On-air anxiety? Here are four tips to nail your next radio interview
Radio interviews can be intimidating for even the most seasoned spokesperson. Here are a few tips to help you nail your next on-air experience:
Do your homework
Nothing can derail an interview faster than not knowing the host’s name or target audience. Researching past shows and segment topics will help you craft answers that resonate with listeners. And, if you connect with the host, you may even get invited back on the show!
Simplify your message
Radio interviews are generally short — between 5 to 15 minutes in length, on average. Given this limited time frame, it’s imperative to make your message short and sweet. Avoid jargon that could isolate and confuse listeners.
Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse!
The live nature of radio interviews means you won’t have much time to think about answers before weighing in. This makes practice all the more important! You can prepare by hammering down your key messages and thinking through potential “thorny” questions that could come up.
Prepare a cheat sheet
Statistics can be hard to remember correctly when you’re put on the spot. If you believe you’ll get asked questions about a certain topic, go ahead and write down some fast facts you can recall quickly while on the air!
