
Lyman, Maine.
When Jaime Masters, host of the Eventual Millionaire podcast, was growing up there, it had a population of 2,000 people and didn’t have a stoplight or post office. Despite her meager beginnings, that small-town girl would be destined for something she didn’t think would be on her radar. Today, thanks to her podcast, she has connected with over 400 millionaires. She is an example of how powerful a networking tool hosting a podcast can be.
Along with Masters, I’ve recruited the help of Jordan Harbinger, the host of The Art of Charm podcast, which has 3 million downloads per month; author and host of The James Altucher Show podcast, James Altucher, who has interviewed thought leaders and celebrities like Tim Ferriss and singer, Jewel; and the co-host of The Ultimate Health Podcast, Dr. Jesse Chappus, who has had guests such as Deepak Chopra on his show, to chime in on how you can successfully connect with a high-profile influencer on your podcast.
1. Find your potential guest.
“Look for people who have books coming out soon since they have just put years of thought into one subject and would be happy to talk about it,” Altucher says. “Look for people who are lending their names to charities. Look for people who achieved great success earlier and have not done an interview in awhile. Look for people who very recently have done something very great and might still be accessible to do a podcast. These are a few starting points, but once you get into the mindset you will start finding guests everywhere.”
Chappus suggests: “Hopefully as a podcast host you’re already well tuned into your niche and know who the gurus are. If you need a little help, search your podcast category in iTunes and see what shows/hosts are at the top of the charts. If any of the shows/hosts intrigue you, dig in and listen to a few of their episodes and see if the host is a great fit for your show.”
You can also get guest ideas looking at the authors on The New York Times bestseller lists, Amazon business book bestseller lists and professional speaker websites such as the National Speakers Bureau.
2. Snag the high-profile influencer.
This is probably the toughest thing to do, especially if you’re just starting out. Somehow you have to demonstrate to a high-profile influencer it’s worth her precious time to appear on your podcast. So, how do you do it?
“You can list other high-profile people you’ve interviewed,” Masters says. “When I had no one high-profile, I mentioned my media appearances that I got from Help a Reporter Out. You need some sort of credibility indicator to…