Booking Podcast Guests That Add Real Value | Olajumoke Fatoki

Most podcast host pick their guests based on popularity alone. Sadly, most of the time, those guests disappoint on all levels, and it damages the show's credibility. Thankfully, there's a superior alternative approach you can take! In this episode, Olajumoke Fatoki shares a five-step system to help you book the right guests every time. Get ready to elevate your interviews and make your podcast unforgettable for the people who matter most, your listeners!

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Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Choosing the Right Guest
02:48 Framework for Guest Selection
06:03 Steps to Enhance Podcast Interviews
08:56 Creating Value for Your Audience

Takeaways

Choosing guests based on popularity can backfire.
A guest's value reflects on the podcast's credibility.
Guest interviews can elevate a podcast when done right.
Define your audience's needs before selecting guests.
Create an ideal guest profile to guide selection.
Research potential guests within your network.
Look for rising stars instead of just big names.
Vet guests by consuming their previous content.
Prepare guests thoroughly for a successful interview.
Focus on providing value to your audience.

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Chapters

• 0:00 The Importance of Choosing the Right Guest
• 3:09 Framework for Guest Selection
• 6:24 Steps to Enhance Podcast Interviews
• 9:17 Creating Value for Your Audience

Transcript

A few years ago, I made a huge mistake. I invited a guest onto my podcast because they had a massive following. I thought if I just get them on my show, their audience will come running to listen. But halfway through the interview, I had that sinking realization when your God tells you this isn't working. You're already too deep to even back out. They weren't adding value.

They weren't even answering my questions properly. Instead, they turned every response into an opportunity to self-promote. It was a painful experience. The episode felt like one long commercial, no insight, no depth, just a sales pitch masquerading as a conversation. And by the time we wrapped up, I knew it. I had made the classic podcasting mistake. I had focused on the guest's popularity instead of their relevance. Now,

Here's the part that really stung for me. It wasn't just the disappointing feeling I had after the recording. It was the let down effect that this had on my listeners. People tune in on my podcast to learn, to grow and to be inspired. But that particular episode, didn't resonate. It didn't challenge them or spark new ideas. It was flat out empty.

And I saw the proof even in my numbers, low engagement, minimal feedback, zero excites me. And you know what? That was a moment of truth for me. That was when it hits me that your guest is a reflection of your podcast. If they don't align with your message or bring real value, it's your credibility that takes the hits. My name is Oladj Moke Fatuki and today I'm speaking on the topic

how to choose the right guest for your podcast. You see, I'll be very honest. After that horrible experience, I seriously considered avoiding guest interviews altogether. I thought maybe I should just focus on solo episodes. Maybe guests are just too much of a risk. But deep down me, I knew that wasn't the right answer. Guest interviews when done right.

bring fresh perspectives, diverse experience and incredible stories to the table is just beautiful. They have the power to elevate your podcast in ways that solo episodes simply can't. So here's what I did. Instead of running away from the problem, I decided to fix it. I sat down, replayed everything that went wrong and I asked myself the right kind of questions.

What would I do differently if I find myself in a situation like this next time? And that was when I realized that the problem wasn't really about the guests that I was bringing to my show. It was how I was choosing them. I had been focusing on the wrong things, asking the wrong question. Instead of looking for who is the biggest name that I can book, you know, and bring on my show. I should have been asking myself questions like,

Does this person bring unique insights or expertise that will help my listeners? Do they align with my podcast mission and the tone of my podcast? Can they share actionable takeaways my audience can immediately implement? And that shift in perspective changed everything for me completely. So now, if you've ever struggled with booking guests,

who actually deliver. Here's the framework I've been able to develop. One that makes guest selection a foolproof process. And you know the best part? You can start applying this today. So first things first, you need to define your audience's needs. Find out who are you serving? What are they struggling with? What questions keep them up at night? So you should get a notebook, a pen, or open up a

Google Doc, whatever, and write down three to five key themes or pain points your audience cares about. For example, if your podcast is about entrepreneurship, your theme might be how to scale a business, managing brand out as a founder, building a personal brand online. This step makes it freestyle clear what kind of guests

will actually serve your listeners. Now, the second thing you need to do is to create your ideal guest profile. Yes, create your ideal guest profile. Not all experts make great podcast guests. You need someone who's not just knowledgeable, but who is also able to engage, relatable, and capable of breaking down complex ideas.

into simple digestible insights. So you need to find out can they explain concepts in a way that resonates with your audience? Are they engaging? Do they have real-world experience or bring on fresh perspectives that will bring something new to your show? Now, if they check those boxes, they are worth considering. The number three thing that a smart podcast should do

is to research smartly. So instead of chasing the big names like I did, start by looking within your network. Think about your colleagues, your connections, or even authors of books or articles that have impacted you to make your searches even, brother. You can look on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter. These are gold mines for finding experts.

in niche areas. And here's a pro tip that I would like to leave with you. Look for rising stars in your industry. Sometimes the best guests aren't the ones with millions of followers. I know a lot of us once, you know, guests with millions of followers, but they were actively doing the work and sharing powerful insights that haven't been overexposed. Number four, vet your guests before you book them.

I can not overemphasize this point. This step will save you so much frustration, I bet you. Before you invite someone to your show, take the time to consume their content. Watch their previous interviews, read their blog posts, listen to other podcasts they've been on. Are they providing real value or are they just promoting themselves? Do they have

depth or are they just regurgitating some generic advice? You need to consider all of those things before bringing them to your show. Now, so the fifth point, you have to prepare your guests for success. Once you've chosen a guest, you've gone through all of the listed criteria above. Then you need to set them up for a great interview experience.

So send them a detailed briefing including the purpose of your podcast, the type of audience you cater to, the key topics that you would like to cover. A well-prepared guest is way more likely to bring their A game. The truth is, when I started applying these steps in my podcasting process, the difference was like night and day. My interviews became richer, my audiences stayed engaged.

My confidence as a host skyrocketed. I'm sharing this because I know what it feels like to pour your heart into something only to realize that you've been approaching it the wrong way. But the best part, you can course correct today. So here's your next move. If you're serious about improving your podcast interviews, start with these five action steps right now to get results. Number one.

Just as a recap, write down three to five core topics your audience actually cares about. Two, create a guest list criteria. What makes someone a must-have guest on your show? You need to know what that picture looks like. Number three, look at your network and find potential guests who align with your mission. Research their content, watch, read, and listen to their past interviews.

Lastly, send one outreach message today. Yes, today. Because here's the thing, your podcast isn't just about you. It's about your audience. Every decision you make, every guest you invite, every question you ask should serve one purpose. To provide value to the people who trust you with their time. When you approach guest selection with intention. When you prioritize red events.

overreach. You create something far more powerful than an episode. You create an experience, an experience that informs, inspires, and keeps your listeners coming back for more. So the next time you're choosing a guest to be on your show, remember it's not about their follower count. It is not about their resume, but it's about the connection they can build with your audience.

That's the secret to finding the right guest and ultimately the secret to building a podcast that stands the test of time. Now go out there, book your next guest and make your podcast the kind of show that people can stop talking about. Thank you.