You’ve been trying to get the local media’s attention for months and it’s finally paid off. You finally got the call from the local cable network saying they would like to interview as an industry expert for next week’s show.
High five for doing what sometimes seems like more work than it’s worth, pitching your local media. They may have ignored you the first five times you contacted them, but when they had a need for an industry expert on an upcoming piece, you were the first one that came to mind. That’s how pitching local media works.
So you have the interview set, now you just have to prepare for it. If it’s your first or second time, you’re probably nervous. That’s good, it means you’re taking the opportunity seriously. Doing an interview isn’t difficult, you just need to prepare and understand a few basic tips that will lead to a successful media interview. Follow these ten tips during your interview and you and your businesses will come out looking like superstars.
Calm
Stay calm! People watching your interview will find it hard to enjoy watching you if you look like you’re being interrogated at Guantanamo Bay. The more calm and relaxed you can be, the more calm and relaxed your audience will be. Take a deep breathe, scream into a pillow, and go out and do the best you can.
Clear
Speak clearly. Keep your head up and speak in a clear tone. When we get nervous, we tend to speak faster. Try not to race through what you have to say, no mumbling, and take some time to take a breath in between thoughts. Be sure to practice, or even better, record yourself doing a mock interview and listen to how you sound. It’s cringe worthy to listen to your own recorded voice, but it’s very helpful.
Concise
Know your key messages by heart before you step into any interview. If you don’t know your key messages, you’ll tend to ramble and drift as you speak. Keep your answers short, sweet and to the point.
Candid
Speak like you would if you were talking to friends, or one on one with a customer. Don’t all of a sudden start breaking out $20 industry words just because it’s an interview. Use the same language and tone you would use if you weren’t being formally interviewed. Keep it real!
Casual
Try not to look and speak like a robot. A media interview is not like a Congressional hearing, people want to see the real you. Like in the previous tip, think of it more like a one on one conversation and you’ll feel more relaxed during the interview.
Confident
Keep your head up, maintain eye contact, and speak clearly. You may be shaking in your boots during the interview, which is fine, but try and maintain an air of confidence when your speaking. Body language alone will give off a confidant aura about you, stand tall and don’t slouch!
Colorful
This means don’t be boring. Try and add a little personality to the interview. Maybe a personal story that had a humorous ending, alot of smiling and maybe even a little self deprecating humor. The point is to be interesting and real.
Correct
Know your facts. Take a cue from just about every presidential candidate ever, don’t make stuff up! It makes you look unprofessional, and sometimes like an idiot. So before you publicly claim you are a world class marathon runner, or that cow flatulence is the cause of global warming, get your facts and your story straight.
Compassionate
If you’re discussing a sensitive issue, be careful of how you use your words. What you say can easily be misconstrued by others and paint you in a bad light. Show that you care about an issue and that you recognize how others might feel too, even if you don’t share that point of view. Remember that what you’re saying is being recorded, this is not the time to discuss your political or social views, it’s about you and your business.
Respectful
You may not like where the interviewer is taking the conversation, maybe you strongly disagree with someone else being interviewed, keep your cool! You can disagree and still be respectful during the interview. Do your best to get through the interview while maintaining your composure. Showing respect to others, even if you’re not being shown it at the time, is a mark of a true professional. You’ll have plenty of time after the interview to cite your displeasure.
So here are 10 easy tips to get you through your next media interview. If you do a good job of preparing for your interview, and follow these tips, you and your business will come out looking great the next time the cameras roll! Do you have any tips to add? Leave them in the comments below 
Gary Shouldis
Latest posts by Gary Shouldis (see all)
- Small Business Toolbox – December First - December 1, 2024
- When Networking is a Waste of Time - November 26, 2024
- Small Business Toolbox – November Twenty Four - November 24, 2024
I wish I had read this Monday before Rogers TV interviewed me at the Tweetup! Hopefully it turned out okay!
I’m sure you did awesome Sandra, let me know when it airs!