6 Radio Interview Best Practices – Get the Most Traction from Being on the Air

One thing I have realized from being in publicity is how easy it is to get booked on the radio, but not everyone knows how to make the best out of it. Radio interviews can be used for years to come for both client acquisition and retention.

1. Prepare yourself
The thing is, you only get one opportunity for getting it right when you’re on LIVE radio. Hence, preparation is key here. You must come up with precise & strong messages that you want to spread to your followers.

2. Prepare your host
When sending over the marketing material to the host, always include your power bio, headshot, and 5-7 questions they have the option to use during the interview. On the day of the interview, print and bring a copy of your bio and questions to the host directly, in case they were too busy to prepare.

3. Stay Focused
Many radio interviews are no more than 4 minutes long. Avoid getting drawn into unnecessary topics. Radio hosts are skillful enough to obtain info from you, not essentially on the subject covered during the interview. An easy way to redirect a question is the statement, “That is a great question! What I would like to share with you is….”

4. Examples and Metaphors
Radio can be a very intangible means of communication. Audiences rarely get an opportunity to re-listen to your interview twice. It’s best to make your story memorable; use examples & metaphors whenever possible. Know that radio mirrors your character to the listeners.

5. Invite your followers
If you already have some credibility, it can be a wise decision to invite your followers to listen to your interview. This is a sure fire way for building the required trust and faith among your followers for your products/services.

6. Set clear intentions
Whenever you speak during your radio interview, make it sound clear enough for your listeners to properly understand the subject. Use simple language. Avoid using language that’s too technical/hard to understand for your listeners. Imagine you are speaking to a child.
Most first timers find it difficult to get their message across to their followers just because they wait to be questioned. To avoid this, try to take control of every single opportunity for getting your message across. Know what your final goal is during the entire course of the interview.

How do you best prepare for radio?

Share a link to your favorite show or interview.

To your business & life success,
Shannon Burnett-Gronich