Imagine that you are a radio producer. You have to fill three hours a day, five days a week, every single week. You need topics that inform, enrage, entertain, educate, motivate, and otherwise engage your audience. How do you find those topics, and the guests to make them come alive?
Radio shows use lots of guests, and if you can show them why you would be a good one, you can be on the air. The great thing about radio is that you can be on a show anywhere in the world--without leaving home! I've done radio shows in Denver, Washington DC, Phoenix, San Diego, Atlanta, and lots of other places, all from my home near Houston--and often while I'm still in my jammies. (If video phones ever catch on, I'm in trouble!)
Getting on radio can be as simple as targeting the stations or programs that seem to be a good fit for your topic (or finding a way to slant your topic to fit). Then, contact them by phone, e-mail,letter or fax. Send your pitch to the producer, and explain why you would make a great guest for their show.
Once they express an interest, be prepared to follow up with an information sheet or bio, and a list of suggested questions for them to ask you. Some will use these questions, others won't, but it's a good idea to have them available. Fax the info, or if there's time, you may want to mail these items along with a product sample or other promotional item. I offer to give them a couple of my books to give away to listeners.
Be prepared to give listeners a way to contact you, and a reason to do so. For example, I give out my toll-free number and offer a free bonus (such as an extra booklet or tape) when listeners order and say they heard me on that station. Make the contact info easy to remember. My toll-free number is 888-BOOK-888. It's easy to remember, even if you're in your car and far away from a pencil to write it down. You may also want to give out your website URL.
Practice some answers to the questions you expect. Make them short and punchy. If you're taking more than 30 seconds or so to answer, you may be talking too long (although that is largely determined by the type of show).
Once you're on the air, remember that you are there to give them a good show, not to sell. Most will be good about giving your contact info, but be ready to work it in if they don't. Whether your interview is 10 minutes or an hour, it will go quickly. At the end of your first interviews, you'll remember all the things you wanted to say, but didn't get to. You'll get better with practice.
Relax and have fun, and remember to give them a good show. When you do, you'll have lots of opportunities to tell your story on the air.
Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker can help you attract customers and make yourself famous with inexpensive and free marketing ideas. Get free tips, articles and more at inexpensive and free marketing ideas.
Airbnb cleaning service Glenview ..Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More
And not results you can measure only in terms of... Read More
You are in business for yourself, but how well do... Read More
At the core of any successful public relations campaign is... Read More
Last month, we told you about "pay for play," a... Read More
In the 'Age of Scepticism' gaining media coverage is one... Read More
So you have spent hours and hours writing, shaping and... Read More
Do small-business owners always have to rely on large PR... Read More
Whenever a recession or volatility threatens the economy, companies immediately... Read More
Relationships are based on trust-not just romantic relationships, or doctor/patient... Read More
Would you like to be the next Dr. Phil, Suze... Read More
Really? You mean there are NO perceptions and behaviors peculiar... Read More
Sometimes there seems to be no client news worthy of... Read More
Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying... Read More
You worked hard to get a story on your business... Read More
As someone with expertise in media relations, I've been asked... Read More
NUMBERS, NUMBERS EVERYWHEREYou just placed a terrific story on the... Read More
As small businesses we have an opportunity and an obligation... Read More
Think that you aren't big enough for national media coverage?... Read More
Southern grandmothers have often said, "there are only three... Read More
Everyone knows the value of free publicity. And given the... Read More
The call came into my office and the voice on... Read More
Attracting new business: sometimes it happens by luck, sometimes by... Read More
If you own a franchise and have company vehicles, be... Read More
It really is powerful when a business, non-profit or association... Read More
efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..When do you use the newspaper for publishing announcements for... Read More
I define public relations failure this way:key audience perceptions are... Read More
News releases (also called press releases) are an important part... Read More
Southern grandmothers have often said, "there are only three... Read More
Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR... Read More
You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company... Read More
OK, as a manager, your goal is to show a... Read More
Be a ResourceThe media people that are likely to want... Read More
One of the greatest ways to promote your product or... Read More
Photographs are essential for getting good publicity in the print... Read More
If you leave a star player sitting on the bench,... Read More
THE NATURE OF MEDIAThirty years ago, Marshall McCluhan, the father... Read More
The practice of public relations is often misunderstood, thus overlooked... Read More
As the kids say, how cool is this?You're a business,... Read More
Sometimes there seems to be no client news worthy of... Read More
What is the one thing that all of the best... Read More
Quality public relations does something positive for business, non-profit and... Read More
And hurt bad if you are a business, non-profit or... Read More
You're trying to recruit a downline into your program, you've... Read More
The next time a newspaper photographer takes your photo, remember... Read More
Many of our clients are in service businesses, such as... Read More
It's a phrase I hear over and over again from... Read More
Who wants to face the challenges of a business recovery... Read More
Think that you aren't big enough for national media coverage?... Read More
Prior to a TV interview it is guaranteed the journalist... Read More
Public Relations |