How can you stay competitive and keep consumers educated about your company, product or service? How about harnessing the power of PR!



PR can help you talk directly to consumers through talk radio and television interviews and having your article featured in newspapers and magazines.

In this article we will focus on the extremely popular medium of television and the facts and values of being a TV guest. The audience thinks that if you are on tv you must be a celebrity of some sort, so when you appear as a guest on a TV show your credibility goes sky high says Marsha.

Here Marsha will tell us all about the medium that is TV.

1. Its all about the visuals. TV shows communicate to their audience through pictures as well as conversation. Friedman says, Producers look for newsworthy topics that are visual and entertaining. They want compelling conversation and pictures that will grab their viewers attention.

A great method to getting your visual together is thinking like a child. How would I explain it to my son or daughter? What pictures can you use that will translate into graphics for a TV story?

For starters, if you sell life insurance your visuals could be graphs of the mortality rate of women vs. men to match your conversation about why women need to protect themselves and their children against the loss of their spouses adds Marsha Friedman.

2. Different newscasts, different audience. Marsha Friedman says, An interesting fact is that morning, noon and evening newscasts are each geared towards a different audience. The early morning shows are usually watched by working adults and families getting ready for school. The afternoon newscasts are more lifestyle oriented. The evening shows are more focused on getting the hard news out.

Once you know your topic and message, check and make sure what newscast you would benefit the most from when you are appearing on the show as a guest.

3.Work on sound bites. Interviews on television are typically no longer than 5 minutes in length. So you really have to know how to get your message across to the audience in the short time span. Marsha Friedman says, Dont go on camera until you have practiced and prepared your sound bites. When you are appearing in front of millions of household nationwide, a little practice before hand would not go amiss.

4. Dress like the expert you are. There is nothing worse than seeing a television show guest who looks like a slob. The sad truth is that audience members are not really going to believe a person who looks like a bum. Marsha adds, Make sure you look good as your appearance will make a lasting impression. Do your clothes fit well (not too tight)? Are they clean and pressed (not old and ratty looking)?

Do your shoes look professional? Is that red shirt youre wearing, really the right color for you? Does that tie really go with that shirt? A clean and sharp look will help people focus on your message, rather than your outrageous appearance.

Now you should be raring to go with your imminent television appearance.