7 Reasons Why Your Podcast Guests Don’t Share Their Episodes

Are you a podcast host who feels peeved when interview guests don’t share their episodes? If so, this is for you!

Podcast promotion is the host’s responsibility, not the guests’. Yes, it can feel like your effort isn’t appreciated when guests don’t share their episode and for some it feels like rejection.

Here are 7 legit reasons a guest does not promote their episode of your podcast.

1) Not providing a top quality podcast interview to share.

Don’t expect guests to share episodes that don’t provide a great listener experience. Shows with poor audio quality, poor or non-existent post-production editing and/or a boring or poorly managed interview don’t benefit hosts or guests.

2) Only providing the Apple Podcasts URL.

Don’t assume everyone uses Apple iOS devices.

3) Not providing great marketing assets (graphics, images, cover art etc.) in the correct sizes for the guest’s social platforms.

Don’t assume your social platforms are your guests’ platforms. Or that they’ll be happy to spend even more free time creating suitable promotional marketing assets to use on your behalf.

4) Not providing suitable copy for promotional posts in the correct style and format for the guest’s social platforms and sample email messages for emailing their list if they choose to do so.

Don’t expect guests to spend time writing promotional copy for you for free either.

5) Asking guests to send you an email letting you know when and where they’ve shared the episode on your behalf.

Don’t make more work for guests beyond being present for the interview.

6) Forgetting that the episode release date fits your schedule, not theirs.

Don’t assume a guest’s appearance on your show is more important than other things they’ve got going on (e.g., other commitments and priorities, conflict with scheduled promotions, vacation etc.).

Your guests are busy people. And timing delays for episode promotion can often provide a bump in downloads for you.

7) Expecting that guests welcome any and all opportunities for self-promotion.

Don’t assume all guests are comfortable promoting themselves just because you are.

Many people experience discomfort with the sound of their own voice, struggle with imposter syndrome, fear inciting potential controversy or conflict over their expressed opinions, and may come from a cultural background that frowns on talking about one’s own accomplishments publicly.

Also, if the subjects discussed are not relevant to their audience and do not align with or complement their usual content, sharing won’t make sense.

And, if the interview doesn’t meet or exceed the standards of professional excellence they represent (on either your end or theirs), it won’t (and shouldn’t) be promoted.

If guests aren’t sharing their episodes of your podcast, check this list again and make adjustments where needed. Attention to details increases your odds that guests are going to be excited to share it everywhere they can!