If you followed the recent election, you’ll understand how an interview on radio can have a significant impact when you’re trying to get your message out there in front of the general public. Undertaking a radio interview for the first time can be challenging.
To help out, here are our top tips to make sure you get through your next radio unscathed and create the impression you want.
Be Ready for Action
Radio interviews, on news channel particularly, can start sooner than you think and end just as abruptly. Running schedules get swapped around and, while you may be thinking you’re going on air at a certain time, you have to be prepared to be shaken out of your complacency.
Indeed, if you are not in a studio but being contacted by phone, you may well be called just a few minutes before the interview is due to start. This can be one of the more challenging aspects of a radio interview and being prepared is essential.
Keep Your Answers Short
Time is of the essence with a radio interview and your host may well want to ask other questions. Keep your answers short but meaningful, keep to the point, and try not to leave dead air hanging after you finish. The easiest way to do this is to make a statement at the end of your reply that has a clear full stop and signals to your host that you are done speaking.
Get Your Ad-Line In
Don’t depend on your host telling people where to find your great new product or service. Take responsibility and make sure you get it in before the interview terminates. If the interview has been planned well in advance you can send that information beforehand, so they know what you want to get in.
Keep the Passion in Your Voice
That doesn’t mean going over the top but getting your enthusiasm for the subject over to the audience. The quickest way to scupper a radio interview is to talk in a dull, monotone voice. Practice intonation and bringing across a natural exuberance.
Repeat Your Main Message
If it’s an extended interview, you need to understand the habits of radio listeners. They might have the radio on in the background, turn it off when getting out of the car or not hear the whole interview at all. Strategically mentioning your main message in a slightly different ways at different times means you can get this across to a much bigger audience.
Handling Call-Ins
You may be taking part in a caller-in rather than a formal interview so it’s important to know what you are going to be up against. It’s always possible that you will get an over-passionate caller who is difficult to handle. Don’t panic or react angrily, try to maintain a level head even if you have to contradict the caller and tell them they are wrong. Say it in a way that will not escalate the callers’ passion or ire and potentially put your company or organisation in a bad light.
Abrupt Endings
Finally, interviews on radio can often end pretty abruptly without so much as a thank you. Don’t think you have done something wrong, it’s just the way this kind of media operates. Hosts are usually busy jumping from one thing to another and are probably onto the next guest or subject before you’ve even put the phone down.
Ensuring your whole leadership and media team are ready and able to speak to the media at any time takes training. Discuss your organisations media training needs with us today.