A radio interview is useful to increase your visibility and income. It allows you to reach your target audience and helps you build a presence and credibility in your industry. And it's everywhere! Even the smallest communities have a local radio station, not to mention the hundreds of radio stations licensed to high schools, colleges and universities. They are great places to catch the local flavor and get some extra free publicity.

Begin by finding radio stations that could feature your product or event.

1. Determine your audience.
   Who is the most likely person who will be interested in your topic? What types of radio stations does he or she listen to? There are almost as many radio formats as there are people. Determine which format is right for your message.
2. Search for radio stations.
   There are many resources available to help you find radio stations. The industry's trade paper is called Radio and Records and can be found at www.rronline.com. Any internet search engine can be used to find radio stations that fall into different categories.
3. Qualify.
   Once you've located a number of opportunities, determine if the station's format includes interview segments. If it doesn't, don't pursue it because you'll be wasting your time and theirs.

Now that you know the stations you want to target, spend time researching and preparing for your radio interview. Communicating information to an audience requires giving answers to the Who, What, When, Where and Why of your story. There's nothing worse than listening to an entire interview that presents incomplete information. As you answer these questions, remember to also answer the all-important listener question: "What's in it for me?"

1. Who.
   Who are you and what is your message? What qualifies you to promote this project/product/service with credibility? An expert is someone who knows more about the subject than the average person.
2. What.
   Make sure you understand your product or message. Do your research and learn everything you can about your competitors. Understand what it is about your business or product that makes it unique and better.
3. When.
   If your message involves an event, please don't forget to tell listeners when it will happen. Don't leave the audience hanging.
4. Where.
   If it's a product make sure to state where it's available. If it's a service, listeners should know how to obtain it. If it's an event, state the place and starting and ending times.
5. Why.
   What makes this product or project so important? This is your chance to get the audience excited about your message.

Radio will boost your visibility and raise your income and you can do it!