Going on a media tour need not be a stressful event. A lot of people who have gone on one can tell you horror stories about what happened to them. While things can go wrong, there are ways to reduce the risk and effect of mishaps.
The idea behind the tour is getting important information out to the media to help build and publicize the business. Being able to do that with peace of mind leads to a successful media tour.
Here’s how to conduct your media tour:
- Planning
Your media tour is only as good as the planning that goes into it. Travel is an essential part of the trip. Like any other times you travel, you need to plan.
The person going on the tour should have lists of everything they’re going to need while they are away. It’s difficult to forget things when they are written down on a list. Double-check the travel arrangements you have made. Is everyone’s passport up to date and do they have the necessary visas?
Always know how to find walk in passport offices nearby in case there is an emergency. Verify all accommodation arrangements before you leave so that no one winds up stranded in a strange city with nowhere to stay.
- Maximize the available time
Make the most of the time scheduled for each destination to spend as much of it as possible focused on the task at hand. Scheduling is important. Make sure that no one spends too much time zigzagging across the city to different meetings.
The time lost cannot be regained. Don’t rely on cabs for transport as there may be delays in finding one. Hire a car service to make sure your travel needs are catered for.
Schedule what you feel is sufficient time to speak to various media houses. Think about what it is the executive wants to convey during these meetings. If the time you schedule is too short, they won’t be able to say everything they would like to. But if it is too long, they could run out of things to say.
- Know your subject
To come across as credible, executives need to know what to talk about. This is going to mean a significant amount of preparation on your part. Make sure they are well-versed in all the relevant information and statistics. Not having all the facts makes the interviewee seem disorganized and lacking in knowledge.
A lot of the interview time could be wasted searching for the information the interviewer wants. This will affect how much information can be conveyed during the timebound interview.
There must be something new to say, be it the results of a survey or a new product. Journalists will not be interested in what is being said if it’s a mere rehash of what they already know.
- Confidence is key
Your body language is an integral part of a successful media tour. During interviews, it’s essential to come across as comfortable and confident. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer and speak clearly. Looking everywhere except at the interviewer and mumbling makes the interviewee look nervous.
Dress to impress. Make sure everyone involved has a neat and tidy appearance. Allocate time to freshen up between interviews.
- Strategize
Here are some important tactics to consider implementing in your media tour:
- Your media tour launch location should relate to the field you’re working in. For example, tech media tours should kick off somewhere in Silicon Valley.
- Be prepared for new appointments to crop up and schedule them accordingly.
- Follow interviews up with a thank-you note and offer to answer any follow-up questions.