Landing that big media interview can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. Whether you’re the CMO of a Fortune 500 company or the CEO of a small business, it’s important to make sure you’re well-prepared for any media engagement. Don’t worry if the prospect of being interviewed on live television or having your face splashed across a major newspaper makes you nervous; we’ve got all the tips and tricks you’ll need to ace that interview. Let’s dive in.
- Know your stuff: Before you even step foot in front of the camera, make sure you’ve done your research! Read up on the outlet where the interview is taking place and familiarize yourself with their audience. Also, make sure to have answers ready for any questions they may ask about your product or service—you don’t want to be caught off guard during a live interview!
- Practice makes perfect: You should never go into an interview unprepared; practice makes perfect! It doesn’t matter if it’s with a friend, colleague, or even just in front of a mirror—make sure you know exactly what you want to say before going into the interview. This will also give you time to think through any tricky questions they might throw your way.
- Stay on message: Know what message or story it is that you want people to walk away from after hearing your interview—and stick with it! Make sure every answer is tailored around this message so that people can easily remember why they should listen to what you have said and why it matters for them or their business needs.
- Ask questions too: The media has given YOU this platform—so make sure that YOU get something out of it too! Ask questions about their coverage plans; find out when and where people can tune in or read about what you said; enquire about potential follow-up interviews; ask them how they think this story could be beneficial for both sides involved (you included!). This will show them that not only are you well-prepared but also willing to collaborate on future projects together—which could lead even more opportunities down the line!
- Speak naturally: It can be intimidating speaking in front of a camera so it’s important to try and remain natural during an interview. Try not to worry too much about stuttering or saying “um,” as this can often come across as more genuine and authentic than being overly rehearsed.
- Stay calm: If things start getting overwhelming during an interview, take a few seconds to pause and collect yourself before answering any questions. This will ensure that whatever answer you give is thoughtful and well-articulated rather than rushed and jumbled together out of panic!
- Have fun: Sure, interviews can be intimidating but remember that it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom! Have fun with it; crack some jokes if appropriate and don’t forget to smile—it’ll show that you’re confident in your answers which will leave viewers feeling good about what they’ve just heard!
The key takeaway from all this is that media interviews don’t have to be stressful if you take the time to prepare ahead of time for them. With these five tips under your belt, we guarantee that your next media engagement will go off without a hitch—so get ready for those cameras because they’re rolling soon! Remember: do your research ahead of time; practice makes perfect; stay on message; ask questions too; be authentic & have fun —and above all else… #WinTheMic!