What online entrepreneur doesn’t want to land more media interviews?
Utilizing the media can be one of the most effective ways to establish yourself as an expert while telling people about your brand, product, or services.
When I coach online preneurs, we create a media plan to help them maximize their presence and spread their message. This is also a top covered in The Success Academy. Today, I am going to give you a few tips on landing more media interviews.
Before getting started you will want to do some research and create a list of the media outlets, podcasts and websites you would like to start with first. Interviews don’t always have to come from the big dogs. You will have more success from targeted smaller audiences rather than large audiences that includes a small number of your target market. Interviews also don’t have to be the traditional media like television, radio, or the newspaper, make sure to check out sites that do podcasts, video interviews, or even BlogTalk Radio hosts.
There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.
Now let’s get you started creating it! I’ve put together a few tips to help you be more successful in landing media interviews.
HARO – Help a Reporter Out
This is one of the first resources I used to connect with media. Everyday thousands of journalist need to hit deadlines and in order to do that they must find experts to help them on their articles. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a bad-ass resource that Peter Shankman created and is something you MUST check out if you want to get published as a resource! Here are some tips to be successful with HARO!
- Read the request very carefully and follow the instructions exactly.
- Act Fast! Make time for this email when it comes through so you can act fast in sending a reply!
- Create a relationship. This is your chance to build a media relationship. Use your social skills and connect with them on Twitter or Facebook.
- Only reply to queries you truly are an expert on. They are busy so don’t waste their time if you don’t know what you are talking about.
SEO – Search Engine Optimization
You may think that SEO is just for potential clients or customers to find you easier using Google but it can also increase your chances of reporters finding your website too! What? You don’t think that reporters use Google to find resources? Well you are wrong, they do! And by having your SEO dialed in, you can ensure you will be found. And your arse better make sure there is a way for them to easily reach out to you! Make sure you have a form, email address, or social media buttons to connect with you. Don’t make it hard for them.
Connect with Reporters & Producers on Social Media
As I mentioned to do with HARO out, you will want to do this with any other media resources you locate that you want to be interviewed by. Forming a relationship with them before pitching will help them recognize you and how you are an expert.
Pitch It!
You might be surprised to hear that 75% of my interviews have happened because I pitched the media! This is exactly how I landed my bad-ass interview with John Lee Dumas from Entrepreneur on Fire. John has interviewed some of the best in the online world and it was a huge honor to be interviewed by him. You can listen to our interview here. { I also had three others reach out to me for interviews after they listened to it! }
Sample Media Pitch Template
Want to receive a sample media pitch template so you can begin pitching the media as well as learn how to go back to the basics of online marketing? Sign up to receive my FREE Monthly Marketing Success Kit where you will learn the exact steps you need to take to consistently market your online business every day, every week, every month.
Click here to receive my FREE training on Creating Your Success Plan.
Ali,
I can’t access your link: it is broken
Great Topic!
Warmly,
Monica
Hey Monica – it should be working now! xo