Want to Be on the Radio? Read This for What NOT to Do

Sep 3, 2008

I subscribe to a free media lead service called Help a Reporter Out (HARO), and I learn a lot by reading the queries.   This one caught my attention because I’ve been booking one of my clients for radio interviews lately.

“We meed non-boring business financial and legal experts (especially for small business and entrepreneurs) for The Wealth Spa Radio Show, live weekly on VoiceAmerica Business and podcasted and via iTunes. Shows are live Wed. 11 a.m. Pacific but many interviews are pre-recorded.  The host only wants experts who are capable of speaking in normal-person English, who have energy and are talkative, and who can give realistic and easy to implement tips for small business owners.  If you have fancy credentials but talk in monotone or give one-word answers, then don’t worry about sending us an email. The producer would rather have a non-fancy person who is fun and smart on the radio.  No attachments please.  Send an email with your topic(s) and credentials, and links to your website or blog.  Thanks!”

So, not having to read too much between the lines, if you have fancy credentials but talk in monotone or give one-word answers, your future in radio is pretty much toast.  The best way to address this potential issue is to practice your sound bites so you sound interesting.   As Susan Harrow, the “Get Booked on Oprah” expert often says, “If you don’t practice your sound bites to groups of 23 people, how can you possibly hope to ‘wow’ Oprah’s worldwide audience of 23 million.”
Getting the radio interview is one thing.  Delivering fabulous content that engages the audience and makes friends with radio producers is another.  Are you ready?