Become A Top National Expert For Outstanding Career Success
Being seen as an expert in your field will create a competitive advantage for you and your business. One of the ways to create expert status is to appear in the media as an expert in your field. Here’s how! Make a list of all of the topics you can discuss as an expert or analyst and include sub-categories for each one. For example, a Workplace Expert can create a topic list that includes how to deal with gossip in the workplace, the dos and don’ts of asking for a raise, workplace etiquette, tips for traveling with the boss, harassment, climbing the corporate ladder, handling burn-out. Create five talking points for each of your expert topics you listed. Talking points are statements in sentence format that present a concept or commentary. Example of talking points on the topic of “tips for traveling with the boss” are: “Do not drink alcohol and if you do, never become intoxicated” or “Being on the road with the boss is not a time to ask for a raise” and so forth. Under each talking point create several lines of discussion or commentary.
Your professional and expert BIO is the first thing you need to create. Pack it with evidence that you are an expert in the field such as your education, awards, recognitions, accomplishments, associations you belong to along with a list of any previous publicity or media placements you have received. Your bio should support your area of expertise and leave out the personal information that does not matter to the media such as hobbies or how many kids you have although you can mention the location of your nearest major city as sometimes the media likes to know where you or your business is located. Create a list of the shows you want to on, or the media you want to get into and build a list of contacts at the media outlets. You will introduce yourself to your media contacts and then once a story hits the news where you are qualified to provide talking points you can connect with your contacts. They already know you and it will be more likely they will choose you for the opportunity.
Get positioned with the media in advance so you will be set up and ready to go when a story or news events emerges that is perfect for your commentary. An example is about a career or workplace expert who can comment on the industry events from workers losing their jobs to the unemployed going back to school. If a news event happens, such as a new jobs report or unemployment report coming out, your expertise, commentary and analysis will be in demand.
Keep your eye on the news. Anytime there is breaking news that you can comment on as the expert contact your media database immediately and stand by for their call. If you are immediately available for an interview or be willing to drop everything and head to a local TV affiliate for a segment, let them know this and include your closest major city. Watch your target shows and subscribe to your target print media to learn the types of experts they have on the show or use in the article. You should also familiarize yourself with the interviewer’s style or the journalist’s work in your area. You always want to be pitching “next level” ideas, not something they just covered.
Be sure to invest in media training so you know how to talk to the media. They want clear concise commentary without meandering or long-winded answers. Quick and accurate analysis is key. You want to work out certain trouble spots in advance of your TV appearance such as talking with your hands, blinking your eyes too much or talking slow with a lot of distracting and annoying “ummmm’s”.