How to Create an Online Media Page That Bookers Will Love

How to Create an Online Media Page That Bookers Will Love

Saturday, December 28, 2013 | Media Relations

Most people who are in business or who are experts, authors, or entertainers, would love to be featured in, or on, major media outlets, not only so they can spread their messages to millions of people quickly, but because large media outlets have a trusted following. This “third-party endorsement” from the trusted editors, writers, and producers at the media outlets goes a long way in building their audiences’ trust in you and providing a third-party endorsement to your potential clients or customers!

If you want to see your face or words in the media, you need to know how to present your information the way the media want to see it. The first place most media members go to check you out is your website. Then, they will immediately look for an online media page where they hope to find everything they need to determine whether or not they to include you in an upcoming broadcast or article.

Following is a list of items to include on an online media page.

If you don’t have them all, just begin with the elements you do have, and continue to add components as you develop them.

• On your online media page, post the words “Media contact” followed by the name, email address, and phone number of the person who will handle calls and inquiries from the media on your behalf. It’s okay if it’s you.

Do not skip the phone number or email address here. Members of the media do not like to fill out online forms, and they frequently need to reach potential guests quickly. If they can’t call you, they may move on to someone who is more accessible.

• Include your biography and/or company backgrounder on your media page.

If you are an expert, you might only have a biography. If you have a company that exists beyond yourself, you might also have a company backgrounder.

• Your video reel or videos of you speaking should be near the top of your media page.

If you have not yet been interviewed on TV, you can include other videos of yourself speaking, to give the media an idea of how you come across. Be sure the quality is good and that you are talking about topics that are relevant to the way you are positioning yourself.

If you don't have any videos yet and you have not obtained any prior media training, a few media training sessions with a seasoned media trainer will boost your clarity, confidence, and poise on camera. Just a couple of media training sessions can help you to capture the attention of television producers with your videos. 

For experts or people who want to do a lot of demonstrations in the media, include video segments of you providing tips or information or doing demonstrations. If you can make these segments downloadable from your media page for news producers to capture and include in news segments, you’ll have an advantage over your competition. 

Be sure your video content is viewable on your website and on your media page: don’t use links that will lead people away from your site and onto YouTube, Vimeo, or elsewhere. If your videos are hosted on YouTube or Vimeo, you can create a playlist and embed it onto your website. This would allow members of the media to watch several videos of you, within one small frame on your page. I use Vimeo Plus so that I can have my videos on my site, without the Vimeo logo and without other people’s videos being shown following mine, as YouTube videos often do.

• An audio reel or links to audio interviews can also be included on your media page.

If you have not yet been interviewed on the radio, but decide to include other audio recordings, such as those from teleseminars, only include top-quality content. You may want to edit it to capture only the best parts of each teleseminar.

• On your media page, post a list of topics you can discuss, and story or segment ideas.

Conduct some research to determine what has already been covered extensively in the media, and then think of some topics that are compelling.

To get a sense of how to write your list of topics, look at media outlets' websites, the covers of magazines, and other print media, and pay attention to the way guests are announced on the TV and radio shows where you would like to be featured. One of the topics or segment ideas on your list may be the very reason a member of the media decides to create a TV segment or article featuring you.

• Include links to press releases, news clippings, and articles you have authored on your media page.

If you include links to the media outlets’ sites, check them frequently: many media outlets regularly move content on their sites.

• Create interesting fact sheets for your media page.

To increase your chances of gaining media coverage include a fact sheet(s) on your media page that includes background information on topics related to your area of expertise, relevant facts and statistics from universities and research institutes, and professional associations. Be sure to use reputable sources, such as top universities or institutions, for the data you include in your fact sheets, and be sure to credit all sources. It is good to include a link to the source of the information, so a member of the press who wants to quickly verify it can do so.

•If your work includes creating transformations of any kind, whether you transform environments or people, include before-and-after images in your downloadable photo gallery. Just make sure you have the right to publish all the photos you use.

• Authors should include a link to a book one-sheet on their media pages.

This document usually contains a one- to two-paragraph description of your book with bullet points of the major topics covered in the book, top reviews for the book, a photo of the book cover, a photo of yourself, and a brief paragraph about you (approximately one or two paragraphs). Include the publishing information, ISBN number, price, publishing date, and stores or sites where the book is available.

• Testimonials can be included on your media page but be sure to only include those that don’t sound too salesy. 

Put the most important elements above the fold, including your “media contact” information, video(s) of you, a photo of you, and at least a few sentences of your biography. For those who don’t know what “above the fold” means, it’s an expression that refers to a folded newspaper: the most important news was usually placed “above the fold”. On a web page, “above the fold” generally refers to whatever is visible before someone scrolls down.

The more you present yourself and your offerings in a professional, organized, and accessible manner, the more likely you will be to capture the attention of the media and keep them coming back to you.

Here are more links that you may find helpful.

For a Media Interview Checklist to keep on hand, click here.

This Glossary of Media Interview Terms will also be useful: https://expertmediatraining.com/media-interview-terms-from-los-angeles-media-trainer

Prepare for TV Interviews BEFORE You Book One. Click here to read this post.

Lisa Elia, Media Trainer, Presentation Trainer, and Communication Expert, and Founder of Expert Media Training

About Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia is a leadership communication strategist who works with executives, founders, and expert teams to strengthen how ideas are communicated, understood, and acted upon inside organizations. Through her SpeakerShift Leadership Communication Accelerator and private advisory work, she helps leaders develop greater clarity, executive presence, and influence in high-stakes conversations—from leadership meetings and major presentations to investor discussions and critical organizational moments. Organizations also license her leadership communication programs to strengthen communication capabilities across their teams. Learn more at lisaelia.com.

To arrange a complimentary consultation, visit https://calendly.com/emt-appt/consultation-lisa-elia

The Language of Your Brand in Media Interviews

The Language of Your Brand in Media Interviews

Thursday, October 24, 2013 | Branding

Branding is a hot topic in business and in media training and presentation training.

The Language of Your Brand, blog post by Media Trainer and Presentation Trainer Lisa Elia The brand has grown to extend far beyond its origins, when a brand was the insignia used primarily to mark cattle and products that craftspeople made.

True branding extends far beyond logos and the colors and fonts and design elements you use on your website, social media pages and products, although these are very important. People respond to a good brand in a visceral, emotional way. When you receive media training, your trainer should help your personal brand to come through.

A focus on your brand in media interviews is a part of any good media training session.

The brand of your company or organization, and/or you as a person, should be clear and come across every time you give an interview or make a presentation.

Because evolved people don’t live by pictures alone, the “language of your brand” is just as important as the visual elements, and sometimes even more so. Yet, most people don’t give nearly as much thought to the language of their brand as they do the visual elements.

What is the language of your brand in media interviews?

Quite often, people will experience your brand solely through words. When people talk about you, your company, or your services or products, they will use words. A print interview that you give will rely solely on the words that you speak.

The words people choose to describe you will come partly from the experience they have had with you and partly from the very words you have said or written.

In your media training sessions and message development sessions, focusing on the language of your brand in interviews will give you a great sense of clarity before your interviews.

Any time you speak about yourself or your company, even in something as seemingly mundane as a quick phone call or a one-on-one meeting, you’re conveying your brand. Of course, when you speak from a stage or through social media or traditional media (e.g., TV, radio or print interviews), you’re transmitting your brand to masses of people simultaneously, but you can still do it in a way that feels personal.

The language of your brand goes far beyond having a good elevator pitch or introductory phrase that you and your team use when you meet people. It’s also much more than a list of descriptions that you or your staff read off of a page when explaining what you do.

What are the words, phrases and explanations that you and your entire team use to convey your brand in media interviews and in every interaction, from the way your phone is answered and problems are handled, to the way you interact with people at functions when you think no one is watching, to the way you interact with your staff or your team members?

What are the words or phrases you will use that will stick in people’s heads and reach their hearts?

Your brand in media interviews is conveyed in everything you do before, during, and after the interview.

 

Lisa Elia, Media Trainer, Presentation Trainer, and Communication Expert, and Founder of Expert Media Training

About Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia is a leadership communication strategist who works with executives, founders, and expert teams to strengthen how ideas are communicated, understood, and acted upon inside organizations. Through her SpeakerShift Leadership Communication Accelerator and private advisory work, she helps leaders develop greater clarity, executive presence, and influence in high-stakes conversations—from leadership meetings and major presentations to investor discussions and critical organizational moments. Organizations also license her leadership communication programs to strengthen communication capabilities across their teams. Learn more at lisaelia.com.

To arrange a complimentary consultation, visit https://calendly.com/emt-appt/consultation-lisa-elia

Acronyms and Abbreviations in Media Interviews and Speeches

Friday, October 18, 2013 | Communication, Media Training, Public Speaking

The use of acronyms and abbreviations seems to have increased significantly over the past decade, primarily due to the growth of texting and the shrinking of sentences to fit within Twitter’s character limits.

The use of acronyms and abbreviations in media interviews or speeches can often create confusion, turn people off and, possibly, make you appear less eloquent than you are.

The difference between acronyms and abbreviations:

An acronym is pronounced like a word and is generally comprised of the first letter of each word in a phrase. Example: SWOT (which stands for “strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats”).

An abbreviation consists of the first letter of each word in a phrase or name, but each letter is pronounced individually. Example: D.I.Y. (which stands for “do it yourself”).

Of course, the above acronym and abbreviation could each have other meanings, but these are among the most common meanings for them. This brings me to the first of my tips for using acronyms and abbreviations effectively in media interviews or speeches:

1. Avoid using acronyms or abbreviations that could easily be confused with more commonly known ones. For example, if my team and I referred to our company as “E.M.T.”, rather than Expert Media Training™, a large percentage of people would be confused because “E.M.T.” is commonly used to describe an “emergency medical technician”. The difference is vast: if there’s a speech emergency I can help you, but you probably don’t want me intubating you.

2. Avoid using abbreviations or acronyms that may not be known to the majority of your audience. If you are in a media interview or giving a speech that will last more than a few minutes, and you plan on using an abbreviation to refer to something with a long name, explain this the first time you mention the full name associated with the abbreviation. This should be practiced during your media training, so you become fluid with your delivery.

3. If you can create an acronym for a system you have created or something else you want people to remember, this can be very useful for marketing and for making you memorable. If you plan to use the acronym in a media interview or speech, explain what it means early on.

4. In broadcast interviews or speeches, don’t use abbreviations that contain more syllables than the words themselves. Example: using “G.W.P.” (5 syllables) instead of “gift with purchase” (4 syllables). You could probably get away with this in an article you author, but this kind of “marketing speak” rarely impresses people.

5. If, during an interview or speech, you use abbreviations that are replacements for slang expressions, like “LOL” or “OMG”, know that this will convey a certain image of you. If you use these facetiously, it will shape your image in a different way.

6. If you use too many acronyms or abbreviations throughout your interview or speech, people may think you spend too much time texting and not enough time working…unless you work in social media, perhaps.

7. Choose your acronyms and abbreviations as consciously as you would other words and phrases, and you should be fine. I was tempted to use a lot of acronyms here, but I didn’t want you to TIWAJ. (I’ll let your imagination work on what TIWAJ could mean.)

For more media training and presentation training tips provided by Media Trainer Lisa Elia, the founder of Expert Media Training™, visit https://expertmediatraining.com/blog

Present yourself as vital and ever evolving.

Monday, September 16, 2013 | Business Tips, Messaging

LE-quote-Present-yourself-as-vital“Present yourself as vital and ever evolving, and people will be magnetized to you.”

When I wrote these words, I was in deep thought about the qualities and actions that attract people, in preparation for the free teleseminar that I held last year.

When people show that they are continuously evolving, they capture the attention of others. Businesses are the same because, after all, businesses are the creations of people.

Vital. Here’s why you want to be vital. These definitions came from Dictionary.com:

  1. “of or pertaining to life.
  2. having remarkable energy, liveliness, or force of personality.
  3. being the seat or source of life.
  4. necessary to life.
  5. necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something; indispensable; essential.”

Who wouldn’t want even one of these descriptions to suit them?

Here’s some quick “thinkwork” you can do.

Think of at least one way that you — or your business, or your music or art or books — can be seen as “vital” to your customers, clients or fans.

Consider how you can continue to evolve and to let others know about it. People want to see what’s coming next. Entice them, lead them, excite them.

 

How to Communicate with Maturity

Thursday, September 5, 2013 | Communication

Communicating with Maturity blog post by Media Trainer and Presentation Trainer Lisa EliaWe hear so much about authenticity and transparency and accountability. All of these are felt by others through our communication. What it really comes down to is maturity.

Communicating with maturity is very simple.

Here are some tips on how to communicate with maturity:

It includes taking responsibility for one’s actions and for the promises one makes, and communicating clearly when you cannot deliver on your promises due to extenuating circumstances.

Communicating with maturity is communicating with thoughtfulness and the knowledge that there are consequences that come when certain words are spoken.

Communicating with maturity results in fewer disagreements and less drama in life.

Communicating with maturity requires strength, clarity, and self-knowledge, and it is the most freeing way to communicate.

For additional communication tips, check out our courses at https://lisaelia.com/courses

Video Engagement Tips from a Media Trainer and PR Expert

Video Engagement Tips from a Media Trainer and PR Expert

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 | Media Relations, On-camera, Video

Use these video engagement tips to capture the attention of the media.

Videos are extremely important because members of the media (especially TV producers) need to see how you will come across on camera before they will book you for an interview. Increasingly, print media outlets are now including videos on their websites, to correlate to their print articles. Members of the media frequently search YouTube and Google for experts to interview and products to feature. So, if you want to attract the media and keep them interested in you or your company, video is crucial.

Here are a few video engagement tips to get you started:

If you are an expert, create videos of yourself sharing valuable tips or information, or demonstrating what you do. If you create products, you can also share tips, but be sure to create at least one video that shows the products in use. Be sure that the lighting, audio and video quality is adequate for the media. You can lose the attention of the media quickly if your videos look too unprofessional or if they are difficult to watch. Host your videos on your website so that you lead people back to your site to view them. For purposes of media pitching, it’s best to host at least a few of your videos in an online press room on your website. You can also post your videos in the videos section of your Facebook page and other social media accounts, and share them in your feeds. Include links to videos in the body of your press releases so that when they are published, readers can view the videos to gain information, be entertained, or see something else that is useful, educational, and/or entertaining. Also, include links to videos of you/your products in your email pitches to the media so they can get an immediate sense of you and/or your products. Be sure your videos represent you well. This is where media training and presentation training can help.

Now that you have the video engagement tips you need, do you need additional resources on media training and capturing the attention of the media?

Here are some that you can access on our site.

Videos with Tips to Improve Communication, Presentations, Speeches and Media Interviews: https://expertmediatraining.com/videos-media-interviews-presentations-speeches-investor-pitches Media Training Resources: https://expertmediatraining.com/media-training-resources/ Frequently Asked Questions about Media Training https://expertmediatraining.com/faqs-about-media-training/

If you want to share these video engagement tips, you can do so by using the share buttons below help you to create amazing videos that capture the attention of the media.

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Prepare for TV Interviews – Tips from a Media Trainer

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 | Interview Skills, Media Training

Entertainment Tonight has featured Expert Media Trainer Founder and Los Angeles Media Trainer as an expert numerous times.

I was on Entertainment Tonight recently, sharing my PR and media training expertise.

This was my fourth segment with ET, and the show producers had called me two other times when I wasn’t able to tape the segments due to scheduling conflicts. However, I believe that one of the reasons the producers have called me so much is that I’m easy to work with.

As a media trainer, I offer you these tips to prepare for TV interviews:

1. If you are positioning yourself as an expert, stay up on research, trends and news related to your field and think about how to articulate various aspects of your work so that you can easily answer questions about it. If you have not had media training yet, do not wait until the day before you have an interview. Get it as soon as you begin to think about putting yourself into the public eye so that you have time to work with your media trainer on creating clear responses to questions and on polishing your delivery.

2. Have your preparation ritual down, so that you can center yourself and get your energy up with very little notice. Quite often, you will receive requests for interviews that must take place within hours, or sometimes minutes. Having a good preparation ritual that you use to get in performance mode can give you the confidence to say “yes” to great opportunities, even when you are very busy.

Preparation rituals are included in all of our programs. When we have provided media training for actors or music artists, we have observed that they love our techniques, because they are based in acting training and movement training.

When we provide media training for athletes, they too appreciate the use of a quick preparation ritual, as most of them use them in their professional work.

3. Knowing that many media interviews come up very quickly (sometimes with less than 24 hours’ notice), have your wardrobe ready to go, have your hair cut and colored the way you want it, nails manicured, etc., at all times. This is the life of a public figure, which is what you become if you put yourself out into the public eye as an expert.

4. Try to accommodate last-minute media requests, if you can. If you say “no”, someone else will say “yes”.

Suze Orman skyrocketed into the public spotlight because she told the producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show that she could be an emergency guest. They asked her to fly in and sit in the front row so they could ask her a question: she answered it so much to Oprah’s liking that Oprah asked her back, and rest is history.

You can watch my interviews on Entertainment Tonight and learn more about the media interviews that have arisen for me as a media trainer and PR expert at https://expertmediatraining.com/press-room/.

To further prepare for TV interviews, use the quick list of items to have ready to go, which you can find on this blog post:

https://expertmediatraining.com/media-interview-checklist-from-a-media-trainer/

Here are some other links you may find useful in preparing for media interviews:

Media Training Resources

https://expertmediatraining.com/media-training-resources/

Top 10 Media Relations Tips – Media Training Tips

https://expertmediatraining.com/media-training-tips-for-good-media-relations/

Frequently Asked Questions about Media Training

https://expertmediatraining.com/faqs-about-media-training/

 

3 Bust-Out Business Growth Tactics

Thursday, April 4, 2013 | Business Tips

If you want to change your business quickly, quickly change some of the things you’re doing.

Business growth tip # 1:

Look for the hidden gems — products or services you can create easily or re-purpose.

  • Most business owners and executives overlook some of the very valuable services they could provide because they take their own knowledge for granted and, possibly, assume that “everyone knows that.”
  • Product-based companies can usually find new uses for their products or they can tweak them slightly to re-position them.
  • If you look at your current offerings and listen to what your customers/clients ask you for or praise you for, you will probably get some ideas for new products or services to add to your offering.
  • Don’t be afraid of a product that has a short shelf life if you can flood the market and achieve a high ROI. Not everything is meant to last forever.

Business growth tip # 2:

Conduct a monthly “awareness audit,” and amplify your presence.

3 Growth Tactics by Lisa Elia, Founder of Expert Media Training

Look at all of the places where you could easily let people know more about your products and services, add-ons and more. See if you could do more with:

  • Your email signature
  • The signature on your invoices
  • Every page of your web site (Is there a call to action on each?)
  • Your social media profiles and posts
  • Your business card
  • Videos you create
  • If you have a physical location, your signage and waiting area
  • Your outgoing voice mail message or hold music/message

Business growth tip # 3:

Create specific plans of action to meet the following groups of people and to make them aware of you:

  • Opinion Leaders: these are the people others look to as trendsetters, style leaders, and authorities.
  • Key Influencers: these are the people who are close to your target customers and who have the power to influence their buying decisions.
  • Members of the media who could interview you.
  • Speaking bookers or event organizers who could invite you to speak to members of your target audience.

If you focus on getting to know as few as 10 members of each of these groups each month, imagine how much more widely known you would be and how much potential new business you could be getting.

By reaching out in the right way, you could also secure press coverage and speaking engagements, which can bring you more business and visibility.

Here’s one way you can challenge yourself. Choose one of these strategies to focus on each week, over the next three weeks. Then, track any changes that occur in your business during that time and over the next three weeks.

Feel free to share your experience below or on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/expertmediatraining

I’d love to hear from you.

Now that you have some business growth tactics, do you need tips and advice on media training and presentation training? Check out these links:

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Media Interviews

Top 10 Media Relations Tips – Media Training Tips from a Media Trainer

How to Create an Online Press Room That the Media Will Love

Media Training Tips on The Language of Your Brand in Media Interviews

Prepare for TV Interviews BEFORE You Book One

 

Questions and Answers from Shark Tank Teleseminar

Questions and Answers from Shark Tank Teleseminar

Monday, March 25, 2013 | Investor Pitch Coach, Investor Pitching, Presentation Training, Public Speaking

Inspired by ABC TV’s Shark Tank and the clients I have prepared to be on the show, I hosted a complimentary teleseminar, with my husband, Financial Expert Dean Erickson, to share tools, advice and strategies on helping entrepreneurs calm their nerves, on preparing for presentations and on landing great sponsors and lucrative business deals.

During the Get Ready for Shark Tank Teleseminar, I received many great questions from attendees. In case you've missed this on my Facebook page, here are the questions, along with my answers.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ExpertMediaTraining

Q: What if you are presenting something that is completely new: nobody else is doing or has done it in the past? How do you run projection numbers? 

A: If your concept is brand new, most investors would want to see proof of concept, so you should provide the service and create a track record of measurable results. Projections will be challenging, but if you can show that there is a viable market and that you can make money, and that you can expand the service offering beyond what you can provide as an individual, investors could be interested.

Q: How do you protect your idea during the Shark Tank/pitching process?

A: Consider working with an intellectual property (IP) attorney, who can help you with copyrights, trademarks and patents. Beyond that, if you're approaching investors (not the Sharks on Shark Tank), you can ask them to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) before you share the details of your idea. If you're going on Shark Tank, remember that it's televised, so don't share anything you wouldn't want to broadcast to the world. 

Q: How much of the development process will they assist you with if the idea is complex?

A: Each Shark (and each investor) is different. The Sharks generally want you to have developed the product beyond the prototype phase so that you can present them with an idea of manufacturing costs, and so you can have had time to sell the product and test the market. There are some investors and venture capital firms and business incubators that help more with product development than others. This is where research comes in.

Q: Will the Sharks consider working with me if the concept of my idea is simple, but the construction is a bit more complicated than my level of expertise?

A: It's possible. However, the Sharks more often invest in a business that's going than they do in an idea that needs development from the beginning. Most investors would expect you to do the legwork of finding a designer or engineer to help you develop your idea further, before you approach them.

Q: Which Shark in your opinion would you recommend?

A: Each Shark has his or her specific abilities, personality traits, interests and industry connections. It's good to think through what you need and how you work best, and then consider which Shark would be the best fit for you. However, as you can see by watching the show, sometimes the Sharks surprise you, and the Shark you'd never imagine would step up and say yes to a deal does, and the Shark who seemed like the obvious fit for the project declines.

Q: I noticed how the contestant will tell the Sharks that they do their own social media and SEO. Is that necessary to do your own labor or delegate it?

A: You don't have to handle your own social media or SEO. However, as the head of your company, you should be very involved and know your numbers. Social media is used by most companies for marketing and PR purposes, so the management of social media should be taken seriously as a marketing/PR function. SEO is also an aspect of marketing, so you should know your numbers, such as numbers of unique visitors to your site, and, possibly, demographics of your site visitors.

Here are more links you might find useful:

About our Pitch Coaching

Acronyms and Abbreviations in Media Interviews and Speeches

Body Language in Interviews and Meetings – Nonverbal Communication

 

Lisa Elia, Media Trainer, Presentation Trainer, and Communication Expert, and Founder of Expert Media Training

About Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia is a leadership communication strategist who works with executives, founders, and expert teams to strengthen how ideas are communicated, understood, and acted upon inside organizations. Through her SpeakerShift Leadership Communication Accelerator and private advisory work, she helps leaders develop greater clarity, executive presence, and influence in high-stakes conversations—from leadership meetings and major presentations to investor discussions and critical organizational moments. Organizations also license her leadership communication programs to strengthen communication capabilities across their teams. Learn more at lisaelia.com.

To arrange a complimentary consultation, visit https://calendly.com/emt-appt/consultation-lisa-elia

How to Become a Contributing Writer or Editor

Friday, March 15, 2013 | Media Relations

Being a contributing writer or editor for a major media outlet can do a lot to increase your visibility and to establish you as a thought leader. While thousands of people submit themselves for these positions, there are some things you can do to stack the odds of being accepted in your favor.

How to become a contributing writer or editor:

1. Be sure to carefully read the submission guidelines, which are usually listed on the media outlet or blog’s website. If you can’t find the guidelines, go to the About Us or Contact Us or FAQs page, and you will probably find them there.

2. Before you submit your information, be sure that the written materials that you have online — on your blog, your website and your social media profiles — represents you well, both in terms of content and writing style.

3. If you need to go back and edit some of your posts to correct typos or grammatical or punctuation errors, do so. Remove anything that detracts from your presentation as a professional writer.

4. Think about what you have to add to the specific outlet for which you want to write.

5. Create a list of topics you can write about and an overarching subject theme.

6. If you have the opportunity to submit a complete blog post, rather than just ideas, do so. It will make it easier for the decision makers to decide whether or not you’re the right fit for the outlet.

7. In the brief bio that you submit, be sure to include what’s most impressive about you, such as your education, impressive clients with whom you have worked, previous press coverage in major media outlets, compelling results that you have achieved or helped others achieve, and other honors and accomplishments.

The online submission process can make becoming a contributing writer seem quick and easy, but some planning and forethought will ensure you have the best shot at getting a “yes!”

I’d love to hear how you do, so keep in touch!

Now that you have tips on how to become a contributing writer, do you need additional tips on media relations? Check out these links:

Know Your Facts to Book More Interviews – Media Training Tips

How to Be a Great Interviewer or Moderator – Tips from a Media Trainer and Moderator Who’s Been There

Glossary of Media Interview Terms – from Los Angeles Media Trainer Lisa Elia

I’m Just a… And Other Undermining Statements to Avoid – Communication Tips from a Media Trainer