5 tips for killing it in your next podcast or radio interview
I’ve been doing a few radio and virtual interviews recently to promote Dead Ringer and I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. Here are 5 things I’ve learned to help you rock your next radio/podcast interview:
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Smile
Yes, doing interviews is nerve-wracking. Yes, you might be struggling to think of what to say. But try not to let your nerves come through in your voice.
The best way to achieve this is to smile. Force it, if you have to. Your smile will come through in the audio, making you sound friendlier and more confident.
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Think: high energy
No one wants to listen to someone who sounds miserable. Yet even your normal speaking voice can register as downbeat on the radio or in a podcast. It’s hard to punch through on this kind of medium.
For this reason, it’s important to get your energy levels up. Beforehand, listen to an upbeat song that makes you feel good. Do some jumping jacks. Even just thinking “energy!” tends to work for me.
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Be positive
Writers in particular tend to be Eeyore-ish and self-deprecating. This is not a great look, especially since many listeners would love to have a published book and be interviewed about their work.
Try to put a positive spin on whatever you’re asked. Even when you’re talking about mistakes you’ve made or struggles you’re having, emphasise that you’ve learned something and you’re thankful for the experience.
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Swot up on what you’re likely to be asked
By listening to old episodes of the radio show or podcast, you can build up an idea of the types of questions the interviewer likes to ask. You can also anticipate plenty of obvious interview topics.
For writers, you’ll be asked time and time again: What’s your book about? What are you working on now? How did you get started? etc.
This means you can prepare pithy answers, preferably involving an interesting personal story or anecdote.
Don’t learn your answers off by heart, but jot down bullet points and glance at them before the interview.
Even if you don’t get asked those specific questions, I find the act of preparing helps me feel more confident and less anxious.
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Practice your call to action
The interviewer will usually give you a chance to plug yourself/your work during the interview. Be prepared and seize it!
Full disclosure: I struggle with this one immensely. So it’s worth practicing ahead of time.
Your call to action might be:
– My book is available in audiobook, paperback and ebook form.
– I blog at nicolamartin.com, if you’re interested in tips on writing
– You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram
Keep your call to action simple and succinct. This will stop you sounding salesy or annoying.
Doing a podcast or radio interview can be nail-biting stuff, but a few simple tweaks are all it takes to succeed.
Do you have any more tips and tricks for giving interviews? Let me know in the comments.
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