How to Get Celebrity Interviews

If you host a show on BlogTalk Radio or elsewhere, one way to increase your exposure is by interviewing well-known people or celebrities. So how does one go about finding these guests?
As a veteran talk show host here are some of my tips:

• Find the Celebrity Representative: Once you determine who you're interested in interviewing, you'll have to do some research to find the best connection. It could be a Publicist or Agent and they should have a public email address. That's who you would send a request to asking for the interview. When writing, give the name of your show as well as the focus of your interview and a brief explanation as to why their client would make a great guest. You might also include a link to your show (or show's website) so they can check you out before they decide to follow up.
• Put Yourself in a Position to be Found: Publicists and Agents are always looking to get media exposure for their clients and have their own methods of searching. Make yourself easy to be found through self-promotion. This includes putting out press releases announcing your shows, using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging as well as asking others to help you promote.
• Stay Up-to-Date: Keep up with current events involving celebrities. Perhaps they've written a book they want to promote or get some publicity for a new CD or movie. Actor Hill Harper made the rounds on BlogTalk Radio while promoting one of his books. If you stay on the look-out for these types of announcements, you may be able to score a great guest.
• Use HARO: Help A Reporter Out. This site gives journalists an opportunity to seek out interview subjects. You can't put an S.O.S. out for one person but you can indicate you're looking for celebrity interviews for a specific topic. You never know who may respond.
• Be Professional: When sending your request to the appropriate person make it professional, which means making sure you use correct spelling and grammar. Nothing looks worse than representing yourself as a media person and you don't have a good command of the English language.
• Be Flexible: If you really want the interview but your celebrity guest can't do it on the day you want, be flexible and offer some alternatives. If that doesn't work, ask them to give you a day and time that will work best. If they schedule a day and time with you but have to CANCEL at the last minute, give them an opportunity to re-schedule as opposed to getting angry and vowing never to interview them.

The important thing to remember is not to be intimidated by their celebrity status. Some celebrities are eager to get publicity and if you are a good interviewer who comes across as professional, you could soon land the interview of a lifetime.