Create Your Show

You probably have ideas for your new show. The first thing to do is focus and clarify those ideas.

First, what qualifies YOU to host a syndicated radio show? Are you an expert in something? Do friends say you've got the "gift of gab"? Is there a subject you feel passionate about? Do you like discussing ideas and sharing opinions with others? Do you enjoy entertaining people? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you can host a syndicated radio show. There are syndicated radio shows on topics as diverse as alternative health, scuba diving, healthy herbs, politics, spirituality, computers and the Internet, small business, pets, law, dating, and the list goes on and on. There are successful hosts who never hosted a radio show before getting into syndication.

What's the theme and concept of your show? Check out the competition in The Database. Try to find a unique niche for your show. Be as original as possible. For example, if you want to do a health talk show, decide what might make your show different from other health talk shows.

How can you best apply your special knowledge, talents, and qualities on the air? In other words, play to your strengths and decide if your show should be two-way telephone talk, guest interviews, or something else. Will you have a co-host? Will you script everything, or do a stream-of-consciousness monologue? Will the show be funny, serious, or a little of both? And so on.

Will your show be broadcast daily or weekly? Consider your time, your resources, and your budget too. A daily show obviously takes more of each than a weekly show, especially at the beginning. You may want to start with a weekend show and then expand later to a Monday through Friday schedule.

Will your show be a short feature vignette, or a program that's one-, two-, three-hours long, or longer? Think about your goals in doing the show, and don't assume you need to do a long show in order to achieve them. If you decide to do a long show, consider starting with one hour and building from there.

Will your show be live via satellite, will it be recorded and distributed via download or CD, will it be heard on the Internet, or some combination? Aside from the logistics, content, and expense, this decision can affect your lifestyle. A recorded show makes it easy for you to work where and when you want. A live show requires you to be someplace every day or week, at a scheduled time. However, thanks to technology, you can do a live show from just about anywhere. Internet radio is fairly easy and affordable to do, but the listeners and revenue can be elusive.

What will you name your show? Search The Database, and also consider spending a few bucks on a copyright search (there are web sites that make this easy), to make sure your show's name isn't already in use. A common approach in syndication is to give short feature vignettes somewhat unique names, while long talk or music shows are named for the host or hosts, as in "The Harry Smith Show." But a more creative name for a long show works well too, as long as it explains the theme of the show to listeners.

How will you make money from your show? Besides advertising revenue from selling commercials within your show, there are other cash streams you'll want to explore. For example, you might find an affinity advertiser who wants to be an umbrella sponsor for your show, as well as for your related activities, such as your speaking appearances. Example: if you do a show on pets, a pet food company might want to be an affinity sponsor. You can also make money by selling tapes of your shows, by publishing a listener newsletter, by writing a book, by doing a related TV show, and so on. Our Audio Seminars take a detailed look at the rewarding ways to profit from your syndicated radio show.