Browse published articles attributed to Marsha Friedman, with full-archive search.
Recently, I put together a list of ideas to help people make the most of their TV interviews, so I thought this time we'd talk about radio. While they are both broadcast interviews, the experiences are vastly different, and really should be discussed separately.
"What may be done at any time will be done at no time." -- Scottish Proverb Okay, don't ask what the Jewish grandmother from New York is doing with a Scottish proverb. My chief strategist found it for me, and it fit the tone of my message today.
You may have heard me say this over and over - but it's a fact: Talk radio is a great avenue for getting your message in front of a wide audience. With such an abundance of shows airing on terrestrial stations, online stations and satellite radio, and covering such a wide range of topics, you're sure to find many that will be a good match for your message. So how do you get on the air? Here are six tips designed to get you talking:
If you are planning to go out and get your own media coverage, here are some crucial elements with regard to orchestrating a PR campaign and more specifically with regard to landing TV appearances. Radio and print publicity definitely require attention to details - but the number of logistical issues you have to deal with for TV exposure is far greater. So let's discuss some of the elements for putting together a really good TV pitch that can result in valuable media opportunities for you. The Producer Wants to Shoot "on Location"
Over the years, I've always advised my clients that if you want to get in the news, you have to watch and read the news. I know it sounds a little like "bumper sticker" advice, but it's really not meant as a sound bite. In fact, we use a practical application of that advice every single morning at our agency. It's actually a very simple list of easy steps that anyone can do, and it can get blockbuster results.
I have never really been a card-carrying feminist, nor has my gender been a barrier to my success in the public relations industry. But I've not been blind to the fact that a lot has changed in the last few decades, and I think Gloria Steinem was spot-on when she wrote years ago that we'd never solve the feminization of power until we solve the masculinity of wealth. Well, I'd say we're just about there, because women are controlling the use of more money than at any point in U.S. history. I was fascinated by these statistics:
Do you know what the media would consider newsworthy about you or your company? Many new clients come to us with a strong opinion about what their "pitch" should be, but often miss the mark, in terms of knowing what will get the media to sit up and pay attention to their message. But it's very understandable that this could occur, if you're not working with the media the way we do, day in and day out, developing story angles intended to grab their interest.
One of the things I love about my job is solving problems. Sure, it's great to have a client walk in the door who has a unique product or service, solid credentials and a compelling angle. It makes the work easier, certainly, but it sometimes is more satisfying to solve what a client thinks is an unsolvable problem in a creative way.
If I had a nickel for every client or potential client who asked me if I could get them on Larry King, Oprah, Ellen, Charlie Rose, Keith Olberman, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly or Rachel Ray, I'd have retired long since. What complicates matters is that there are tons of rumors, stories and urban legends floating around about how someone got on a big show because - and I'll list these in no particular order: * They sent the host a gift * They sent the host a product * They know the host's cousin * They know the host's maidr
As the dog days of summer wind down, I think it's only appropriate that I tell a dog story of my own.
Chief Financial Officers hate it, while salespeople and business development executives love it. Every year, when the budget is drawn, this is typically how the conversation goes: CFO: What's the return on the PR budget? Marketing Director: I don't know. CFO: Well, how much revenue does it bring in? Sales Manager: I don't know. CFO: How many sales does it account for? Sales Manager: I don't know. CFO: Well, I need to make some cuts, so I'm going to recommend we cut the PR budget next year.
If I had a nickel every time a CEO or marketing executive asked me how many more sales they'd make by using PR, Bill Gates would be jealous of my island-sized yacht. In order to answer that question, however, it's important to understand the fallacy on which it's based. So, let me ask you a few questions.
Back in 1962, Avis Rent A Car began using the advertising slogan that is still in use today - "We try harder." The slogan was a nod to the fact that Avis was the second largest rental car company behind Hertz, and that as a result, they would always make an extra effort in a desire to overcome the competition. It's a reasonably universal sentiment, as small corporations around the world employ the same tactic to provide better service or more flexibility than the market leaders. And the same can be said of talk radio.
When I started working with authors on their publicity campaigns, the landscape was reasonably simple. Arranging phone interviews on talk radio shows, appearances on TV and getting reviews in major newspapers and magazines drove consumer interest. Everyone bought their books in bookstores and the only people interested in the Internet were some computer geeks. Boy, have things changed. Today 44 percent of ALL books sold in North America are sold online at Amazon.com. What's more, e-books now account for nearly 30 percent of all of Amazon's sales.
Ever since the days when every TV set was a massive 12 inches, and millions of Americans tuned in to watch I Love Lucy in glorious black and white, television has been in the center of our living rooms. Today, the screens are larger, the picture is in high-definition color and the programming choices are near infinite. Also, in addition to shows of general interest, there are now literally hundreds of cable network shows that cater to specialized niche markets. Plus, millions are now watching TV shows on their cell phones and computers. All in all, TV viewership continues to soar.r
I spend much of my time doling out practical marketing and PR advice based on the harsh realities of today's new economy. People ask me constantly for ways they can market themselves affordably and more reliably, so I try to make sure most of my tips are grounded and instantly useful.