If your podcast accepts guest pitches, you've probably experienced both ends of the problem: either you're buried in mismatched requests from people who clearly haven't listened, or the caliber of guests you actually want aren't pitching at all.
A podcast guest submission page fixes both. Done right, it pre-qualifies every pitcher before they spend five minutes writing to you — and it signals to serious guests that you run a professional show.
Here's exactly what your guest page needs, how to structure a form that outperforms a plain email address, and the one thing most guest pages leave out that causes the most noise.
In this post:
- Why Most Guest Pages Attract the Wrong Pitches
- Describing the Guest You Actually Want
- What to Tell Prospective Guests About Your Show
- Form vs. Email: Which Works Better
- Questions to Include in Your Guest Application
- Where to Put and Promote Your Guest Page
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
- A good guest page filters out mismatched pitches before they ever reach your inbox
- Vague criteria attract vague applicants — specificity is the filter
- A form beats an email address for consistency and actually reviewing submissions
- Include what guests can expect: format, episode length, audience size, and how you promote
- Link to your best episodes so pitching guests can self-qualify before they apply
Why Most Guest Pages Attract the Wrong Pitches
Most podcast guest pages read like an open door: "Have a story to share? Pitch us." The result is predictable — a mailbox full of PR agencies, people who've never heard your show, and vague "I'd be great for your audience" messages that tell you nothing.
The problem isn't the pitchers. It's the page. When you give no criteria, people guess — and most guesses are wrong.
A guest page isn't a welcome mat. It's a filter. Your job is to write it so the wrong applicants self-select out, and the right ones feel immediately understood.
Describing the Guest You Actually Want
Start with who you want, in plain language. Not "industry experts" — that's meaningless. Be specific: the type of person, the topic range you cover, the kind of experience or story that fits your format.
If you only interview founders, say so. If your show stays within a specific niche, state that clearly. If you've done enough episodes to see a pattern, describe it. Pitchers who don't fit will move on. The ones who do fit will read your criteria and think "this is me" — which is exactly what you want before they hit send.
You can also describe who you're not looking for. "We don't book PR agency pitches" or "We don't cover topics outside X" saves everyone time. Stating exclusions clearly isn't rude — it's efficient.
What to Tell Prospective Guests About Your Show
Good guests are evaluating you, too. Before they pitch, they want to know what they're signing up for. A page that only asks for information — without giving any — is a red flag to experienced podcasters.
Cover the basics:
- Episode format (solo, interview, panel, co-hosted)
- Typical episode length
- Rough audience size (a range is fine)
- How you distribute and promote episodes
- What you provide after recording: share assets, audio file, transcript
This information filters out guests who need a massive platform or specific promotional guarantees, while building trust with the guests you do want. If you have a well-written podcast About page, link to it here — a pitcher who hasn't read it probably isn't serious.
Form vs. Email: Which Works Better
A bare email address has two problems. First, there's no structure — every pitch arrives in a different format, making comparison impossible. Second, it invites low-effort outreach. Writing a quick email is easy. Filling out a thoughtful form takes slightly more effort, which is exactly the friction level you want.
A form also keeps submissions in one place. You can review, sort, and respond from a single view rather than hunting through your inbox. If volume increases, a form lets you triage much faster.
You don't need a complex setup. A simple form embedded on a custom page is enough. The key is asking questions that make applicants think — which produces better responses and naturally filters out copy-paste pitches.
Questions to Include in Your Guest Application
The questions you ask determine the quality of answers you get. These five consistently work well:
- What's your proposed topic, and why does it fit this show? Forces them to engage with your content specifically, not just fire off a template.
- Which episode of ours have you listened to, and what stood out? A qualifying question — pitchers who haven't listened can't answer it honestly.
- What do you want listeners to walk away with? Reveals whether they're thinking about value for your audience or just platform exposure for themselves.
- Link to a previous podcast appearance. Shows they can deliver in an interview format, not just pitch one.
- Anything the host should know before the interview? Flags sensitive topics or constraints early, before they derail scheduling or recording.
Keep it to five to seven questions. More than that and strong applicants start dropping off. You want enough friction to filter noise — not so much that qualified guests abandon the form halfway through.
Where to Put and Promote Your Guest Page
Once built, the page needs to be findable. Put a link in your main site navigation — guests who are researching your show directly will look there first. You can also surface it from your podcast homepage and your About page.
From the guest page itself, link to two or three of your best episodes. Guests who listen before they pitch will write better pitches. They'll know your tone, your format, and the level of conversation you have — all of which makes their application far more relevant than one sent cold.
If you have other dedicated pages — like a sponsorship page — keep those separate in your navigation. Guests and sponsors are different audiences with different goals, and mixing them on one page dilutes both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I have a guest submission page on my podcast website?
Yes, if you accept guest pitches. Without one, submissions arrive through every possible channel with no consistent format or information. A dedicated page improves quality, reduces inbox noise, and makes you look more professional to the guests you actually want.
What questions should I ask on a podcast guest application form?
Focus on questions that require real engagement: their proposed topic and why it fits your show, which episode of yours they've listened to, what value they'd bring to your audience, and a link to a previous appearance. Five to seven focused questions is the right range — enough to filter low-effort pitches without discouraging serious applicants.
How do I stop getting bad podcast guest pitches?
Be specific on your guest page about who you're looking for and who you're not. State exclusions clearly. Use a form with real questions — the small friction involved naturally filters out copy-paste outreach before it reaches your inbox.
How do I attract high-quality podcast guests?
High-quality guests respond to clarity and professionalism. A specific, well-written guest page signals you run a serious show. Link to strong episodes, explain what guests receive after recording, and make the process feel worth their time. The goal is to communicate: we know what we're doing, and here's what you'll get out of it.
Your best episodes are already doing some of this work. Guests who find them through strong show notes pages on your website will often pitch you without needing a separate prompt.
A podcast guest submission page is one of those improvements that pays off long after you build it. The right guests find it, self-qualify, and pitch you because your page convinced them it was worth their time. The wrong guests read your criteria and move on. Either way, you win.
Build it once. Watch what comes in. Adjust the criteria or questions based on what you see — it's a live page, not a set-and-forget one.
Podpage lets you create custom pages — including guest submission pages with embedded forms — without writing a line of code. If your podcast website doesn't have a guest page yet, you can have one live today. See how Podpage works.
