Giving interviews helps establish you as an expert in your area of ​​interest. Authors and people in the book industry should participate as often as possible.

As a radio show host, I have the opportunity to interview authors and entrepreneurs who work in the publishing industry each week at CALLING ALL AUTHORS. Personalities appear with me on the show every week, and for each show, we have a routine that works well for us and our guests. Here are some tips and etiquette details that apply to any media interview, including newspapers, television interviews, and radio interviews.

o Be prepared. Provide your host with six to ten talking points that you would like to discuss at least a week before the interview. Organize these points in a logical order and use them when you are on the air.

o Keep the appointment and be on time. There is nothing more impolite than not showing up or being late for an interview. Unless you have had a serious calamity in your life, call at the appointed time. Make your participation a priority. If you are unable to attend the interview, please call or email the host at least one day in advance. Please don’t just “no show”. You will not be invited back — ever.

o Speak clearly. Remember that you are speaking to promote yourself, your book or your business. Slow down if you speak too fast, speed up if you speak too slowly, and speak loud enough to be heard. It’s amazing how often people murmur on the phone. And don’t breathe deeply into the phone, the air muffles the conversation.

o No multitasking. Turn off your computer or walk away from it so you’re not tempted to multitask. Close the bedroom door and ask your family to stay away until you leave after the interview. Please don’t wash the dishes or clean your office while talking.

o Be polite and cheerful. It’s okay to be happy on the show. Even if your topic is serious, an occasional and appropriately light-hearted comment is a good thing. Remember, you are showing who you are, so cheerful demeanor helps listeners a lot to hear what you are saying.

o Give the host a chance to interact with you. Be complete in your answers to all questions, but do not continue for several minutes without pausing. The host may have a question that your listeners are also thinking about, and if you can ask the question, your interview will be even more valuable to you.

o Use an outline for your answers. Too often guests read a written text. At most, have your list of talking points and a few short comments for each one so that you remember what you want to say on each topic. But don’t write a long answer. The temptation is to read it, as this kills the conversational style of an interview.

o Make sure to provide the URL of your website. Your host will ask you to provide your website or email address so listeners can reach you. Determine in advance how to give this information more easily. Most people know you need www. Front of the website, so you don’t have to say that part anymore. Point out anything unusual about the address, perhaps a strange number or spelling is part of your URL. Make sure to clarify that when giving the information.

After the interview is over, write a quick thank you email to your host. This goes a long way toward getting you invited back to the show. Stay in touch with the host of the show for future events you’d like to publicize. Being on talk shows is a very valuable form of exposure, and the more you can do, the better. And, if there’s a way to advertise on the show’s home page, for a reasonable cost, go ahead. There are many other people who visit the program’s archives and will see your display ad. You can also encourage them to listen to your interview, and if you’re running a commercial, everyone who hears it will connect with you long after your show airs.