Jack Canfield, author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Books, attributes the success of the series to doing daily radio interviews. It’s easy and a cost effective method to promote books from home, via phone.
The Ease of Radio Interviews
There no gas used, no travel time involved, nor any need to dress up, worry about a hairdo, or even be concerned about bad breath. It’s a time-efficient way to reach many people in different places with little expense. The main investments are time and the cost of sending out press kits and review copies of books.
Via phone the guest chooses where to sit and can have notes and the book on hand. If a tough question is asked, no one sees the author’s expression. While starting to answer, it’s possible to consult notes, look in the book, or check facts.To make it easy to cover important talking points, the interviewee can post a checklist. Interviews can last from a few minutes to an hour, and it's all all free radio time.
Free Marketing
Stations often post online and mention upcoming guests. Many add a link to the author’s website. That’s all free advertising.
The author can build a following by offering free down loadable tip sheets to get listeners to go to the book’s website and then ask for permission to send out notices or link to the author’s social network to extend the free marketing opportunity.
Developing Expertise and Name
Being a radio guests develops the author as an expert on his or her topic. Radio interviews can lead to speaking engagements and other interviews. Posting shows where an author has been a guest on his or her website provides evidence of the authority of the author.
People need to hear someone's name several times before they recognize it. Radio can help get a person’s name out. Some stations will advertise who will be the guests on their website and on earlier shows, so the name is put out a few times before the interview begins.
Listener Benefits
Interviews allow the author and audience to connect. People want to identify with real people’s lives and experiences so they enjoy a variety of guests. People hear the voice of the get to hear about their lives and the dreams behind the book. This builds relationships and let readers share in the author’s experiences. Call-in shows allow listeners to interact and engage in conversation with the guest. A guest can keep listeners tuned in with great stories, controversy, or information.
It’s always an opportunity to spark interest in an author’s message and books. The listeners can benefit from the information or content given in an interview. An author should be sure to provide important and useful tips that people can implement easily and quickly. That sparks people to share, by word of mouth, about the author, and that is still one of the most effective ways to market.
Radio Guests Benefit the Radio Stations
Radio stations need to fill air time. That means they want free, but quality content that interests their listeners. An author is free for the station and can fill that time.
A radio host can’t be an expert in every area or in all current topics. Authors bring in the expertise and that makes a host look good as well as relevant. A great guest can connect to listeners and boost ratings.
Start with local stations and expand out to national syndicates. With a great hook and press kit an author can get on numerous radio shows.
Karen Whiting - Professional freelance writer with ten published books and hundreds of published articles. My books are for women (time management and ...
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