Think about all the time you spend trying to get attract new
customers. Online, you optimize for search engines, buy
classified ads, exchange banners, look for other sites to
link with, market through email, etc, etc.
Offline, you send out webcards, attend networking events,
and work on charity projects so people will get to know you.
These things are good, but they’re also time consuming and
some of them even cost money.
Suppose you had a chance to tell ten thousand people about
yourself or your site all at once.
You CAN–and even better, you can do it for FREE.
Welcome to the old fashioned world of talk radio. It’s not
nearly as dazzling as flash animation, but if you follow a
few simple steps, it can bring you just as many new
customers.
And this is even more important. They’ll be customers who
already feel they know you and can trust you because they’ve
heard you on the radio. Not even the best-designed websites
give you THAT kind of instant credibility.
Here’s what to do.
***Spend some time Saturday and Sunday mornings ‘channel
surfing’ AM stations to identify what shows fit your area of
expertise.
***Call the station and find out who ‘produces’ the show.
The producer is the behind-the-scenes person who lines up
guests (sometimes there’s a separate producer, sometimes the
producer is also the host).
***Fax a short letter offering an ‘interview opportunity.’
And when I say short, I mean it. Half a page is usually
enough.
In 2-3 sentences, clearly identify why listeners would be
interested. THIS IS CRITICAL. Think of these 2-3
sentences like a classified ad, focusing on benefits the
audience will get by listening–but don’t blatantly hype.
Add 4-6 bullet points…the kind of stuff you’d put in a
sales letter, but again…focus on making them interesting
to the listener, and avoid superlatives.
***Follow up your fax with a phone call to the decision-
maker.
***Understand that when you talk to the producer or host on
the phone, YOU’RE BEING AUDITIONED. They want to make sure
you know your stuff and can speak about it intelligently.
So keep a ‘cheat sheet’ of talking points handy so you don’t
lose your train of thought in the excitement of the moment.
***You’ll be tempted to break into song about the wonders of
your product or website–DON’T. At this stage, focus ONLY
on benefits to listeners. If the producer/host senses
you’re more interested in plugging something than providing
information, you’re gone.
***Finally, when your pitch succeeds, let your existing
customers and prospects know you’re going to be on–
especially if the station is webcasting.
People often overlook radio as a marketing tool. It seems
so ‘low tech.’ But radio can still get your message out to
thousands of people at once, with little or no cash
investment on your part.
And that makes it worth your time and effort.
Drive in a flood of new traffic, sell more products and
services than ever — and maybe even make yourself famous in
the process. Subscribe to George McKenzie’s ‘Get Free
Publicity’ Ezine and receive a 5-day mini-course on how to
get for thousands of dollars worth of positive — and
positively free — advertising and publicity.
http://www.get-free-publicity.com/1.html
