New Studio Has Launched!
We are happy to announce that the New Studio has moved out of beta and is now live on BlogTalkRadio. You can read more about the new design and features at the press release.
We’ve also put together several resources to help you quickly get familiar with the New Studio. These are available here.
And, if you have additional questions or would like to provide us with feedback, please feel free to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
We’re very excited to announce the Beta release of BlogTalkRadio’s new Studio!
BlogTalkRadio New and Improved Studio!
The new features and design make producing and promoting your show even easier. Over the next few weeks, we invite you to test the New Studio and get comfortable with it before it goes live. You’ll find more information on what you can expect during the Beta phase below.
The New Studio features:
- A virtual broadcasting Studio with a great new look and feel that’s easier than ever to use
- Enhanced switchboard and integrated audio management and chat features to help you better manage your show and engage your audience
- Integrated promotional tools that enable you to simply promote your show and grow your audience
- Improved audio upload and controls
- Ability to view and edit your episode information directly from the Studio
How to test the new Studio
During the Beta phase, you’ll have the choice of whether you want to use the new Studio or the current switchboard to host your shows. You’ll also be able to host additional test shows during this time period without having them count toward your daily episode limits. Just be sure to select “Test” under “Visibility” when scheduling your show. If you have yet to sign up as a host on BlogTalkRadio, this is a great time to start as the new Studio makes broadcasting like a pro even easier. (New hosts can sign up here)
Resources to help you get started
We’ve put together several useful Studio resources (User Guide, Screencasts, FAQs) to help you quickly get familiar with how things work. You can access these here.
We want your feedback
Since we’re still in Beta, please let us know if you run into any problems as you are testing the Studio or if you have any questions. You can email us directly at beta<at>blogtalkradio.com.
We hope you enjoy the new Studio!
From actors to athletes, divas to comedians, poets to politicians, these are the African American figures who’ve helped shape the face of our nation.
And throughout the month of February, BlogTalkRadio is honoring them with encore presentations of their most compelling interviews.
Welcome to 28 Days of Black History Makers, presented by AT&T.
The series got under way Feb. 1 with BET host Mo’Nique, who won an Oscar for her role in 2009′s Precious.
During the funnylady’s interview, she reflected on her most memorable complement surrounding that Oprah Winfrey- and Tyler Perry-produced film.
“The night of the permiere of Precious, I saw Sidney Poitier from my car,” she told The Breakdown Show hosts Audley Stephenson and Dave Mendonca.
“He was already on the red carpet. And I said to my husband, ‘Oh my God. There’s Sydney Poitier! I would love to meet him.’
“So now the movie’s over, everyone’s leaving… I’m almost the last person to leave the theater. And I turn around and my husband says, ‘Look who’s behind you.’ It was Sydney Poitier,” Mo’Nique continued. “And he says to me, ‘Young lady, I did not see one insecure moment in your performance.’ That was priceless coming from him.”
Mo'Nique: Kicked off Black History Month series.
To date, the series has also featured interviews with Spike Lee, Chilli, Evander Holyfield, Della Reese, Meadowlark Lemon and Stedman Graham.
Tune in tomorrow, and every day this month, to hear more prominent figures in the 28 Days series.
Click here to follow 28 Days of Black History Makers Series on BlogTalkRadio.
In our ongoing effort to help BlogTalkRadio’s many talented online radio hosts better produce and promote their shows, we’ve developed a new Quick Tips series.
Available as a downloadable doc, the first edition in the series covers 10 helpful tips for preparing for your show.
Covered among the Quick Tips—complete with helpful “dos” and don’ts”—are such topics as:
—Choosing the best episode title, episode description and keywords.
—Determining your show schedule: The importance of having a consistent show schedule.
—Why a show intro is important, and how to create one.
—The benefits of creating a show outline.
—How to load up audio files for music, sound effects and pre-taped interviews.
—The importance of test shows.
—How to optimize sound quality.
Click here to download the BlogTalkRadio Quick Tips document.
And be sure to visit the BlogTalkRadio Learning Center for more helpful information on creating, producing and promoting your BlogTalkRadio show.
Beginning today, BlogTalkRadio is sporting a new look, complete with functionality that makes finding what you want—and doing what you need—easier than ever.
Most notable is our new header (above), where hosts can simply create shows and listeners can quickly and easily find great content.
We have also launched a new registration process that makes signing up as a host or a listener a snap. And after registration, hosts and listeners alike will be welcomed with new landing pages that offer tips on how to get started and best utilize the tools and features available on BlogTalkRadio.
Once you’re logged in, a new drop-down box (right) offers a quick route to scheduling shows, accessing your account and switchboard, checking messages, connecting with friends, changing settings and upgrading to premium services.
Our footer (below) has changed, too. We have better organized content here so you can quickly do the things you want to do on the site: learn more, create content, get support, or follow BlogTalkradio.
In the coming months, we’ll continue to enhance our current tools, and build new ones, making it it even easier to produce online radio shows and a pleasure to tune in to them.
All of which—once again—helps make BlogTalkRadio the easiest way to create and share audio on the web.
If you have ideas for future features, be sure to let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Many hosts have asked me this question: What is the secret to getting great guests? 
Although hosts go about it many different ways, there are steps you can take to secure guests that you can be proud of, just by doing some extra work and being yourself. Charisma and persistence will take you a long way. BlogTalkRadio hosts who snag great guests did not always have connections, most had to learn this as well.
So, what steps should you take to get quality guests? Here are some tips and we encourage hosts who have found other methods to post their advice in the comments.
First, decide what type of guest you want and do a little research to find out who represents them. If your ideal guest is an author, his or her publishing company, as well as representation information, is often listed within the book (usually in the very front or back). If you are interested in a Hollywood celebrity, your best point of contact might be their PR representative. Find their contact information by searching the name of the celeb followed by PR, or establish a premium account with the Internet Movie Database. Premium accounts have access to the most accurate information (oh, and BlogTalkRadio is in no way affiliated with IMDB).
Next, make a list with every potential guest that comes to mind, from the easily accessible to the guest that seems out of reach.
Now, make contact! If you prefer to use email, here is an example of a format that works.
Dear (potential guest’s name),
My name is (your name here) from BlogTalkRadio.
I host a live, Internet Talk Radio show called (your show name here), and I would like to have you on my show to promote your new (book, screenplay, movie, cd). You can be a guest simply by using a telephone and a computer from anywhere in the world. You will have the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of listeners and I will promote your new (book, CD, movie, etc..) on my show page so my listeners can just click on it to purchase. We have hosted everyone from Obama to Brad Pitt. We would love to have you on the (name of show) sometime in the next few months. Let’s discuss a time. Is daytime or evening better? You can contact me at (phone number) or email me at (email address).
Sincerely,
(Your name)
Feel free to also use this basic approach over the phone. Be persistent!
Best of luck,
Christie Sweet