As a public speaker, you should take advantage of every opportunity to speak. Not just at live events, but also through the media as well.

One simple, repeatable strategy is to book interviews.

Here are 3 reasons Why Interviews Are So Effective:

1. Interviews position you as an expert

By simply showing up for an interview, you demonstrate your expertise on a topic. That said, make sure you bring some good ideas to the table.

When booking interviews, think about what topic you want to position yourself as an expert on. What topic will attract the right clients to you?

2. Interviews establish credibility

When the host of a Radio Show or TV Show brings you on as a guest, they lend their stamp of approval to you as an expert. And the audience automatically trusts you and the information you have to share.

Be sure to earn and maintain that trust. You can do that in part by sharing ideas that people commonly know and agree with. That helps them to validate that you are knowledgeable. Do that before sharing controversial ideas.

3. Interviews create opportunities for lead generation

In most cases, you will not be able to offer a product while doing an interview. You will sometimes have an opportunity to share a free offer that people can opt in for.

Be sure to explain clearly what the offer is and give an easy website address for them to go to.

How to Book Interviews

So, how do you book interviews?

Here are 5 Steps to Book Interviews:

1. Make a list of shows

The first step in the process is to make a good list of shows to work with. Check to make sure that the show is still active. Look for a current episode in the last week or month depending on the frequency of the show.

Don’t forget to check out podcasts. They are a great source of interview opportunities. Make sure that the host does occasionally interview guests.

2. Identify the host of a show and connect on social media

The host of a show is usually clearly identified. Look for the link to their website and any social media accounts you can find. Their website should also include their social media links.

If the host is not a business owner, then you may have to dig deeper. Listen to the show for any contact information they share and start with that.

Many shows have a website dedicated to the show where they add a post for each episode.

3. Cultivate a relationship with the host over time

Listen to the show and participate in online discussions. Build the know, like and trust factor with the host to make communications easier and more effective.

Find their email address and send a message to them. Ask them for the best way to share their show others. This will demonstrate an interest in helping to build their listener base.

4. Share resources with the host

Think about the topics the host covers on their show. When you come across an interesting resource, share it with them. Send an email or send a private message on Facebook or LinkedIn.

5. Contact the host to book an interview

After an appropriate period of time has passed, reach out to the host and express your interest in being a guest on their show.

The best way to do this is by phone.

Propose several topics that they have not covered and that would benefit their audience.

How to Promote the Show

Once you are booked as a guest, the real work begins.

Here are 3 Actions to Take to Promote the Show:

1. Spread the word about the show

There is a value in letting people know you will be featured as a guest. This is public relations and to get the most value from the appearance, let people know through email and social media.

It’s also a good idea to write a blog post about your upcoming interview on the show.

To see an example of how I do this, click here

2. Create a Facebook Event and invite people

Facebook events are not just for your own events. You can promote other people’s too, especially when you are the featured guest.

3. After the show, share the replay

On internet radio, a fraction of total listeners for a show will be live. Let’s call it 10%. The other 90% will listen online over the next year.

So, give those numbers a bump and share the replay from time to time.

You can also link to the replay from your website.

Interviews are a great way to attract new clients. Take time to follow the tips, strategies and steps in this blog post.

And I encourage you to email me as soon as you book an interview. I want to hear from you.

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing and Social Media Trainer