| |
| |
|
PR Information |
|
|
|
Dont Pay for Radio Interviews
It used to be that all you had to do was pitch a great idea with a clever hook, and you'd be booked as a guest on a half-hour radio show. These days, however, hang onto your wallet. A new breed of radio host is insisting that guests fork over a few hundred dollars--sometimes more--for the "privilege" of being on their show. Some guests, desperate for exposure for a new book or project, willingly pay the money. Then they're disappointed when they get little feedback from listeners, or the show leads to no product sales. There's nothing wrong with the concept of paying money for air time. But there's a name for it. It's called advertising. Joe Sabah, author of the book How to Get on Radio Talk Shows All Across America says that if you want a legitimate interview, no money should change hands. "With more than 740 radio shows all over the country willing to book guests for free, there's absolutely no reason why anybody should have to pay," Sabah said. A different twist on the same theme involves a radio station approaching someone and offering them their own weekly show on a particular topic, then telling them they must charge guests to appear. That means that if a host comes across someone who they think would be a great guest, they can't book them if the guest can't afford to pay. Why, suddenly, are some radio interviews no longer free? The radio industry has been going through sweeping changes in the last several years, with many stations being bought or sold for hefty amounts, and that means they're trying to entice people like you into paying the freight. Joann McCall has an interesting perspective on the problem. As president of McCall Public Relations in Portand, Oregon, she specializes in generating publicity for authors. She also has been a radio host, interviewer and newscaster for 18 years and hosts a radio show with her partner, Debb Janes, called "Janes McCall & Co.," on KKSN radio in Portland. McCall says the practice of charging guests has become acceptable-even though it isn't right. "Having someone approach you to pay for an interview is like buying a radio infomercial," she said. McCall advises that guests don't pay. Instead, when you hear a sales pitch, simply reply, "Pay for an interview? I don't need to. Thanks anyway." "Don't be bullied by these people," she said. Joan Stewart, a.k.a. The Publicity Hound, shows you how to use the media to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, sell more products and services, promote a favorite cause or issue, and position yourself as an employer of choice. She publishes "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," a free ezine on how to generate thousands of dollars in free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.PublicityHound.com and receive by email the free checklist "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."
MORE RESOURCES:
PR - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Public Relations Mixup? When you pay good money for public relations services, you have a right to expect its primary focus to be on your most important outside audiences, those people whose behaviors have the greatest impact on your operation.Often, however, that primary focus is limited to a communi- cations tactics debate about the relative merits of brochures versus press releases versus newsletters instead of planning how to achieve those key audience behaviors that directly support your business objectives and make the difference between success and failure. Writing a Press Release: The Medias Dirty Secret There's a dirty little secret about press releases that the media doesn't want you to know. The fact is, most of them travel directly from the sender's computer to the reporter's trash box. Press Release Preparation Small Business Owners should send press releases out at least once a month to local newspapers, cable TV, local magazines and radio stations. You will be surprised how often they get published or air time. PR: Am I Getting a Good Deal? You are getting a good deal when you accept the fact that the right PR really CAN alter individual perception and lead to the changed behaviors you need.Especially when you recognize that people really DO act upon their perceptions of the facts they hear about your operations, and about you as a manager. 35 Quick Tips for Writing A Press Release Layout1. 1-2 pages in length. Do You Have an Exclusive Market Segment? You do if you're a business, non-profit or association manager with important external stakeholders whose behaviors affect your department, division or subsidiary the most.In your own best interests, here's what you'd better be doing about them. When Managers Play the PR Card The payoff for business, non-profit or association managers can be a real assist towards meeting their department, division or subsidiary objectives.Playing that public relations card means they've decided to pursue their objectives by reaching, persuading and moving those outside audiences whose behaviors most affect their organizations, to actions those managers desire. P.R. Strategies for Professional Service Providers Promotion for Professional Services Providers requires a different approach than for other types of business people. Here's why:* People buy professional services based on reputation, credibility and knowledge* Advertising works for products, especially ones that can be described; professional services are intangible and the selling points are based on the provider of service* Professionals must differentiate themselves by creating niches and through PR activities that create strong reputations, build credibility and showcase knowledgeLow-Cost, No Cost PR strategies you can use immediately:* Speaking engagements* Guest columns* Radio Expert* Volunteering on charity committees; member of a charity board; pro-bono work for a charity* Award submission* Web Site* Special Events* Newsletter (e-mail)* PublicityHow to decide which PR strategies are best for you:* What do you feel comfortable with? I have an attorney client who doesn't feel comfortable doing speaking engagements or radio shows, but likes to write. How to Get More Mileage Out of Your Media Coverage Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams," but that paraphrased line - "Print it and they will come" - doesn't necessarily work in real life.There's a lot to be said for the value of editorial side coverage, but you can't count on people acting on what they read or even remembering it for long. A Winning Public Relations Game Plan You want to sell your products or services, and that means good money management, top quality products or services, and hard work on your part. But, for REAL success, the icing on the cake is public relations. Publicity - The Right Media Person to Call for Free Publicity You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company to ask about your cable bill. Make sure that when you call about your story that the reporter you are contacting is the right person. How to Work with Newspaper Photographers The next time a newspaper photographer takes your photo, remember the 8 things they hate:1. Bossy people who demand that other people be included in the photo, so there won't be hurt feelings. Easy to be Foolish About PR In fact, here are three really foolish goofs made by too many business, non-profit and association managers.If that's you, you foolishly do nothing positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours that most affect your operation. Whats Stopping You From Getting Publicity? When I talk with business people, they tend to believe if they offer good service, they will automatically get "noticed".Everybody "wishes" for this, but this rarely happens automatically. Want to Light a Fire Under Your PR? Yes? Then do something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of yours that MOST affect your operation.Those embers can leap into flame when business, non- profit or association managers use public relations to alter individual perception among their target publics, leading to changed behaviors and helping to achieve their managerial objectives. Managerial Survival Key For business, non-profit or association managers like yourself, survival pretty much depends on whether you achieve, or fail to achieve your department, division or subsidiary objectives.Which strongly suggests that, if you haven't already done so, you may wish to employ a set of tools that will help you persuade your most important outside audiences to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that lead to your success. Cultivating Positive Media Relationships Some people think that publicity is all about paparazzi snapping photos of celebs and intruding into their private lives -- or as Woodward and Bernstein blowing the lid off of a government scandal. But, as a small business owner, publicity is actually one of your greatest allies! People who read about you in the newspaper or hear an interview with you on the radio will sit up and take notice -- much more notice than if they simply see a flier of yours posted at the Laundromat. The Four Seasons of Publicity - Building an All-Year Publicity If you're like most publicity seekers, you probably think oneproject at a time. You've got a new product coming out in April,so you send out a release in March. Press Release, An Alternative For Paid Advertisement. Step 1 What's a press release? This is generally a one page story about your business, your product/service or an event happening related to your business that is about to, or recently occurred. These publicity stories are generally "shot gunned" to newspapers, radio, television and the trade publications. Lets Blow The Lid Off Public Relations And show it for what it is - a humdinger of a strategy machine using cutting-edge communications tactics that lead directly to program success. And all because perceptions were altered, behaviors modified and the employer/client satisfied with the end result.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
