Secrets of Getting on Radio & TV Shows

By Pam Lontos

Need more PR? Here are the secrets of a regular appearance on radio or TV

•    Make yourself indispensable.
Writers and speakers may be intimidated by the prospect of approaching radio and TV producers for publicity opportunities, but a simple shift in perspective will help. Know that producers, like magazine and newspaper editors, scramble daily to find knowledgeable interviewees on the latest topics and trends. They must constantly find new and exciting people to interview, so by adding yourself, as an expert, to their database, you’re actually doing them a favor!

•    “If I could just get on Oprah…”
Every writer and speaker dreams of the millions of viewers who watch a program like Oprah, but few think about this: the benefit of appearing on even the most popular TV show completely depends on how long you’re on air. If you only get three minutes, even on a huge hit interview show, it’s unlikely to make a significant impact on your potential audience. Therefore, you’re better off getting a longer spot on a local or regional show than a one-minute spot on a national show.

•    Intense impact.
The impact of radio and TV is powerful and over very quickly. Promotion on TV and radio from a single appearance or interview may draw immediate, short-term interest, but then little, if any, new response over the long term. Interest peaks for as few as ten minutes after the program is on. And that’s it. Nothing more…until the next appearance. However, if you can manage to appear on a local or syndicated radio or television show regularly, or on different shows on different channels with some consistency, you’ll build excellent name recognition and sell books.

Publicize Yourself Today
Whatever media forms you choose for marketing yourself and your work, know that it takes between six months and a year of consistent media exposure before you will stick in the public’s mind. You’ll become “top of the mind” for newspaper and magazine editors, radio and television producers, and then with the audience you desire using slow and steady promotion. So always aim high in your aspirations, but follow these pointers and you’ll find that regular, wide-ranging exposure is easier to get than you might think. And it’s the key to winning the big prize in the PR race.

About the author
Pam Lontos is the of author of  I See Your Name Everywhere: Leverage the Power of the Media to Grow your Fame, Wealth and Success. She is president of PR/PR, a public relations firm that has recently placed clients in The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, and USA Today. As the former VP of Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting she knows how to get you great publicity to boost your business. Call for a free consultation at (407) 299-6128, or e-mail pam@prpr.net .  Sign up for a free publicity tips e-newsletter at www.prpr.net.