Chances are you are looking for effective online marketing strategies. The beauty of the Internet lies in the vast choices available for marketing and promoting to gain massive visibility. One of my favorites is Internet radio. One of the most well-known platforms is Blog Talk Radio.

Radio is a fabulous medium for a number of reasons. You can reach a global market, easily position your expertise, and optimize your personality.

Lots of people are extremely intimidated by the thought of going on air, but when you consider what it can open up for you, it might be time to walk through your fear. You have a message to get out to the world. When you keep this in the forefront of your thinking, speaking on the air becomes much easier. A good coach can help you address your fears, polish your presentation style, and shine. Those who are skilled at the interview process were not born that way. The more you practice, the better you get, and radio presentation is no exception.

In the past two decades, I’ve been interviewed hundreds of times on radio, in teleseminars and webinars, and at conferences, but I wasn’t always comfortable about speaking in public. I was often too concerned about things being perfect, setting myself up for failure, or coming across as nervous. With time and experience, these things became non-issues.

An interview is simply a conversation. The more relaxed you are, the more natural the conversation, and the more you can be yourself. The more you are yourself, the more people will like you for who you are.

Radio is a great vehicle for increasing the market’s perception of you as an expert, and hosts are always in need of entertaining and informative guests. An advantage of web radio is that when your show information is posted, you gain Google ranking. And a podcast of the show can be posted on the radio-show website, so your interview can continue to attract attention for a long time. You never know how many opportunities will show up after a great interview.

I used to fear a host trying to stump me. That has proven to be an unfounded fear. There are very few Howard Stern types in the world. In most cases, a host wants you to have a great interview because when you do a good job, they succeed in the audience’s ears. Rarely does a host come from an adversarial position unless what you are talking about is extremely controversial. Even when that is the case, you can still come across as professional and create an incredible opportunity for you and your business or cause.

From the Comfort of Your Home

It’s exciting that you can reach a global market from the comfort of your home. This definitely wasn’t the case years ago. And depending on your schedule, you can be interviewed several times in a day.

I have had occasion to do as many as five interviews in a day from my home office. In between interviews, I took my dogs for walks, worked on other projects, or just took time to regroup. I’m not recommending you go from zero to five in a day, but just know that the number of interviews you can set up is unlimited. If you are promoting a book, an event, or a new information product, radio is a great marketing strategy.

Be a Star Radio Guest

Think on your feet when being interviewed (and when conducting an interview). Radio is a mix of news and entertainment, and though you’re not expected to act like a seasoned entertainer, you should think in terms of how to engage your audience.

Great radio guests are not easy to find. Treat a radio interview as a great opportunity because it is. When word gets around that you do a great interview, lots more opportunities will likely show up. There were several occasions when I finished an interview and within minutes received an email requesting an interview from someone who had been listening. Here are some simple tips to help you shine:

• Provide the information the host needs as soon as possible.
• Prepare a short bio to send to the host.
• Prepare a selection of questions.
• Avoid using jargon most people won’t understand. Unless it is a technical show, talk in basics.
• Be brief with your answers. Practice so you know what main points to address.
• If you are being interviewed about a book you wrote, send a physical copy of the book, but don’t expect a show host to have read your whole book, and don’t be offended when they haven’t. But you need to know your book very well, as they may ask questions about specific information in your book.
• Use a conversational tone. Be engaging. Be entertaining.
• When there is dead air time (silence), immediately pick up the slack. Even a short period of silence is a no-no in the radio world.
• Invest in a media coach if you are not a seasoned show guest.
• You are being interviewed to inform, educate, entertain, or inspire. The producer doesn’t care about anything but that. However, if you make arrangements ahead of time, you may be able to promote your product.
• Speak clearly.
• Pace yourself.
• Avoid background noise. It is essential to control the background noise during a call. Too many distractions can literally ruin your interview.
  • Make sure you are using a quiet location.
  • Let others in your home know you are recording a session.
  • Close doors and windows.
  • Get dogs and children out of earshot.
  • Mute all other phones within earshot.
  • Don’t check email while you are on the call.
• After the interview, send the host a thank-you card or letter.

The last point is a big one. I’ve been shocked at the number of hosts who have thanked me for sending my book ahead of time and a thank-you card after the interview. Really?!?!

This is common sense. Treat your hosts with the utmost respect before, during, and after your interview.

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