I don’t like it when I can’t use material from a source, but there’s not much I can do about it. You, on the other hand, have a little control over this as a source.<\/p>\n
What can you do about it?<\/h2>\n
You’re always taking a chance that your comments won’t make it into the final piece, but to increase the odds that you’re quoted (and help make sure that you aren\u2019t wasting your time with the interview), follow this advice:<\/p>\n
1. Study the media outlet interviewing you.<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhat types of information does the outlet typically attribute to outside sources like you?<\/p>\n
When you have a good sense of what reporters pull from an interview, you will know how to prepare so that what you share is more likely to run in the print story or in the broadcast segment. (And getting quoted is how you get your book title mentioned.)<\/p>\n
2. Study your competition.<\/strong><\/h3>\nMake a note of what they usually say when they’re interviewed about your topic.<\/p>\n
Then say something different.<\/p>\n
Your goal is to say what they don\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0say so that you\u2019re bringing something new and useful to the interview. You know you’ve nailed it when the journalist says, “I haven’t heard that before!”<\/p>\n3. Take time to craft your key messages.<\/strong><\/h3>\nSpend time writing and re-writing a few messages with memorable language. This takes thought, but that process is necessary for most of us because we don’t usually speak in “sound bites”<\/a> that introduce pithy, memorable insights.<\/p>\nWe are often too wordy, or our language is too plain.<\/p>\n
(For help with this, use the “message development” and “sound bite” templates in Build Book Buzz Publicity Forms & Templates<\/em><\/a>.)<\/p>\n4. Use language that\u2019s catchy or emotional.<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou want someone to react when they hear or read what you\u2019ve said.<\/p>\n
Rather than just stating the facts, whenever possible, add a little drama.<\/p>\n
For example, instead of saying, “Research shows . . . .” say, “I was caught off guard by research that revealed . . . . ” or “I was as surprised as anyone else by study results that revealed . . . . ”<\/p>\n
5. Say something counter-intuitive.<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen you share a thought that’s the opposite of what they’re expecting or have heard from others, you get a reporter’s attention.<\/p>\n
6.Use alliteration or repetition.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nThese audio tricks help us remember what you said because they make your message more interesting to hear.<\/p>\n
For example, if you have a list of three things, try to find words for them that all start with the same letter.<\/p>\n
7. Twist a famous phrase or cliche.<\/strong><\/h3>\nGet a list of clich\u00e9s and famous quotes and play with them. The more well-known they are, the more likely they are to work for you.<\/p>\n
For example, let’s say you’re doing an interview on how to be prepared for a weather emergency. You could tweak Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” to get “The only thing we have to fear is not preparing for<\/em> fear itself.”<\/p>\n8. Get to the point.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf you ramble or go off topic, a reporter will lose interest and tune out.<\/p>\n
Stay focused.<\/p>\n
Practice makes perfect<\/h2>\n
Being a good interview subject comes easily for some and not so easily for others. With a little effort and practice, you will make sure that what you have to say gets included.<\/p>\n
What’s your best tip for making sure your comments aren’t cut from a story or segment?<\/em><\/p>\n(Editor\u2019s note: This article was first published in October 2013. It has been updated and expanded.)<\/em><\/p>\n
\nTip of the Month<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"quoted](\"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/local_publicity_template-298x300.png\")
<\/a>I\u00a0like to share\u00a0a \u201cTip of the Month,\u201d a free resource or tool for authors, on the last\u00a0Wednesday of the month.<\/p>\nThis one is from me.<\/p>\n
It’s a fill-in-the-blanks press release template you can use to get more publicity when you’ve interviewed and quoted someone in your book.<\/p>\n
You add the missing information, then send it to media outlets where your source lives. Learn more about how to use this strategy to get more free book publicity in my blog post, “Did you quote someone in your book? Use them to get local publicity<\/a>.”<\/p>\nDownload your free fill-in-the-blanks template here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Make a note of what they usually say when they’re interviewed about your topic.<\/p>\n
Then say something different.<\/p>\n
Your goal is to say what they don\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0say so that you\u2019re bringing something new and useful to the interview. You know you’ve nailed it when the journalist says, “I haven’t heard that before!”<\/p>\n Spend time writing and re-writing a few messages with memorable language. This takes thought, but that process is necessary for most of us because we don’t usually speak in “sound bites”<\/a> that introduce pithy, memorable insights.<\/p>\n We are often too wordy, or our language is too plain.<\/p>\n (For help with this, use the “message development” and “sound bite” templates in Build Book Buzz Publicity Forms & Templates<\/em><\/a>.)<\/p>\n You want someone to react when they hear or read what you\u2019ve said.<\/p>\n Rather than just stating the facts, whenever possible, add a little drama.<\/p>\n For example, instead of saying, “Research shows . . . .” say, “I was caught off guard by research that revealed . . . . ” or “I was as surprised as anyone else by study results that revealed . . . . ”<\/p>\n When you share a thought that’s the opposite of what they’re expecting or have heard from others, you get a reporter’s attention.<\/p>\n These audio tricks help us remember what you said because they make your message more interesting to hear.<\/p>\n For example, if you have a list of three things, try to find words for them that all start with the same letter.<\/p>\n Get a list of clich\u00e9s and famous quotes and play with them. The more well-known they are, the more likely they are to work for you.<\/p>\n For example, let’s say you’re doing an interview on how to be prepared for a weather emergency. You could tweak Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” to get “The only thing we have to fear is not preparing for<\/em> fear itself.”<\/p>\n If you ramble or go off topic, a reporter will lose interest and tune out.<\/p>\n Stay focused.<\/p>\n Being a good interview subject comes easily for some and not so easily for others. With a little effort and practice, you will make sure that what you have to say gets included.<\/p>\n What’s your best tip for making sure your comments aren’t cut from a story or segment?<\/em><\/p>\n (Editor\u2019s note: This article was first published in October 2013. It has been updated and expanded.)<\/em><\/p>\n This one is from me.<\/p>\n It’s a fill-in-the-blanks press release template you can use to get more publicity when you’ve interviewed and quoted someone in your book.<\/p>\n You add the missing information, then send it to media outlets where your source lives. Learn more about how to use this strategy to get more free book publicity in my blog post, “Did you quote someone in your book? Use them to get local publicity<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Download your free fill-in-the-blanks template here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"3. Take time to craft your key messages.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Use language that\u2019s catchy or emotional.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Say something counter-intuitive.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6.Use alliteration or repetition.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Twist a famous phrase or cliche.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8. Get to the point.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Practice makes perfect<\/h2>\n
\nTip of the Month<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>I\u00a0like to share\u00a0a \u201cTip of the Month,\u201d a free resource or tool for authors, on the last\u00a0Wednesday of the month.<\/p>\n
![\"quoted](\"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/How-to-be-quoted-by-the-press.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n