The Secrets of Becoming a Media Authority — and the Biggest Mistakes People Make

So being a radio or TV personality that discusses business, marketing, taxes, etc. is not as “sexy” as being a rock star or famous actor, but they both have something in common — they have to be relevant.

If you ever wonder why the actor of a one time, very popular, sitcom finds himself hosting a game show, it is because  he or she is trying to keep their face and their brand in the public’s eye.  They don’t particularly like people guessing stupid poll questions or filling in the blanks of a ridiculous statement.  They just need to be seen.  It is not their egos at play per se, but their livelihood.  It is so easy to fall into oblivion in the world of media.  This is true for media authorities too.

Everyday news shows receive hundreds — and in some cases, thousands — of pitches for shows every week.  It is exhausting.  The vast majority of them are ignored because for each segment a show has available, they have dozens who want to be on it.

We interviewed producers and schedulers for several media outlets and asked, what makes one choose one pitch while ignoring others.  This is what we found out:

• Make the pitch about the show, not about you.  There are few things more irritating than a pitch with, “you should have us on because our guest wants to be on your show.”  Who doesn’t want publicity?  Look at the hundreds of others we will also say “no” to.  Explain why it is in the show’s interest to do the interview.  Not the other way around.
• Give the media everything one needs to be on.  Do not withhold important information (especially things like the guests name), unless you want to guarantee the interview doesn’t happen.  Producers hate unnecessary email.  Keep it short and complete.
• Finally, the most important, is how many interviews and stories are there about this person. There is a saying among many producers — “interviews beget interviews.”  When a producer looks at a pitch, they want to see many interviews or articles on the air and other quality web platforms.  Furthermore, they don’t want these few and far between, but with great frequency.  It proves one’s relevancy, just like other celebrities.

That last point is why we developed a unique program, in conjunction with our media partners.   It is designed to help consultants, authors, business coaches, and other professionals to become the media recognized authority.  The program offers information on how “media authority marketing” can destroy one’s reputation if not done properly, how one can find themselves regularly on the radio or in news publications, and much more.  This free program offers great tips on improving oneself as a media authority and how to avoid the biggest pitfalls with regular tips with insights.  Plus it includes opportunities for interviews on the radio, articles, and much more.

Learn more about the program here. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you become the media authority you want to be.