July 4, 2023

54: Landing, Loving, and Leveraging Media Interviews, with Jess Todtfeld

54: Landing, Loving, and Leveraging Media Interviews, with Jess Todtfeld

Interested in free publicity? Increased visibility? Building more credibility? Today’s guest can help! Afterall, he holds the Guinness World Record in a publicity / public relations category. In this episode with media expert , you’ll discover, ...

Interested in free publicity? Increased visibility? Building more credibility?

Today’s guest can help! Afterall, he holds the Guinness World Record in a publicity / public relations category.

In this episode with media expert Jess Todtfeld, you’ll discover,

  • How to write an email pitch letter to media that gets opened and read
  • How to leverage being interviewed on TV, radio, and print, to increase sales
  • How it can boost your credibility and visibility
  • The best way to prepare for an interview
  • How to respond when you don’t know the answer
  • How and why to send the host questions you want to be asked
  • Getting booked: DIY, PR agency, and Jess’s hybrid model
  • Tips to improve your message and delivery

Jess Todtfeld has extensive experience as a TV producer for NBC, ABC, and FOX, having booked and produced over 5,000 segments, and is a leading communication and media training authority.

When I was in New York City lining up interviews prior to the release of my book, The Way Success Works, Jess was one of the people I turned to for guidance and training to become media savvy.

Use his ideas, tips, and hacks to improve your messaging anytime you’re communicating about your side hustle.

 

What You’ll Hear:

03:22 Jess holds the Guinness Record for being interviewed the most times in 24-hours

06:12 Remember to include calls to action in your answers, including micro ones

06:56 Get recordings of your interviews to share them with your audience to further your credibility

07:59 6 million viewers doesn’t equal 6 million engaged, so take the clip and apply your own marketing

08:33 Why you want to put the effort into getting media interviews

09:04 How the sales decision-making process has changed

10:39 Going rate in USA for a publicist is about $3,000 to $5,000 per month with a multi-month commitment

11:20 Consider how much you have to sell to pay for a publicist

11:45 DIY options include buying media lists -  work the list and follow through

14:45 Jess’s hybrid PR agency, Media Ambassadors

15:50 Want interviews? You have to ask!

16:00 Tips for an email pitch that gets read

16:31 Why you want to have something that indicates if your sent emails are being opened

21:09 When sending a pitch email, use Jess’s "above the line and below the line” strategy to increase open rate and promote engagement

22:26 Anytime you make a mistake in public, it’s an opportunity to shine

24:26 Examples of what’s “below the line”

28:16 You’ve landed the interview…now what??

28:30 There are 3 groups that have needs: the audience, the outlet, and you!

30:35 When interviewed, give great content, and plant seeds for learning more

31:33 Strategies for how to handle any question that’s asked of you

33:28 How to respond when you don’t know the answer

34:20 Tips on getting to the host, the questions you want to be asked in an interview 

36:00 What works for a long-form podcast doesn’t work in a 2-3 TV or radio segment

37:30 Find out the length of the interview so you can strategize and prep accordingly

39:00 If asked something you don’t know, admit it, then say, “Something I do know is…”

41:36 How to control and guide the interview

43:12 How to prepare in less time with better results

43:15 Don’t “fake it until you make it,” instead, “act it and become it”

44:25 After an interview or event, ask yourself, “what did I like” and “next time, what can I do better?”

45:35 If you’re buying lists, set aside time to really work them


Connect With Jess:

https://www.successinmedia.com

https://www.bookjess.com

Connect with Joan:

https://www.instagram.com/joanposivy/

https://www.facebook.com/posivy/

https://www.joanposivy.com/

Be on the show!

https://www.sidehustlehero.com/guests/intake/