Broadcasting on the Internet: Before the Show

Before you start your BlogTalkRadio show, you should do a couple important things.

Publicize your show. If you have a blog or website, you should publicize your show there. Also, if you have an e-mail list, send your subscribers a notice that you're available to talk to them at a specified time. Be sure to include the URL for the show, or they won't know how to find you.

To find the URL, follow these steps:

1. Log into BlogTalkRadio.

2. At the top of the page click My Blog Talk Radio.

3. Click My Show Page.

4. Copy and paste your URL into your blog, e-mail, and whatever else you're using. Be sure to include the date and time.

Let your guest/interviewer know how to dial in.

If you're having someone interview you, or if you're interviewing someone else, they need to have the call-in number. For the purposes of the show, your guest is another caller. When the show goes live there are five lines you can use. The guest or interviewer should be the first line.

The call-in number for the show is listed on your show page.

Lists of Questions

Whether you are the interviewer, or you're having someone interview you, a list of questions can be a life saver. Remember, you're doing a program-length commercial, not 60 Minutes. Ideally, there should be no surprises. Any improvised questions should be logical follow-ons to questions already asked.

Next time: Doing the show.