A Radio Producer Can Give a Host a Boost

Posted on May 3, 2012 by radio

By Francine Silverman

All hosts want their shows syndicated. However, unless you’ve been on for years and get noticed, or send your disk to hundreds of stations asking them to listen to it, the likelihood of syndication is next to nil.

My show, Ship to Shore with Silverman was on Blog Talk Radio for months and while there were no glitches, I have often felt very alone. Then along came Neil Haley, a host in my Parenting and Education ebook, who recently became a radio producer. He has used my ebooks of talk radio shows to contact the hosts about coming aboard.

I did my first show with Neil and it went great!!

Like any producer worth his salt, Neil records and listens to the show, edits it and then sends me the audio so I am the owner of the show to do with as I please (could not do this with Blog Talk Radio). He also tells me “Good Show.”

Neil needs content and if you’re a radio host or a would-be host looking for a home, Neil’s email is haleyn4@gmail.com and his phone number is 412-523-0289.

Hope you’ll join our team!!!!

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New Internet Stations Cropping Up

Posted on April 1, 2012 by radio

By Francine Silverman

I’m always searching for new radio shows for my ebooks of talk radio shows. I haven’t found many new terrestrial (on-air) stations – if anything they are shrinking. But Internet stations are sprouting like weeds.

The on-line stations I am most familiar with include Blog Talk Radio, BBS Radio, Voice America, Web Talk Radio, Contact Talk Radio, Pet Life Radio, Women’s Radio, Toginet, Fishbowl, Talk Radio One, Achieve Radio, Global Talk Radio, Business Talk Radio, Business Radio X, Energy Talk Radio, Transformation Talk Radio, WS Talk Radio, LA Talk Radio, Radio Sandy Springs, Z Talk Radio, Jackalope Radio, Talk Shoe, Advice Radio, Sedona Talk Radio, Radio Ear Network, Lady Bug Live, All Talk Radio, Co-Creator Network, Health Radio, HealthyLife.net, Real Coaching Network, A2Zen.fm (formerly Spirit Quest Radio), Awakening Zone, New Sky Radio, PSN Radio, and World Talk Radio.

The latest one I discovered, which doesn’t mean it is necessarily new, is Para Mania, http://www.paramaniaradio.com, focusing on paranormal and metaphysical subjects.

Another one is Red State Radio, covering conservative politics. http:///redstateradio.com

Two more are Entertainment Radio Network, covering automotive, consumer electronics and home improvement. http://ernlive.com, and Hot Talk LA, which is typically Hollywood – some of the shows are a bit raunchy. http://hottalkla.com

New Day Talk Radio, http://www.newdaytalkradio.com, is apparently new since I only see two shows listed. According to the site, the shows will cover a variety of topics. It appears that Lynette Jones runs the station and is one of the hosts. Lynette@newdaytalkradio.com

I am always looking for new Internet stations. If you have any not mentioned above, please contact me at franalive@optonline.net.

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Talk Radio Has Blossomed In Less Than 20 Years

Posted on January 31, 2012 by radio

By Francine Silverman

Imagine this. As recently as 1990, the Professional Writers Guide wrote about radio as a market for writers “What once was a versatile entertainment medium, now as everyone knows, is confined almost entirely to news reports, music – and commercials!”

With the advent of the Internet and since Rush Limbaugh began talking on air, talk radio has burgeoned – both on the air and on the Internet. In my ebooks alone, I have roughly 1675 shows as compared to only 700 shows in my book, Talk Radio for Authors (2009). The only thing that hasn’t changed is that business, self-help, sports, health, New Age, and politics dominate the radio airwaves.

If you are an expert in any of those categories, radio is for you. Why not take advantage of a medium that welcomes you?

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Good Guests Make for Happy Hosts

Posted on January 3, 2012 by radio

By Francine Silverman

I am host of Ship to Shore with Silverman, a radio show about cruises, on Blog Talk Radio.

When I’m feeling down, a good radio show can lift my spirits. If the guest writes me an email thanking me for the interview, I’m really psyched. It doesn’t matter if there are no listeners or no callers. Responsive guests become friends.

Case in point. I mentioned to my recent guest, a cruise director, that I was going on a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas and he asked me to get the cruise director’s name and report on the cruise. This assures a long term relationship.

To be a good radio host requires effort. I’m afraid of lapses so I prepare lots of questions. And I don’t rely on the guest remembering to call in. I always ask for a phone number so I can call in the morning of the show as a reminder.

After all, a good guest makes for a happy host

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Every New Computer Function Requires a Learning Curve

Posted on December 16, 2011 by radio

By Francine Silverman

There are times when we all get down. With me it’s generally related to the computer. There’s always something new to learn – how to turn my Word document ebooks to pdf files (thank goodness I’ve mastered that); switching from a desktop and Windows XP to a laptop with Windows 7 (some functions have become easier while others remain a mystery), how to save my radio shows on a MP3 file and how to save an episode to a CD (I had written to Sirius radio about possibly doing my shows on Sirius and they wrote that I have to send a CD to the address provided).

It was recommended that I download Audacity in order to save to an MP3 file, which I did, but I don’t know what to do with it.

If anyone can shed light on how to save an audio on either a CD or MP3 file, I would be most grateful. In return I will share the address that Sirius sent me. If you have a radio show you probably would like to have it on Sirius radio

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Responsive Hosts Are Worth Their Weight in Gold

Posted on November 2, 2011 by radio

By Francine Silverman

Someone called me a great resource and to live up to that encomium I would like to share some information on hosts I have found to be the most responsive and grateful. As an on-line publicist who gets her clients on the radio, I have come across some wonderful hosts who respond quickly to my queries and/or write glorious testimonials after interviewing my clients.

Bear in mind that my clients are not celebrities or well known. Most are not public speakers. These are ordinary people with expertise in a particular area and passionate about their subjects.

The hosts’ shows run the gamut from Internet to terrestrial and cover various categories.

Probably the nicest host is Paul Bruno, host of Career Czar and History Czar on All Talk Radio. He has had yours truly on his show along with dozens of my business clients and is effusive about all of us.

Priscilla Leona, host of Question Reality Radio Show, an entertainment show on LA Talk Radio, was so enamored with my client, Betty Jo Tucker, an author/film critic/radio host, that she named her the show’s exclusive film critic.

Walter Brasch, my political author, has been lauded by several hosts of political shows, some of whom have invited him back. Tristan V. Patterson, host of The Patterson Show on WTXY, Columbus County, N.C. wrote that he looks forward to reading more of his works, and Hans Meyer and Charlie Kensil, hosts of The Political Atlas on The Free World Radio Networks spoke for the whole network in thanking Walter for being on the show and looks forward to his future appearances.

There are certain hosts who look to me for guests. Among them is Chris Walden, host of The Shadow Hour, a New Age show on Blog Talk Radio, who provides his needs by sending me his schedule of forthcoming topics. He has had more of my spirituality authors on his show than any other hosts.

The other shows that invited most of my clients are The Self-Improvement Show with Irene Conlon, on World Talk Radio, in the self-help category; Beyond Lip Service with Sharon Saylor on Blog Talk Radio, in the relationships and self-help categories; in the parenting category, there’s a tie – Answers for the Family with Allen Cardoza on LA Talk Radio and Let’s Talk with Bianca Tyler on 1400WSTC/1350WNLK, Norwalk, Connecticut; Off the Shelf, with Denise Turney who broadcasts the show on her website, wins in the Author’s category; in the animals category, My Buddy Butch with Jeff Marginean on Blog Talk Radio, wins; and Living Fully After 40 with Anna Banks on Blog Talk Radio takes first place in the Business category.

Responsive hosts are worth their weight in gold. The above stand out in my mind but there are others. I value them and so should you.

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Being a Radio Host Can Make Your Day

Posted on October 2, 2011 by radio

By Francine Silverman

People ask me why I want to be a radio host when I am not making money. Men, in particular, seem to measure everything in dollars.

I have a show called Ship to Shore with Silverman on Blog Talk Radio and interview cruise experts. I had no experience in the cruise industry when I started the show more than a year ago on Blog Talk Radio. But as a former newspaper reporter, I am comfortable interviewing people.

Being a radio host enables me to talk to experts and learn interesting things along with my audience. Hosts have a certain amount of clout and the more shows you do the better chance of becoming syndicated.

I had several shows on the Internet before resuming hosting, but when I stopped all the syndication opportunities seemed to materialize. Fortunately, I saved the information for the future.

Once you have a show, everyone wants to be a guest. I remember when I had a show for authors. I put a notice in a newsletter with thousands of subscribers and my email was flooded with requests. I would answer the emails, close the email and open it and another four or five emails would surface. This went on all day. Even now when I write to potential guests about being a guest, most respond in the affirmative.

Sure, it takes work to find guests, follow up, and research them, but it’s worth the effort. When a show goes well, it can make your day.

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Want to start you own radio show?

Posted on September 1, 2011 by radio

By Francine Silverman

If you want start a radio show but are not prepared to shell out big bucks for air time, look to the Internet. While many on-line stations charge hosts, some are free or inexpensive. (I recommend the Internet because I haven’t found a terrestrial -on-air- radio show that’s less than $150 per half-hour show).

Until recently, Blog Talk Radio, http://www.blogtalkradio.com, was completely free, but now only half-hour shows are still complimentary. Many first time hosts start at BTR because it’s easy to start and run a show. I had three different shows on BTR and had little difficulty except when they changed their website design without informing their hosts. I nearly panicked when I couldn’t find the switchboard before my show was to start. The good news is that your show goes into archives within fifteen minutes after it’s ended and stats are supplied on how many hits the show gets.

I recently found a new site through Linked In – Ebroadcast Network. Everything is free, from hosting a show to publicity and hosts share in ad revenues. The founder, Charles Lewis, is a gem to work with. I’ve recommended the site to several hosts and those who have signed up have been very pleased. You can do your show by telephone or on Skype. I plan to resume my show, Ship to Shore with Silverman, in September on the site. It aired on Blog Talk Radio for about a year before I decided to seek another venue http://eRadioBroadcast.ning.com

Is your show about a New Age subject – mysticism, paranormal, psychic abilities? For new shows on Para X, it’s just $5 per show. “We offer packages that are a little more expensive if they want a full-time producer, etc. but if they do the show themselves, that’s it,” says founder Dave Jones. If you are interested, his email is daveparax@gmail.com.

So you see, you too can be a radio host – for little or no money!

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Talk Radio Wants You

Posted on August 1, 2011 by radio

By Francine Silverman

As author of Talk Radio Wants You – An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited (McFarland & Co. 2009), 16 ebooks of talk radio shows, and an on-line publicist who gets her clients on radio shows, I can tell you that the most popular talk radio shows cover six categories: Business, New Age, Self-Help, Politics, Entertainment, and Health

Both my book and ebooks have more shows in those categories than any others, including animals, environment, relationships, food and travel, house and garden, and science and technology.

If you are an expert in any of these areas, there is a good chance you can be a guest on radio. Not only are there more shows with those themes, but the more shows the more competition for guests.

I can also tell you that most hosts prefer emails over telephone, and want guests with personality and expertise. After all, radio hosts are in the business of entertainment.

If you are comfortable talking on the radio and can give listeners valuable information you are a shoo-in.

While authors have a slight advantage over non-authors in getting interviews, there is no reason why non-authors who are experts are not popular guests. In fact, I recently proposed sending bios of some of my authors to a host of an entertainment show and he wrote back that it would be nice to have authors on for a change. He probably is used to interviewing musicians and artists who haven’t written books.

If you want exposure, radio interviews are free and you can do the interview from home in your pajamas. Why not take advantage of this popular medium? Remember – radio hosts NEED guests.

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Ten Tips for Being a Good Radio Host and Guest

Posted on June 1, 2011 by radio

by Francine Silverman

For the Host:

(1) Do your research on the guests and ask for a copy of their book or information on their business. The more you know about the guest the more insightful your questions will be.

(2) Prepare questions beforehand. Even if the guest supplies 10 or 15 questions, they are generally not meaty enough.

(3) Listen to your guests’ responses. The answers will often give you more questions to ask. Hosts must be good listeners as well as good talkers.

(4) Be certain to contact the guest before the interview. You don’t want to be stuck with a guest forgetting and you holding the bag.

For the Guest:

(1) Be passionate about your subject. Most important. There’s nothing worse than a guest who drones on or speaks in a monotone.

(2) Be well-versed about your subject. You were invited on the show because you’re considered an expert on your topic. Don’t disappoint either the host or audience with vague responses.

(3) Be well-spoken and friendly. Practice as a radio guest will aid in your ability to let the words flow and help you relax on the air. So do as many interviews as you can, regardless of the caliber of the show.

(4) Use the host’s name often in your interview. Everyone loves the sound of their name. This will score high points with the host.

(5) Do not over-promote your book or business. Remember, you’re not on the air to promote your product but rather to provide valuable information to listeners. Besides, a good host will be sure to mention the book title, name of your business and your website many times.

(6) Send a thank you after the show. Hosts prepare for their shows and appreciate being acknowledged. You cannot imagine how much a simple “thank you” email means to the host.

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Talk Radio

being a guest on talk radio

A Radio Producer Can Give a Host a Boost

New Internet Stations Cropping Up

Talk Radio Has Blossomed In Less Than 20 Years

Good Guests Make for Happy Hosts

Every New Computer Function Requires a Learning Curve

Responsive Hosts Are Worth Their Weight in Gold

Being a Radio Host Can Make Your Day

Want to start you own radio show?

Talk Radio Wants You

Ten Tips for Being a Good Radio Host and Guest

Advice and Info

Advice and Info