Landing a media appearance is a big victory for any brand or individual. Whether you have been invited to give an interview on radio, television, or online, or to give a demonstration or teach a skill, it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your expertise and build valuable PR for your brand. However, appearing on a show comes with certain pressures that writing guest pieces do not. You must be present, look the part, stay calm and collected, interact with your interviewer and audience, and sound like you know what you’re talking about, all without any dress rehearsals.
Before you panic and back away from the idea, take heart. There is a good reason why you were invited, and the show’s producer believes you have something relevant to say. So, confidence in your knowledge and skills is the most important thing you can bring with you. In this article, we’ll break down the categories and share some insights on how to make your show appearances great and improve your media interview skills so you can build valuable PR for your brand.
Anticipate, but don’t ask for, questions in advance
In general, it’s bad form to ask for a list of questions in advance. However, it’s essential to anticipate what you might be asked. Instead of asking for a copy of their questions, review your pitch, which is what the interviewer knows about you and what they’re most likely to ask about. If you have included examples of questions you could answer in an interview, make sure you are prepared to answer the questions that you, yourself, wrote and suggested. If you have a particular message you want to communicate, make a short, bulleted list of three to five topics, and be sure to insert them into the conversation. This way, you can better control the direction of the narrative.
If you sent a pitch offering your expertise on a given topic, be prepared to talk about all the points you offered, such as SEO trends for the upcoming year. Remember, the interviewer invited you because they believe you have something valuable to share, so have confidence in yourself and your knowledge.
To Improve Media Interview Skills, Practice being interviewed
The key to being comfortable during an interview is practice. Enlist the help of someone you trust, who will be honest with you, and practice what you are going to say. Here are some guidelines to help you practice:
Record yourself on the medium that you’ll be appearing on, whether it’s audio or video, and review what you say and how you say it.
Don’t rely on notes – you should know your topic well enough to speak without them. If you feel like you must use notes at first, wean yourself off them as soon as possible. You don’t want to take a fistful of notes onto a TV interview.
Have your partner ask questions based on your pitch materials. Start simple and as you grow more comfortable, have them start throwing curveballs at you. Don’t practice the questions in the same order every time. Let them surprise you.
Speak clearly. Practice speaking this way in almost every conversation you have. If you can get into a pattern of speaking this way, the interview will feel more natural. Enunciate your words, use complete sentences, and avoid filler words like “um” and “uh.” This one simple technique can drastically improve your media interview skills.
Listen for the “ums.” These little words can pop up all over our speech, and we barely notice them until we’re recorded. Try to eliminate them.
Make sure you’re not overexerting your use of one word. Listen to yourself speaking. Are you overusing words like “actually,” “alright,” or “basically,” which tend to creep in at the beginnings of our sentence phrases? Since they are your “habit” words, you’ll say them with the same inflection every time, making them highly noticeable and distracting to listeners.
By anticipating questions and practicing, you can deliver your best self during interviews and make a positive impression on your audience. With these tips in mind, you can create valuable PR for your brand and make the most of your appearances on shows.
Other Tips to Improve Media Interview Skills
Dress appropriately: Your appearance matters when you’re on camera, so make sure you dress appropriately for the occasion. If you’re not sure what to wear, ask the producer or your PR representative for guidance.
Speak with authority: Use strong, confident language when you’re speaking, and avoid using passive or weak language. For example, say “I believe” instead of “I think” or “I’m not sure.”
Be concise: Keep your answers concise and to the point. Long, rambling answers can quickly lose the interest of your audience.
Stay on topic: Stick to the topic at hand and avoid going off on tangents. If the interviewer asks you a question that’s not relevant to your topic, gently steer the conversation back to your area of expertise.
Listen carefully: Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions and make sure you understand what they’re asking before you answer. This will help you give more relevant and focused answers.
Use examples: When possible, use examples to illustrate your points. This can help make your answers more concrete and memorable for your audience.
Be authentic: Finally, be authentic and genuine in your responses. Audiences can sense when someone is being fake or insincere, so be yourself and let your personality shine through.
Conclusion
Appearing on a media show can be a fantastic opportunity to build valuable PR for your brand. By anticipating questions and practicing, you can deliver your best self during interviews and make a positive impression on your audience. Remember to speak with confidence, dress appropriately, stay on topic, and listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions. By following these tips, you can create valuable PR for your brand and make the most of your media appearances with your improved media interview skills.
