Are you doing your first in-studio TV interview? Are you coaching a client to do one? Here are 12 keys to making the appearance a success.

I presume of course that you have already done your preparation. You’ve become familiar with the program you’ll be on. You’ve prepared memorable messages that the audience will find interesting. You have a clear idea what your objective is in doing the interview.

Following these tips will enable you (or your client) to feel confident and in control of the situation from the moment you leave your home or office until you return. Having that confidence will help you stay focused on interacting with the interviewer to get your message across to the audience.

1. Find out from the station when you should arrive at the studio. Then give yourself an additional 15 to 30 minutes. You want to have plenty of time to use the restroom, have make up applied, get settled in the green room (the room where guests wait until it is time for their interview), and observe part of the program.
2. From the moment your leave for the studio until you return home, assume everything you say is being taped. I’m not trying to make you paranoid. Well, actually I am! In a world of video cell phones, everything you say could become public. So when you’re not actually in the interview, only say things you would be happy to hear on the air.
3. Wear summer or all-season weight clothes. Even though it may be snowing outside, inside under the lights will be plenty warm enough.
4. Shortly before going on, check you appearance. Otherwise, an off-center necktie, or a loose strand of hair shining in the light, may be more memorable than what you say.
5. Use your time in the green room for one more review of your messages, then relax. Shortly before your segment, do face exercises to loosen up your jaw, cheeks, and forehead. Smile!
6. Once you are on the set and “miked,” you’ll be asked for a sound check. Rather than replying with the usual “testing, one, two, three,” try this: Give your name, your organization, and something interesting about the topic you will be discussing. For example, if I were doing an interview about public speaking, I might say, “This is Lou Hampton of Speak to Lead dot com here with the answer to one of the most frequent questions speakers ask, ‘What do I do with my hands?’”
7. When you are being welcomed to the show, keep your eyes on the host, unless you have been instructed to look at a specific camera. Smile; lighten up the face by raising the cheeks and forehead. Once the interview begins, keep your focus on the interviewer throughout the interview. If there is more than one person, keep your eyes on whoever is talking. The “illusion” of TV is that the viewers are eavesdropping on a private conversation.
8. Start your first answer with the interviewer’s first name.
9. Be enthusiastic about your topic! Don’t expect viewers to be excited if you aren’t.
10. When the segment is over, stay seated and keep focused on the host until you’re told it’s okay to get up.
11. Thank the appropriate folks, gather whatever you left in the green room, and exit the studio.
12. On the ride back think about what went well. Then think about anything you might do differently the next time you’re interviewed.

And now to keep you focused, I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access 400-year-old tool I’ve adapted to help you stay on message by visiting this site

From – Lou Hampton, The QuoteAbility(tm) Coach and Speak to Lead.com

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Tags: interviews, media, media relations, tv, press

Even the best products and companies can fall into some sticky situations. How do you deal when the media wants to talk to you about it?

Achieving trust is the aim of anyone practicing public relations. The most practical consideration in achieving trust is through your dealings with the news media – anything less than total honesty will destroy credibility, not only for you personally, but for your company as well. The news media will be depending on you as a source to provide honest information about your company that they, in turn, convey to their readers and listeners.

So what to do when you’re under fire?

Above all, prepare in advance, and keep your cool. This is true for every interview, but particularly when you have a difficult situation to discuss, you never want to come off as angry, embarrassed or flustered.

In all your dealings with the press, if you don’t know the answer to something, the only acceptable way to address this is to say you don’t know, but will look into it and see if you can find a response – then follow up in a timely fashion. Never make up an answer to something you don’t know or about which you are unsure. And if there is something that you simply wish not to answer, you can simply say that the particular information requested is not available at this time.

If the journalist presses, you are under no obligation to provide a response. You can utilize a technique called “bridging,” in which you use the line of questioning as a way to turn your response into something positive. For example, “That information is not available at this time, but what I can tell you is that we have a new line of products about which we are very excited.”

Sometimes a reporter will inaccurately cite information; this may be a way to trick you. Only deny the accuracy of the information – do not correct it unless it helps your story.

Remember, what may seem beneficial in the short- term, could come back to haunt you down the road. It is far better to build a long-standing and trustworthy relationship, than to jeopardize your credibility for immediate gain.

Visit this site for more resources on how to handle your do-it-yourself publicity campaigns. Regina Novickis is co-founder of Media Tonic and this web. A seasoned public relations executive with more than twelve years of experience managing brand positioning, public relations and media relations efforts on behalf of consumer/entertainment clients, she has secured coverage for clients in every genre of national press ranging from USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Time and Newsweek, to Self, Marie Claire, GQ and Maxim, to “Entertainment Tonight,” “The View” and NBC’s “Today” show.

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Tags: tips, media, interviews, publicity, news

One of the best ways that you can promote and get word out about your business is to start writing some press releases. They can provide a type of promotion that is hard to find anywhere else, and they are proven to not only help get the word out, but they bring in traffic and also can enhance your rankings within the search engines as well. Of course it is important to understand what they are, how they work, when to use them, and of course how to write one as well.

Understand What Press Releases Are

The first thing you need to do is get a good grasp on what press releases are today. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they are just like an article. Articles are very different and they are written about areas of interest that are in some way related to your business.

However, a press release is a piece of writing that is written about a newsworthy achievement or announcement from your business. Press releases talk about what you’ve done, what you’re going to do, and things like new websites, new blogs, free products you’re offering, conventions you’re sponsoring, or the fact you just had your 10,000th client.

Know When to Use Them

It is also imperative that you know when to use press releases to get the word out about your business as well. You should work to use them as often as you can; keeping about one press release going out a month is a good rule of thumb. This will keep your business in the public eye and will notify people about your successes and achievements. Just make sure that you choose something to write about that is news-worthy or your press releases will probably be rejected.

Tips for Writing a Press Release for Your Business

Wondering how to write a press release for your business that will really have great results? Here are a few tips that can be a huge help to you.

- Tip #1 – Include Important Information – First of all, it is important that you include the important information in the press release. You should include the who, what, when, why, and how in the release.

- Tip #2 – Make the Headline a Winner – The headline of your press release has to be a winner. If you can’t grab the attention of the reader with the headline, they may not go on to read the rest of the release. So, work hard to come up with a headline that will grab their attention quickly.

- Tip #3 – This is Not a Sales Letter – Remember that a press release is not a sales letter. This is not the time to use persuasive and sales terms within the text. It should be written like a news article, with the facts and a perspective that is not partial.

- Tip #4 – Only Include Facts – Only the facts should be included in your press release. Avoid hype or including anything that is not absolutely true.

- Tip #5 – Provide Your Contact Information – Last of all, it is so important that you include your pertinent contact information. The press release will be no good if you don’t have the contact information filled out. Include a web address, email address, and if you want to, a phone number and mailing address as well.

Chris Simpson is dedicated to helping people find honest and legitimate work at home and home based business opportunities. Find legitimate home based work today here

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Sometimes it seems easier to discuss what not to do when working with the media than it is to cover the “to do’s”. There’s a bit more leeway in the latter, whereas the “not to ever do’s” are pretty firm.

Here are some examples:

• Do not blindly blitz reporters with press releases. Know who you’re contacting and what they cover.

• Read the publication before you send out a press release. Make sure the magazine, trade publication, website or e-newsletter deals with the type of news you’re sending.

• Never assume that media lists are current. Editors and reporters move around a lot, especially lately as staffs are cut back. A media list can be out of date in a matter of weeks. Get on the phone and confirm that your contact is still there, covering the same beat.

• Find out how different editors like to receive news. Most prefer e-mails but others have no problem listening to a short pitch on the phone.

• Speaking of short pitches, that’s a must! Journalists are busy with interviews,fact checking and deadlines. They don’t have time to listen to a rambling dialogue. Know what you want to say and get to the point quickly. 30 seconds is ideal. Don’t waste the media’s time.

• If you’re emailing a release, craft a subject line that says “open me”. Try and come up with something clever… something that will stand out in an inbox filled with a few hundred emails.

• Lose the fluff. Write simply and succinctly. If you load up a release with hackneyed adjectives, your hard work will end up in the trash.

• Keep the body of your email short, to-the-point and tightly focused. Use bullet points to break up copy. Keep it to less than a page, if possible, and make it easy for a reporter to scan for the highlights.

• Include contact info in case you’re fortunate enough to get your email opened and catch a writer’s interest. Include office and cell numbers and email addresses.

• If a writer does contact you and leaves a message, respond quickly. That means ASAP…evenings, weekends, after hours. Journalists can work round the clock. If you don’t respond, you may not get another chance.

• Do not call and ask an editor if “she received your release”. You won’t make a friend. You’ll annoy a busy journalist. Do follow up to see if you can supply any additional information or if you have some relevant news that came out after you sent your release.

• Just because an editor picks up the phone doesn’t mean she has time to talk to you. If you listen, you’ll often detect a harried (or hurried tone). Ask if this is a good time to talk or if you should call back. Respect the other person’s time.

Public relations is not about sending out press releases. It’s about building relationships with the media in the hope that they’ll cover your product or service….at some point in time. It may not necessarily be on your time schedule. And that’s the tough part.

However, if you’re honest, respectful of a reporter’s time, responsive and professional, you’re moving in the right direction. Now be prepared to face some rejection (it’s part of the business), learn to think on your feet when you first angle doesn’t click. And don’t expect immediate results. PR takes time. But when it clicks, it’s all worthwhile.

Rickey Gold & Associates is a small, savvy Chicago-based marketing communications firm. They craft marketing messages that turn prospects into clients….and keep them coming back. The firm is the Lincoln Park Chamber 2007 Small Business of the Year. Visit this site.

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Tags: campaign, pr, marketing, advertising, interviews

It’s amazing how powerful a bit of advertising in the press can be. The public seems to take the printed word as the gospel truth! If you manage to get your work published, you’ll find that your credibility goes up enormously. It’s been proven that coverage by the media is more powerful than advertising in the press by 100% at least.

TV shows like “A Current Affair” have a massive influence on people’s perceptions and buying habits. A while ago, one of our clients appeared on “A Current Affair”. He runs a large mortgage introduction company. After his organization’s phone number was quickly flashed up on the screen, the phones rang hot.

As a result of that TV appearance, they received 10 times as many phone calls for the month and, even some four months later, they are still generating business from that.

Another example is a client who had a unique kind of beauty product. She was lucky enough to appear on a TV morning show.

The same thing happened! Immediately after her number was flashed across the screen, her phones also rang hot. It even ruined her telephone system.

Another of our clients promotes investment seminars for property buyers. Because he ran ads in the paper each month he was allowed to submit an editorial. The responses tripled each time they advertised in the press and included an editorial, without fail.

We could give you many more examples that prove how powerful the press is!

However it is not easy to get this free publicity. You can submit numerous, even hundreds of press releases before you get published. But it is certainly worth all your time and effort when you do.

To increase your chances of getting published why not consider the following options:

1. Editorial – When you submit a press release which the publication editor thinks is newsworthy and decides to print it, or perhaps do an interview with you to find out more.

2. Advertorial – If you advertise in a publication they may allow you to put in an advertorial. Take advantage of this offer if it becomes available, as it is a fabulous opportunity.

3. Submit articles – Certain magazines ask for articles to be submitted by writers. This is a great opportunity to get your name out there as a creditable authority

Remember when you are conducting a Public Relations campaign that your article has to be NEWSWORTHY, otherwise it has no chance of getting published.

For more information and tips on how we can help you put together a fabulous press release, or if you just want a second opinion on one you already have, go to Site

Kristina is a successful and internationally acclaimed Copywriter, Internet Entrepreneur, Author and Speaker. Kristina has also pioneered many business success stories.

Words that Sell services and products include:

Secrets of Freelance Copywriting Success course
Website Copywriting Mastery course
Direct Mail Copywriting Mastery course
Press Release writing
Direct Response Copywriting
Proposal writing
Yellow Pages ads
Website and SEO content writing
Newsletter writing

Visit this Site

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Tags: press, pr, publicity, interviews, media

If we use a “preventative medicine” approach to healthy media relations, we need to identify the top 10 public relations errors we want to avoid. Here are your “PR Doctor’s” top 10 public relations errors to avoid.

1. Not using a strategic thinking approach to develop a strategic public relations plan.

2. Not building and maintaining ongoing positive relationships with editors, reporters, et al within your targeted media coverage areas.

3. Failure to maintain and update media lists to ensure up to date contact information for the media.

4. Using “form letter” or “generic email” to contact the media.

5. Failure to use “targeted” media lists when pitching journalists.

6. Not being accessible, responsive or easy to contact by journalists.

7. Failure to provide easy-to-access information for the media.

8. Duplication of contacts from your organization to the same journalists.

9. Failure to analyze and measure news coverage from your public relations efforts.

10. Failure to say thank you!

After reading the above list, do any of these errors apply to you and/or your public relations efforts? If you answered Yes, there is good news. There are “antidotes” for these errors.

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 250 articles on business.

To find out more about the benefits & rewards of effectively working with a strategic thinking business coach, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website.

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Tags: Media relations,coverage, media, press, interviews

Press releases are another nifty, inexpensive tool which can help to quickly promote your web site or business. With the advent of web-based PR distribution services, press releases have become a much more popular means of distributing newsworthy content than ever before.

“When Should I Use a Press Release?”

Press releases aren’t for any old news story — they’re typically saved for major company developments and are not written like advertisements. The main purpose of a press release is to communicate essential information about a newsworthy story to media outlets. Journalists, bloggers, and other interested parties use your release to gather background research for articles that they plan to write.

Not everything is news. If you don’t think you could get an unbiased person interested in your story, don’t use a press release. Also remember that press releases are not hard-sell advertisements.

Some typical events covered by press releases:

* Release of a new product and/or service

* Recap of an event that has taken place or will take place

* Opening of new offices or stores

* Publication or re-design of a web site

* Company mergers or acquisitions

The Benefits of Press Releases

Press release marketing is a great idea for a number of reasons.

* Press release marketing is inexpensive. Most web-based PR distribution services are completely free, which means that if you are confident in your ability to write your own release, the campaign won’t cost anything. Even if you decide to outsource the article to a freelance copywriter, most charge inexpensive rates as the articles typically aren’t very long and don’t require hours of background research. Click here to get a quote on a press release.

* Press releases can generate exponential exposure. In the ideal press release campaign, several different news outlets will use your release to write an army of articles which all publicize your business. In this manner, the information tends to spread itself among a variety of different sources without any effort on your part.

* Press releases can bolster your reputation. If your company is constantly the focus of newsworthy press releases, you better believe that prospects, journalists, and news editors are going to become more familiar with your name. A well-written press release can give your company a very professional image and make your name more recognizable. If you are quoted as a reliable expert within the press release, this can also serve to establish you as a leading authority in your niche, field, or industry.

* Press releases provide a source of new web content. Constantly updating your web site with new content can be a frustrating task. However, press releases are a great way to take care of this need. By frequently posting releases, you offer the visitors on your site some interesting information that will keep them there and increase your chances of a sale or conversion. Search engines also appreciate press releases and reward frequently updated web sites with higher rankings in their search results.

There you have it. If you’re interested in generating publicity, building your reputation, and increasing the number of sites that link to you, press releases can be a useful tool. With almost no monetary investment, you can start generating exposure for your company in as little as 24 hours.

Josh Geller is a freelance copywriter from New York.

Visit Brainstorm Copywriting to get a free quote on a professionally written press release.

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Tag: press release, press, marketing, publicity, interviews

Do you know what really irritates the media in general and reporters in particular? Many business people are totally uneducated as to how the media works and totally unprepared to deal with the media. And every day those people do things that totally irritate reporters. To help you become aware of and then avoid these irritating behaviors, your strategic thinking business coach has listed ten (10) tried and true ways to irritate reporters.

1. Submission of news releases and pitches for story ideas that are not appropriate for the targeted publication.?

2. Calling a reporter when the reporter is on deadline.

3. Failing to respond to an inquiry from a reporter in a timely manner.

4. Using jargon and buzzwords in a news release or when talking with a reporter.

5. Sending emails with unsolicited attachments.

6. Calling the reporter and asking if they received your news release and asking when it will run.

7. Being unresponsive to reporters when called with requests for basic information.

8. Refusing to accept a “no” response from a reporter when told they are not interested in your story idea.

9. Asking to review a reporters article prior to its publication.

10. Not being available to speak with reporters when you send out the news release.

If you would like to learn how to work effectively and positively with the media and how a strategic thinking business coach can facilitate and guide you in that endeavor, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website.
Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 250 articles on business.

To find out more about the benefits & rewards of effectively working with a strategic thinking business coach, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website.

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Tags: media, public relations, reporters, press, interviews

“Did you get my article in yet?” That question, when asked by a PR person or business owner, is enough to set a reporter’s teeth on edge. All it manages to convey to the reporter is that you don’t bother to read his or her publication or tune into their program. To give you a leg up in dealing with the media and in the spirit of learning from our mistakes, we’ve compiled a list of things never to do, when dealing with the media.

1. Ask “Did you get it yet?” It’s sort of the PR equivalent of a kid asking “Are we there yet?” All it does is waste time and irk the reporter. It is better to ask if the reporter has any questions about what was sent.

2. Ask “Can it run on the first page?” That’s like someone telling you how to run your business. Determining story placement is an editor’s job. It is presumptuous to ask them to run it in a certain location or to complain if you don’t like the placement.

3. Ask “If I buy an ad, will you run my story?” That’s bribery and any legitimate reporter will be offended. Save your advertising questions for the advertising department and your editorial for the report. Of course, if advertising offers to help you get free editorial (and you can ask them how to go about it if you’re buying an ad), that’s a different story. Grab it.

4. Don’t send a release about something the reporter doesn’t cover. Do your homework. Determine who is writing about your areas of expertise – and send your material to that reporter. That way the story will appear in the section of the paper that will be of most benefit to you.

5. Don’t bombard the paper with releases. Target your release to the people at the media outlet most likely to use it. If you don’t know, call the publication and ask an editorial assistant. You’ll be appreciated for doing so.

6. Don’t vanish. There is absolutely no point in sending out a release if you’re not going to be available for an interview. By hook or crook, make yourself available, find another spokesperson – or don’t bother sending a release.

7. Ask “Why wasn’t I quoted?” That’s questioning the reporter’s and paper’s judgment. Often times, you may have been cut out for space reasons by an editor. Better to work on your “quotability factor” by giving sound bites that are just too good to be cut.

8. Say “Call me when it runs” Read the publication or view the program and find out yourself when it runs. A reporter doesn’t want or need to be bothered.

9. Lastly, be considerate of their deadline, not yours! Most importantly, whenever you call on a reporter be courteous and ask if they have a few moments to speak with you if they are not on deadline. If they are, phone back later. The reporter will appreciate it and it will help you build your relationship with that person over time.

Wendy Marx is president of Marx Communications, a public relations and marketing communications firm that helps B2B companies and entrepreneurs build their brands through innovative promotional strategies. To learn more and sign up for her free marketing and PR tips, visit this site.

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Tags: media, public relations, reporters, press, interviews

Body language has been on display since caveman days. But people in business constantly overlook the tell-tale signals they send to reporters. When a journalist arrives at your office for an interview, they will be sizing you up from the moment you meet. Are you happy to see them? Are you relaxed? Have you offered them tea or coffee? Be open and enthusiastic. Resist the temptation to stand in the corner with your arms defensively crossed. For the reporter, this is like an open invitation to be hostile!

A much better option is to project warmth and sincerity. Greet the reporter with a smile, a firm handshake and steady eye contact. Show genuine interest in the reporter and their work. If they warm to you, you’ll be less likely to face negative questions.

Once the interview is underway be aware that the reporter will interpret certain body language isigns. These include:

crossed arms: defensive

eye rubbing: doubt, disbelief

hand to cheek: evaluation, thinking

ear pulling: indecision

open palm: sincerity, honesty

tilted head: interest

seated legs apart: relaxed, open

pinching nose bridge: negative evaluation

locked ankles: apprehension

patting hair: insecurity

tapping fingers: impatience

During television interviews, be sure to look at the reporter not at the camera. This is the most commonly asked question during media training workshops. Also, try to be expressive and open with your hands. Lean forward in the seat to project enthusiasm. And most of all, be positive – smile regularly to convey confidence and sincerity.

Media Trainer Greg Ward is a freelance journalist and media consultant. Greg’s website offers a variety of tips, articles and links aimed at anyone preparing for a news interview or presentation.

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Tags: body language, tips, news, interviews, skills

One great way to create public relations and Internet community goodwill for your online business is to do interviews of people in the industry. This does two things; first, it makes you look good being associated with other people that you are interviewing and it makes you look like you know what you are doing and you are well connected in the industry so you must be very good and even an expert in the field or industry sub sector.

Additionally, it makes the other person look good and that means they are more likely to network with you in the future on industry projects and that can bring value to your business future sales. It adds one more important word-of-mouth advertiser in the industry funneling business your way. Creating PR by way of interviews is a very smart business tactic in marketing because it is a win-win situation for both the interview were and the interviewee.

What some people do not realize is that often in the interviewer can end up with more publicity, public relations and Internet community goodwill than the interviewee. Often the interviewee is someone who is very popular and already well known in the industry and that is the reason that they picked them to do the interview in the first place. By being associated with this person it upgrades their status in the industry as well.

The good thing about using interviews for PR is it also separates you from the interviewee in case sometime in the future the interviewee has any negative political or unfortunate negative press. After all you are not associated with them or aligned with them anyway because you merely did an interview. So interviewing people for public relations and marketing is a very smart idea and something you might consider in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online ThinkTank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: internet, media, public relations, interviews, pr

Have you thought about using radio to spread your message? Did you know you could? Just follow these simple – The Radio Rules.

Rule #1 – Water Cooler Talk

Radio shows don’t want to make you filthy stinking rich unless they get something out of the deal. They want a great interview that generates water-cooler talk all over the city. The most important phrase to a radio host is… “Did you hear the guest Wayne Kelly had on his radio show today?” This kind of PR is priceless. If you can help a radio show achieve it, you will be booked.
You have heard radio and TV promote books, gadgets, TV shows or, people with wild achievements…but how can YOU get on? You may have a new Internet site or maybe you are a life coach. If you can entertain while educating, you can get on the radio. This leads us to…

Rule #2 – Solve a Problem

If you don’t have a specific topic that can get you on radio, start with this question. How can you solve a problem for the masses? Don’t look too far for this answer as it is right under your nose. What is the most common problem or question you hear from your clients that you are great at helping? Chances are that’s your topic. But make sure this topic has mass appeal. The more people it affects, the better your odds are of getting on the radio to solve it.

Rule #3 – Be Passionate

Now that you have the topic, the next and most important challenge is delivering your message with great enthusiasm. The Crocodile Hunter was the master at this. He makes you watch him because of his enthusiasm. Jim Cramer from CNBC’s Mad Money is brilliant in his delivery of stock information. He’s brought the passion of sports to the stock market and you can’t help but remember him. When Dr. Phil came on the Oprah show for the first time, he stood out because he seemed to not care what people thought. He just told them the truth. So be true to your message and personality and deliver it with passion and enthusiasm!

Rule #4 – Act Immediately

When do you contact the radio station? Keep your ears open and if you hear a topic that falls under your specialty umbrella…make the call and offer your services.

An example:

The other day on my radio show, I talked about a recent survey that said women are now doing 50% of marriage proposals. I can’t help but wonder…are they going through all the pressure that us men have to go through? How about the one knee thing?

If your business has anything to do with men, women or relationships, you could have used this as a golden opportunity to grab some radio time. You could have called the radio station and said, “I’m a therapist and I will do a mini survey locally and report the results.”
Then you hit the streets and ask the questions. You could survey your clients for 1 week or anyone else with a heartbeat.

As a radio host I would have loved someone calling the radio station and offering to do this for me. It would have also put a local twist on a national topic and would have put your name out to 80,000 people and put you on my radio show website.
Opportunities for PR are everywhere. You just need to learn how to act on them.
So listen and call whenever you think…Hey I could talk about that! What do you have to lose? If they say yes…100,000 people may hear about you. If they say no…you’ll survive.

Happy Radio!

Wayne Kelly

Wayne Kelly, The Radio Guy, is an award winning Morning Radio Host and founder of On-Air Publicity – Teaching Authors, Speakers and Coaches how to get booked and be a HOT Radio Guest in 30 Days or Less! Visit this site for more information.

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Tags: radio, interviews, media, media relations, public relations

Relax. When a reporter makes an unexpected call, you are not obliged to respond immediately. But you should always cooperate – even when your news is bad.

The first thing to do is note the reporter’s contact details. Ask them to forward story background and questions via email. Reassure the reporter that their inquiry will be dealt with and that someone will be back in touch within half an hour.

Once you receive the reporter’s email request, collect the facts. If necessary, forward the matter to colleagues who might normally deal with media issues. If you are the spokesperson, take time to decide whether comment is appropriate. Always avoid saying “no comment.” Simply explain why you have no comment. For example; “I’m sorry, I can’t comment on this right now. We are still looking into the matter.”

If you need more time, phone back the reporter with an update. Your company may need another hour, maybe another day or even a week. This is your decision. But try to be reasonable. Reporters do have deadlines and it helps if you can work within them.The most important issue is to keep reporters informed. Always return their calls, even if you have nothing to say.

Five top tips:

1. Gather facts before comment

2. Use descriptive language

3. Highlight specific examples

4. Avoid live interviews

5. Never say “No comment”

A common complaint about the news media is their tendency to misquote or to quote out of context. This is often the case when journalists struggle to understand what you are trying to say. Make an effort to be clear and concise. Be sure to send reporters supporting fact sheets and other relevant information before the interview. Don’t overload reporters – just make it easy for them to get what they need.

Be sure to give the media something new to report. Perhaps you are launching a new product? Does an existing product or service have new features? Is your company about to break new ground? Can you share new research or information about new trends?

Finally, do not assume the reporter will immediately recognise the news. Their job is to report it. You can help them by identifying the issues you believe to be newsworthy. To encourage coverage of your issue, you should be courteous, friendly, timely, relevant and objective.

Greg Ward is a New Zealand journalist and media trainer. Greg’s website offers a comprehensive collection of articles, tips and strategies for media interviews and presentations.

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Tags: news, interviews, press, release, pr

Ask yourself this question to realize what that secret is: When was the last time you suggested to an editor or a radio or TV producer who contacted you for an interview that they may want to join your affiliate program so they can financially benefit from having you on their show, in their publication, or on their website? (Long sentence. You get the idea.)

Every time I am contacted to be interviewed in print or electronically or be a guest on someone’s teleclass, I always suggest to whomever contacted me that they join my affiliate program, especially since I usually mention one of my products during the interview.

It lets the person know you’re eager to add value to their business beyond providing an excellent interview for their readers or listeners. The interviewer is that much more eager to find ways to work together for the greatest good.

If you have a shopping cart on your site, you probably have an affiliate program within it, ready to be activated. If you already have an affiliate program, use it to your greatest advantage.

And if you think you don’t have product to warrant an affiliate arrangement, the odds are very high that you are probably sitting on a gold mine that merely needs some packaging and perspective. You have articles and blog entries you’ve written, audio and video recordings of speeches and interviews you’ve presented. You may have already written a book. Those things can be sliced and diced, expanded and contracted, and you have an instant product line sitting there waiting to reach the hands, ears, and eyes of those who will value it most.

For great ways to make more from what you’ve already got and what you’re already doing, visit this website.

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Tags: consult, pr, leverage, publicity, interviews