Aloha from Karen.
We are often working hard to promote and get on media. Let’s look at it from another perspective. Why does media want, and even need, you? Thinking of our message as a desirable commodity can make it easier and less stressful to pitch.
Let's look at ten reasons why the media wants you...
Here are ten reasons why media will want you:
• Media is costly and you are free.
• Media needs fresh content hourly and you have it
• Media hosts don’t have time to be experts in everything and you can be an expert they need
• Audiences want to be entertained and you can do it
• Media wants to be relevant and you can do that.
• Audiences want to be informed and you can give them information
• Media is rated and they need whatever will boost ratings-you can do that
• People want to identify with real people’s lives and you can connect with that
• People love stories and you can share through your unique story
• Audiences enjoy controversy and you can create it
Don’t forget that media is show business, so you are an actor, a performer, an entertainer, or a newscaster when you’re on radio.
As you talk to people about your book watch reactions for what excites them. Ask what they find intriguing and you’ll discover what will be of interest to radio hosts and audiences.
Let’s look at the above list and how you fit in:
• Media is costly and you are free.
You need to know when a live show airs and if you are available at that time. Taped shows are easier as they have a bit more flexibility. Be sure to contact stations when you know you will be available. State your availability. Be sure you can make free calls in case they want you to call in. Some call you and others ask you to call.
• Media needs fresh content hourly and you have it.
Consider angles that make your topic fresh. What’s the ah-ha information and pitch that. Or what’s the current problem and connect to it. For example soon the holiday rush will be upon us and you may have a topic on time or stress that helps people cope.
• Media hosts don’t have time to be experts in everything and you can be an expert they need
Build your expertise and offer yourself as an expert in your area. Have stats, read news on the topic, and write and talk about it until you become an expert.
• Audiences want to be entertained and you can do it
Observe what works when you talk and what makes people laugh, listen, and respond. That’s your entertainment style. Also note when people’s eyes glaze over and when they tune you out-that’s boring and shows you what not to do.
If you can evoke an emotion you can entertain. Get people laughing, excited, crying, or even angry to reach them and get a response. That’s what hosts need. This is often done through stories. If you have a story of why you needed your own advise that connects to people. I have stories to connect to time management-of times I goofed up and even a hilarious story of racing a garbage truck to the dump to retrieve something important (and not valuable) and they hit home every time.
• Media wants to be relevant and you can do that.
Use google alerts to find out news and new ideas on your topic. When something happens you can email media with a connection to you as an expert to d=talk about it. http://www.google.com/alerts lets you type in a word or phrase and sends you alerts of sites/blogs/ etc using that term. So, you can see what’s new in time management, horses, or anything in your field of expertise. Then you can think of a way to connect the news to your topic and pitch that. Radio hosts don’t have time to find an expert every time something newsworthy happens. They depend on you to do that for them.
• Media is rated and they need whatever will boost ratings-you can do that
Shirley Rose (recent guest) mentioned how stories got responses from the audience and how some shows were more watched than others. That translates to show ratings. A show wants to believe you will capture the attention of the regular listeners and even people flipping channels. But you must be compelling and you must be real. That means be yourself and share from your heart. You can do that as you recall the passion behind why you wrote your book.
• People want to identify with real people’s lives and you can connect with that
You are real and your background led you to write your book. That means you care and you understand the topic and problems associated with it. You have lived it yourself or been with people who lived it. Make sure you speak from experience and share what made you care and what made you want to help others.
• People love stories and you can share through your unique story
No one has the identical story you have and that makes your story unique. As you practice telling it to people see what points connect to them and interest them. Build up how you tell it and how you make the story sound great. Read about storytelling techniques to help you be a better storyteller.
• Audiences enjoy controversy and you can create it
As people have different opinions about everything you can probably find a controversy within your topic.
People’s perspective often gives you insight into controversy Within the topic of time management there’s the natural controversy of married couples who are never ready at the same time and view time from different perspectives. One may like to make an entrance and thus needs to be late while the other wants to arrive unnoticed and thus on time. This has to do with different personalities and understanding personalities can bring insight into controversies to discuss.
Consider how you can give a gift of entertainment or information to the media. Think of your message as a gift that people will want unwrapped and love getting. Create the pitch as a package, as something that excites the host and have fun doing it!
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