I listened to a lot of startup videos like people who are starting their show for the first time. They’ve got their video running and audio going. They’re starting their shows, doing interviews and doing it for the first time. I get to hear that. In it, I see a pattern of some things that I want to point out to you that might be something for you to think about. The first is that I know we all want to be in agreement. In our normal conversation, we say things like, “Yeah, hmm, yes, definitely.” We want to encourage our guests to continue the conversation, to keep going with what they’re doing.

Guest Interview Podcast: It is actually good podcasting practice to just be nodding and take out those yeses and affirmations that we do when our guest is speaking.

The problem with doing that is if we’re doing a video, we have a flip going on of the video. In other words, sometimes we have our video side-by-side and what they call Gallery View. Our video will be highlighted every time we say something. If our guest is speaking and then we interject and say, “Yeah,” then our video, all of a sudden, highlights and the eye is drawn across in a way from our guests to us. Lots of us do it, that’s the format that I personally use. When we do a speaker view, it means who’s ever speaking at that time is getting highlighted. If the person is speaking and all of a sudden I go, “Yes,” then I will interject.

Even though they’re still speaking, you’re looking at me at that moment and then it goes back to them again. It’s disruptive on the video. On the audio side of things, if you’re doing the two-track recording and everything, it can get cut. Especially if you’re a Podetize customer, we’re doing all of that for you. It’s not as distracting in the audio version of it. In the video version, it is. I highly recommend it. It is good podcasting practice for you, to be nodding and to take out those yeses and affirmations that we do when our guest is speaking.

If we truly have something to say, we need to have a more elaborate sentence. It’s something that we’re going to comment on and say, “I absolutely agree with you. I want you to dive a little bit deeper. Tell us about this.” Now we’re extending that conversation and giving that agreement but we’re also asking for more. That’s a great way to do it, interject and bring more to the conversation. There’s a good reason for you to have highlighted it. It’s like you’re encouraging that further conversation.

If it’s to say, “Yeah, hmm,” and agree with them, stop doing that in an audible way. Do it with the nods, the encouragements that are there. In that way, visual encouragement. It’s still being seen by your audience and your guests but it’s not distracting in terms of featuring your video and changing the viewpoint of that and the focus off of your guest, which is something that I don’t think you want to do if you agree with them. You would want them to continue.

A suggestion for those of you who might be doing a video for the first time or combining your video and audio, or for those who are not editing your audio, you’re going straight from your live streams or your interviews, doing straight from that. That’s something you want to start cutting out and breaking your habit of doing. I hope that helps everyone. I’m here with tips at any time. Send us your questions. Thanks.

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