Getting Ready for a Media Interview

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If you're in ...
... if you are doing business on the ...
day will come when you are invited to do a media ... ...
has read your online articles and is impresse If you're in business, especially if you are doing business on the Internet,the day will come when you are invited to do a media interview. Perhapssomeone has read your online articles and is impressed, or perhaps yourlocal newspaper or television station is profiling interesting Internetentrepreneurs in their community.
Whatever the reason, you are being givenan excellent opportunity to promote your business. To get the most mileagefrom your interview, consider the following tips:1.
Before the interview, practice your answers to the typical questions ofWho, What, Where, When, Why and How. That is, be prepared to state yourname, your business, where you are located, what you do, when you started,why you started your business, and how you do things.
Prepare and practiceso your statements will flow smoothly.2. Before the interview takes place, consider the main message that you wantthe audience to receive.
Make a list of three major points, and practicesaying these three points to yourself until you can speak them smoothly andconfidently, without stumbling.3. During the interview, try to include these three main points as much aspossible.
Your interview is likely to be edited prior to publishing orbroadcasting. By repeating your main points, you reduce the possibility thatyour preferred message will be edited out.4.
Be prepared to tell brief anecdotes and short stories. Think of a timewhen you solved a problem for a customer, or relate a success story or two.Find a way to mix one or more of your three main marketing messages intoeach anecdote.5.
Use humor with caution. If you are telling a humorous anecdote, be surethat "the joke is on yourself" and explain what you learned from theexperience.
Avoid giving people the idea that you laugh at your customersbehind their backs.6. Similarly, resist the temptations to tell negative stories.
If yourinterviewer asks you to explain "the dumbest question you were ever asked,"for example, be very careful to portray your customers in a positive light.You might answer something like, "There really are no dumb questions. Ourclients have business needs and we do all we can do address those needs."7.
Consider writing a list of suggested questions or topics to cover. Sendthis list to the journalist prior to the interview.
If used, your list willdirect the interview in the way you hope. Naturally, prepare your answers tothese questions in advance, and be prepared to speak easily on each topic.8.
Be prepared to offer your audience some sort of report, gift or otheritem -- on autoresponder, faxback or web site. Remember, the simpler theinstructions, the more likely your audience will be to remember it.9.
If your interview will be televised, ask in advance for tips regardingclothing, makeup and accessories. As a rule of thumb, dress appropriatelyfor the type of business you are operating.
Remember that solid colors arepreferred over prints, geometrics, plaids or florals. Accessories thatdangle, move, glitter, shine or create noise are inadvisable.
If you weareyeglasses, ask the camera operator what you can do to reduce the glare.Ready? Break a Leg! Article Tags: Media Interview Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com .