Many authors believe it is necessary to hire a publicist in order to land a radio interview. This is not necessarily true as more and more authors are beginning to promote their own books on talk radio. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of confidence and some self-promotion in order to snag those desired spots on a talk radio. Staying well organized and committed to the cause may be the best way to get your foot in the door of radio. Here are a few tips for authors wishing to make an appearance on radio.
It is important to maintain an extensive list of radio shows, one that is constantly updated and stays organized. This will help you target radio stations that may cater to your reading audience, or help you keep up to date on the trends in radio. Contacting hosts and producers directly will help you establish a personal relationship with the station and will make a lasting impression. Sometimes calling them personally on the phone is a good idea; other times emailing is the most efficient approach. Regardless of how you decide to touch basis, it is a good idea to get your name out there to any radio station you have a particular interest in and equally important to make a follow up.
Don’t expect to get an immediate response; radio stations are busy places that are getting pitches from people just like you every day. Sometimes the key to success is to be persistent about contacting the station and to not give up. Just remember to be careful about calling too much. You don’t want to come off as desperate, or annoying. Generally, if you have not received a response after around three attempts, then move on to the next radio channel. There will always be a time when you can revisit that station later.
When emailing a radio show, it is essential to provide a synopsis, or snap shot of your books along with a list of questions they can ask you, and brief biographical information about who you are. This will give an idea of how an interview will go and also help the radio show determine your targeted audience. When targeting radio shows, try not to limit yourself. Many shows feature a wide variety of topics that are always looking to fill airtime. This could be opportunity to be featured on a radio show.
Sometimes the key to landing an interview on radio is to act like an expert. Authors are often considered authoritative figures on topics they have written books about. Radio hosts want to feature an author so that they can provide commentary, or stories about current events and news-related subjects. Authors are notoriously good at relating information to whatever topic is being discussed and can provide some interesting insight to an audience.
Lastly, it is always important to send a thank you note to the host, or producer of the radio show you were featured on. This will help maintain good relationships with people in radio and show your appreciation for having you on the air. A simple thank you can go a long way and may help you land other interviews in the future.
Sarah Danielson writes for AdvanceMe where you can get a business cash advance for your small business.
Sarah, I can concur with some of your pointers here. I am a writer moving towards my first published work and have had a few radio interviews using some of the techniques you have mentioned here. Nice!