I see this all the time with small business owners.

From past students in my AMPLIFY PR course to clients of my PR agency, I’ve seen business owners excited for media coverage but reluctant to get in front of the camera or microphone.

The truth is, to really amplify your business, you have to be ready to shine a light on YOU.

Although it may feel warm and safe staying behind the scenes and letting your product or service take the spotlight, you need to come out in the open and authentically connect with your audience.

Here’s why: People connect with people.

That’s why some of the world’s top brands spend millions of dollars to create personas that will connect with their audience.

That’s why McDonald’s has Ronald. Progressive Insurance has Flo. State Farm has Jake. 

You get the idea, but lucky for you, you don’t have to pour your money into creating a brand persona out of thin air. You are your best spokesperson.

People want to know why you started your business, what inspired you to create your product, the struggles you’ve overcome, and the impact you’re making. They are ready to connect with you. And you know what? People are going to love you!

But I know how nerve-wracking it can be to share openly about your business and to open yourself up to judgment, criticism, or even praise- attention in any form can be overwhelming.

You’re thinking: “But it would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for me!

Well, you can, but I’m telling you… it’s going to be very expensive (to hire someone good!) and not nearly as effective.

So, time to suck it up and come out from behind your brand! Here are a few tips to get you started.

Curate your own interview

Whether you’re doing an interview with a high-profile magazine, a local TV show, or a popular podcast, it’s always smart to tell the interviewer what to ask! This is helpful for the person doing the interview and extremely helpful for you.

The best way to do this is to create an interview guide that includes your name and your title, a suggested introduction, and a list of questions. Send it via email in advance to whoever booked you for the interview.

They may not take all of your suggestions but I’ve found that 9 times out of 10, the interviewee relies on the provided guide one hundred percent. People working in media are busy, so if you can make their jobs easier, you have better chances of a great interview.

Prepare for the questions you don’t want to answer

Even if you give a reporter or blogger the exact questions you want them to ask, be prepared in case they ask some of their own. And be especially prepared for those questions you don’t want them to ask.

Like, “What were your exact sales from your launch?”

“How many employees do you have?”

“What is the super secret ingredient in your best-selling, bazillion-dollar vegan corn dogs?” I’m a sucker for a good vegan corn dog, btw.

The best way to nail even the tough questions? Predict them and practice confident responses! It’s that simple. You don’t have to talk about things that make you feel uncomfortable but you do need to have a good response ready to go.

Show up early

This sounds simple but if you get this wrong, your whole interview will suffer. If you’re doing a Zoom interview, log on early. Tech problems are the worst. Just plan on something going wrong and leave yourself some cushion.

If you’re driving to a radio station or other location, make sure you know where you’re going and leave extra time for parking. It’s standard to arrive at interviews at least 20 minutes in advance to leave time for getting your mic on and going over any questions. If you are bringing props of any kind, like for a cooking demo, arrive even earlier! Being late will not do your nerves any favors.

Once you’re there nice & early, take a couple of behind-the-scenes pictures and post them on social media to promote your upcoming coverage… or go to the bathroom, check your make-up, text your mom. Do whatever puts you at ease!

Did you read through this blog wondering how to land that media interview in the first place? Check out my publicity course, AMPLIFY, where I give you all the tools you need to get the message out about your business. 

 

Now, I’d love to hear from you! Have you stepped out from behind your brand and shared your news with the world? How did it go? What could you have done better? Share in the comments below… we can all learn from your experience!