Automation is Your Friend
Just thinking about the various types of information a show host requires for an interview may make some shy away from doing an interview format. If this describes you, keep reading. Once you know about these tips and tricks, you may want to include interviews into the mix of what you’re doing on your podcast.
Automating the guest interview process as much as possible will help you prepare for your interview recording. Some of my favorite resources for collecting key bits of information include:
Google Forms
Utilizing contact forms built into your website
Or using one of these popular schedulers: Acuity, Calendly, or YouCanBookMe.
Once you’ve chosen how you want to collect the data, it’s essential to collect the right information.
Common info you’ll want at your fingertips while preparing for an interview include:
The correct spelling of the guest’s name, their business name, and their website URL.
The guest’s bio.
The guest’s headshot photo plus any additional images you may require such as their logo, a book cover, or a product image for episode marketing materials.
Guest submitted topics, talking points, and/or interview questions.
Links for listeners to connect with the guest such as their social media or a specific web page.
Anything the guest may want to promote (if you allow promotions on your show).
Using a collection form to accept this information keeps you from tracking down wayward emails or realizing at the last minute a vital piece is missing. Having a form serves as a checklist for your guest, guaranteeing the guest has included everything you need.
The added bonus is your podcast production team has only one place they need to log into to retrieve everything needed for setting up your episode’s marketing materials.