How to Be The BEST Guest Expert Around


Here’s a note I received recently after being interviewed on a teleseminar:

BTW,  Nancy, the info you send out when you’re a guest is amazing and so complete!  You’re SO easy to have as a guest.  In fact, your  doc inspired me to write this article in my ezine and blog

I’ve been complimented many times on being prepared for interviews, but a blog post and a lesson inspired by this top the list!

I started doing interviews for teleseminars back in 2005, but it wasn’t until 2007 that I got my act together and became the dream guest. I was invited to speak to Melanie Benson Strick’s membership group and she sent me an email requesting I send the following: Title of talk, 3-5 bullet points of what listeners will get out of the presentation, my bio, a headshot (web ready, not some huge high resolution monster that scares people and kills web pages), a short article or some tips, sample questions.

Seemed like a good opportunity to put together a packet, so I put it all into a word doc (using hyperlinks to reach my headshot, affiliate program, etc) and from that day on I earned my wings in the guest expert world.

Since then, I expect nothing less than total preparedness from people who come to speak to my peeps. I’ve been spoiled rotten by people like Suzanne Evans, Donna Kozik, and Adam Urbanski who showed me even MORE cool ideas for putting on a great interview (like including great “sample answers” for various questions. Those help interviewers know when you’ve covered every point on each answer)

So here’s how to be a dream guest on teleseminars, telesummits, and other interview formats:

  • Be low maintenance, that’s the cardinal rule. Wanna be a diva? Join the opera.
  • Send a single doc to your host that has everything in it: links to photos, website, handouts, social media sites, etc.
  • Include resources that your host can leverage on your behalf: articles, tips, blog posts, or other pieces of info for publishing
  • Send suggested questions with sample answers and stick to the program. If you tend to go on tangents, at least put a note in the doc that says “I might improvise a bit here”
  • Write in suggested time for each question. You might have a single question that takes 8 minutes to run through or one that is a 30 second answer.
  • Some interviewers really stink! Seriously awful, as in “wtf?” bad. Rather than sound annoyed,  you have to be the sparkle. Go with the flow, or light a candle for them in church. Anything to ease the pain.

With so many teleseminars and telesummits happening, the demand for speakers is higher than ever. Be the person on everyone’s “A” List by coming prepared and being the BEST guest expert around.

I’d love your comments on this. Any other suggestions on being well prepared?


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About Nancy Marmolejo

I'm a soul-driven strategist who teaches entrepreneurs how to turn followers into fans and fans into clients using social media and heart based marketing. My approach integrates proven strategies and intuitive hits so each client finds her special way to stand out and sizzle in the spotlight.

  • http://TheBusinessCoachforMoms.com TheBusinessCoachforM

    I completely agree! As the host of the popular Blogtalk Show "For Powerful Women Only" I would add that the guest should also make sure that they correctly pronounce the host's name. I have had to delete a particular interview because my guest mispronounced my name several times. Bummer! I've shortened my name (Teisha) and made it easy for all (Lady T) just to help people out.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Lady T, with my last name mangled on a daily basis I totally relate! Thank you for bringing that up, nothing sounds sweeter than a person's name – especially when pronounced correctly!

  • http://twitter.com/SuzanneGerety SuzanneGerety

    Great post Nancy! I'd also add that as a presenter it's important to have an 'introduction bio' and a 'full length bio'. Nothing is more painful for listeners than to hear 300+ words of a guest's resume at the start of an interview or presentation, save that for a credit page or further reading. A great introduction bio should be 100-150 words and give the listeners/participants something to peak their interest rather than bore them to tears. Just wanted to add that as it's helpful for keeping listeners around beyond the 10 minute mark. Keep up the great work you're doing!

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Thanks Suzanne for reminding us to KISS, keep it short and sweet! Listeningto a 300+ word bio can be painful, regardless how awesome the guest is.

  • http://musicroad.blogspot.com kerrydexter

    I'd add, think of several ways and words to get your points across, if you are interviewed often. if you keep repeating what's in the press kit, word for word (I've interviewed people who only wanted to do that), it'll not make a very sparkling story. of course it is the interviewer's job to draw you out, but you are in the interview together.

  • http://www.holistic-mindbody-healing.com Val

    Great tips Nancy – I'll file them away until the big day when I'm a guest speaker. Hopefully I won't be too scared to talk! One question – where/how do you keep your photo so it can be accessed by others? Thanks.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Excellent! Thank you Kerry. So listen up peeps and add in some variety!

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Val, you can put your photo on your website then share the URL. Some people will also create a media page on their websites with all this info a click away. Whatever makes it easy!Good luck and be sure to send me a tweet when you have that guest expert spot!

  • Kay Ballard

    Nancy, this is a fabulous post with helpful information for anyone in either role–and let's face it, most of us are frequently in both.Just minutes ago, I finished an interview with a fabulous guest on Women Are Not Funny radio. Something I did with her in our pre-interview "conversation" was to tip her off that I was planning on asking her a rather obvious question, but I was hoping for something other than the obvious answer. Doing so achieved my desired result–my listeners didn't have to listen to "blah, blah, blah."I particularly enjoyed your point about sparkling even when your interview host is less able than you would prefer. I have heard you do this, Nancy. You handle such things brilliantly.

  • LisaMarie

    Great reminder of how to do it right, Nancy. You're the bomb!

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Thanks Kay!I love your note about spontaneity and going for more than the average blahblah blah. There are some people who will pitch a fit if you veer from theirpre-packaged presentation. Yuck! How fun is that to listen to?You always keep it fresh, it's just in your nature.:-)

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Anytime, Lisa!

  • http://OnlineBizU.com/ Donna Gunter, Market

    Hi Nancy — Glad to have been inspired by you, and thanks for linking to my blog post. Appreciate it! :)

  • http://savvyaboutsuccess.com Kathy Santini

    Nancy, as a former journalist, your suggestions are fabulous. Wish more of the thousands of people I have interviewed over the years had read your blog post before our interview. Great suggestions, thanks for putting them out there.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Thanks Kathy!Point your peeps to this post if they need a little crash course before youinterview them! Appreciate the kudos from someone with an extensivejournalistic background like yours.:-)Nancy