Podcast Guesting: the Best Affordable Headset and Microphone Options
A few month’s ago, I did a solo episode titled Podcast Guesting: The Best Marketing Strategy of 2022? for the Awarepreneurs podcast.
The short version is that being a guest on established podcasts is a powerful opportunity to leverage an existing platform.
In other words, the host of an established podcast has done the work of building their audience of 100’s, 1000’s, 10,000’s or even more listeners for each episode. If you select podcasts that are a good fit, I think podcast guesting is one of the best free marketing opportunities of our time.
What Equipment Podcast Guests Shouldn’t Use
The word podcast originally implied an audio-only format. Even today, the world’s most popular podcast ecosystem - Apple Podcasts - is audio-only.
So you need to provide a reasonably good sound experience to be successful in your podcast guesting goals.
Podcast listeners expect decent sound. It doesn’t have to be world-class. But in my opinion it means you don’t:
🚫 Use the built in mic of your phone or computer. The sound of your built in mic echoes and bounces around the room and you’ll sound amateurish to anyone who is attentive to sound quality.
🚫 Use your Airpods. Airpods are awesome in so many ways. But they are subject to picking up static in situations where there might be similar electrical frequencies, lightning, etc. And the sound is very thin compared to the below options.
🚫 Use cheap, wired earbuds. Yes, I know that many people do use wired earbuds when they are podcast guesting to grow their business. And of these 3 options, this is the best. But the mics in earbuds are tiny and fairly cheap. I’m going to show you a very workable option in the next section that costs $35. Try to start there at least.
What are the Best Headsets and Microphones for Podcast Guesting?
Now that we’ve covered what NOT to do, let’s talk about my recommended setups for podcast guesting. You’ll notice that all these options are wired ones. In my experience, wireless options increase sound quality issues - stay away from wireless headsets and mics.
Options for Podcast Guesting Under $50
Platronics Blackwire 3210 USB Headset. This is a simple single ear USB headset made by audio brand Platronics - which is now called Poly. It’s currently available for $36 on Amazon. This is what I use when I’m traveling and is a good affordable option for anyone who is getting started with podcast guesting or needs an ultraportable option. The newer models under the Poly brand are more expensive and don’t have quite as good reviews.
Sennheiser SC 30 USB Headset. This is a very similar USB headset made by German audio brand Sennheiser. Similar ratings, also under $50. The good thing about this type of headset is that they are less obtrusive on the screen if you are also doing video for your interviews.
Options for Podcast Guesting Under $100
Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Microphone. This is the microphone I started with and used for the first 3 years of my podcast. It costs about $80 and the sound is crisp and clean - though the lower range isn’t great. Add a simple stand and a pair of earbuds for listening, and you have a true podcast microphone setup for about $100.
Blue Microphones Yeti Nano USB Condenser Microphone. This is another classic starter podcast microphone and comes with a built in desk stand. It lists for around $100 but is often on sale in the $70-80 range. This mic has a fuller sound than the ATR2100, but is more sensitive to background and breathing noises. Add a pair of earbuds for listening and you have a great setup for under $100.
The Gold Standard for Podcast Guesting at Around $300
Shure MV7 USB/XLR Podcast Microphone. This mic set the podcast world on fire when it came out in 2020. The simple way to understand why is this sentence from the Shure website. It reads: “For perfect recordings in imperfect rooms.” This microphone has built in electronics for sound treatment. In other words, it reduces the problematic issues of sound waves bouncing around the room and getting picked up by the mic. Plus it comes with a free app to help you dial in the sound to your unique voice and preferences. It’s a USB mic so you can plug it directly in to your computer.
IMPORTANT: If you are going to go with the MV7, it comes with a cheap windscreen that leads to “plosive issues”. Here’s how to fix it with a better quality windscreen. It lists for $249 but frequently goes on sale for $200-$229. Add in a stand, the better windscreen and some earbuds for listening and you get excellent sound for about $300.
If hosting your own show or podcast guesting is going to be a key content marketing strategy and there’s anyway you can, I would encourage you to go with the MV7. The sound is much better than the other options on this list or anything I know of that’s under $800.
If that budget isn’t an option, I think it’s totally OK to start with one of the other options. As your business grows, you can consider upgrading.
Questions About the Best Equipment for Podcast Guesting?
After 5 years and over 250 episodes of my own show plus at least 3x that number of times appearing on other people’s shows, these are my recommendations for podcast guesting for most people. And, every situation is unique. What questions do you have about the best headset or microphone for your podcast guesting goals? Do you have an option that works really well for you that’s not on this list?
I’d love to hear your thoughts via LinkedIn or my contact page.