I spent some time on the phone recently being interviewed for an upcoming podcast.

Took about an hour including the chit-chat before and afterwards. took me about 20 minutes to prep my answers to the questions beforehand.

The podcast will probably reach a few thousand people. Maybe more, maybe less.

More importantly, I get a copy of the audio and can use it however I want. I can pop it on my website and send a link to it to selected contacts. It'll give them some useful information and will raise my credibility with them.

If you get the chance, I thoroughly recommend being interviewed like this. It only takes a little time and you can use the material as a great credibility booster.

But what if you don't get the chance? What if no one asks you to be interviewed for their podcast or radio show?

Do it anyway. Don't wait to be asked.

Write down 6 questions that you can answer in your field of expertise that will be valuable for your potential clients to know (valuable to them I mean, of course – not just you).

Then get a friend to ask you the questions as an interview and record the conversation. Either on Skype, a teleconference service or with an audio recorder.

Post the interview on your website. Send it to potential clients with a “thought you might find this useful” cover note.

Value + Credibility.

Whatever you do, don't think “sounds like a good idea but…I bet it won't sound professional enough”.

Wait for “professional” and it'll never get done.

Wait for “professional” and your potential clients will already be working with your competitors who sent them useful information with “amateur” production values.

If you think your clients value professional production values more than the quality of the content you're either underestimating them, or you're working with the wrong clients.

Don't wait to be asked. Don't wait for professional.

Make something good quick and get it into the hands of people who will value it.