How to use a theme or piggy back your way on to a radio show

Getting on radio and television is hard enough as it is, so you can use all the advantages you can get. One huge advantage is being able to use a theme or something going on nationally and piggyback your way on to the radio or TV. These huge national stories are going to be on regardless, so ride your way on with them if you can.

Piggybacking is a big deal. You can use all kinds of studies and statistics, and combining that with piggybacking, gets you on radio or television. If you want to look for a study or statistic you can piggyback look at USA Today on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

If you want to use a theme or piggy back your way on to a radio or television show, try the following:

Ok, start by checking out USA Today on Tuesday and Wednesday and look at the statistics, and at trends in things they are reporting.

Then, you need to call at the right time

You need to quote some of the stats and studies when you are pitching, it gives you instant credibility. However, when giving these stats, you have to be brief. The newsroom is busy. You have to be worth their time. From the second you start talking they are going to start assessing you. Is this person credible? Is it worth my time to send my crews? I have to have four stories today. Is this person going to give me the goods? So, If you can quickly throw in some stats, and not too much info mind you, you are going to get their attention.

They use stats all of the time to grab a viewer's attention, and you are going to use it to grab theirs. When you watch the news, you see things like:"Coming up, half of Americans have it.you're probably one of them, and it's killing you. Find out what it is, and how to fight back, next." They are talking about stress, and yet, their viewer has to keep watching to find that out.

So, you have to use the same approach when pitching. Call in, make sure it is a good time to talk, then say, "I have a great story pitch." Then you say, "Did you know more than (blah blah blah)" This is where you use the stat. Then you say, "I happen to be an expert on this, and have some great tips on how to (blah blah blah)." This is going to catch their attention. You have pointed out a problem, and said you have some solutions for it. Now you say, "If it works for you today, I would love for you to come out, Do you need my phone number?" There you go, you piggybacked your way on to a radio show using a statistic.

Now, do the same with themes. There are tons of themes, tax time, summer heat, gas prices, food, Christmas shopping, school, etc. So find a theme that people are interested in at the time (for example, Christmas shopping is not a theme that will be good to try and piggy back on in August, but in December it is great.). Then, find a great way to tie your service into the theme. It does not even have to be a great connection. For example, if the theme that is going on is spring cleaning, and you are a financial planner, you can talk about how people can "clean up their credit". If you are a school teacher you can do tips for "cleaning up your writing, schoolwork, backpack, whatever." The idea is simple, use the theme, tie in, and you make everyone happy. There are plenty of ways to play on themes, and it is always a good idea. So, use it.

Now that you know the tricks of piggybacking your way on to a show, tomorrow you will learn the best ways to pitch to a tv or radio program.