Top 10 Telephone Tips to Make Your Radio Talk Show Pay Off Handsomely

Here’s a gift from Joe Sabah, the Denver-based author of How to Get on Radio Talk Shows Without Leaving Your Home or Office

1. Have a glass of water handy (room temperature). When your throat is lubricated it’s easier to talk. Plus the water serves as a “cough button” if needed.
2. Stand while speaking. Pretend you’re presenting a seminar. Your voice will carry further. And you’ll sound more animated.
3. Have a copy of their state map on your wall. Refer to cities in the radio station’s surrounding area. This helps make you feel like you are “one of them.” I once made the mistake of referring to South Bend as “South Bend, Indiana.” The host reminded me that I was talking on a radio station in South Bend, Wisconsin. Oops!
4. Listen to their weather and traffic report. This allows you to personalize your presentation. For example: When I was being interviewed on WHIO in Dayton, Ohio I noticed during the breaks they were referring to their metro area as “the Miami Valley.” So it became a natural for me to say “I believe we can help some folks in “the Miami Valley” get their perfect job this afternoon.” What a difference the right words make.
5. Get your listeners involved. For example, before the last commercial break I ask them to get pencil and paper to write down the three tips I guarantee will turn every job interview into a job offer. Then they have pencil and paper ready when I later give out my 800 number.
6. For those who are driving around without writing tools handy, ask your host if the listeners can go to their website. As soon as you’re off the air, you call the station’s receptionist and ask her or him to give out the website plus the title of your book.
7. Give the host some quotes from your book to use as segues. I offer quotes like: “Are You Singing The Song You Came To Sing?” And “If You Do What You’ve Always Done, You’ll Get What You’ve Always Gotten. Is That Enough?”
8. After the host uses these Inspirational Postcard Quotes on the air, I also offer them to listeners who order my book. Another bonus to increase  orders.
9. Always thank both the host and the producer for the good job they are doing. After the show, also send each of them a handwritten note of thanks and an offer “Let’s do it again.”
10. You may also want to ask the producer to record your show. Then listen to your show to see how you can improve the next one. Keep on learning.