Blog talk radio is a great way for speakers and coaches to get media experience before branching out into traditional mainstream media outlets. You get the opportunity to share your story and connect with your target audience while polishing up on your interviewing skills.
Blog talk radio hosts are always on the hunt for experts and twitter and Facebook make it easy for you to find them – and for them to find you too! You can do a simple internet search with “blog talk radio” followed by the subject matter you’re interested in and within seconds you’ll have show archives at your fingertips.
Here are a few things you should always have on hand to keep you prepared for your blog talk radio interviews:
Short Bio – Show formats range from 30 minutes to an hour, so be sure to check with the show host to see how long you’ll be on the air. Don’t make the mistake of having a lengthy bio that takes too much time to read. This cuts into the time you could be spending sharing your knowledge and expertise with the listeners. Draft one bio that can be used over and over again. You can add a few words to customize the bio to the specific audience. I have one bio that speaks directly to women and another for general business and entrepreneurs.
Great Photo – If you haven’t invested in quality headshots you probably aren’t ready for any type of media exposure, either online or offline. There’s no way of getting around this and a snapshot of yourself with your digital camera just won’t cut it. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get good pictures and you only need two different poses. One that’s professional (but relaxed) and another casual, lifestyle shot. Remember, your listeners can’t see you so they’re connecting with your voice and your picture.
Interview Questions – Some hosts have a predetermined list of questions that they ask. Others will ask you to provide a list of questions. You’ll save yourself a ton of time by not having to come up with questions each time you’re booked as a guest. The goal is to have multiple interviews so that you can dominate the search engines and become recognized as an industry leader. Create a generic list of questions that can be easily modified.
I’ll be interviewed on the Warrior Women Wine and Wisdom blog talk radio show on March 2nd at 6pm CST. Please mark your calendars and tune in.
Would you like to start doing blog talk radio interviews? I have several friends who host their own shows and I'd love to connect you with them. Leave a comment and let me know how I can help.
Photo credit: marketingcurve
How do you suggest finding and approaching hosts to be featured on their show?
ReplyDeleteHi Tyrika,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. Twitter and Facebook are great for finding and connecting with hosts. If you aren't active on social media, you can always search topics by going to blogtalkradio.com/search
Once you find shows that interest you, listen to the archives to get a feel for the show's format/content. This is a must before you reach out to a host. You want to let them know that you took the time to listen before you pitch yourself as a guest.
Let the host know how you can benefit/educate their audience and start the relationship building process. If you know someone who's been featured on a show that you'd like to be on, don't be afraid to ask that person to make an introduction on your behalf.
Did this help at all? Feel free to contact me via email if you have more questions.