I put together a list of ideas to help people make the most of their TV interviews, so I thought this time we’d talk about radio. While both are broadcast interviews, they are different. Read on….

Well done with your first radio interview! It’s sounds like you did everything right. And your point about getting better is spot on. My suggestion is to record each interview, so that you can listen to them afterwards and critique them yourself, and I promise that by the 10th or 12th interview you will see a huge improvement from the first. Looks like you have some very good basics and foundation, so the changes may be subtle and effective, but you will see the difference. Keep me posted!

Marsha

Thank you for these words of wisdom. In December had my first radio interview where we discussed my recently released book. It was actually more fun to follow the personalities lead. I don’t believe I ever promoted my book because they did for me.

There was one moment (I was in the studio) where I saw this look come across the face of the interviewer and thought “Uh-oh”. She brought up a point where she disagreed with my advice – and it was a pet peeve for her in her experience. I understood immediately why she disagreed with my point and told her so. Then I explained why I gave that advice. She was happy with my explanation, maybe still didn’t totally agree but we moved on. After the interview I thanked them both in person and then with a written thank you note (not email).

Obviously I will mess up in the future because I am new at this. Your points will help keep me on target. Timing is everything!

Marcia’s point about grammar and smiling while on the phone is very true. That’s one of the first points made to me when I began recruiting. While they can’t see you, they feel the warmth. Thank you!

Marcia – Great additional tip!

We get it that you are the expert, and we get it that you wrote a book about it. Just TALK to us and tell us the information without reminding us that you said the same thing in a book that you want us to buy. In many, if not most, radio interview situations it ISN”T ABOUT YOUR BOOK; it’s about communicating information through dialogue with the host to the radio audience. Book sales will follow when people realize you really know what you’re talking about and they want to find out more in your book.

Even if you are almost quoting verbatim from the book, just inform us. Make it sound like its the first time you’ve said it, even though we all know it isn’t. You will sound much more natural as the expert appearing on a radio program, and less like someone who wrote a book and is trying to sell it.