You’ve got a great radio show, but you want to make it even better. How do you make those interviews with your great guests really pop? Here are my top 5 tips for a great interview.

Tip #1. Know Your Guest

You had to have some reason to have this person on your show, so presumably you know something about them, but the more you know, the more likely you are to get the kind of interview you want. You don’t need to know what kind of tea the drink (unless you are interviewing them in person) but you do need to know about the subject you will be asking them about. Listen to other interviews they have done if you can. Read their book, or at least a synopsis. Check out their website. Who is this person, and what do they have to offer to your audience?

Tip #2. What do your listeners want to know?

You have a lot in common with your audience or they wouldn’t listen to your show. What things do you really want to know about this guest and/or their subject? Whether it is personal or professional, if you want to know it, then your audience probably does too. What first intrigued you about this guest? Why did you want them on your show? Use your most burning questions to get your audience what they want to hear.

Tip #3. Have your Questions Ready

Often guests will have a list of questions they would like to be asked. If you your burning questions aren’t on their list, send your questions to them. Unless you like controversy on your show or enjoy shocking guests, it is best that both parties know what will get asked. It is fine to have follow up questions on the same subject, just don’t hit them with things like, “So, I hear you are getting a divorce!” unless you never want to interview this person (or any of their friends) again. Use your list of questions to keep you on track during the interview.

Tip #4. Set Your Audience’s Expectations

What do you want your listeners to get out of this interview? Make sure in your advertising beforehand that you set your audience expectations accordingly. If they come in expecting a hard hitting interview and you give them fluff, they won’t keep listening. If they are expecting a spiritual experience and you hit them with hard science, even about spirituality, it will jar them. Make sure that your audience expects the experience you plan to give them.

Tip #5. Know Your Guest’s Products/Books

Your guest is an expert in their field. Otherwise, why would you be interviewing them? Know enough about that field to ask intelligent questions. If their latest book just came out, take the time to read it. Your show isn’t all about selling, but if your audience is interested in the subject, let them know where they can get more if it. Make sure your guest knows that this interview is not all about selling. You want good information and something useful your audience can have now, not just hype and a promise of more if they buy something. The more information your audience gets, the more likely they are to want more. Make sure your guest knows that, too.