How To Get A Radio Interview?

13 replies
Warriors, I am trying to help my friend who works in an insurance company to get his company more exposure. He is planning to get interviews for his Sales Vice-President but does not know where to start.

Can anyone give me a few ideas as to how you can get radio interviews?

Thanks
#interview #radio
  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    Are you talking about a radio advert or a radio interview?

    If you want a radio interview your friend's company probably needs to do something newsworthy. For example, sponsor a community event of some description or set up a charity event.

    I know from experience over here that getting a story printed in the local newspapers gets the local radio stations interested - so he could try to get a story printed. Again, though, he will need to be doing something of interest to the community.
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  • Profile picture of the author yourreviewer
    Not a radio ad, but an interview related to insurance since he wants to bring in his Sales VP and have talk about the need of life insurance etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Many talk radio stations are always looking for content. Just start calling a few in your local area.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonthewebmaster
    Banned
    Originally Posted by yourreviewer View Post

    Warriors, I am trying to help my friend who works in an insurance company to get his company more exposure. He is planning to get interviews for his Sales Vice-President but does not know where to start.

    Can anyone give me a few ideas as to how you can get radio interviews?

    Thanks
    Typically the radio station will work out an advertising package that would be a bit different than a typical commercial, just form it as an interview. I have even seen them do things like give 30 minute radio show weekly to small business owners etc. and then all your guy would have to do is find a couple sponsors to buy a couple commercials that would air during the show, and that should pay for the show completely. I would just tell him to contact the radio station and see what they can work out. They are usually receptive to things like this!
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Don't pay for radio interviews. There are over 800 talk radio shows that are pining to get good experts on the air.

    The first step is to find shows that deal with the genre that your friend is in. In this case, any business related show or even political show is a target. The next step is to get the contact information for the producer or the program director if it is a local show.

    Tell your contact that you have a guest for them that is an expert in the insurance industry and is available to discuss rising costs, the effects of ObamaCare, etc. Then ask for an email address where you can send a profile.

    Make sure that the profiles you send out include why he would be a good guest for that particular show. If it is a political show, then you would want to focus on the political aspects of insurance. If it is a business show, then maybe you could point out ways that your friend can show people how to save money on insurance. You get the picture.

    It helps if your friend has a book. Obviously, he won't be writing a book overnight, but what he could do is write a short 20 page report and throw it up on Amazon. Then you can truthfully say that your friend is the author of "How Recent Legislation Effects Your Insurance Premiums" or whatever.

    Keep at it. You have to talk to a lot of people to land interviews. You should block off a few days to dedicate to nothing but calling and emailing.

    I was a radio host for many years and was always in search of experts. These people need you as much a you need them. Remember that.
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    • Profile picture of the author yourreviewer
      Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

      Don't pay for radio interviews. There are over 800 talk radio shows that are pining to get good experts on the air.

      The first step is to find shows that deal with the genre that your friend is in. In this case, any business related show or even political show is a target. The next step is to get the contact information for the producer or the program director if it is a local show.

      Tell your contact that you have a guest for them that is an expert in the insurance industry and is available to discuss rising costs, the effects of ObamaCare, etc. Then ask for an email address where you can send a profile.

      Make sure that the profiles you send out include why he would be a good guest for that particular show. If it is a political show, then you would want to focus on the political aspects of insurance. If it is a business show, then maybe you could point out ways that your friend can show people how to save money on insurance. You get the picture.

      It helps if your friend has a book. Obviously, he won't be writing a book overnight, but what he could do is write a short 20 page report and throw it up on Amazon. Then you can truthfully say that your friend is the author of "How Recent Legislation Effects Your Insurance Premiums" or whatever.

      Keep at it. You have to talk to a lot of people to land interviews. You should block off a few days to dedicate to nothing but calling and emailing.

      I was a radio host for many years and was always in search of experts. These people need you as much a you need them. Remember that.
      This is really helpful Brian. I think this is the option he was looking for. He said that the company was not planning on allocating any budget, so he would have to do it your way and it really helps to know you can do it without any cost involved.

      Thanks
      Dan
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    • Profile picture of the author NicoleBeckett
      Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

      Don't pay for radio interviews. There are over 800 talk radio shows that are pining to get good experts on the air.

      The first step is to find shows that deal with the genre that your friend is in. In this case, any business related show or even political show is a target. The next step is to get the contact information for the producer or the program director if it is a local show.

      Tell your contact that you have a guest for them that is an expert in the insurance industry and is available to discuss rising costs, the effects of ObamaCare, etc. Then ask for an email address where you can send a profile.

      Make sure that the profiles you send out include why he would be a good guest for that particular show. If it is a political show, then you would want to focus on the political aspects of insurance. If it is a business show, then maybe you could point out ways that your friend can show people how to save money on insurance. You get the picture.

      It helps if your friend has a book. Obviously, he won't be writing a book overnight, but what he could do is write a short 20 page report and throw it up on Amazon. Then you can truthfully say that your friend is the author of "How Recent Legislation Effects Your Insurance Premiums" or whatever.

      Keep at it. You have to talk to a lot of people to land interviews. You should block off a few days to dedicate to nothing but calling and emailing.

      I was a radio host for many years and was always in search of experts. These people need you as much a you need them. Remember that.

      Could not have said it any better myself! As a former news person, I know that journalists (and not just on radio, but on TV and in print as well) are always looking for go-to experts whenever a story pops up.

      Definitely offer your services like Brian said. Make sure to explain exactly how this benefits their news brand/local area/local current events/etc. It would be great if you could tie his expertise into a local event that's been in the news lately. If you say, for example, that the recent tornado in your town left people devastated because they didn't have renters' insurance, offer your friend as an expert on renters' insurance.

      And, offer to have your friend available for future stuff, too. That way, the next time a news story pops up and they need a sound bite from someone, they'll already have a rapport with your friend.
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  • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
    Contact talk radio shows dealing with financial planning....and offer your friend as an expert on insurance topics.

    I'm pretty sure the two go part and parcel.....correct me if I'm wrong.
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    A cohort and I get on radio programs regularly. We use a system taught by warrior Mark Kaye that Mark sold as a WSO a while back. It might still be available, just search on his name.

    Every program has a "producer" whose job it is to find guests to speak. Most of the time the producer's name is listed on the station's website. Contact the producers.

    :-Don
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  • Profile picture of the author donnan
    Have you looked at Podcasts. Often presenters are looking for different story lines or subjects to interest their listeners.
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  • Profile picture of the author rcritchett
    Originally Posted by yourreviewer View Post

    Warriors, I am trying to help my friend who works in an insurance company to get his company more exposure. He is planning to get interviews for his Sales Vice-President but does not know where to start.

    Can anyone give me a few ideas as to how you can get radio interviews?

    Thanks
    This is a great topic! I actually did this. I landed an interview with WDIY in PA, sub of NPR.

    I did the following:
    1. Found out who the receptonist was at the desk by researching on the net, finding their website and emailing questions.
    2. I found out which program I should try to get on. I was talking about personal development and there was a program called "take charge of your life."
    3. I found out who ran that program.
    4. I emailed the receptonist.. or the person who handles all emails and requested to be interviewed, on that show, by that lady about a specific topic.
    5. I heard nothing for about two months. I emailed again about three times, still nothing.
    6. Then, out of the blue, I got the call, they wanted to interview me, I was there within two weeks doing the interview.

    There are probably thousands of ways. Most of reality is negotiable, if you plug away enough and use pure ingenuity.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Britt Malka
    Tell him to maintain a blog or a website. This is how the radio has found me several times and called to make interviews.

    You can also tell him to send press releases to radio stations. My husband did that and got his own programmes there for a few years.
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  • Profile picture of the author yourreviewer
    This is great. I am getting so many ideas which will be really useful to my friend. Thanks a bunch fellas.
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