Secrets to Booking High Profile Guests
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Do you have a podcast, a live streaming show, or a YouTube channel that is not getting the attention it deserves?
How do you even extend your reach to new audiences?
Look no further, because in this episode, Stephanie Liu from Lights, Camera, Live® joins Owen Video once again in Be.Live Weekly for another fun-filled and insightful show.
You’ll learn - not from just one, but TWO expert live video streamers today - as they reveal their secrets on how content creators, like you, could fast-track your brand’s growth online, and transform your show from unknown to unforgettable.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN
How To Transform Your Show From Unknown to Unforgettable
How To Win At Booking High-Level Influencers for Your Show, Even When You’re Just Starting Out
How To Do Live Streaming Promotion Like A Pro
ABOUT OWEN VIDEO
Owen Video, the man behind The Video Marketing School, is a social media expert, an event emcee, and a live stream host. A high-level influencer himself, Owen is also a highly sought-after educator for workshops and courses, where he teaches the art and science of online video.
You can follow Owen at @owenvideo across all social media platforms, or visit TheVideoMarketingSchool.com to learn more.
ABOUT STEPHANIE LIU
Stephanie Liu - the host, and CEO of Lights, Camera, Live® - is a digital marketing strategist who specializes in social media and live streaming. She is an educator, a high-level influencer, and a highly sought-after speaker as well.
Stephanie is also an awardee to several marketing and advertising awards, including the prestigious Online Marketing Media And Advertising (OMMA) and PR Daily. Through her websites and social media channels, Stephanie aims to help marketers and entrepreneurs go from unknown to unforgettable.
You can find Stephanie at LightsCameraLive.com or in the Social Media Strategist Group on Facebook.
Why is it important for a live streamer, podcaster, or YouTuber to master the art of booking high-profile guests?
According to Stephanie, one of the fastest ways that could help you transform your show from unknown to unforgettable is to book high-profile guests for your show. These potential guests already have a network, and a core audience you could tap into.
Why would a high-profile guest ever want to come on my show?
A lot of people go through the imposter syndrome - where they often have doubts like: Who am I to invite someone to be on my show that’s just starting?
But, a lot of people, even the high profile ones, are always looking out for new ways to get more exposure.
“Even if you’re just starting, you already have that platform that could potentially give these people the exposure they need. All that matters is how you package it,” Stephanie said.
To get started, make an invite list of the top 100 people that you would like to have on your show.
Curious as to why you should have a prospect list?
“If you think it’s hard to come up with a list of a hundred people, just squash that limiting belief right now,” Stephanie advised.
For one, you can come up with a list from the events you regularly attend. For instance, you can tap into the Social Media Marketing World speakers, who are already stellar on stage.
Or, you can get your foot in the door by leveraging credibility from somebody you know. Have a colleague or past guest introduce you to a potential guest or speaker.
Stephanie mentioned that she regularly surveys the Social Media Strategist group members for topics that they might be interested in. One of the indicators Stephanie pays attention to is that when individuals from her group vote on the topics they’d like to learn more about.
For Stephanie, this could mean that the same individuals are already vested in the show. They might recommend people who’d be potential guests for her show. Sometimes, Stephanie’s audience would even go above and beyond to connect her with a potential guest.
Owen does this same strategy with his group, too. So, having a wishlist is highly recommended by both.
“For best results, build the list of Top 100 and start from number 100 - not from number one. Start from the easy wins and build your confidence as you move up your list,” Owen added.
When researching for the Top 100, what are the things you look for to qualify for that list?
Stephanie began: “Look for someone who shows up and knows how to work the camera. You want somebody who is already confident on camera.”
And if your show is like Stephanie’s, look for someone who has high energy, because that’s how the show’s vibe is going to be.
What do you say to the people on your list?
“Ideally, start with the DMs, because sometimes your emails might land in the junk folder,” Stephanie hinted.
Owen and Stephanie also dropped in some tips you could use for when you reach out to influencers for the first time. Here are some of them:
Cater to their ego. Use pacing and leading by dropping three facts, and lead them to what you want them to do.
Use social proof from the group. Drop in the email some screenshots of your audience’s requests to communicate how excited your audience is to have that potential guest on your show.
Use YOU language and make it all about YOUR guest. Talk about their work, tell them how their work means so much to you that you want to share it with your audiences.
Start building rapport. Bring unity to your message by mentioning “our core audience.”
Keep the email short and sweet. High-level clients want short emails with relevant information.
End your email with a question mark so that you would trigger their natural inclination to reply to your email.
Don’t send them a calendar link, just yet.
Don’t send them a video email yet.
Leave some customization in your email template.
Be a professional.
When reaching out to that high-profile prospect, which is more effective? Facebook Messenger or Email?
If you’re not connected to the person on Facebook Messenger, your pitch is going to land in the ‘other’ inbox, which your prospect might miss.
“If you go with DM strategy, the most effective way is Instagram,” Stephanie hinted.
With LinkedIn, you might get hit with that “Send Inmail Promo,” or that true tweet validation thing when it comes to Twitter.
According to Owen, wait for that referral on Facebook Messenger, before finally using it to communicate with your prospect.
What if they don’t reply?
“Send a follow up email. If you still didn’t get a response back, move on to the next one,” Owen pointed out.
Don’t quit. Don’t be disheartened.
“Sometimes, invitations fall through the cracks, and that’s how it is for someone like me. It’s just one of those things that some people have peaks and valleys in their business that they might not catch it the first time around,” Stephanie admitted.
They reply, and they say, yes. What is the process then?
You have to enjoy that experience - do a dance party. Then, send them a second email. Here are some tips:
Include the following information:
Details about when the show is on
Culture of the show. Is it family-friendly?
What they need to prepare for - a webcam, a microphone, a good internet connection, and headphones
Ask them to be ready for a tech rehearsal 15 minutes before the show.
Include a calendar link, but make it a hyperlink. There are tools you can use for this. Calendly and vCita are two tools worth mentioning.
Through that link, make sure that you asked the prospect for the following information:
Link to their bio (so that you can make a killer intro for them also)
Link to their headshot
Three questions that you could ask them
Link to a website that you could promote for them
Make sure that the scheduling process is easy and straightforward for them.
How can you set people up on what to expect on the show?
In the third email, it is best to include the following:
Confirm the information they sent out through the calendar link.
Walk them through the layout of the show.
Ask them if they need to share their screen during the show. Walk them through the steps to do so, if you think this is necessary.
Give them a brief orientation using an unlisted video hosted on YouTube or Vimeo.
What are some of your steps for pre-promotion and post-promotion?
So for pre-promotion, take advantage of the the free event notifications from Facebook to hype up the event.
For the guests, prepare a promo sheet - in a Google document, if possible. Include the following information as well:
Assets
Title of the event
Description
Three things that the audience is going to learn
Their bio
My bio
“Click to Tweets”
A quick reminder on how to look good on camera
“Remember that it’s your job to make your guests shine in the spotlight because you’re the professional,” Stephanie emphasized.
What is the best way to promote the show to high-level guests?
Stephanie mentioned that she is Filipino. Filipinos are known for their hospitality. If you get invited to a Filipino home for dinner, not only will you get to eat, you will also be bringing with you food for take-home. Usually, it’s lumpia, even for Stephanie.
Stephanie added that there is a digital version of lumpia take-home as well. These could be digital gifts that guests could repurpose on their own, including but not limited to, the following:
Blog recaps
HD recording of the live interview
One-minute social media video
GIFs to share on social media
This is an example of a promo video that Stephanie created for her guest Marisa Corcoran when she appeared in an episode called, “Copy Confidence: Tips and Tricks from the Copy Expert.”
What do you think is the biggest takeaway from this whole show when it comes to inviting high-level guests to your show?
“Go for it and work on that top 100. Just keep tweaking that pitch,” Stephanie urged.
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