Guest Post by Beverly Mahone (learn more about Beverly at the end of this post).
Who cares if you wrote a book or started a new business that you’re really excited about? Is your enthusiasm going to pay your bills and earn you the kind of status you’ve been working hard to achieve? Is that gung-ho attitude going to allow you to break “even” on the money you’ve already invested in your project?
While having a positive attitude is important to pursuing your goals, you’re going to need some help along the way. Let’s be realistic. Your book (business) may do OK by word of mouth and press releases but just think of what could happen with something called “mega publicity.”
No, I’m not talking about one radio or newspaper interview in your community. I’m referring to your ability to reach the masses. How do you do that? You could try calling Oprah and if she calls you back—-well, the rest is history. Of course, for the vast majority of us, Harpo will never call but that shouldn’t stop you from putting a plan of action together that could, very well, get Oprah’s attention in the future.
Build a Media Plan:
Identify the radio and or television shows you would like to be interviewed on. Listen to those programs so you can get an idea of the interviewing style of the host. Find out the kind of topics he or she tends to focus on to see if you would be a good fit for their show. The worst thing you can do is send an email or media release to someone who focuses on politics and you want to talk about gardening. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt to let the host know you listened to a particular show and how much you enjoyed it as you pitch yourself as a guest. Some people may call it “brown-nosing.” I say “It works!”
Don’t limit yourself to just the stations in your immediate area. Make sure you cover as much territory as possible. Remember, radio interviews can be done over the telephone.
Another thing: If you know you’re going to be on vacation in a particular area on a specific date, contact the stations in that market and let them know you’ll be available. You don’t have to tell them you’re on vacation—just that you’ll be in the area. And don’t be afraid to hype up the fact that the Host is getting a great opportunity to interview you.
Don’t forget about newspapers. Find out if they have a guest columnist slot and see how you can get an article placed there. Also, write a Letter to the Editor regarding an issue that might be related to your book (or business) and make sure you use your author or business signature at the end.
Once your media plan is created, you can start preparing for the interviews that will soon come your way.
About the Author
Beverly Mahone is a veteran journalist who spent more than 25 years in radio and television news. As an Entrepreneur, she is the owner of BAM Enterprises—a media consulting firm. The company specializes in coaching speech and media interviewing techniques and also offers marketing and promotional assistance. In addition, she is also an author and motivational speaker who has been classified as a baby boomer expert by the media. She has appeared on and been quoted by numerous media outlets including MSNBC-TV and the New York Times Newspaper. To learn more, go to: http://www.talk2bev.com or contact her at: [email protected].
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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