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Mastering the Art of Self-Promotion

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No one wants to come off as boastful, self-involved, or a pest. But we all want to be recognized for our accomplishments and network with leaders in our fields. 

So, how can you respond to this tension? Jennefer Witter has some ideas. Jennefer is a public speaker, author, and founder of The Boreland Group, a public relations agency that specializes in minority-led and women-owned companies.

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Five Steps for Healthy Virtual Communication

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JOIN ME FOR GO LIVE! MASTERCLASS: Everything you need to produce a polished, lucrative and fun live-stream show that makes you stand out. Sign up here! 

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Communication is crucial to every aspect of life. But healthy communication isn’t always easy.

That’s especially true during the pandemic, when so much communication has become virtual.

Communication expert, professional speaker, coach, and consultant Robyn Hatcher, a guest on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop, helps people connect with purpose. 

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Three Ways to Boost Speaking Confidence

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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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Have you ever felt like what you have to say isn’t valued? Well, it’s probably happened to everyone. Linda Ugelow, confidence coach and author of the upcoming book “Delight in the Limelight,” knows that this is the root of why people feel uncomfortable with public speaking and appearing on camera.

Getting to the heart of the issue and tackling it is Linda’s M.O. as an author, coach, and speaker. She appeared on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop to share her journey to finding her voice and explain how others can change their relationship with publicly sharing their ideas. 

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How to Get the Media Attention You Deserve

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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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Annie Scranton, founder of Pace PR, knows a thing or two about the media. She and I met as producers at Fox News Channel, but she’s also worked at MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, HLN, and even Good Morning America!

With all that insider knowledge, Annie can predict what the future holds when it comes to getting on TV as an expert. She knows what it takes for people to get their message out there, because she helps people do that very thing every day.

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Shooting Compelling Video 101

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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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We’ve all gotten used to living our lives on video over the past year. And video is here to stay, so if you want to grow your business or connect with your audience, this is a medium you need to master.

I spoke with videographer and producer Kristian Golick on my live-streaming show “Inside Scoop” about common questions about doing video — and how you can become a pro.

Why video?

As a former TV producer, I’ve been spreading the word about video for years. Kristian and I talked about one element of creating video that  is key: It creates a connection between you and the viewer. Just like we all feel like we know our favorite TV reporters or movie stars, your audience can get to know you through your videos.

Kristian knows from personal experience how powerful this connection can be. Kristian has been a videographer for years, creating videos from business as well as wedding films. But he never got in front of the camera himself until 2018, when he created a short video to address a common question among his clients about raw footage and what to do with it.

When he sent it to his clients, they expressed how much it helped them get to know him as a person. In fact, the feedback from that video was so positive he closed $10,000 in business and he’s continued to create video content ever since!

What content should I be creating?

Kristian says that his first video taught him an important lesson about content. Think about the questions that you get most often, then create videos addressing those. 

Should I do live or pre-recorded videos?

While there are pros and cons to both live and pre-recorded videos, Kristian and I both say that live videos can save you time (and energy) once you get the hang of them. Live videos help you get over perfectionism, too. Plus, they keep you accountable, since if you said you’re going live at a certain time, you’ve got to stick to it! Of course, you can always re-use your recorded live content. 

That’s what I do with my live-streaming show Inside Scoop. Kristian and I did this interview and now as you can see I’m using the content now in a different way – as a blog post. 

What set-up should I use?

Kristian says you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a set-up that will make your videos look professional. He uses a light from Amazon that cost about $100, and placed it above him and angled down. He also taped a piece of wax paper to soften the light. The placement of the light is key to avoiding glare on his glasses, Kristian explained. (Make sure you check out the video we did together here so you can see his explanation.) 

Don’t worry about creating a set-up that looks too polished — you don’t want people to think your videos are ads, after all!

What should my background be?

Like me, Kristian is not a fan of Zoom backgrounds. He either makes sure to have a clean, neat real background, or he uses a green screen if he needs to replace his backdrop. The green screen is key, Kristian said, because it ensures the background is consistent and doesn’t cut off your ear or hands, which often happens with Zoom backgrounds. 

Where should I post my videos?

Kristian has two suggestions. The first is that you should post where you already have the most audience engagement. If that’s Instagram, go for Instagram. If that’s Facebook, post there.

Kristian’s second suggestion is that you should match your content to the platform. Tutorial-type videos, for example, work best on YouTube. But if you want to do shorter videos, try Instagram Stories. 

How often should I post?

Consistency is key. If you do Instagram stories, try a short video every day. For YouTube, post once a week. When people know to expect content from you, they’ll be more likely to tune in and get to know you. (That’s why I host Inside Scoop every week!).

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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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Three Ways to Let Go of “Expert Obsession”

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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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Confession: I never went to college for list-making. I don’t have a degree in productivity.

But I’ve written two books on the subject, appeared on TV and podcasts to discuss it, run a blog about it, and have a LinkedIn newsletter, LinkedIn Learning courses, and live-streaming show where I talk about it an awful lot.

Yep — I’m a productivity expert! And I became one by speaking and writing about everything I know on the subject.

If you feel like you’re not “expert enough” to start talking about your knowledge, you might have an expert obsession.

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Stop Saying “Thank You” On TV

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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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I’ve been watching so much television recently. It’s part of my job! 

One thing that has been driving me crazy is how often I hear experts say “thank you.” 

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!

Here’s why you need to stop saying “thank you” on TV — and what to start saying instead.

1) We already know you’re thankful to be there.

If you’re appearing on TV, you’ve said yes to being on TV — so the interviewer and audience know you’re happy and excited! You really do not feel like there is a need to thank the interviewer every time they ask you a question.

I was a TV producer for almost 20 years, and I can assure you that no producer or interviewer will think you’re being rude if you skip the “thank you.” 

2) You’re wasting time.

All the time you’re allotted on TV should be used for your message. Every single second! 

That’s not selfish or rude — it’s the opposite.

You have an opportunity to connect with your audience and share your expertise. That’s a public service!

When you say “thank you” three or four times in a 30 second soundbite, you’re using up precious time that could be used to help your audience. 

3) Instead, practice your first sentence on TV. 

I have a sneaking suspicion that one of the reasons people say “thank you” so much on TV is because they want to ease into what they’re going to say.

In regular conversation, that makes sense. 

But TV isn’t a regular conversation! The same rules do not apply. 

The best way to grab your audience’s attention is to begin with a clear, concise answer right out of the gate.

That’s where my Accordion Method comes in — you can find out more about that here. 

You need to have a short, medium, and long answer to every question you think you’ll be asked on TV. Those answers should all start out with your main idea like a newspaper headline. 

This is something I talk about all the time with my media clients.

People have short attention spans. You have to hook them right away!

When you begin by saying “thank you,” you’re not only watering down the strength of your response — you’re potentially losing your audience. 

It really helps to practice your first sentence so you’re not filling your time as you settle in. I always do this, whether I’m going on TV, creating a video or going live on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop – which you can sign up for reminders of right here. 

Next time you’re watching TV – take a note of how reporters and seasoned contributors start speaking on camera – I’ll bet they don’t start with thank you. 

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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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Five Video Trends for 2021

As a former TV producer, video has been my whole world for almost 20 years. But in 2020, video became part of everyone’s lives as meetings and celebrations turned virtual because of the pandemic.

I’m so grateful for the power of video to connect us during this difficult time. Even with the first COVID-19 vaccine shipments on their way, video is not going anywhere.

Now that people are starting to realize how video can transform productivity and create human connection, I predict it will continue to be a big part of our lives in 2021.

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The Accordion Method For Interviews: Speak in Soundbites

When I was a senior health producer at Fox News Channel, I booked guest experts all the time. 

Sometimes experts rambled when the host wanted a short answer, and sometimes people didn’t give enough information.

To be a go-to media expert, you need to be able to deliver your content in a way that fits the situation. 

That means you have to be able to talk about your expertise within different time constraints. 

This is the core of my media prep plan that I teach my media-training clients.

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How to Present Well at a Virtual Conference

NEW COURSE: Want to learn more about how to adjust to working remotely? You can check out my new LinkedIn Learning course, Organizing Your Remote Office for Maximum Productivity. Click here for access! Click here for access!

If you want to learn more about how to adjust your career and work environment while working remotely, you can check out my LinkedIn Learning course, Organizing Your Remote Office for Maximum Productivity. It’s live now!

So many conferences have gone virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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