One promotion opportunity that I believe is under-utilized is internet radio. These programs often focus on a niche topic such as selling on eBay or parenting for busy moms. Though few reach hundreds of thousands of listeners like traditional talk radio, many reach 1,000 or more listeners who are specifically interested in the topic at hand. Even better, guests are often featured for fifteen minutes up to a full hour. Guests are also promoted online before and after the interview since most archive recordings online. Best of all, you can conduct interviews from anywhere. All you need is a reliable land line to dial in.
As an authority in your field, you can be a great guest for internet radio shows. I have conducted countless internet radio interviews over the years to promote my books and my business. Most shows are hosted weekly—some daily. All need guests and make it easy to contact them with your pitch.
When pitching shows, you want to recommend a topic of interest to the show’s target audience. Ideally, your topic should teach them how to do something and should never be blatantly self-promotional. This is another area where you have the chance to demonstrate your authority in your field, and by providing great information the audience will naturally want to learn more about you. Another way to make these shows pay off is to offer a free information product to the audience as a download in exchange for signing up for your mailing list.
When it comes to conducting radio interviews, I like to provide show producers with my media sheet, which includes sample interview questions as well as short and long versions of my bio. This helps the host prepare for the interview, and makes sure he or she has the most up-to-date information available.
Not every host will use your proposed interview questions, though in my experience, most are grateful to receive this information. Simply send it along once you’ve booked an engagement and be prepared for anything. The host may ask you a few questions from your list or none at all. Radio guests should be prepared to take curve balls!
Your media sheet doesn’t need to be fancy, though including some graphic elements will help it stand out. I use a simple header with my photo, book covers, and website URL’s. The document is created and maintained in Word, though I save it as a PDF before sending it along. As a general rule, PDF documents look more professional and can also be read across all kinds of platforms, including PC, Mac, and mobile phones.
By the way, you may want to consider starting your own internet radio show. The vast majority of show hosts are authorities in their fields and use their shows as a platform for attracting clients and getting more exposure online.
To find shows that reach your target audience, search sites including http://blogtalkradio.com, http://alltalkradio.com, http://wsradio.com, and http://womensradio.com. I also sell lists of internet radio shows and podcasts, which you can find in the Store section of either http://authoritypublishing.com or http://businessinfoguide.com. There you can also download my free report called, “How to Pitch Yourself as a Guest for Radio Interviews.”
Here’s a sample radio pitch:
Proposed Topic: How to market your business by writing and publishing books and ebooks.
Did you know that a recent survey showed that more than 80% of Americans would like to write a book? At the same time, businesses are looking for new marketing strategies and ways to stay competitive in a challenging economy. Promoting a business with a book can be a powerful way to gain a competitive advantage, and it’s easier to accomplish than you might think.
As a guest on your show, I would propose discussing the following key points:
- How businesses can use books for marketing purposes
- Simple strategies for writing a book quickly
- Publishing options, including traditional and self-publishing
- Options with ebooks for the Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Nook, and more
- Methods for building buzz online
I have years of experience as a radio show guest and I can assure you that our time together will be well-spent and focused on delivering value to your audience. I would also be happy to provide you with sample interview questions and a complimentary copy of my book at your request.
Thank you very much for your consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Warm regards,
Stephanie Chandler
<insert contact information: email, phone, website URL>
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