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**(By Traci Long DeForge) **You’ve got podcasting questions, and _PBJ‘_s Traci Long DeForge is here to answer them. Traci is the founder of _Produce Your Podcast. _
1. Sometimes I feel like I have a difficult time maintaining the flow of my conversation with my guest. Do you have any suggestions on how to be a better interviewer? Traci: Break the ice! Allow enough time before your show to have personal interaction with the guest. You will be able to tell right away if you have chemistry and if the conversation is going to be awkward or smooth.
Put your guests at ease before you open the microphone. A simple way to do this is to comment on their work. Let them know you read their book, blog posts, watched their YouTube videos, or listened to their podcast. This will immediately reassure the guest you have done your homework and it shows you respect them and the time they are taking out for your interview.
Get comfortable with longer pauses between you and your host. This was the hardest for me. I always want to fill the space but if you let the pauses happen the guest is likely to say something a lot more profound than if you nervously laugh or reroute the conversation because you are uncomfortable.
2. I only have enough time and/or budget to release two podcasts a month. Is there a way I can be consistent in marketing between the episode releases? Traci: There are three simple things you can do in the off weeks to keep your momentum going between episodes:
Market your previously released episodes. Pull episodes from your archives and promote them in your social media. You are gaining new followers and fans every day. This is an easy way to keep reintroducing your podcast.
Create audio snippets of your episode and release them over the course of two weeks. The software wavve.co is an intuitive program where you can create audiograms to release to social media. You will invest a little extra time to edit the clips and create the audiograms but it adds a powerful extension to your episode marketing strategy. You can do these yourself or outsource it. Either way it’s worth it!
Transcribe your audio and create social media posts and blog posts out of the content. When you post them include a link to the player or embed the code into the blog post so readers can find the podcast quickly.
3. What is one thing I can do to make my guest management process easier? Traci : Create these emails as templates and use them for each guest:
Guest Outreach Email: Use this email to send out a guest request and include specific information on your show. Let them know why they would be a perfect guest for your podcast. Recommend a topic and propose a recording date.
Guest Confirmation Email: Make sure you follow up with your guest once the date is confirmed. Communicate with them so they know how to connect the day of the interview and what to expect from the recording process. Reconfirm the Date and Time (specify YOUR time zone.)
Guest Release Email: Send an email out to your guest the day the episode releases. Provide a link to the show and embed code to post to their website. Provide your social media information along with prewritten social media posts. This makes it really easy for them to share your podcast.
All of this can take time, yet it will ensure a much smoother and more professional experience with your guest if you are prepared in advance with these three emails.
Send questions to Traci at traci@produceyourpodcast.com and remember to check back each week!
_Traci Long DeForge is the founder of Produce Your Podcast, and a consultant, speaker, and strategist. She can be contacted at _traci@produceyourpodcast.com_ or 912.223.9525. Visit her websites at _TraciDeForge.com_ and _ProduceYourPodcast.com_. _