One of your “PR Doctor’s” favorite public relations elements in an integrated marketing communications plan is talk radio. Talk radio provides opportunities for profit and non-profit organizations to gain extended exposure in an interview format. And there are many opportunities that exist in communities around the United States to capitalize on this media offering. And many times these radio stations are very eager to find new people to interview about new and interesting subjects.
Many radio stations have public affairs programs that are prerecorded and then aired on weekend mornings, particularly Sunday. These programs provide an opportunity for you to have your spokesperson and your message in an uninterrupted format or in discussion with others who have similar causes, interests or issues.
So, let’s see what type of advice your PR Doctor has for you to gain media attention on radio. Here are 10 tips for getting your company or organization’s message on radio.
1. Research the talk radio stations and formats in the geographic area where you want to have your message heard. Make sure you obtain the contact information for the person responsible for booking interviews.
2. Summarize your findings on a spreadsheet with the radio station contact information.
3. Select the radio stations you have targeted from your research and listen to those stations to help determine if your message will fit their format and their subject areas.
4. Make it easy for the radio station to fit your information into their format and the easier it will be to get booked on the talk radio show.
5. Find out what issue or cause a producer or an “on-air” personality may have a passion for and then connect with that producer or “on-air” personality to promote your company or your cause that matches theirs.
6. Prepare your information in a compelling way and then call, email or FAX the contact person you want to approach. Make sure you are prepared to present your “case” for being a guest on the radio show when you reach the contact person.
7. After you have been booked for a radio interview, prepare and rehearse for the interview.**
8. Publicize the date, time and station of your radio interview to your stakeholders and targeted audiences.
9. After the radio interview airs, publicize the coverage back to your stakeholders and selected target audiences because the radio exposure does provide 3rd party credibility.
10. Send a personal thank you to the interviewer and your contact at the radio station.
**(refer to “Media Tips From Your PR Doctor For Effective
Electronic Media Interviews” at
http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/223/
Public-Relations-Prescription-for-Healthy-Media-Relations-from-the-PR-Doctor.html
If you are interested in learning more about the power of radio interviews and how you can make them an effective element in your public relations strategy, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website at below.