I doubt there is another public relations firm anywhere that books as many interviews as we do at Media Relations Agency. When our staff members give you their advice, it's as practical as you can get. I've asked them to come up with common mistakes they have seen our clients make while interviewing and show you how to avoid the same pitfalls. If you follow their simple suggestions, you will have more successful interviews.
I'll offer the first piece of advice: take your interview seriously. Your performance magnifies the golden selling opportunity of each interview. Publicity looks deceptively easy. In a television studio, you may be with just 10 people. On telephone interviews, you're often alone. It's hard to comprehend the number of people listening to your every word. If you could actually face the enormous crowds in a broadcast audience, you would realize the magnitude of the moment. Picture this: you are looking out a second story window, and the crowd you'll be addressing extends as far as you can see. They've all come to hear you. That's your typical audience. Scary? Not if your presentation is in order. Your best bet is to over-organize and over-prepare.
Over the course of the next two and-a-half weeks I am going to share with you the 17 tips my staff has compiled to make you look like a media pro. Hopefully they will help you feel confident and prepared when the spotlight shines on you.
Tip 1: Always Be Early
Arriving early always helps an interview go smoothly. Plan ahead. You never know if there will be construction on your route, or if they need you on the air early. It also gives the host an opportunity to fill in any gaps in your background.
Example
Because of bad weather, it took a guest twice as long to get to the studio. He arrived just in time to see the last parking spot taken. He rushed through the door, only to be put right on the air as the first interview, not the third as planned. Also, the host was unfamiliar with his organization, and failed to mention the location or phone number. Running late made the client nervous and he was interviewing poorly. Consequently, the host rushed him through the interview.