Articles from GBE Friends

People do it all the time. Churn out a press release, mail it to a radio station and hope for the best. As the days pass by, there are no calls and no interest. And even better, when you make a couple of calls to check on the status of the release!no one has read it!

The following are components of radio and TV press releases that will make your show idea come to life for producers and hosts, and also position you ahead of the pack.

1. Make Your Headline Jump Off the Page

A vital factor of your press release, headlines are such a popular topic that there are classes taught about them. Now, don't let this scare you. You can write a killer headline by simply keeping a concise overview of your topic.

Write down your show idea and look it over. Now look it over again, remembering that it should be an idea for an interview that relates to your book but most definitely not a summary of the book's theme or content.

Ask yourself some questions about your message, if the idea is newsworthy, are there any celebrities that you can incorporate, are there any statistics that are relevant, etc. The answers to these questions will help you develop a headline that will capture the attention of producers and hosts.

First and foremost, your headline must instantly communicate the topic of the show. If you can come up with a conversation based on the headline!you have found the perfect one! Headlines should be limited to one sentence. As this is a lot of weight to put on a single sentence, sometimes you will need a subhead to support it. The result is that anyone who reads the headline and subhead together will immediately click on the concept of the show.

The following are two examples of this combination:

Global Economic Chaos? Expert Reveals Predictions on Tough Future of United States Economy

Are Personal Conflicts Ruining Your Life? How to Successfully Remove Troubles in Everyday Life

2. Topic Summary

This is your chance to present a concise summary of your show topic. This builds on naturally from the headline. Once the headline does it's job and grabs the producer's attention, the Topic Summary gives them more.

Try and keep your discussion topic to 2-3 sentences. Make sure to to tie your topic to current events, big names, big money, or controversy. You may repeat yourself in different sections - but don't worry! After all, you want to get a cohesive point across! A great way of doing this is to write both the headline and this section together.

Below is an example of what we have discussed.

Global Economic Problems? Expert Reveals Predictions on Grim Future of US Economy The United States is about to move into a period of major economic chaos and poverty that will wake up people to overthrow the rule of money in society in a ballot-box revolution. Let an internationally renowned expert reveal predictions on the grim future of our economy.

3. Talking Points

You absolutely cannot leave these out of your release. They guide the producer and host through your message! Many times they will read right off your release during the interview. This not only makes them look knowledgeable; it saves them heaps of time. So why not have them ask you questions you've created, enabling you to get your specific message heard? This makes you look knowledgeable and makes for a great interview!

Yet again, you will need to tie in current events and any controversy that will stir interest. Use about 7-10 of these questions. For instance, here are a few questions that were used in a release for a radio show on "How to Find the Perfect Pet for Your Lifestyle":

* What are the primary reasons people decide to get a pet? *Is there a criterion that people should follow when seeing if a pet fits into their lifestyle. * What can families do ahead of time to determine what type of pet is best for them? * How can families prepare children for the responsibility of caring for a pet? * What are some of the things people need to consider before adopting a puppy or other young animal?

If you do get invited as a guest, your interviews will generally last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes for talk radio and 3 to 5 minutes for TV. So, concise is a word you should keep in the forefront of your mind.

Remember: The more you focus your questions on the topic of your book, the more interested listeners will be in it. There you go! Three quick tips to get make your press releases sizzle

If you would like to learn more about gaining media attention for your company, product or service, without the financial burden of monthly retainers, Marsha Friedman is here to help . Feel free to contact her directly at mfriedman@emsincorporated.com or visit her firm online at http://www.emsincorporated.com. As a public relations expert Marsha Friedman has the ability to get the media attention that you desire without breaking your budget with costly monthly retainers .

Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free Ebook "How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest" visit http://www.emsincorporated.com.