6 PR Secrets To Maximizing A Media Interview
February 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
Pitching the media and landing interviews is a big part of a public relations campaign, but it is just one step in the process. Once your public relations firm has landed an interview for you it’s now your turn to spin the media opportunity into gold. Many people feel because they know their business so well that a media interview will be a no brainer. Well, think again. This is what you and your PR company have worked for, this is your chance to reach your market, grow your business, build your brand, sell your products and establish yourself as an expert in your field. Make sure you fully utilize each media opportunity that comes to you. The following are some media relations tips to follow to ensure that you maximize your media interviews:
1) KNOW YOUR TOPIC:. Find out what the scope of the interwar is going to be about. If you’re doing a phone interview, make yourself a cheat sheet that you can refer to. If you’re going to be on TV make sure you’ve reviewed your information, facts and practiced your particular point of view.
2) WARM UP: It takes most people at least ten minutes to warm up. If you have only a 3-5 minute interview, you want to practice until you are warmed-up in ten seconds. This is you, sitting around after a dinner party telling a great story to good friends. This is the “you” that will make a great interview. Practice with your associates, in the car, at the studio. Just talking and laughing with people, and especially putting others at ease, will do it.
3) IT’S YOUR EVENT. Imagine reframing the interview in your mind, to where you have invited these people in order to educate, inform, and entertain them. This will add vitality, power, and energy as you talk.
4) SHOW PASSION. Why are you there? Because you want to make money or sell books? Probably. But try this motivator instead: you’ve got a great story, secrets to share, tips to impart, and you want everyone to know about it. You REALLY BELIEVE what you’re saying, you’ve got the answers, and it’s fun to enlighten people. You have a mission. You want the public to know the truth. Passion will make you come across like a dynamic expert who has the answers, rather than simply a talking head.
5) LOOK TO THE PROBLEM. If you need a hint as to how to make your communication more vital and exciting, ask yourself – what problems did you (or your profession) solve in order to do this procedure, or write that book, or create that program? Tell us how bad the problem was, and how happy your clients are now that it’s solved.
6) BELIEVE IN YOUR MESSAGE. If you’re shy and you can’t believe in yourself that much in front of strangers and a camera, believe in your story, or your product, or your message. Can you help people? Can you make their lives better? The answer is yes! Believe in your message and that will come across in your interview.
Prepare, know your information, be enthusiastic, engage with the interviewer, and present yourself as a problem solver. Now, once you have those points covered, relax and have fun. Enjoy the process and the rest will take care of itself.
Copyright © Anthony Mora 2012
