Do podcast guests get paid? This is a question we’re often asked and the short answer is No.
There are some well-known entrepreneurs who do charge a fee but they are very much in the minority.
Often this question crops up when people are considering embarking on podcast interviews and are not sure where their ROI is going to come from.
Fair Exchange
Our advice is that it’s best to think about your interview as a fair exchange.
As a podcast guest you are getting exposure to the podcast host’s audience and this is very powerful.
The podcast host has spent time and money to grow their audience which you are now tapping in to and by audience we don’t just mean the listeners of the podcast.
You’ll also gain exposure to the host’s email list and social media network. Often the host’s list and social media followings are much larger than the number of listeners of the podcast. This exposure will help you grow your own audience.
Being invited on to the host’s show gives you credibility with the show’s audience. The host is the common thread. They’re the person the audience is tuning in to on a regular basis. They care about their show. They care about their audience and so they’re unlikely to host a guest they don’t like or don’t agree with which is a tacit endorsement.
The benefits go both ways.
The host also benefits from the guest’s expertise which allows them to deliver value to their audience and a fresh perspective. And the host gains exposure to the guest’s list and the guest’s social media following.
Should you pay to be a guest?
Again, this is another question that comes up. Most podcasts don’t pay guests and most podcasts don’t charge guests either, although some do.
Paying to be on a podcast is not something we generally recommend our clients do. (Note this is not the same as sponsorship.)
How much do hosts charge guests?
As we’ve said the majority don’t charge but we have come across hosts who ask for a nominal fee such as $50 to cover their editing costs. We’ve also been asked for $3,500.
But the point is if you’re paying to be a guest on a show, then everyone knows you’ve paid to be on that podcast turning the experience into a kind of advertorial rather than an interview. And that’s something to weigh up.
Do podcast guests get paid: Conclusion
Essentially, thinking about being paid to be a guest is the wrong way to look at a podcast interview. The return on investment you’re going to see will come from building relationships with the host, the listeners and making a connection with the audience. It comes through having a well-crafted call to action and a system in place to nurture those leads.
If you’re ready to get started as a podcast guest you may want to read:
