Marketing on Radio – The Secret is in the Follow Up

Radio and TV shows are always on the search for great topics that relate to their listeners. Sometimes we stumble on a great guest and other times they stumble upon us.

If you have an idea for a radio segment, you have to email the show host or the producer and pitch your interview idea.

BUT what do you do if you never hear back?

I'm really glad you asked.

The secret is always in the follow up. And I was just reminded of this lesson this morning. Here's what happened:
Last week, a local dental hygienist sent an email mentioning that April is oral health month and she had some great ideas to share with my listeners when it comes to taking care of their teeth.

Luckily she emailed both myself and my co-host Jayne, because when I read the email I thought this would be a great topic so I emailed her back and asked if she could join us on the radio.

Then I waited and I never heard back. And of course I moved on to more emails.

Jayne followed up with her again yesterday and it turned out, she never received my email invitation to be on the show. Lucky all the emails have gone through and she will be on the air with us tomorrow morning to discuss oral health month.

I went back to look at the email I sent her and guess what – turns out I screwed up and actually never sent the reply! I thought I did…but something else must have come up while I wrote the email and I ended up not sending it.

So always feel free to send an email to a host or producer…and if you don't hear anything, follow up again within a few days. Often times we might think you have a great topic – but we just don't get back to you and then it falls off our radar.

So always follow up – with an email – or even a quick phone call.
Good luck Pitching your local media!
Wayne