Radio

Basically, ditto for radio, except whereas average person is, generally, financially restricted to local television (regional at best), you can (and should) approach radio, literally, on a worldwide basis. How?

Well, radio has as much, if not more, of an advantage because most interviews today, can (and are) conducted via telephone, thus, eliminating your need to travel and incur expense. I, personally, have done almost 100 radio interviews promoting one particular product, or another.

Following up your initial contact, same way as you do with television, once your radio interview is scheduled, you wait by phone on date scheduled. By all means, if you have small children in your home, try to arrange for them to be in a different location during your interview. Also, try to eliminate as much noise as possible within your own environment, outside and inside your home.

Another thing, is that station pays for phone call. The producer/news director will call you approximately 10-15 minutes ahead of time and have you wait while they "set-up" show. During this time, you will be able to hear outgoing program, as well as hearing incoming program you are to be a guest on. You will also hear them introduce you to their listenership.

If it is your first time being interviewed, whether on radio or television, chance is good that you will be nervous. But, don't let this hold you back because once virgin interview is done, you are generally comfortable from that point forward.

Again, I have an incredible amount of fun doing both radio and television interviews. My interviews via radio have been as far away as South Africa to date, while I sit in comfort of my own home in Texas.

Below are several web sites where you can have access to radio stations, followed by a research of their programs. The web site addresses listed at numbers 3 and 4, also contain television contacts. What you want to locate, are radio stations with formats of "Talk" and/or "Interview." With television stations, simply review their online schedules, much as you would a local television guide.

1. http://www.radiodirectory.com

2. http://www.radio-directory.com

3. http://ajrnewslink.org

4. http://www.gebbieinc.com

If you are not utilizing television and radio mediums to bring attention to your business, products, or services, you are, indeed, doing yourself a tremendous injustice.

So, there you go. Knock yourself out and have an abundance of fun with media that most people are unfamiliar with or unaware of how to take complete advantage of.

With all those choices, audiences are split in much smaller groups. TV outlets can't charge near as much for commercials as they did back in old days. In lots of markets TV ad prices are lower than radio's and far lower than daily newspaper's.

One place to get very effective and low-cost TV commercials is through your local public television station. It's an option that most of us overlook, but some savvy marketers are using with great results.

Public television is dealing with big cuts in their funding. Federal funds, which have always formed a small part of their budget, are drying up and stations are having to look elsewhere for money to buy programs.

It used to be that a program sponsor only got a very short, basic promotional line at beginning and end of program. It had to go something like "This program made possible through a grant from Jim Bakery, where bread is always fresh." Now FCC has relaxed those requirements allowing pubic TV sponsorship lines look more like full-featured commercials.

Call your local public TV station and ask about their sponsorship policies and opportunities. Because cost of your "ad" is seen as a donation, your promotional expense is tax deductible.

You also build awareness and goodwill in community when you support public broadcasting. You can bet movers and shakers in your town will notice. Public broadcasting's audiences are well education and high income.

As a final piece of advice, remember that a TV station's lowest prices probably aren't published. You will have to call sales manager at station to get them. Expect far lower prices when your ads run outside prime time or in packages of multiple commercials.