5 tips to rock your next interview

Welcome to Famous in Your Field! Here’s your free weekly tip to boost your fame factor. (Be sure to sign up in the box on the right to get on the VIP list for free tips and training, delivered straight to your inbox.) 

One of the best ways to get your name known and reach more people, all in one go, is to be interviewed.

When you’re interviewed, even for a small audience, you are the STAR of the show.

And now, with live radio shows, internet radio and the podcasts boom, you’ve got opportunities galore to share your message with the (mini) masses.

(Want to know how to get ’em? Here are a few resources and the strategy to make it happen.) The best part is, once you’ve got a few under your belt, you’ll be able to score tons more.

Because I know you want to squeeze every drop of fame boosting juice from your interviews, here are five ways to make sure they rock on the reg:

1. Listen up.

Some people book the interview and then get on with the interviewer, ready to wing it. Reality check: those people often blow it.

But not you, A-Lister!

You’ll listen to three or four other interviews, by the same host, for the same show you’ll be on. Those will give you an idea of the tone of the interview – is it snappy and fun, or serious?

Another thing? You’ll pay attention to the length of the interview. Don’t prepare twenty minutes of material when you’ve only got a four-minute back and forth. Know thy format!

Live radio shows, especially during popular drive times tend to be entertainment and consumer focused. They are also typically short. For these, you’d prepare three or four quick tips, delivered in short sound bites to convey your ideas.

Podcast interviews or satellite radio shows can be longer, often 30 minutes to an hour, but you’ve gotta ask to know. You don’t want to ramble aimlessly, because you’ve got an extra 15 minutes of air time to fill.

2. Turn it into a popularity contest.

Ask the interviewee, booker or host about the show’s most popular episode. Who was the guest? What made it so popular?

Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo and former Facebooker does this. Even though he has more than enough biz cred to skate through interviews, he wants to make the most of his air time.

Noah listens to the show’s most popular interview and analyzes what made it so popular, so that he can add those elements to his interview too. (Hint: the most popular are the ones that offer meaty content with specific strategies and tips, not vague advice.)

3. Prep & practice.

While writing out every syllable you want to say is a terrible, horrid, no good idea, giving yourself a little help along the way is essential to capturing hearts and minds in your interview.

Make notes on (short!) stories you want to tell to illustrate your message, along with your most important tips.

Put them on notecards that you can keep in front of you during the interview. It’s easier than you think to get caught in the moment and ramble or forget to give clear, valuable tips and resources.

4. Assume the position.

Listeners – whether live or tuning into a recording six months later – can feel your engagement through the ether.

How you impact others is directly related to your energy level. (And no, that doesn’t mean being boisterous if that’s not your natural style.) It’s about your presence.

The top two tips for upping your energy level?

• Stand up
• Smile

When stand and smile, you’ll project that energy and authority over the airwaves.

5. Give ‘em the good stuff.

You might be tempted to hold back your best techniques and tools for your paying customers.

DON’T!

Give any idea, tip or resource that can help someone.

You’ll impress listeners more when you wow them than if you keep the amazing under wraps.

Plus, it’s good juju for you – the listener hears your amazing tip, tries it and the success spurs him to seek you out to get those killer results on the reg.

Interviews are a power-packed method to get your message heard and elevate your profile. (And don’t forget to keep the magic flowing, once the interview is over by doing stuff like this.)

Your fame boosting assignment:

Practice giving good interview this week. Whether it’s a regular ol’ phone conversation with a lead or client, or it’s a bona fide interview for the air waves, put these five tips into action.

I can hear the applause already.