Given the innovative medium’s ever-growing popularity, we thought we’d focus on tips to prepare you for your next (or first) podcast interview this week.

Consider these prep tips before your guest appearance:

• Do your homework

  Much like a traditional news interview, doing your homework is critical. Listening to a few episodes not only allows you to get a feel for the host and their style, but it’ll allow you to prepare to participate in any unique segments. Be sure to check out the reviews to get to know the show’s audience and their interests.

• Refine your messaging

  Podcasts are based on narratives. Consider picking out 2-3 stories to share that fit your cornerstone messaging. The intimate feel of podcasts makes them perfect opportunities to add in a call to action.

• Check your tech

  Audio quality matters. Before your interview, check your Wi-Fi strength and record a test to ensure there’s no background noise and that you’re coming across clearly.

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• Provide promised information: If you offered to check on a statistic or find an answer, be sure to follow up and provide that information. Do this as quickly as possible.
• Correct inaccuracies: Not sure if you said “million” instead of “billion”? Shoot the reporter a follow-up confirming the correct version. It’s easier to edit now than it is to correct a published story.
• Offer Support: Many reporters may not know when their story will run. Rather than pestering them for a date, ask if they can share the story when it’s published so you can promote it. You’ll be alerted when the story runs, and they’ll get some extra link clicks. It’s a win-win!

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• Do not prevaricate or try to guess the answer.
• Say “I don’t know” and offer to find the answer.
• If you are not the right person to provide such an answer, state that fact directly.

If you offer to find the answer, be sure to follow up with additional information. This follow-up provides the perfect opportunity to expand on anything you touched on during the interview and thank the reporter for their time and hard work.

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Gone are the days when successful news is based solely on newspaper circulation and Nielsen ratings. Today, 8 in 10 Americans get their information from a digital source – meaning clicks, impressions and views largely quantify reporter success. These metrics most accurately measure whether the public is interested or not. As a result, journalists are under constant pressure to produce content and churn out stories that people want to click and share. 

Understanding the modern journalism landscape can help you better prepare your messaging for 21st-century reporters. During interviews, it’s essential to get to the bottom line as quickly and as quotably as you can. After you’re confident you’ve delivered your bottom-line message, back it up with supporting data and facts.

At the Mach 1 Group, we are experts at message for the media not just because we’ve been doing it for a long time — but because many of us are former television producers and print journalists. It takes one to know one!

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Bridging is one of the most important tools in an interview. As you answer questions that tend to move away from your story, bridge phrases can help bring the conversation back to your key points. Think of this technique as using specific phrases to redirect you back to the topic you wish to talk about. This skill can be especially useful when a reporter asks a question that does not concretely relate to the agreed topic.

Sample bridges include:

• Let me put this in perspective …
• The real issue is …
• There is something else to consider …
• What we’re focused on is …
• What’s important here is …
• The facts are …

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Flagging:

What is flagging? It’s an advanced interview technique that allows you to emphasize your priorities and zone in on your message. Think of it as sticking a flag in the ground to draw attention to your main points. By using key phrases, you signal to your audience that you’re about to say something important.

Some great flags are:

• The bottom line is…
• The main point is…
• What you need to remember is…
• What is important here is…
• Keep in mind that…

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Here are few tried and true methods for controlling your message:

• If a reporter interrupts you, graciously acknowledge it with a pause and as you finish your point, try to determine their reasoning. If they are excited, you may want to elaborate more. Conversely, if they appear bored, you will want to shorten and focus your thoughts.
• If you are asked negative questions, answer with positive answers. Do not repeat the negative posed in the question. Move to the story you want to tell and stick to your message.
• Take every opportunity to state the crucial points in different ways — using simple terms. If your message is only stated one time, there is a chance it could be lost in the editing process.

The post Control and Message Discipline appeared first on The Mach 1 Group.

Using the formula below, known as “the architecture of a message,” will ensure your points go from mundane statements to clear, concise and relatable themes:

• Identify a threat or opportunity.
• Establish a victim and a villain who imposes the threat.
• Present a solution and then a hero to deliver the solution.

The post The Architecture of a Message appeared first on The Mach 1 Group.

Did you know…

• Immediately after, we remember 50 percent of the information?
• One day later, we remember 25 percent?
• One week later, we remember only 10 percent?

A key message is the ten percent you want your audience to remember. It is an idea, concept, fact or story you wish to convey. It sounds simple, but the challenge many people or organizations face is that they are unclear about what they want to communicate.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll break down strategies and tactics for developing and delivering key messages.

Mach 1 Group in the News

In case you missed it, this week, we launched an exciting new service, Championing Women Leaders, Curriculum for Supporting Women in the Workforce.

"We realize the skills needed to retain women are the same skills with which we arm companies to navigate a crisis – proactive planning, efficient processes, adaptability and constant communication. As a firm founded, staffed and led by the best and brightest women in the Texas Capitol area, there is no firm better prepared to help companies navigate this crisis," said Mach 1 CEO and Founder Katherine McLane.

Read more about this service offering in Market Watch.

The post Developing Key Messages: What is a message? appeared first on The Mach 1 Group.

With Zoom interviews here to stay, mastering the at-home studio is a must. Here are a few tips:

• Always test your space and physical appearance before your interview. What you see with the naked eye does not always translate the same on-camera.
• Select a location that is not only quiet and distraction-free but has good lighting. Natural lighting is best and should always be in front of you, not behind.
• Finally, test your webcam position. It should be at or close to eye level. You may need to place a box or books under your laptop to raise the webcam.

Producers love virtual interviews because they are authentic, so there’s no need to create an in-home studio, but with a few polishing touches, you can enhance the appearance of professionalism and credibility while ensuring the success of your next Zoom interview.

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The good news is, you can control most aspects of your non-verbal communication by being strategic about your wardrobe choices and controlling your body language during the interview.

When it comes to your wardrobe, avoid flashy clothes for TV interviews. Loud patterns and bright colors can be exaggerated on camera. Instead, consider keeping a dark, neutral-colored jacket around for unexpected interviews that pop up.

Once on camera, pay full attention to the interviewer. Only make eye contact with the camera when asked.  Allow your body language to match the tone of the interview, smiling between questions for a non-crisis interview while remaining engaged and focused for a crisis interview.

No matter how many times you’ve rehearsed your answers, the success of an interview will come down to how well you non-verbally communicated.

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It takes time to get comfortable with developing messages, reducing them to a few well-spoken statements, and staying on message through questions. Practicing your key messages and response statements will help you feel better prepared and, therefore, more confident for the interview.

Make the Most of Your Practice:

• Practice with a Partner– Practicing with another person helps you get comfortable with silence and interactions during an actual interview.
• Record your Practice– Recording your practice allows you to see precisely what the reporter and producer will see. Pay attention to sound bites. What could someone pull that may cause trouble?
• Solicit Feedback– Bringing in an outside perspective allows you to view your interview from an audience's perspective. It can help you tailor your messaging and ensure you
  are not speaking in jargon.

Need more interview tips? We can help. Learn more about The Mach 1 Group’s Express Media Training and show up to your following interview ready for whatever curveballs may be thrown your way.

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