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BONUS FREEBIE: I have a resource for you that will help you prepare to talk with media and audiences. It’s the 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer. You can grab the fiction and nonfiction lists here.
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I’m a media trainer.
That means I work with authors and experts to help them communicate their message to their audience.
Together, we work on defining a message and a narrative that will capture their audience’s attention. This helps authors get (and keep!) media attention and reach the people who need to hear what they have to say.
Lots of people think media training and publicity are one and the same.
But the job of a publicist is distinct. As an author, it’s important to know the difference. Once you know what each one does, you can create a media plan that draws on the resources of both jobs. I’ve worked with publicists for years as a senior television producer when they would pitch their authors to me. And now as a media training we team up again so I can help get their authors ready for primetime interviews.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about media trainers and public:
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BONUS FREEBIE: I have a resource for you that will help you prepare to talk with media and audiences. It’s the 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer. You can grab the fiction and nonfiction lists here.
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As an author, appearing in the media is a key opportunity to promote your book, share your insights, and connect with your audience. However, there are certain things you should avoid saying in an interview — these no-nos can derail your message or even alienate potential readers and fans.
When I work with clients on media training, there are a few things that always come up that I recommend authors stop saying right away.
Here are five things to stop saying in interviews (and what to say instead!).
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1. “Thank you.”
Yep — this one comes as a shocker to most people. But saying “thank you” constantly is one of my biggest pet peeves.
It usually goes like this: the interviewer asks the expert a question, and the expert responds by saying something like, “Thank you for having me” or “Thank you for asking me that question.”
Agh! I always wish I could tell them to cut it out. It’s not a matter of being rude. I know we’re socialized to say “thank you” all the time, but it’s a bad habit when you’re appearing as an expert. We already know you’re thankful to be there — and talking about it is wasting precious time. You could be using that time to get your message across — a message that can help people.
TV news moves fast, don’t waste time!
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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
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Doing media interviews is an exercise in accepting the unknown. You need to accept that as much as you prepare, you won’t be able to predict every single thing that happens.
The best way to prepare for media interviews is to decide beforehand how you’re going to handle unexpected questions. This is half a mental game (how will you respond with grace?) and half about preparing for the kinds of pushback you’re likely to encounter.
Because while your goal is to put yourself out there and share your message with your audience, that doesn’t mean everyone will respond to your content the same way.