Things You'll Need:
- Blog Talk Radio account
- Paper and pencil to generate script ideas
- Telephone and internet connection
- Blog
- Website
- Connections list or other social networking sites, like Linked In, Plaxo or Facebook
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Step 1
Create a Blog Talk Radio account. Creating an account takes a few minutes and contains the same sign up steps as any website. Think carefully about your user name as this will also be your show 'host' name. Signing up does not obligate you to run a show, so don't worry about that yet.
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Step 2
Once you're signed up, create an effective profile. Whenever you are using social marketing websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Plaxo and all the rest, use your profile page as a marketing page for yourself, your business or your services. Do not use a funny or casual photo of yourself or a pet, for example, as your display image. Use your company logo, a professional picture, or an image that captures the essence of your brand. Our user profile picture on eHow, for example, captures the essence of my business - Seven Oaks Consulting - and is a photo you will find in our marketing materials and on our website. Include your company URL and any other information you'd want prospective business to know about you.
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Step 3
Take some time to listen to competitors Blog Talk Radio shows. Review their profiles. What do you like about them? What don't you like? How can you make your show better, or set it apart from the rest?
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Step 4
Now, brainstorm ideas for your show. Will you have a co-host? Co-hosts make shows more interesting and provide you with a partner to talk to during the shows. Your first shows are likely to be sparsley attended, so until you have a large following, line up family or friends, colleagues or coworkers as guests and participants to create engaging interaction.
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Step 5
Create a list of topics for your show so that you are organized and focused. If you are a nutritionist looking to promote yourself and your business as the experts in weight loss, then brainstorm a group of topics around weight loss issues. For example, how about a show on "how to lose weight eating normal food?" That should get people's interest! What about "Vitamins and supplements for weight loss?" "Weight loss gimics to avoid?" You get the idea. Brainstorm at least a dozen topics, one per month.
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Step 6
Scan trade journals, newspapers, websites, blogs and message boards for 'hot' topics in your area of expertise. These also make interesting and engaging topics for your radio show.
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Step 7
Schedule your first show and promote it like crazy. Promote it through all your social and business networking sites: Plaxo, Linked In, Facebook, etc. Make sure you add the free Blog Talk Radio buttons to your website. They provide HTML code so you can add a link directly to your show, or visitors to your website can play past episodes. Blog Talk saves every show, so your customers can listen to previous shows. Send emails to your contact file. Promote, promote, promote within your network, on message boards where allowed, and on blogs and chat rooms.
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Step 8
Call into your host number on Blog Talk Radio. If you are nervous, prepare a script or outline, whatever works best for you. I'm comfortable with public speaking and was a teacher for several years, and my family jokes that I could talk to the air for hours, so I do not use a script. I do, however, use an outline and notes, especially when I'm speaking about something and want to quote facts, figures, statistics or URL's. Follow Blog Talk's directions to record your show and enjoy your first foray into online social marketing and talk radio show hosting!
Comments
pianistic said
on 11/27/2008 Great!
acole said
on 9/23/2008 Wow! What a concept. I had no idea anything like this existed. Thanks!
Desula said
on 9/14/2008 Cool site - thanks for sharing the idea to get your own radio show.