Today, many entrepreneurs focus on social media, new media, and online media. While these efforts are important and necessary for marketing, traditional media is still important and can play a significant role in the success of your business.

So the question is, “Will you be ready when Oprah or Donny Duetsch from The Big Idea calls you?”

You will be if you prepare now. Here are 7 tips for conducting successful media interviews:

1. define your schedule: Decide what you want the audience to do. buy your services? Wait your event? Support your cause?
2. Know your story: To effectively push your agenda, you need to deliver your message confidently, calmly, and concisely. You are the expert on your topic. Stay focused on your agenda during the interview.
3. Develop key talking points with supporting evidence points: Prepare three key points that you want to address during the interview. Then, support each talking point with three points that offer tangible evidence, including stories, case studies, and other examples.
4. Meet the interviewer and media outlet: Before agreeing to an interview, do your due diligence. Research the media outlet and the interviewer. A quick Google search will give you an idea of ​​what to expect and how to best prepare for the interview.
5. Prepare the interviewer: Reporters are very busy and anything you can do to help them is greatly appreciated. To this end, please provide background information as well as sample questions on your topic. Often you will find that they will use these exact questions.
6. Anticipate questions and controversies: Your preparation is not complete without anticipating questions and controversies that may arise in the interview. Create a list of all anticipated questions. Then answer each question. Be sure to include any that might be asked; remember; “If you fear it, you probably will.”
7. Practical practical practical: nothing takes the place of practice. Eases pre-interview panic and post-interview regret. To hone message points and prepare for actual interview questions, even the most polished spokespersons find there’s simply no substitute for practicing out loud. Better yet, role play it with a partner or coach. Are your answers coming? Are they concise? Are they credible or do they need more support?

Follow these tips and you’ll dominate the mainstream media opportunities. And who wouldn’t want to be interviewed on the Today Show?