Broadcast Your Brand

Since October 2005, I have hosted Indie Business Radio, a weekly Internet talk show offering practical strategies to achievement oriented Indies who are trading in the traditional corporate ladder to enjoy life and business on their own terms.

            

I launched the show as a new way to respond to the requests I receive for business success tips. In addition to sharing my knowledge, I can refer people to an audio link where they can enjoy my interview with an expert on the topic they are asking about. One day, I'll devote an entire show to the benefits of having your own radio show. In the meantime, here are some things to consider if you are thinking about broadcasting your brand on Internet talk radio.

1. Hosting a radio show builds your brand. It's important to offer great products and services, but after that, nothing is more important than establishing and building the brand you sell them under. After all, you're not the only one selling what you sell, so it's important to milk every branding opportunity for all it's worth. This is especially important if your business is Web-based because the more traffic you get at your branded sites, the more sales you will enjoy. A website that archives your Internet radio shows broadcasts your brand like nothing else can, and increases both traffic and sales.

2. Hosting a radio show is fun. Hosting a show is a great way to meet new and interesting people. Through my show, I have met Jack Canfield, Paula Deen, Julie Clark and other people who I would not have met but for the show. In fact, I think some of my guests only returned my email inquiry because I had a radio show. I have enjoyed conversations with interesting people as I also learned from them. And isn't that what life is all about?

3. Hosting a radio show is a great way to learn new things. To enjoy life to the fullest, you have to continue to learn new things. Hosting a radio show is an exciting way to do that because in hosting the show, you are forced to learn a little about a lot of things. For example, I knew little about search engine marketing before having Catherine Seda, a guru on the topic, on my show. Now, I know enough to have a coherent conversation on the topic. Likewise, I was struggling to be more organized when professional organizer Elizabeth Hagen was a guest. Today, I am a little more organized.

All of this is great, but just like everything else, being a radio show host is not for everyone. Aside from the obvious time needed to make a show interesting and successful, you also have to be comfortable talking to complete strangers. You must think quickly on your feet and it doesn't hurt if you are a naturally curious person.

Radio has no visuals so you have to be able to ask questions that stimulate your guests to display their knowledge and keep your audience tuned in and awake. You also have to be adept at directing the conversation where you want it to go. I didn't know how to do all of those things when I launched my show, proving that just about anything can be learned if the desire is there.

An increasingly popular way to host a show is podcasting. I have heard that a great book to get you started is Podcasting For Dummies by Tee Morris and Evo Terra. I chose to work with Global Talk Radio.com because they specialize in hosting talk radio shows and I didn't have the time (or the inclination) to learn about or buy the editing equipment needed to do it myself.

New technologies are born every day that make broadcasting your brand possible and cost effective. If you have benefited from an Internet radio show, please share your experience in the Comments section below. Also, if you are an Internet radio show host, please tell us about your show so we can tune in sometime.

Additional Resources

Global Talk Radio
World Talk Radio
WS Radio

Comments

[dM]

Earlier this year, I started having guest co-hosts on the show. If you are a member of the Indie Beauty Network and would like to be a guest co-host on Indie Business Radio, email me through this blog.

[dM]

Ellen:

Thank you for your interest in co-hosting Indie Business Radio. I will contact all of the Indie Beauty Network members who expressed an interest and start having guest co-hosts soon. Thanks again!

dM

[Eileen M. Reid]

How would that work? I mean how could we work together on the radio? I would definitely be interested - the last time I was on the radio was in college, but I loved it. And I have alot to say about alot of things, particularly the environment and organics...

[dM]

Lee Ann:

Welcome to Indie Business! I'd love to hear more about your traditional broadcast career. There are so many parallels to Internet radio. With your experience, you'd find it a breeze. Once you nail down your purpose and fit it into an online radio format, you'll be a perfect fit for it. I wish you the best!

dM

[Lee Ann Price]

I found you on press kits 24/7 and just want you to know that I love your message and your brand.
I don't have a radio show - yet. But, I believe that I will have one soon. I have hosted my own local television program and it was a blast. I've also been a talk show producer at a 50,000 watt radio station, so booking guests comes easy to me. I have been on an almost year long search for my purpose and I had forgotten about online radio. Thank you for reminding me.

Lee Ann