The competition for obtaining media coverage is more intense than ever. With nearly a million books being published each year, there are thousands of authors fighting for the media’s attention every day.
If you have an interview coming up – whether it’s with a magazine, newspaper, podcast, website, television or radio show – make sure that you’re fully prepared to promote your book as effectively as possible. Here’s what you need to do:
- Send the interviewer a set of suggested interview questions. In addition to supplying the interviewer with a concise description of the book’s content, prepare a list of questions that the interviewer can use to guide the conversation. And then make sure you practice answering all types of questions – not just your suggested questions. Practice using your message points.
- Take 10 minutes to prepare before each interview. We recommend that authors take 10 minutes before any interview to stop their other activities and focus on the conversation they’re about to have. Don’t try to jump from one activity to another. Have a glass of water, quiet your mind, and review your message points. You need to be fully present from the moment you say hello to the interviewer.
- Stand during your interviews whenever possible. We have found that standing during your telephone interviews helps keep your concentration and energy levels high. We have seen some authors stand during their video interviews, even on Zoom. Think about a television host’s monologue or a motivational speaker on a stage. They stand, because it’s the best way to project an energetic and engaging presence.
- Tell the audience how your book will benefit them. Most authors try to provide too much information during their interviews. They want to help the audience, but they’re actually overloading then. Stick to your message points so that your target audience knows why they should read your book.
You can learn more about preparing for your media interviews and creating message points by visiting our YouTube channel Book Marketing Pro.
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