5 ways to ace your media pre-interview
Want to get your client or boss on TV or radio? Better nail the pre-interview that a producer conducts. Otherwise, they might bounce you from the show.
As a former TV producer, I’ve had many potential guests who dismissed pre-interviews as a waste of their time. I’ve also had guests who aced them.
Those who aced them tended to get booked more often because they were better guests; I knew they would take the segment seriously and give thoughtful, interesting answers on the air.
Here are five things you can learn from guests who gave good pre-interviews:
1. Bring your energy. Pre-interviews are often an audition for the segment, meaning the producer could still be looking at other possible guests to fill the spot. Therefore, bring the same energy to the pre-interview that you would to the actual interview. Just as you would in an interview, minimize any distractions around you so you can focus on the questions and your answers. Producers are not only listening for content, they also want to make sure you’ll be an engaging guest.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
