Tips on How to Become a Guest on Talk Radio To Promote Yourself
and
How to Get Invited Back by The Host
When it comes to gaining new marketing traction for a new product or service, it's more than simply advertising. Consumers need to know that you have a new product, it's your job to ensure the public finds out about it.
Professionals, CEO's and also PR specialists know that talk shows have been and still is one of the best ways to present a product and have it become known by a wide audience. Actually, talk radio is becoming increasingly popular and with an uprise in specialty programming that cover a huge range of topics, the opportunity to become a talk show guest has become a more sought after forum to present a new product or service.
Talk radio is a great avenue to use when:
→ Boosting a major publicity campaign
→ Stir up promotional buzz for your product or service
→ Reach major cities within the comfort of your home or office
→ Directly target consumers in your market
How can you get a talk show host to invite you as a guest?
1. Stay Updated
Follow the news firstly. Find out what the current buzz is. What are the people and the media talking about? Talk radio is all about current events, so this practice is extremely important. Package your message to fit the current happenings in your industry, which makes you an attractive guest for the show. Take time to listen to other talk shows, especially ones pertaining to your specialty.
2. Your Relationship to the News
Packaging your message is a critical move. Think of ways to affiliate your product or service to news that is currently 'hot'. For example: You're a musician, and your chosen genre is smooth jazz. Don't count out radio and tv talk shows who specialize in health or meditation, as your music ties in with these topics and can easily be pitched as a product which provides relaxation or mood enhancement qualities.
3. Pitch Your Individual Quality, not your Product
Hosts are interested in what you can do or provide for their listeners, not what they can do for you. An interview is what they want, not a mini-commercial for your product. Emphasize to the host what topics you would like to discuss on the air, rather than your product or service. A good host will give you more than one opportunity for plugs.
4. The Right Press Release
The press release is of great importance, it's how you get into the media's door. Getting booked on a talk show as a guest has everything to do with the quality of your press release. Your headline has to grab the media, entice them. What will be discussed on-air should be very clear within the text of your press release. Include a couple of original, juicy lines or quotes. A short bio will help. Don't forget to add up to 10 questions that you would like the host to ask you.
5. Prepare Yourself
Either write or make a mental list of what you think the host may ask you. Prepare the answers that you would like to give, making certain they are well thought out...then practice! Use a friend to play the role of a host, while you answer random questions. This will enable you to be more comfortable during the actual interview. Try not to read your answers. Make the conversation as genuine as possible, talk as you would if you were in a meeting with a business associate.
6. Be Informative, Relax and Be Friendly
Remain calm! Even if the host asks you a tough question. Your responses should always be entertaining and thoughtful. Your responses should not seem forced or phony. Be certain to highlight your expertise, be insightful.
7. Stroke The Hosts Ego!
Make the host look good, and never forget to thank him for having you on. It's the hosts show, it's what they do and will continue to do long after your segment ends. The approval from the listeners is very important to the hosts as it is the hosts job to inform as well as entertain. It is a given that the host will do their best to make you shine. You do your best to make the host shine, and voila...you're sure to get a return invite from the host.
Written by:
Medinah Smith, Executive Manager of Erotic City Global LLC
For more tips and information feel free to email Medinah at msmith@eroticcityglobal.com
