5 ways to prepare for media interviews
Public relations and marketing are two important ingredients for the success of every company. Most business owners understand this point and make every effort to maximize their company's media exposure.
But not all publicity is good publicity, contrary to the old saying. Specific interviews are a waste of time. And some are causing more damage than good.
Besides, it is one thing to get media coverage; making use of it is entirely another.
Here are some ways to make sure you get the best out of your interviews with the media.• Listeners, readers, and audiences expect more than hollow corporate messaging; they want to hear evidence. Company profits, industry numbers, market outlook stats; they want to see the aim backup in your messages. Whenever you go into an interview a vital part of your focus should be the audience, and you should be able to convey that you are an authority on the subject in question. Studying the numbers so that you can confidently quote them will go a long way to doing just that.
• During an interview, you may not eliminate nervousness, but the professionals learn to stop it from showing. The confidence needed to manage your interview will be provided by breathing exercises, practice, and lots of preparation. It is crucial to give the appearance of comfort and trust.
• Make eye contact with your interviewer, and even if you do not feel like it, smile where appropriate. It may not come to you quickly. That is all right; most individuals are afraid of anything that resembles public speaking. Take the time and get into the right frame of mind to practice.
• Practice, practice and practice some more before you memorize the message comfortably. You do not want to have to think on your feet when the actual interview arrives. Instead, ahead of time, do your thinking. Get a good picture of how you want to go and create a manageable pace for the interview. You might veer off track without a general outline to follow; training ahead of time decreases the chances of going off the tracks.
• Company interviews are all about consistency. To say too much is a lot simpler than it is to say too little. And if you say too much, the reporter will edit you. Your words could be taken out of context in a worst-case scenario. To be as accurate as possible, take steps. Do not waste a second; do not say a word to answer the immediate issue that does not need to be addressed. It is a good idea to practice with an executive speech coach before an important interview.
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