What makes Me a Media
Expert?
25 Plus years in the Radio & TV News Industry,
that's
what!
Media Tip of the Day
Always give the media
information that is newsworthy:
Your information should
be new,
newsworthy and relevant to a large share of the
public.
Reporters are not interested in yesterday's news--unless
it offers
a fresh, new angle.
Since BlogTalk
Radio came on the scene, more and more people have
discovered
they have something to say. The internet site calls itself
the
leading social broadcast network. They give you a
microphone and
even provide an audience if you can’t get one on your own.
BlogTalk Radio has given permission to literally thousands
of
“radio host wannabes” to create their own live talk show.
As
someone who has done her share of radio and television
talk shows
over the past 30 years, I can tell you the majority of
people on
BlogTalk would never get a job on a traditional radio or
television station. The reason being is they lack the
essential
skills necessary in order to hold the attention of an
audience on
a regular basis.
What skills does it take to be a good interviewer? Can
anyone do
it? Is there a certain formula to doing it right? The
people who
interview others well all have similar characteristics.
They may
not have they same style but they know how to command an
audience
with or without a guest.
Here are some tips on how to become a good Radio Host:
1) “Personality is to
a
radio host what perfume is to a flower.” In a
nutshell that means you should have some flair about you.
No one
wants to sit and listen to a monotone host who sounds like
he or
she would rather be somewhere else other than hosting
their own
show. Listen to some of your favorite hosts. What is it
about them
that you enjoy? I guarantee you one of the things you will
say is
they have personality. You don’t have to over the top like
Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh but make what you have to
say
enjoyable and pleasing to the ear.
2) Know Your Subject:
The
problem with some hosts is they rely heavily on their
guests to
supply them with information on the topic being discussed.
That
can be dangerous because how do you know for sure that
what
they’re telling you is accurate? Do your own homework and
be
prepared to ask questions on top of the ones that were
probably
spoon-fed to you by the guest.
Being a good radio host takes time and practice. To learn
more, be
sure to sign up for my upcoming FREE teleseminar: Teach
Me How to Become a Good BlogTalk Radio Host.
Sign up on
the left upper corner of this page.
The first thing you have to determine
is how
you want to market yourself.TV
News always likes a "hook."If you've got one, you should present it WITHOUT
HESITATION.For
example, let's say there was a bomb scare on a plane you
were on
or if you were in the airport at the time of the
scare/evacuation,
don't hesitate to contact the nearest TV/radio/newspaper
station
(all of them, in fact) and let them know your connection
to the
NEWS OF THE DAY.Chances
are, they will want to interview you and that's your in
road to
throw in why you were in the airport/on the plane in the
first
place (something hopefully tied to your business, which
you can
casually throw in).It
not only gives you some FACE TIME but exposure for what
you do and
best of all---it's FREE.You
can't pay for that kind of advertising.Then you can turn around and put out a press
release saying
you were interviewed on such and such a station about your
business venture.
If you have an upcoming event you'd
like
coverage on, that can be harder.Once again, TV likes a "hook"If you're doing a seminar on marketing your
business (for
example), you should try to find a way to make it involve
public
service somehow.TV
stations frown upon promoting business ventures for FREE
but if it
fulfills a community service or need, they will bite
because they
have an obligation to the FCC to provide so much airtime
to that
kind of coverage.So
let's say you're doing a seminar on marketing your
business.Bring in a representative from the local homeless
shelter
or boy scouts or women's domestic violence hotline to
demonstrate
how they can get greater exposure and benefit monetarily.Then tailor your release so that the emphasis is on
the
Public Service vs. your "self" venture.Once again, you get a little FACE TIME and back
door
publicity for your business.Ask
the station for a news clip of what they did and once you
get it,
you've got a video testimonial of news coverage for your
event.
As always, be sure to thank the
station (get
a specific name).Journalists
aren't supposed to accept gifts---but if you send some
sort of
token to a specific name, they will accept it (on the down
low)
and be more inclined to interview you again the next time
you have
a particular project.
Attention-grabbing press releases
should go
out at least three weeks in advance of your event, with
follow-up
phone calls.You can
never make too many follow-up calls.We don't like it on our end---but persistence and
personality could make the difference on a SLOW NEWS DAY.
The truth of the matter is, for every qualified expert,
there
are at least a dozen wannabes. As someone who spent more
than 25
years in the radio and television news business, I had to
decide
daily who would make a good interview candidate. It’s a
screening process and if you don’t know the basics of what
it
takes to get the kind of media exposure you’re seeking,
you’ll
be spinning your wheels and end up going nowhere.
If you feel it’s your time to shine,
I’d like to help you
turn on the spotlight!
Need
Help Getting Media Interviews?
Writing
a book OR starting a business is the easy part. The
REAL WORK comes in getting your
name out there. Bottom line: YOU NEED
EXPOSURE. There are plenty of really good books that
don't do
very well sales wise because the author doesn't know how
to
effectively market and promote. There are also
some
really great business ideas but if nobody knows about you,
what
good is your business?
As
someone who spent more than 25 years in radio and
television, I
have the inside track on what it takes to get
noticed.
We
help clients prepare for and land successful media
interviews.
If you believe it's "Your Time to Shine"
then let us turn on the spotlight.
Learn
the "Secrets" of Getting Your Message to the Masses
There are
several proven steps to ensure you will get your message
out there.
Learn what they are
and how to reach your target audience.
You
will receive one-on-one coaching from the experts and
practice
interviewing techniques to help your on-air debut be a
smashing
success!
Upon successful
completion of the course, you will receive a minimum of
(3) guaranteed
media interviews. You will gain nationwide
exposure! You will also receive a special contact list to
assist
you with future interviews.
Here's
what some have to say about the "Your Time to Shine"
Media Class:
I came across Beverly Mahone's tele-seminar "Your Time
to
Shine!" The course was so exciting, so
informative,
and so on target as to how to market myself and my
books, that
within two weeks of signing on, I had three radio
interviews.
I
cannot speak highly enough of Beverly Mahone's courses
in
self-promotion and marketing."
Debra
Shiveley Welch
Author
of A Very Special Child - An Adoption
Story -
co-author Jesus Gandhi Oma Mae Adams
This
experience in learning and working has been a
gift. Soooooo much fun!! I look forward
to
keeping the conversations going. What I loved the
most about
this was your informality. You made it easy for me
to learn,
and you gave much more value than I could ever have
expected
from this class. My progress in a month was
phenomenal. I
went from no radio to three majors in less than two
weeks!
My confidence has soared, and I'm ready to
talk
whenever anyone wants to listen. YOU ROCK!!!!!
Thank
you for everything the three of you taught me. A
local
radio station here is having a discussion about the
racial hair
comment that was made about the women's basketball team
and
wants me to help her open the show with my "My Hair"
poem. (Another ten minutes of fame.) I
accepted an
invitation to do one night of a week long workshop for
teenage
girls about self-esteem and making mistakes that effect
their
future. I'm very excited about that. I'll be
keeping
you posted."
