Are you an expert? Do you have a story to tell? Would you like to reach a larger, maybe even global audience with your expertise or insights? If you answered yes then you should consider subscribing to Peter Shankman’s HARO – Help a Reporter Out (TM) service.

Once or twice a day Shankman compiles a list of reporters looking for sources and sends it out to his database of subscribers willing to be sources. The format is simple. Each email lists all the ‘source’ opportunities at the beginning followed by more detail later in the post. This details describes the type of source the reporter is looking for and the outlet for the story which could be a national magazine, tv, blog post, radio interview, book or other outlet.

HARO always lists a large number of reporters seeking sources (35 in the last email) so chances are you’ll find someone looking for someone who needs somebody with your expertise or story to tell. It’s a great way to get exposure on a local to global level without having to do a whole lot more than read your email and respond as appropriate.

Joe Sabah is an industry icon. Founder of the Colorado Chapter of the National Speakers Association, Joe is a master of getting guest slots on radio talk shows. If you’ve written a book, developed a new product or have a business idea that you think might be of interest to a radio talk show’s audience then a great resource to turn to is Joe Sabah.

Joe is the author of How to Get On Radio Talk Shows All Across America Without Leaving Your Home or Office and has guested on hundreds of radio programs himself using his methods. He recently sent out a list of practical tips to make your radio interview pay off. I thought they were well worth sharing. I might also add that these tips can be easily adopted for podcasters as well…

Top 10 Telephone Tips to Make Your Radio Talk Show Pay Off Handsomely
— a gift from Joe Sabah

1. Have a glass of water handy (room temperature). When your throat is lubricated it’s easier to talk. Plus the water serves as a “cough button” if needed.

2. Stand while speaking. Pretend you’re presenting a seminar. Your voice will carry further. And you’ll sound more animated.

3. Have a copy of their state map on your wall. Refer to cities in the radio station’s surrounding area. This helps make you feel like you are “one of them.” I once made the mistake of referring to South Bend as “South Bend, Indiana.” The host reminded me that I was talking on a radio station in South Bend, Wisconsin. Oops!

4. Listen to their weather and traffic report. This allows you to personalize your presentation. For example: When I was being interviewed on WHIO in Dayton, Ohio I noticed during the breaks they were referring to their metro area as “the Miami Valley.” So it became a natural for me to say “I believe we can help some folks in “the Miami Valley” get their perfect job this afternoon.” What a difference the right words make.

5. Get your listeners involved. For example, before the last commercial break I ask them to get pencil and paper to write down the three tips I guarantee will turn every job interview into a job offer. Then they have pencil and paper ready when I later give out my 800 number.

6. For those who are driving around without writing tools handy, ask your host if the listeners can call the station for the 800 number. As soon as you’re off the air, you call the station’s receptionist and give her or him your 800 number plus the title of your book.

7. Give the host some quotes from your book to use as segues. I offer quotes like: “Are You Singing The Song You Came To Sing?” And “If You Do What You’ve Always Done, You’ll Get What You’ve Always Gotten. Is That Enough?”

8. After the host uses these Inspirational Postcard Quotes on the air, I also offer them to listeners who order my book. Another bonus to increase orders.

9. Always thank both the host and the producer for the good job they are doing. After the show, also send each of them a handwritten note of thanks and an offer “Let’s do it again.”

10. You may also want to record your show by using a device available at most phone center stores, that will record both sides of the interview. Then listen to your show to see how you can improve the next one. Keep on learning.

Thanks Joe for the great tips! (Check out Joe’s website at www.sabahradioshows.com.)

…then you might want to give a read to Gina Trapani’s Press release mashup post on the topic at her personal weblog, “Scribbling.net“. Why do you care what Gina has to say. Mmmm, maybe because she’s editor of one of the most influential blogs on the planet (don’t take my word, Time says you can’t live without it!).

Don’t want to click around, Gina’s advice, if you want to grab her attention, is very simple:

Send them an email in the following form: “Hey there, this new product X does Y for folks who need Z. Check it out at http://link.com.”

Got it? Good.