How to Make The Most of Your Media Interviews

You finally get your break to give a television interview.  You are excited.  You are certain your phone is going to ring off the hook as a result.  Instead, only your mother calls to say she saw you on TV.  Oh, and she tells you really should cut your hair.  You expect your book sales to soar, but the numbers don’t improve.

What happened?  You say the reporter didn’t ask you the right questions.  Here’s what you need to know about interviewers and reporters:  It isn’t their problem they didn’t ask you the right questions.  Your media success depends more on your answers than on the questions.

Over the next week, I’m going to give you a series of media skills you need to become a Media Star — the kind of media guest who gets invited back.

1. Prepare. Know what points you want to get across in your interview.  Make a plan.  What do people need to know about your product, your service, your book or your news?  How can your information help them?  Most people are so excited about being on television, they forget to plan what they want to say or what they want to happen as a result.

Here’s an example.  I know a man who gets a fair amount of TV interviews, but doesn’t see an increase of new business nor a spike in his book sales.  He can deliver a good soundbite, but no one gets what he does or he how he can help them.

Judy’s Gold Star Action: Look for key words in the reporter’s questions to tap into with your answers.  Avoid sounding like a commercial for your products or service.  For instance, if you are on a book tour, don’t mention your book every other sentence.  Talk about what the viewers will learn and how the information can help them.

Stay tuned!

Judyth

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