There’s some excellent practical advice in this Monday’s Link Roundup. Because I have a home office, I found How to Set Personal Boundaries When You Work From Home a useful reminder of how to cope with the competing demands of work and domestic life. C.J. Hayden’s article What if you were wrong about marketing? is a great method of challenging assumptions about the subject.
- Words in stone and on the wind. “After I wrote, in a recent Wall Street Journal article, about the malleability of text in electronic books, a reader asked me to flesh out my thoughts about the different ways that “typographical fixity” – to again borrow Elizabeth Eisenstein’s term – can manifest itself in a book.”
- How to Set Personal Boundaries When You Work From Home. “…the challenges of working from home can sometimes make life/work balance seem unattainable. You may feel like you are constantly being pulled towards both family and work commitments–a bit like being in the middle of a tug-of-war. One answer that can help you achieve better balance between your work and personal life is boundaries.”
- What happened to the former slave that wrote his old master? “You know that letter from former slave Jourdon Anderson to his old master that’s been going around? First of all, it’s good and you should read it…David Galbraith poked around a bit and found a record of Anderson still living in Ohio at the time of the 1900 census as “Jordan Anderson”…At the time, Anderson and his wife Mandy were in their 70s and had been married for 52 years. Mandy had borne 11 children, six of whom were still living…”
- In the Footsteps of Giants. “Biographer Michael Scammell has devoted much of his long career to writing about two of the 20th century’s foremost intellectuals, whose impassioned writings defined in human and moral terms the stakes in the struggle against communism. Scammell’s book about the Nobel Prize–winning dissident Russian writer Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn, Solzhenitsyn: A Biography, published in 1984, was the first major biography to shed light on this towering yet secretive figure. Koestler: The Literary and Political Odyssey of a Twentieth-Century Skeptic, which came out last year to much acclaim, revived the reputation of the protean Hungarian writer Arthur Koestler, best known for his 1940 anti-totalitarian novel Darkness at Noon…Writer and translator Michael McDonald interviews Scammell about his life and work.”
- How to Become the Person Everyone Wants to Interview. “You need to establish yourself as an expert, and getting interviewed by radio, podcast or TV hosts can help you do just that. So, here is how you can help speed up the process by positioning yourself as a subject matter expert.”
- What if you were wrong about marketing? “Lately, I’ve been playing the “what if you were wrong” game with my coaching clients…questioning your assumptions about marketing can lead to designing a much more solid strategy. You can try asking yourself what if you were wrong, but it can be even more powerful to have a friend, colleague, or coach ask you.”
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I’ve given countless interviews for both local and national media outlets. What I’ve learned, I’ve condensed into these handy tips that I hope will be of some help. (Please note that the radio and TV tips assume that you’ll be doing a studio interview. Even if you’re not, the rules still hold for an “on location” interview.) General tips for all media interviews… Read More
Posted in How to, Marketing, Personal historian, Promotion & Publicity, Self-employed, Tips
Tagged How to, Marketing, media interviews, Personal historian, promotion, publicity, Tips
I’ve given countless interviews for both local and national media outlets. What I’ve learned, I’ve condensed into these handy tips that I hope will be of some help. (Please note that the radio and TV tips assume that you’ll be doing a studio interview. Even if you’re not, the rules still hold for an “on location” interview.)
General tips for all media interviews.
- Use anecdotes. Come up with a short story (about 30 seconds) to illustrate your point. Remember, humor works well.
- Think of some likely questions you’ll be asked. Then prepare some pointed facts and brief stories you can use.
- Don’t rehearse. Many “experts” suggest rehearsing—and they’re wrong! Doing so can make you feel more stressful because you’ll be worried about getting it right.
- Study your interviewer. Take time to catch several episodes of the host’s show. You’ll get a sense of the person’s style and approach. If you’re being interviewed for a magazine or newspaper, read a few articles the journalist has written.
- Don’t use professional jargon. Use simple, everyday words.
- Don’t rush to your interview. At least a day in advance, learn where the TV or radio studio is located and find the best route to get there. On the day of the interview, leave extra time for getting to it. You want to be as relaxed as possible, not tense from cutting the time too close.
Tips for TV interviews.
- Focus on your host. Make a connection with the interviewer and don’t look at the camera. You’re talking to one person, not thousands. This will help you remain calm.
- Wear solid colors and avoid anything flashy. You want the audience to be fascinated by what you’re saying, not what you’re wearing. Avoid stripes or busy patterns. The camera doesn’t like them. Use black, blinding white, and bright red sparingly.
- Ask ahead how much time you’ll have. “On Air” time is often short; think five minutes or less. Make sure you have two or three points you really want to stress. Insert these into whatever question you’re asked.
- Bring props. Television loves visuals. Offer the TV producer a 30- or 60-second clip of your videos. If you produce books, bring samples.
- Smile. Avoid at all cost the “deer in the headlights” syndrome. Have some fun.
Tips for radio interviews.
- Appearance. It’s less important than for TV. However, this doesn’t mean showing up in your track suit. Wear comfortable, but appropriate, professional attire.
- Bring notes. It’s radio so you can’t be seen! Jot on an index card three key points you want to make.
- Avoid a monotone voice. All the listener has to go on is the sound of your voice. Keep it conversational, but be conscious of expressing yourself with some passion.
Tips for newspaper and magazine interviews.
- Have contact names. A journalist will likely want to talk to some of your clients. Make sure you have the names and contact information for two or three of your clients. Try to go for variety—younger, older, male, female. Get you clients’ approval beforehand to use their names.
- Have samples. It helps to be able to show some of your work.
Web Resources.
Photo by Bullet Miller
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