TURN UP YOUR “PERFORMANCE POWER”

FOR RADIO INTERVIEWS

Radio interviews are a great way to get your message out to a large audience quickly. If you had to buy commercial airtime it would be quite expensive, so make sure you use that precious free publicity time to your best advantage. Here are 10 tips to Performance Power in radio interviews via telephone:

1. Make a list of 5-7 talking points. Phrases, not sentences, which will trigger you to talk about your subject.

2. Practice. Have someone get on the phone and fire questions at you and record it. Practice different rhythms of interviews-- short, long, slow, fast.

3. Warm up. Breathe, stretch, and move around. Start talking just as if you are answering questions, using the same energy and voice level that you’ll need on-air. This ensures that your “performance engine” is warmed up and ready to go before the interview begins.

4. Stand up during a phone interview. It gives you more energy and room to breathe. No speaker phones, no cell phone driving!

5. Speak in short, vivid sentences. Include stories & catchy phrases.

6. Name drop. Say the name of the book during the interview. People in the audience are tuning in an out and wondering who is talking on the radio.

7. Vary your voice and pacing. Make your voice as colorful as your stories/information.

8. Maintain energy. End each sentence and interview with a strong voice.

9. Give them hors d'oeuvres, not a full meal. Don't tell the entire story. Leave the audience with a reason to buy the book.

10. Smile! Enjoy, learn from each performance, and thank your host!