Here are some tips for our phone-in guests to help them prepare for their interview.

1. As a phone in guest you should ensure that no unsuitable background noise can be heard on air.

2. Never use a speaker phone. Speaker phones do not provide the editing team with broadcast quality sound and should not be used. 3. Most phone in guests find it helpful to stand when being interviewed because it helps to project the voice and have a glass of water handy in case of an unexpected frog in the throat.

4. Make notes of the key points that you want to make before you go on air.

5. Be a good listener and try to respond to the actual question. Often there is no time for digression and answers should be as factual and succinct as possible so that our audience can get the maximum from your time on air.

6. The most appropriate tip for a radio phone in guest is to 'speak in sound bites'. This means that you should put your key messages into short, sharp sentences that the listeners will be more inclined to remember. Phone-ins aren't usually the place for digression unless your interviewer encourages you to provide anecdotes or examples to back up your points.

7. Make sure that you have energy and enthusiasm in your voice but don't overdo it. Record your voice before-hand and listen to the play back so that you have a real idea of how your voice will sound on air. Would this voice tone keep your attention and make you warm to the speaker's personality if you were listening to the show?

8. Radio hosts prefer guests who have something perceivably distinctive and recognisable about them because they know this will keep their audience entertained. Try to establish your 'radio persona' and if you are successful this recognition will rapidly build your public relations.