The tips below were gathered from personal experience (appearances on over 450 radio talk shows) and from other speakers and authors who have coached me on improving my on-the-air presence while being interviewed by radio talk show hosts. In addition, as Associate Producer of the MarsVenus Radio Talk Show, the following guidelines are those that I recommend for guests who appear on our show.

Before you go on the air, take a few minutes to focus on what you want to say. Know your mission and your message. Take several deep breathes and relax. If you are doing the interview on the telephone, have your book and your notes handy. Never "read" from your notes, "speak" from them.

While you are on the radio to promote your books or other products, you must also provide entertaining content for the radio audience. Talk show hosts will seldom invite you back if you do not first have their audience in mind. In other words. . . your book will get you on, then you must have something interesting to say that is unique, controversial or fascinating (besides an occasional mention of your book).

Put aside any prepared agenda you may have and let the host lead with questions. Listeners who listen to talk radio are smart. They know when someone is trying to "sell" them something. They want to be entertained and informed. Say things that make them think. Listeners (and hosts too) become quickly annoyed with guests who constantly repeat the title of their book, website or name of their business and will often tune out.

If you get a host who is inexperienced and is asking non-relevant questions. . . answer the question as best you can and bring up another point that may lead the host to another question or ask the host a question. Better yet, in advance of your appearance, provide the host with a list of at least 10 questions that you deem important or that you are frequently asked.

Be who you really are. Never worry about what you think someone else will think about what you say. When you worry about embarrassing yourself or saying the wrong thing, you usually will. Besides, you have no control over what someone else will think. They will think whatever they think and there is nothing you can do about it.

Act naturally. You need to be a powerful guest. You cannot be a powerful guest when you are concerned about what you don't want to happen. Focus on your mission and your message and deliver it well.

As a former broadcaster who helped introduce the "stand up when you speak" concept to broadcasters in the Midwest, I have learned that you can speak more clearly and project your voice much better when you stand during a radio interview by telephone. When you do radio interviews from your office, you have that luxury. When you sit, often the tendency is to slump and take short breaths. When you stand, you can breathe more deeply and project from the diaphragm. Remember to take a deep breath before you begin speaking.

I also suggest that you buy a telephone headset so you can speak "hands-free." Holding the telephone or cradling the phone on your shoulder for an hour can cause stress to your neck. Many professional speakers use their hands when they speak to emphasis points. Using a headset allows you to act and speak more naturally.

Tell the truth. Hosts value real experiences so use some stories from your own life to embellish your message. If you have experienced a personal struggle or triumph, tell the story and be sure that it is relevent to the topic you are there to talk about.

Hosts also value brevity. Keep your comments as brief as possible and give them the opportunity to ask more questions. Take a breath now and then. Make every word count. You would be wise to rehearse answers to questions that are frequently asked. Be prepared but don't sound canned. Speak from the heart.

Be prepared to pack a lot of information in a brief amount of time and with as few words as possible. This will take some practice. If you must, write them down, then practice, drill and rehearse. Most important. . . "don't read it, speak from it."

Unless you are a comedian and are known for being funny. . . don't try to be funny. A good sense of humor is an asset; however, it comes off better if you relax and allow for humor to emerge during your conversation. Allow for spontaneity.

While there are some hosts who will verbally attack you and do their best to create controversy, do your best to keep your cool. This is why it is better to speak from the heart rather than to allow them to rattle your cage and cause you to say something you may later regret. Roll with the punches. You may want to prepare some "come-back" lines for such emergencies. The real pros never hang up on a host. "Be" the expert you are. Engage in the conversation. Know your stuff!

My belief is that it is much better to have your purpose of doing radio interviews be to reach out and help others. With this as your highest priority, the promotion of your books or products will have more value to the listener. The listener needs to know the benefits of taking action to purchase your products before they will buy.

One of the best pieces of advice I received about being interviewed came from my good friend, Gregory J.P. Godek. In preparation for appearing on ABC TV's The View with Barbara Walters, he told me to be sure to "say your best stuff first." That came in handy. Learn to work what "you" want to say into the conversation in the beginning because you may not have the opportunity later.

Remember, the person who is asking the questions is in control of the conversation. Had I not followed his advice, it is quite possible that I would not have been able to mention my website on national TV. This goes for radio too. Barbara Walters was a pro; however, one of the other hosts of the show would often interrupt before I had finished my sentence. Rude? Perhaps, but it was their show. Be prepared.

Also remember that listeners channel-surf. According to statistics I've read, the average listener only listens in 20-minute segments. They often flip around the radio dial until they hear something that grabs their attention. Be an "attention grabber."

When a host asks you a question and you do not know the answer, it is far better to admit that you do not know than to "make something up" and sound foolish. If this happens to me, I usually respond by saying, "That is a very good question, I'll have to do a little research on that so I can give you a good answer. Next question."

When you go to a break and the info is close by, get it and let the host know that you have the answer, etc. If the answer is not close by, make a note to remember to send the information to the host after the show is over. This is more acceptable than to "wing it" and look stupid. While the host may never bring it up later, they will be impressed that you kept your word.

Talk show hosts are not interested in "fluff." If you have written a book, you are considered to be an expert on your subject. Act like one. They want people who can not only answer their questions but who can present solutions for their listeners. Be prepared to explain and state your position and to follow with a solution when it is called for.

Do your best to match the speed of your conversation with the speed of the host. If the host appears easy and laid back, be easy and laid back. If they talk fast, talk fast.

An experienced host can usually tell if you are a novice at being interviewed. Speak up. Be loud and clear. If you have an accent, it is wise to speak a little slower so as to be clear and easily understood. Be articulate. If you know that you need some help with your grammar, get help. You are often judged by the words that you speak and by the tone of your voice.

Imagine that your are speaking to only one person when you are on the air. Listeners listen that way. Be conversational. Be a friend of the host and the listeners.

I used to worry when there were no call-ins if call-ins were accepted. No longer. If you are an informative and entertaining guest, listeners will often stay riveted to the radio and will not call. Just be your best at all times and say things worth listening to.

When you hear the music come up when you are talking, that means the break is coming up or the end of the show is near. That is the time you want to bring your comments to a quick close. It is wise to have a few brief sentences that you have rehearsed well with which to close.

I usually close by saying, "This is Larry James reminding you to Celebrate Love." I pause briefly and quickly add "Dot com!" Wheew! Got another plug in for my website and it was the last thing they heard me say.

Several other ideas: I can think of several reasons why you should ask the host to give you a recording of the interview. Give copies of the recording to print reporters who may want to do a story on you. If you can, put a link to the recording on your website. Important: Be sure to make your request to the producer for a recording of the interview before the interview begins.

After the interview is over, ask the host, "Who else do you know who might be interested in having me as a guest?" Most talk show hosts often have valuable contacts in other markets and if they were pleased with the interview, they will refer you.

Ask the host to take a moment and jot you a brief note on their station's letterhead. Use this when you solicit other radio stations for interviews or to post on your media page on your website.

Include a sheet in your media kit or on your website listing all media appearances by category (radio, TV, newspaper, magazines) and update it regularly. Send the list, along with your "pitch" letter, to editors, reporters, talk show producers and news directors, to let them know you aren't a media novice. Media professionals identify newsworthy items by testimonials from media peers before your self-promotional comments.

Remember to tell clients and print reporters in the station's listening area to listen to your interview. If you are a guest on an out-of-town radio show, call the newspaper in the city where the show is airing and ask if they would like an interview, too. Be sure to give them no less than a two week advance notice.

Many of the radio stations in the USA have websites. Before you agree to an interview, it might be a good idea to listen to the host.

You can use the Radio Locator to locate all of the radio stations near a U.S. city.

Find Out More...

• Handling the Media Interview, by Michelle Giles
  
  
• Radio Station Checklist: Stuff You Need to Know Before You Go on the Air! by Larry James
  
  
• Using Your Best VOICES on the Air, by Brian Jud