In more than 30 years working in television I’ve been pitched hundreds and hundreds of times and have personally seen more than 10,000 television interviews. Seriously! And I’ve done many media interviews myself as a parenting author.
One of the biggest revelations I’ve had over the years is that far too many nonfiction authors who appear in Media lack the same crucial thing. In fact, it’s the most important asset you can have as a media guest.
What is it? It’s clarity.
Specifically, clarity about who you are, the audience you serve, and what your precise (and concise) message is. When you have those 3 elements you have a distinct advantage as an author in the eyes of the Media.
Clarity will help you get publicity, and will be the basis of an effective TV, radio, podcast, print, or online interview. In fact, clarity can and should be the strong foundation upon which you build your media strategy.
Getting a high profile media interview is a significant opportunity that can have a powerful impact on growing your influence, establishing you as a credible expert, and increasing your income through book sales and speaking fees, among other things.
But you have to be prepared! The bottom line is this: If you are unclear about any aspect of your messaging, you send a signal to the Media and to their audience that you don’t know who you are or what you’re about which will undermine your credibility. You may be able to get a few media interviews at first but your lack of clarity will cost you future opportunities that could be game-changers.
So, what if a producer called you right now asking if you could tell her about yourself, your audience, and your main message? Would you have the answers? If not, it’s time to focus on these key points. Because the Media might reach out sooner than you think, and I don’t want you to miss out on what could be an opportunity of a lifetime.
In fact, I’ve created a Free PDF Media Success Quick Start Guide: Ready for Publicity in 30 Minutes for that exact reason.
Recent Comments