“Confidence comes from being prepared.” - John Wooden

Brilliant!

A journalist has called you for an interview, but what do you do or say next?  Do you panic in fear and refuse? 

Does your confidence get the better of you and that slippery old imposter syndrome start creeping in?

Or, once you’ve agreed to a time and date, do you start worrying you’ll get tripped up or say the wrong thing?

It really doesn’t matter if you’re a public figure, an expert in your field, a one-man band/solopreneur or a member of the public with a great story to tell, it’s perfectly natural to start feeling nervous about how the interview will go.

With that in mind, here are 8 very practical top tips to help keep you calm, anxiety-free and on track during your media interview! It's all in the preparation. 👊

1. Do your research

Please, please, please take some time to research the journalist who will be interviewing you and the work they produce.  What type of articles do they write?  What subjects do they favour?  Make sure you read previous articles and/or watch interviews they have conducted.  You will get a feel for their style and the types of questions they may ask. 

2. Prepare in advance

Know what you want to get across (your key points) and stay on message throughout the interview.  Bullet point your main topics and anything particular you want to share.  By doing this, you will stay focused and on point. 

3. Work out what else might be asked

It’s equally important to consider what other issues a journalist might ask, so make sure you are up-to-date with current affairs or current issues within your industry.  If there is an issue that is being talked about in the press, then try to anticipate what questions you might be asked and prepare for that too.

4. Avoid jargon

When you’re being interviewed, it’s really important to avoid jargon, acronyms or terms that only someone in your sector will understand.  It makes the journalist’s job a lot more difficult when they’re trying to pick a suitable quote. You want them to see you as a ‘good interview’ prospect.  Similarly, if a journalist asks you a question that you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to say so and get clarification.  That way you will be able to provide an informed and accurate answer.

5. Practice makes perfect!

Once you’ve prepared your key points, practise your answers in front of the mirror or, even better, get a friend or someone you trust to do a mock interview with you.  Even though you may have written down your notes initially, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading them out verbatim.  You want to sound like a human being having a normal conversation.  This is really going to help your confidence.

6. Speak clearly and concisely

When you’re nervous it’s easy to speak too quickly and to feel like you’ve got to cram absolutely everything into one or two sentences.  You know what I’m talking about!!!  This won’t sound natural, so remember to take your time, speak clearly and keep to the point.  Don’t go off on a tangent.

7. Breathing and pausing

Following on from my previous point, please remember to breathe!  Take a breath before you start and keep breathing as you normally would in a normal conversation.  That’s what an interview is.  A conversation between you and the journalist.  In addition, it’s also OK to pause to collect your thoughts.  

8. Be nice and courteous

Journalists are people too so remember to remain polite at all times.  They want to get the best interview they can, so have a chat with them before you start.  Be friendly.  You’ll feel much more comfortable and relaxed if you build a nice rapport first.

Go forth and prosper 😎

Getting interviewed by the media is a really exciting opportunity and, as long as you prepare, you will have nothing to worry about and will create some great, positive publicity for you, your business and your brand.  

Always remember that press interviews are a fantastic way to connect to your target audience by showcasing your expertise - and by getting yourself featured in the media, you will raise your profile, increase leads, attract new business and opportunities and, ultimately, grow your business.

If you would like to find out more about getting yourself in the media and increasing your visibility or if you are already doing PR and need specific help with strategy or writing a press release or identifying newsworthy stories, book a 'Pop Up PR' session.

Good luck!