August 22, 2025 • 10 mins
Supercharge Your Audience Growth with the Guest Video Traffic Playbook
Want the books? PlatformGrowthBooks.com
Episode Summary:
Host Jonathan Milligan shares the powerful “Guest Video Traffic Playbook” that helped him gain 6,500 email subscribers in just two weeks—without spending a dime on ads. In this episode, Jonathan breaks down how hosting and guesting on virtual summits and video interviews can rapidly grow your audience, boost your authority, and open doors to new opportunities.
Key Topics Covered:
- The story behind Jonathan’s first virtual summit and how it exploded his email list.
- Why being both a guest and a host of video interviews is the fastest way to grow your network and credibility.
- The pitfalls of waiting for interview invites and the importance of proactive outreach.
- How technology and virtual events have made it easier than ever to connect with new audiences.
The Guest Video Traffic Playbook:
- Build Your Digital Stage:
- Create a strong online presence and register on speaker networks like HeySummit.
- Craft a compelling speaker profile that highlights your expertise and availability.
- Become a Detective:
- Use Google to find virtual summits in your niche.
- Reach out to past summit hosts and ask about future opportunities.
- Ride the Wave:
- Promote every interview you land across your website, social media, and email list.
- Leverage momentum from high-profile appearances to secure more interviews.
- Become the Host:
- Organize your own virtual summit by inviting experts, setting a date, and preparing a simple registration page.
- Collaborate with guests to promote the event and maximize reach.
- Execute with Excellence:
- Conduct engaging interviews, make it easy for people to register, and ensure every guest brings value to the audience.
Action Step:
Create your “Guest Expert One Pager”:
- Get a professional headshot.
- Write a punchy 2-3 sentence bio.
- List 3-5 hot topics you love discussing.
- Brainstorm 5-7 questions hosts could ask you.
- Include links to previous interviews or content.
- Add your contact info and availability.
- Register on speaker networks and use your one pager to pitch yourself for interviews.
Key Takeaways:
- Proactively seek out interview opportunities—don’t wait to be discovered.
- Use the momentum from each appearance to secure more guest spots and grow your audience.
- Hosting your own virtual summit can dramatically accelerate your list growth and establish you as an authority.
Connect:
For more resources and to get the physical editions of the “Your Message Matters” series, visit platformgrowthbooks.com.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello and welcome to The MarketYour Message Show.
(00:03):
I'm your host, JonathanMilligan, an author of the
series.
Your Message Matters.
We're currently going through asix book series.
We're in book number four, andas a thank you to this amazing
community, I am releasing thebook one chapter at a time that
you can listen to right here.
(00:23):
On the podcast today we're gonnatalk about the guest video
traffic playbook.
I have used this strategy in twodifferent ways and I'm excited
to share it with you.
If you've heard of virtualsummits or you haven't, this
should be an eye-opener becauseit's an amazing strategy.
When I held my own virtualsummit, had about 30 speakers
(00:45):
that I interviewed.
They all promoted it to theirlist, and I was able to gain
several.
Thousand email subscribers inthe matter of two weeks.
It was a powerful strategy.
Now you can also be a guest onsomeone else's virtual summit
that can also bring traffic andnew subscribers your way.
(01:07):
So you're gonna learn a lot inthis lesson.
If you want the physicaladditions of the books in the
series, you can go to platformgrowth books.com.
That's platform growthbooks.com.
There'll be a link in the shownotes as well, and with, once
you go to that page, you'll haveoptions of getting the Kindle,
the paperback, hardcover,there's even companion
(01:29):
workbooks.
Or you can purchase theaudiobooks if you want them
without the extra commentary.
From the podcast.
Alright, so with that we'regonna jump right into chapter
17, all about the guest videotraffic playbook.
Chapter 17, the Guest VideoTraffic Playbook.
It was early 2015.
(01:50):
I sat at my desk staring at mygoals for the year.
One goal, kept taunting me, hosta virtual summit For years, I'd
watched others do it.
They'd interview 10 to 20experts on a hot topic in boom,
thousands of new emailsubscribers and days.
It seemed like magic.
How did it work?
Simple.
Experts emailed their list aboutthe free summit.
(02:12):
People signed up with theiremail to access the recordings.
Instant list growth.
I took a deep breath and decidedthis was my year.
I launched the Amplify Summit,focusing on writing, speaking,
and coaching.
I lined up 30 expert interviews.
My heart raced as I hit send onthe promotional emails.
Two weeks later, I blinked at myscreen in disbelief.
(02:34):
6,500 new subscribers.
My list had exploded in growth.
That's the power of the guestinterview strategy.
But here's the kicker.
You don't need to host a massivesummit to win.
Being a guest can be just aspowerful, ready to supercharge
your audience growth.
Let's dive into the world ofvideo interviews.
(02:55):
You'll learn how to land covetedguest spots and host your own
attention grabbing events.
Buckle up your audience is aboutto get a whole lot bigger, the
video interview strategy.
Breaking free from obscurity.
You've got valuable insights toshare, but are you falling into
common traps that keep youhidden from your ideal audience?
(03:16):
Let's talk about what doesn'twork.
Many creators sit back and waitfor interview invitations to
roll in.
They believe their content willmagically attract attention.
Spoiler alert, it won't.
When you're new, no one knowsyou exist.
Your brilliance is trapped in abubble of anonymity.
Even if you've started reachingout inconsistent efforts, lead
(03:38):
nowhere.
A few sporadic emails won't cutit.
You need a system, not wishfulthinking.
Why do these old schoolapproaches fail?
They keep you small.
Your potential audience neverhears your voice.
Your network grows at a snail'space, if at all.
Worst of all, you miss out oncollaborative opportunities that
(03:59):
could skyrocket your visibility.
It's time for a paradigm shift.
Successful creators take controlof their interview destiny.
They don't wait to be chosen.
They choose themselves.
Here's the secret, become boththe guest and the host.
As a guest, you tap intoestablished audiences.
As a host, you build your ownplatform and attract high level
(04:20):
collaborators.
Technology is your ally In thisnew world, virtual events have
exploded, creating moreopportunities than ever before.
Online summit platforms, videotools, and social media make it
easy to connect with potentialpartners and audiences.
The key is proactivity.
Don't wait for permission.
(04:40):
Seek out interview opportunitiesrelentlessly create your own
events to showcase yourexpertise alongside others in
your field.
This dual approach isn't justabout getting more eyeballs on
your content.
It's about quickly growing yournetwork and credibility.
It's about becoming a go-toexpert in your niche.
Are you ready to step into thespotlight?
Let's dive into the specificstrategies that will transform
(05:03):
you from unknown to in demand.
Stepping into the spotlight,your video interview action
plan, ready to become the go-toexpert in your field.
Let's break down the steps tovideo interview success.
Step one, build your digitalstage first, create a magnetic
online presence.
Register on speaker networkslike, Hey, summit.com.
(05:25):
These platforms are your ticketto visibility.
Craft a speaker profile thatsings.
Highlight your unique expertiseand the value you bring.
Be specific about youravailability for virtual events,
in-person gigs and podcastinterviews.
Think of your profile as a 24 7talent agent.
It's always pitching you topotential even while you sleep.
(05:46):
Step two, become a detective.
It's time to get strategic.
Use Google to your advantage.
Search for your topic plusvirtual summit and uncover a
gold mine of opportunities.
Reach out to past Summit hosts.
Ask about future events or ifthey know other organizers in
your niche.
Remember, every connection is apotential door to new audiences.
(06:09):
Step three, ride the wave.
Have you landed a high profileinterview?
Fantastic.
Now milk it for all it's worth.
Share it everywhere.
Your website, social media,email list spread the word.
One.
Successful interview cansnowball into an avalanche of
opportunities.
Take my experience with John LeeDumas on Entrepreneur on Fire.
(06:31):
After that aired, I receiveddaily interview requests for six
months straight.
That's the power of momentum.
Step four, become the host,ready to level up.
Host your own virtual summit.
Here's how.
Pick a hot topic in your niche.
Set a date.
Give yourself at least two tothree months of prep time.
Dream big.
(06:52):
List 30 potential guest experts.
Reach out and aim to confirm 10to 15 participants by hosting a
summit.
You're not just joining theconversation but leading it.
Step five, execute withexcellence.
Now bring your summit to lifeConduct engaging 30 minute
interviews with each expert.
Set up a simple, compellinglanding page for free
(07:14):
registration.
Work with your guests to promotethe summit to their audiences.
Think of your summit as apotluck dinner party.
Everyone brings a specialtydish, their expertise and leaves
satisfied with new knowledge andconnections.
Remember, each step builds onthe last.
As you gain experience andexposure, doors will open wider
and faster.
(07:34):
Stay consistent.
Stay curious, and watch youraudience grow.
Your voice matters.
It's time to amplify it throughthe power of video interviews.
Today's exercise, create yourguest expert, one pager.
Ready to position yourself as anirresistible interview guest.
Let's build your one pager.
This powerful tool will make youstand out to potential hosts and
(07:56):
streamline your outreachefforts.
One, snap that headshot.
Get a professional looking photothat shows your personality
smile.
Make eye contact with thecamera.
Use natural light if possible.
There is no need for a fancystudio.
A simple clean background workswonders.
(08:16):
Two.
Craft your bio.
Write a punchy two to threesentence bio hook readers with
your unique expertise orperspective.
What makes you different?
What results have you achievedfor others?
Keep it tight and compelling.
Three, identify your hot topics.
List three to five main topicsyou love discussing.
Be specific.
Instead of marketing, tryInstagram reels for solopreneurs
(08:39):
or email sequences that convertcold leads.
Four, spark conversation.
Brainstorm five to sevenintriguing questions host could
ask you.
These should showcase yourexpertise and promise valuable
insights for the audience.
For example, what's the biggestmistake you see new
entrepreneurs make with yourtopic?
(09:00):
Can you provide a case study ofhow you helped a client achieve
a specific result?
Five, showcase your style.
Include links to two to three ofyour best previous interviews or
talks.
No prior interviews.
Link to a blog post or videowhere you're sharing your
expertise.
Six.
Make it easy to book you.
(09:21):
Add your contact information andany relevant social media links.
Include your time zone andgeneral availability.
For interviews seven, registeron.
Hey, summit.
Head to hey summit.com.
And create your speaker profile.
Use the elements you've justcreated to fill it out
completely.
This puts you on the radar ofsummit organizers looking for
(09:42):
fresh voices.
Now, combine all these elementsinto a single, visually
appealing document.
Keep it to one page.
Host our busy and appreciateconcise information, your
challenge.
Spend the next hour creatingyour one pager.
Don't aim for perfection.
Done is better than perfect.
(10:03):
You can always refine it later.
Remember, this one pager is yourticket to more interviews and a
broader audience.
It's worth investing time to getit right.
Once it's ready, you'll have apowerful tool to supercharge
your outreach efforts.
Key takeaways, proactively seekinterview opportunities via
speaker networks and directoutreach to expand your
(10:24):
audience.
Use the momentum from highprofile interviews.
Secure more guest spots togreatly boost your visibility.
Hosting your own virtual summitcan dramatically accelerate list
growth and establish you as anauthority in your niche.
Hello and welcome to The MarketYour Message Show.
(00:03):
I'm your host, JonathanMilligan, an author of the
series.
Your Message Matters.
We're currently going through asix book series.
We're in book number four, andas a thank you to this amazing
community, I am releasing thebook one chapter at a time that
you can listen to right here.
(00:23):
On the podcast today we're gonnatalk about the guest video
traffic playbook.
I have used this strategy in twodifferent ways and I'm excited
to share it with you.
If you've heard of virtualsummits or you haven't, this
should be an eye-opener becauseit's an amazing strategy.
When I held my own virtualsummit, had about 30 speakers
(00:45):
that I interviewed.
They all promoted it to theirlist, and I was able to gain
several.
Thousand email subscribers inthe matter of two weeks.
It was a powerful strategy.
Now you can also be a guest onsomeone else's virtual summit
that can also bring traffic andnew subscribers your way.
(01:07):
So you're gonna learn a lot inthis lesson.
If you want the physicaladditions of the books in the
series, you can go to platformgrowth books.com.
That's platform growthbooks.com.
There'll be a link in the shownotes as well, and with, once
you go to that page, you'll haveoptions of getting the Kindle,
the paperback, hardcover,there's even companion
(01:29):
workbooks.
Or you can purchase theaudiobooks if you want them
without the extra commentary.
From the podcast.
Alright, so with that we'regonna jump right into chapter
17, all about the guest videotraffic playbook.
Chapter 17, the Guest VideoTraffic Playbook.
It was early 2015.
(01:50):
I sat at my desk staring at mygoals for the year.
One goal, kept taunting me, hosta virtual summit For years, I'd
watched others do it.
They'd interview 10 to 20experts on a hot topic in boom,
thousands of new emailsubscribers and days.
It seemed like magic.
How did it work?
Simple.
Experts emailed their list aboutthe free summit.
(02:12):
People signed up with theiremail to access the recordings.
Instant list growth.
I took a deep breath and decidedthis was my year.
I launched the Amplify Summit,focusing on writing, speaking,
and coaching.
I lined up 30 expert interviews.
My heart raced as I hit send onthe promotional emails.
Two weeks later, I blinked at myscreen in disbelief.
(02:34):
6,500 new subscribers.
My list had exploded in growth.
That's the power of the guestinterview strategy.
But here's the kicker.
You don't need to host a massivesummit to win.
Being a guest can be just aspowerful, ready to supercharge
your audience growth.
Let's dive into the world ofvideo interviews.
(02:55):
You'll learn how to land covetedguest spots and host your own
attention grabbing events.
Buckle up your audience is aboutto get a whole lot bigger, the
video interview strategy.
Breaking free from obscurity.
You've got valuable insights toshare, but are you falling into
common traps that keep youhidden from your ideal audience?
(03:16):
Let's talk about what doesn'twork.
Many creators sit back and waitfor interview invitations to
roll in.
They believe their content willmagically attract attention.
Spoiler alert, it won't.
When you're new, no one knowsyou exist.
Your brilliance is trapped in abubble of anonymity.
Even if you've started reachingout inconsistent efforts, lead
(03:38):
nowhere.
A few sporadic emails won't cutit.
You need a system, not wishfulthinking.
Why do these old schoolapproaches fail?
They keep you small.
Your potential audience neverhears your voice.
Your network grows at a snail'space, if at all.
Worst of all, you miss out oncollaborative opportunities that
(03:59):
could skyrocket your visibility.
It's time for a paradigm shift.
Successful creators take controlof their interview destiny.
They don't wait to be chosen.
They choose themselves.
Here's the secret, become boththe guest and the host.
As a guest, you tap intoestablished audiences.
As a host, you build your ownplatform and attract high level
(04:20):
collaborators.
Technology is your ally In thisnew world, virtual events have
exploded, creating moreopportunities than ever before.
Online summit platforms, videotools, and social media make it
easy to connect with potentialpartners and audiences.
The key is proactivity.
Don't wait for permission.
(04:40):
Seek out interview opportunitiesrelentlessly create your own
events to showcase yourexpertise alongside others in
your field.
This dual approach isn't justabout getting more eyeballs on
your content.
It's about quickly growing yournetwork and credibility.
It's about becoming a go-toexpert in your niche.
Are you ready to step into thespotlight?
Let's dive into the specificstrategies that will transform
(05:03):
you from unknown to in demand.
Stepping into the spotlight,your video interview action
plan, ready to become the go-toexpert in your field.
Let's break down the steps tovideo interview success.
Step one, build your digitalstage first, create a magnetic
online presence.
Register on speaker networkslike, Hey, summit.com.
(05:25):
These platforms are your ticketto visibility.
Craft a speaker profile thatsings.
Highlight your unique expertiseand the value you bring.
Be specific about youravailability for virtual events,
in-person gigs and podcastinterviews.
Think of your profile as a 24 7talent agent.
It's always pitching you topotential even while you sleep.
(05:46):
Step two, become a detective.
It's time to get strategic.
Use Google to your advantage.
Search for your topic plusvirtual summit and uncover a
gold mine of opportunities.
Reach out to past Summit hosts.
Ask about future events or ifthey know other organizers in
your niche.
Remember, every connection is apotential door to new audiences.
(06:09):
Step three, ride the wave.
Have you landed a high profileinterview?
Fantastic.
Now milk it for all it's worth.
Share it everywhere.
Your website, social media,email list spread the word.
One.
Successful interview cansnowball into an avalanche of
opportunities.
Take my experience with John LeeDumas on Entrepreneur on Fire.
(06:31):
After that aired, I receiveddaily interview requests for six
months straight.
That's the power of momentum.
Step four, become the host,ready to level up.
Host your own virtual summit.
Here's how.
Pick a hot topic in your niche.
Set a date.
Give yourself at least two tothree months of prep time.
Dream big.
(06:52):
List 30 potential guest experts.
Reach out and aim to confirm 10to 15 participants by hosting a
summit.
You're not just joining theconversation but leading it.
Step five, execute withexcellence.
Now bring your summit to lifeConduct engaging 30 minute
interviews with each expert.
Set up a simple, compellinglanding page for free
(07:14):
registration.
Work with your guests to promotethe summit to their audiences.
Think of your summit as apotluck dinner party.
Everyone brings a specialtydish, their expertise and leaves
satisfied with new knowledge andconnections.
Remember, each step builds onthe last.
As you gain experience andexposure, doors will open wider
and faster.
(07:34):
Stay consistent.
Stay curious, and watch youraudience grow.
Your voice matters.
It's time to amplify it throughthe power of video interviews.
Today's exercise, create yourguest expert, one pager.
Ready to position yourself as anirresistible interview guest.
Let's build your one pager.
This powerful tool will make youstand out to potential hosts and
(07:56):
streamline your outreachefforts.
One, snap that headshot.
Get a professional looking photothat shows your personality
smile.
Make eye contact with thecamera.
Use natural light if possible.
There is no need for a fancystudio.
A simple clean background workswonders.
(08:16):
Two.
Craft your bio.
Write a punchy two to threesentence bio hook readers with
your unique expertise orperspective.
What makes you different?
What results have you achievedfor others?
Keep it tight and compelling.
Three, identify your hot topics.
List three to five main topicsyou love discussing.
Be specific.
Instead of marketing, tryInstagram reels for solopreneurs
(08:39):
or email sequences that convertcold leads.
Four, spark conversation.
Brainstorm five to sevenintriguing questions host could
ask you.
These should showcase yourexpertise and promise valuable
insights for the audience.
For example, what's the biggestmistake you see new
entrepreneurs make with yourtopic?
(09:00):
Can you provide a case study ofhow you helped a client achieve
a specific result?
Five, showcase your style.
Include links to two to three ofyour best previous interviews or
talks.
No prior interviews.
Link to a blog post or videowhere you're sharing your
expertise.
Six.
Make it easy to book you.
(09:21):
Add your contact information andany relevant social media links.
Include your time zone andgeneral availability.
For interviews seven, registeron.
Hey, summit.
Head to hey summit.com.
And create your speaker profile.
Use the elements you've justcreated to fill it out
completely.
This puts you on the radar ofsummit organizers looking for
(09:42):
fresh voices.
Now, combine all these elementsinto a single, visually
appealing document.
Keep it to one page.
Host our busy and appreciateconcise information, your
challenge.
Spend the next hour creatingyour one pager.
Don't aim for perfection.
Done is better than perfect.
(10:03):
You can always refine it later.
Remember, this one pager is yourticket to more interviews and a
broader audience.
It's worth investing time to getit right.
Once it's ready, you'll have apowerful tool to supercharge
your outreach efforts.
Key takeaways, proactively seekinterview opportunities via
speaker networks and directoutreach to expand your
(10:24):
audience.
Use the momentum from highprofile interviews.
Secure more guest spots togreatly boost your visibility.
Hosting your own virtual summitcan dramatically accelerate list
growth and establish you as anauthority in your niche.
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