

“I ask the host for a copy of the audio if it’s available and re-stream it later.”

 Lindsay Dollinger, podcast host, Passports, Profits, & Pixie Dust

“When you have made a podcast appearance and are waiting for the episode to go live, ask the producers for a few assets that might be helpful. If they have a clip or still photos from the interview, should it have been a visually recorded podcast as well, you can ask for those and have them ready to post as soon as the episode is live.”

David Meyer, associate podcast producer, The Dave Chang Show and Recipe Club

Promote the episode on social media

“In addition to the typical audience reached by the podcast, you can reach thousands more by promoting your appearance on your social channels. Think LinkedIn for business-to-business interviews, Facebook for all interviews, Instagram with a photo, X (Twitter), Threads, TikTok, and more. Podcast hosts will also publicize your appearance on their social channels. You can repost, like, and forward them.”

Steve Turner, publicist, Solomon Turner PR

“Pull one or two powerful quotes or soundbites and repurpose them into short-form video or carousel posts. This turns a passive appearance into active, evergreen content. A single strong insight, repackaged visually, can sometimes spark more engagement than the episode link itself.”

David Tyler, author, podcast host, and media coach, The Master Communicator

“One simple act can leave a positive impression with your podcast host and leverage your podcast episode: sharing your episode broadly and widely in your social media networks. If they happen to give you any graphics, include those as well. It can be as simple as sharing the post on LinkedIn, Facebook, and wherever else you are active. ”

Nicole Pyles, podcast booker

Be a tagalong

“Tag the host and audience members in follow-up posts to spark real engagement instead of blatant self-promotion. Acknowledging the host creates goodwill and encourages reciprocal promotion. Tagging listeners who comment builds a sense of community around your conversation — not just a broadcast.”

David Tyler, author, podcast host, and media coach, The Master Communicator

Repurpose the interview

“There’s no media like owned media. You can embed podcast episodes on your website, share them in newsletters, and even create blog posts around the topics discussed to improve search engine rankings.”

Rasheda Williams, communications consultant, Inspired Life Professionals

“Ask the host for the recording or transcript and use it to create content. There’s something about the way we answer questions when others ask us about our areas of expertise creates great content. 

“This goes so much further than simply promoting the episode and directing people to listen. You can create multiple emails, social media content, and short-form videos that attract and sell your business and brand all from one interview.”

Felly Day, podcast host, Unprofessional Entrepreneur

“A single podcast appearance can become a week’s (or month’s) worth of content. Use short video clips, quotes, and takeaways from the interview on your social media, newsletter, and author site. Tag the host, link to the episode, and treat it like earned media — because it is. This not only builds your credibility but keeps your book in front of fresh eyes for months to come.”

Dustin Riechmann, podcast host, 7-Figure Leap

“Share a ‘listener’s takeaway’ in your newsletter, highlighting what you learned as a guest — not just what you promoted. This shifts the focus from self-promotion to shared value, which in turn builds trust with your audience. It also helps you reinforce your key messages in a more authentic, human tone.”

David Tyler, author, podcast host, and media coach, The Master Communicator

“Write a blog post about the subject matter and link to the podcast. I was recently on a podcast dealing with public relations. The host showed me a bunch of video clips and asked me if the PR approach described was on target or a pure misfire. There were some bad misconceptions about public relations in the clips. I was able to talk about the podcast appearance and subject matter in the blog post, again giving the interview more promotion.”

Steve Turner, publicist, Solomon Turner PR

“Turn your interview into written content. Then, cross-promote to create backlinks to your website. Backlinks are considered a crucial factor in SEO. When I was interviewed on the Safety Talk podcast, I wrote a blog post about my experience. Pete Galvin, the show host, linked my article to his website, driving massive traffic to mine.”

Irene Gabelnick, author, Podcast Power: The Zipping It Up Guide to Land Podcast and Radio Interviews FAST

Boost your episode’s visibility with advertising

“Last week I was a podcast guest on The Nerd Chat where they featured my book, among other topics. After the podcast was over, I made a Facebook page post about being on the podcast, then spent $40 to boost that post. The episode is now the third most viewed video on their channel. I did this to create more longevity for the episode as a book sales piece. Now when it’s gone from recent streams on their channel, it will still be showcased as popular.”

J.B. Coleman, author, Dungeon Lords: The Lost Disciple

Add the episode link to your website

“Utilize your podcast episode as speaking experience to gain more podcast guest invites. In today’s media, you are much more likely to get picked up as a guest on shows if you have previous experience. Don’t be shy about sharing your interview as an example of the expertise and topics you have to offer.

“And to pivot off of the above, many podcasters and radio hosts will search you and your background by looking for a media page on your website. If you have your previous podcast episodes listed, it gives you that much more credibility to be a guest on their show.”

Brennah Hermo, publicist, Beyond Words Publishing

“Maintain a running, updated list of and link to all the podcasts you’ve been on on your website and in a media kit so people can research you and see you in action. You can send the media kit out proactively as part of your responses and to people who inquire.”

R. Karl Hebenstreit, executive coach and author, Perform & Function

Add the show’s logo to your site’s “as seen on” banner

“I added their logo to my book sales page on my website as well as my home page, because now I can use them as ‘As featured on’ sections of the site.”

J.B. Coleman, author, Dungeon Lords: The Lost Disciple

Invite the host into your network

“Don’t be afraid to extend any partnership opportunities or ideas to the podcasters themselves. If you found you had a great rapport with them and did your part to promote the episode, don’t hesitate to build off that relationship. Of course, you don’t want it to come across as transactional, but strategically extending the opportunity to work together again could resonate well.”

Nicole Pyles, podcast booker

Maximize your podcast guest opportunity

Thanks to these pros, you know that the best way to leverage your podcast appearance is to:

• Prepare for the interview
• Share information about your appearance both before and after the episode goes live
• Ask the producer or host for audio, video, and graphics that can help you promote the episode
• Use your appearance to get more podcast interviews or as a door-opener for other opportunities

Do a favor for both your book and your podcast host by making the effort to get the most from your interview and episode. Yes, it takes effort to maximize your podcast guest opportunity, but doesn’t everything that’s worthwhile?

NOTE: I used Help a Reporter Out (HARO), a free service that connects journalists, podcasters, bloggers, and others with sources who can contribute to their content, to get input for this article. The individuals offering advice here provided what I asked for, but many others didn’t. Learn how to respond to media requests in HARO and other services like it and get quoted like these people did by using “PitchPro: Your Expert Response Toolkit.” This collection of my downloadable cheat sheets, worksheets, and templates helps you discover who and what reporters and others are looking for … and give them what they need so you get your name and book title in the news. Get $5 off the already low $27 price with coupon code SAVE5 here.

Which of these approaches are you using already? Which of them will you try now? Tell us in a comment!