media training
Put Your Best Face Forward: How to Take a Great Headshot
August 5, 2010
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by Natalie Navar
The author headshot is an imperative part of your career as an author. Not only will it be featured on
your book jacket, but your publicist will also want to make use of the photo for press releases and other marketing events. You’ve spent months (or years!) on the content in the book; now it’s time to package it up.
There is a plethora of different headshot styles floating around the shelves at Barnes & Noble. From seriously bohemian black and white shots to overly made-up portraits, it can definitely be daunting to decide which direction to go with your own headshots. That being said, the easiest rule to follow is: keep it simple.
No matter your genre, a clean, professionally done headshot is the perfect addition to your book cover or marketing package. Look up local photographers online, browse their portfolios, and pick one with obvious experience in headshot photography. Even if you are unsure of how to approach the session, an experienced photographer will be able to steer you in the right direction as far as posing and expressions go. The photographer will also be able to recommend a makeup artist who can ensure that your makeup looks natural and perfectly applied on camera. I’m talking to you, too, men; a shiny forehead or age-spotted nose can be easily fixed with some expertly applied concealer and powder. That being said, remember again to keep it simple. You want to look like you in your photo (you on your best day, of course). Bright lipstick can photograph as garish, and even a slight over-application of eye shadow will come across as raccoon eyes. Err on the side of “less is more”; if you need any touch-ups, the photographer can easily do that to your final prints.
As far as clothing goes, plain colors (rather than prints) in a business casual style are the way to go, but 
beware of anything too bright. If you’re thinking hot pink, choose a cool raspberry instead; you want your face, not your blouse, to be the center of attention. Take at least three changes of clothing; you’ll be surprised how different a color can look in a photograph. Women, feel free to add a little jewelry, just stick with smaller pieces that won’t look dated in five years. Also, make sure that you are against a plain, neutral background. Grays and taupes make for soothing, unobtrusive backdrops that go easily with any color (including black) that you may be wearing, and that’s why they remain the most commonly used backdrops by photographers.
The most important thing to remember is that this photograph is about you. Not your makeup, clothes, or accessories. Relax and be yourself at the session, and don’t be afraid to ask the photographer for advice! There will be hundreds of photos to choose from, so you are guaranteed to find a few that you love. Feel free to send over your favorites to your publicist for help in making the final decision, too, as he or she can give you an informed decision as to which photo is best suited to your needs.
So there you have it! Be yourself, keep it simple, and don’t be afraid to ask the professionals for advice. Investing in your headshot is an investment in your career as an author, and having a photo that reflects you and your professionalism speaks volumes for your credibility.
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This Is What Happens When You Plug Your Book on The Daily Show
January 21, 2009
by Aaron Hierholzer
We're forever reminding people to mention their book in media appearances. Preferably repeatedly, with a jumbo graphic of the cover momentarily superimposed over you and the host. Work the pitch into the conversation naturally and you're worth your weight in gold. You know, like this:
[youtube width="340" height="268"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90CLrQmZz_0
But, seriously, we like Media Training A–Z, and Greenleaf is publishing coauthor TJ Walker's new book, TJ Walker's Secret to Foolproof Presentations in May.
Here's the full Daily Show segment featuring Media Training Worldwide (of which TJ is CEO).
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5 Easy Tips to Becoming a Great TV Guest
March 19, 2008
by Marsha Friedman
Ever watch morning TV and think, "Hey, I can do that!" Well the truth is that if you have a book, product, or service to promote to consumers, there is absolutely no reason why you can't appear as a guest on TV!
But what does it take to be a good guest? Here are five simple tips to get you started and help you capitalize on the valuable airtime at your disposal:
1) Don't overdo the makeup, ladies and gentlemen. Yes, both women and men are repeat offenders in this category. There's no need to go to the station with a full face of make-up. You'll find most producers are prepared to give you a quick once-over when you arrive so that you look good for the cameras. Shallow as it may sound, it's hard for viewers to take you seriously if they're too busy zeroing in on a face that's overly made-up.
2) Check your props. As TV is all about visuals (no matter what your topic is) it's likely you'll have some kind of props for your interview. Take stock of them before the interview to make sure they're in good shape with all parts intact. For example, if you're conducting a "how-to" demonstration, ensure your equipment and tools are clean and at the ready. If you'll be using the station's stove for a cooking segment, make sure it works. If your prop is your book, hold it on your lap with an un-tattered front cover facing the audience.
3) Stay seated! When your interview draws to a close and it appears that the camera has stopped focusing on you, don't stand up and take off your microphone! It's the job of the floor manager to remove the mic for you and give you the all-clear to leave. By leaving prematurely, you could run the risk of ruining a perfectly good camera shot and coming off as an unprofessional guest.
4) Speak in a conversational manner. When people get nervous about being on camera, they tend to speak too fast and sometimes tense up—which can be very distracting for the audience. To relieve the nervous tension, you first need to get comfortable. Look around and get familiar with the studio and set. Introduce yourself to the host, producer, and camera crew. Locate where you'll be seated during the interview. Then, when the interview starts, you'll feel less like you're in a strange environment. You'll look more at ease and feel like the ultimate pro!
5) No arguing! Unless you are on a show that thrives on arguing, being combative on a show is not suggested. Your goal as a guest is to win over the audience; something that can be tricky if a question makes you feel angry or combative. If you've been ambushed with a nasty question, remain dignified and answer calmly. Losing your temper won't boost your credibility; plus, it makes you look defensive, which is definitely not the best position to be in when trying to promote your message.
So there you have it! A good solid start in making the most of your time on the air!
Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on publicity for authors for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free e-book, How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest, visit emsincorporated.com.
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5 Tips to Turn Rock Star Publicity into Rock Star Income
March 30, 2006
by GreenleafBookGroup
It doesn’t take an industry expert to tell you that an appearance on Oprah or Today can shoot book sales through the roof, but a dirty little secret in the book industry is that media coverage—even a BIG hit—does not always turn into book sales. You owe it to your publisher, your distributor, your hard working publicist, and yourself to turn media into money. Here are five tips to help you use fame to get fortune:
#1: Leverage your publicity with the supply chain.
Update your publisher and distributor! If there is no supply to meet the demand your publicity is creating, you’re wasting money and losing sales. Your distributor can target stores in the geographic markets your media coverage is reaching and use your publicity as leverage with national buyers to get more books in stores.
#2: Make time for proper timing.
I understand that things move fast in a publicity campaign, but it’s nothing short of tragic when sales—big sales—are lost because of a silly detail like timing. If you think reviews will have a big impact on your book sales, make sure your publicist has galleys in hand at least four months prior to publication. If your publicist is booking radio or television interviews, consistently give your distributor three to four weeks notice so they have time to work books through the supply chain. If you land a national TV interview, communicate with your publisher and distributor immediately to troubleshoot any inventory issues and to give them the opportunity to use the hit to negotiate front-of-store placement with the chains. Whatever you do, don’t let money slip through your fingers because of sloppy timing.
#3: Define three sales points to use in all media interviews.
NOTE: The hook that lands the interview is not necessarily the hook that sells the book (and vice-versa). Be a good guest, but don’t be shy about using free airtime to sell your book. Know your readers and appeal to their needs in your interviews. If you only appeal to the needs of the media, you may get lots of interviews, but your book sales will flop. HINT: Don’t feel obligated to answer only the questions interviewers ask or to stick to the hook in the press release. For example, if you landed the interview by positioning yourself as an expert on a newsworthy topic, don’t assume people will go to a bookstore to buy your opinion. Instead, offer specific, usable content in the interview and clearly communicate (1) who needs the book and (2) what they will gain from reading it.
#4: Say your title at least three times in every interview.
Yes, there will be times when this is impossible, and there will be times when this is tacky, but if you make it a rule and stick to it, you will sell more books. Erase the words “my book” from your vocabulary, and always use the full title to refer to your work. This is one easy way to sell books in an interview without sounding like an infomercial.
#5: Invest in media coaching.
A media coach will help you define your sales points and teach you how to incorporate them into every interview. The fastest way to guarantee big returns is to get your distributor (who, in turn, gets the national buyers) excited about publicity, and then bomb the interview. NOTE: Being a talented speaker, charming personality, or good conversationalist does not make you media savvy. If you’re investing in publicity, you should minimize your risk and grow your potential ROI by learning the mechanics of an interview and fundamentals like sound bites and message consolidation.
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