By Laura Christianson

Anything can happen on talk radio – and it often does. Particularly when you’re a guest on a live call-in show.

Although callers are screened before they’re allowed on the air, many callers wander off track quickly, or they use the airtime as an opportunity to promote their particular philosophy.

Rabbit trails can be frustrating if you’re the guest author, because you’re on the line – along with the show’s host – to answer questions about your book. Some callers get so enamored with listening to themselves talk that you – the invited guest – get very little airtime.

Despite the fact that your guest appearance may turn out differently than you had anticipated, participating in a live call-in show is invigorating. Here are 8 tips for how to make the most of your experience:

When you guest on a live call-in show, make sure you have paper and pen in hand. Write down the caller’s first name when the host introduces the caller.

Listen carefully to the caller (even when the caller rambles), jot down the caller’s question(s), and make note of key “talking” points you can address.

When it’s your turn to respond, address the caller by name and reiterate the caller’s main point in one succinct sentence. You can say, “Susie, I hear you saying…”

Then respond to the question (or the caller’s implied question) concisely. If the caller rambles and you can’t make sense of what he or she is saying, you can respond, “Good point. That reminds me of…” and then bring the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Most callers just want to be heard. So listen carefully and empathetically.

At the end of the call, thank the caller warmly for participating.

Laura Christianson is the author of The Adoption Network, published by WinePress, and has been a guest on dozens of live radio call-in shows. Visit her at www.bloggingbistro.com.