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Getting on a Talk Show: 5 Things You Need to Know
A segment on The Oprah Winfrey Show or The Ellen DeGeneres Show can take your business big time. So how do you land a spot on their couches?
Posted 6/ 14 10 at 1:30 PM | 5 Things You Need to Know, Advertising & Marketing, Sales
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Admit it: You've dreamed of sitting across from Oprah and watching your sales skyrocket after the world's most influential talk show host gives you her seal of approval in front of millions. There's a reason you're dreaming. "The problem with getting on shows like Oprah is similar to the problem high school athletes have trying to get into the NFL," says Marsha Friedman, a 20-year veteran of the public relations industry and CEO of EMSI Public Relations. "Only about 2 percent ever get an athletic scholarship, and of all those college athletes, only 2 percent ever make the pros."Even though your chances are undeniably slim, it actually is possible to get on Oprah -- or any of the other popular talk shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Rachael Ray, Good Morning America and The Martha Stewart Show. Plenty of entrepreneurs just like you have landed in front of cameras on TV's hottest talk shows. How'd they do it -- and what can you learn from their successes? Here are five things you need to know.
1
Start local.
Become an expert in your field and find ways to inspire media coverage, even if it's just your hometown papers, blogs and local news shows. Building a foundation of media coverage not only boosts your credibility, but also spreads the word, leads to new opportunities and prepares you for, hopefully, what will be your big break. Get journalists' attention by signing up for a free service like Help a Reporter Out and responding to the queries that fit your expertise.
2
Find a newsworthy angle.
Your idea is more likely to get noticed if it ties in with current events or trends, and if you've established yourself as the go-to person on that specific topic. "Work to develop stories and angles that will resonate with the media and get them interested in an interview with you," Friedman says.
Nancy A. Shenker, founder of theONswitch, a marketing/PR business based in Yonkers, N.Y., also stresses the importance of being timely -- "being able to talk about healthy barbecue food alternatives during the summer or child safety around back-to-school season."
Nancy A. Shenker, founder of theONswitch, a marketing/PR business based in Yonkers, N.Y., also stresses the importance of being timely -- "being able to talk about healthy barbecue food alternatives during the summer or child safety around back-to-school season."
3
Pitch with finesse.
Ready to pitch your business to producers? Keep in mind their goal is to entertain and inform viewers -- not promote your company. "Reaching the right person is essential," Shenker says. "Timing is very important, as is the quality of the pitch itself." And she would know: In 2008, Shenker landed a client, Eco-Bags, on Oprah's Earth Day episode, "which resulted in a huge boost in product sales and revenue," she says. At the time, reusable, eco-friendly shopping bags were just starting to take off, making the product perfectly timed to get producers' attention.
4
Be patient.
Laying the groundwork is a process, and it doesn't guarantee a seat on Ellen's couch. If your efforts at getting noticed aren't working, you might want to consider hiring a well-connected PR firm -- but even then, there's no guarantee. "Professional help can make the process much faster," says Shenker, who already knew which specific producer to approach with Eco-Bags. "And a PR agency will usually connect you more directly with the right people. They can also help you get ready for your moment in the spotlight."
5
And when the spotlight comes, be ready to shine.
This is one of those times you can't just show up and wing it. "I strongly urge entrepreneurs to get professional media training, including watching oneself on air and fine-tuning," Shenker says. The practice will help you relax on camera (not easy to do) and convey your key messages effectively. But being a compelling guest has an added bonus, she says. "It may help you get invited back at a later date or have a great clip to use for future pitches." And it's important to make sure your company is ready to handle the inevitable influx of customers that a big talk show spot will inspire. While having 500,000 new orders in a day is a great problem to have, you better be ready to fulfill them.
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
We would love to have the pageant my daughter is involved in. I know they are small about 400 delegates now, but we were so happy to find the pageant which focuses on efforts each girl/woman gives to her community rather than hair and make up. Not everyone is a size 2! So props to the My Girl USA pageant for making my daughter's dreams come true. Oprah you should call them! They are encouraging community involvement and creating some great future role models which our daughters need!
Here is their website www.mygirlusa.com
Shelly from Florida
*I meant have the My Girl USA community program featured on one of these shows. LOL! Nice typing job.. ugh
Shelly,
our girls took part as well... great time. Glad you are giving the program the recognition they deserve. I AGREE OPRAH BOOK THEM ON THE SHOW..
I NEVER WATCHED OPRAH EXCEPT FOR ONE TIME WHEN I WAS FLIPPING STATIONS AND SHE HAPPENED TO START HER PROGRAM. TO ME SHE IS A FEMALE J. JACKSON BY BRIBING COMPANIES TO GIVE HER AUDIENCE GIFTS. SHE MIGHT BE GOOD NOW, BUT I DO NOT CARE. I Happened to note the date that i first saw her. year was 2004
TO ME OPRAH IS NOT WORTH MY TIME TO SIT ON HER COUCH OR ANY OTHER HOSTS' COUCH.
I had an idea 30 years ago and $500 I worked very hard to make this dream come true I was good at recognition , and was written up in most major Magazines and Newspapers , and on TV . I did this on my own I learned that if you have an idea and you believe in it and it is a good product and also has a gimmick this helps . I always when pitching my story would be sure to make it clear that the article would be good for the readers not for me . Which is true for you are leading people to a product they did not know existed but could clearly use and want ! Living in this country gives us freedom to do what we choose if we truly work hard but if we sit on our fat butts and call people lesbians , disgusting lesbians how is this adding to peoples freedom . Why in the would you judge a person by there sexuality you are the people that hold the American Dream down and this is sad !
The only way to get on these shows is to start with and depart with: O, please, please, feel sorry for me."
I have a great product that I have made known regionally. I need to take it national. I have contacted Oprah's producers a number of time an nothing. I have contacted the national news and nothing. Ellen and Martha and still nothing. HSN and nothing. Kelly's Award Winning Gourmet BBQ Sauce is the only sauce that is lower in carbs and calories, low sodium, diet friendly and gluten free. It is also a gourmet product and Award Winning. It has been my personal experience that nobody wants to help out a small business. You only get media coverage if you pay pay pay. Visit www.kchf.biz to learn about this fantastic product. We hope to see you soon. Kelly
Hey Talk Show Hosts. How about doing a feature presentation on Women Entreprenuers? (food products, etc.) What you would learn from this would be absolutely astonishing to both you and your viewers. Women today are still in an uphill battle are financial ceilings are limited and we still do not earn equal pay. Then again, this would probably be too hot to handle. Visit my website www.kchf.biz to learn about my great product. It is MY own recipe. Kelly's Award Winning Gourmet BBQ sauce is the ONLY sauce from Ohio that is lower in carbs and calories, diet friendly, low sodium, gluten free, award winning, gourmet, does NOT contain cholesterol or potassium like the leading New York brands. It costs under $4 in the grocery and is available on line!
If you have to make negative comments why say anything at all. Who cares if you don't want to sit on Oprah couch there are a lot of people who would. There is enough negativity in the world without these types of "off the wall" comments such as yours.
when oprah wants real issues brought to the for front she will see sites like www.GODHEADPRODUCTIONS.com for the light of truth not in the american way but in the way of the deity all are trying to be talking about,
I have designed a complete system to control the oil 100% at the wellhead. I have addressed all the concerns, from pressure at the wellhead, sealing up at the wellhead, and the freeze up's at the wellhead, all the way to the ocean surface.
You have heard theory and speculation on how and why The Deep Horizon
blew up. With out drawings, here is my best shot, briefly; This well has a mountainous layer of frozen Methane deposits. When they drilled the well they went to shallow and did not pass the methane enough with there well designs to be able to regulate the Huge amount of Methane. Even today, at up to 20% they are laboring to control the methane. "lighting" OK, but, that shows the huge amount they are dealing with, doesn't it?
I have sent emails to some of the Fox News talent with no reply.
I have sent correspondences to Bobby Jindal, no reply.
Well, a form letter from The White House, is more then what I got from BP.
BP's web site was just a place to handle the riffraff. 50 words or less, and 200 words or less, I did my best, but, it was impossible to describe a bottom to top control system in that format.
Please help me get investigated, to determine my designs are viable.
My designs could be "work bench to water wet" in a week and a half. You could try to inform The President that, like I have done twice, but, don't count on anything but a Form Letter at best, well, in about 5 days or nothing. I say try it though. Pick out the best parts in this with my information or print and over night it to The White House, want the address?
Please take this as a real end to the leak, because it is; or send this to someone who wants the oil leak stopped and controlled 100% till the 2 new oil wells are finished, well, for sure, one day.
I am a man of talent, but, not of means, yet. I would have built all of this weeks ago and would have taken my ships and equipment to the leak site, deployed my equipment to the ocean floor weeks ago, and today the main concern would be clean up.
Please help me, I want to show all of this now, well, weeks ago. Honestly, the leaks could have been stopped and under 100% control for some time now.
I have contacted large companies to possibly start the funding to get started, but, no one has called yet. Someone needs to show up and see ... Tomorrow?
Too many male egos are involved and that is why nothing is being done. A lot of people have had great ideas, just like you and nobody is willing to even give any of it a try. People of the gulf should take a few days off work and go stand on the White House lawn until Obama is forced to try at least one idea to stop the oil. Even Kevin Costner has a product to help but I don't see anyone trying it. They need to stop talking it all to death and just get out there and TRY SOMETHING!!!!!!
To: Geraldo Rivera (Yesterday)
...It is all true, and the leak would have been under control now 20+ days.
And here is my comment on the heavy mud: It would have worked, and worked well, the concrete step needed to be started and as the concrete is introduced some will harden and some will not. Over time the concrete would have sealed it off. But, as a PR move our government stepped in with questionable advice from Non-oil field scientists with visions of doom (like 2 million gallons a day is not) and told the Obama administration to stop the heavy mud procedure now before the pressures create a catastrophic blow out. (bad timing, to strut out the "power play" of who is in control. -my opinion)
Now, well have the new BP economy to run our southern states with. Now with that accomplished, lets control that oil wellhead. Yes sir I do know there will be some sort of press exposure, but, I would rather not go there. I know Geraldo the designs are the best to use, and a bonus is my designs are work bench to water wet in a week and a half. 3 crews 24/7, but, I could be off, it could be done faster. I wish I could just throw this out there, but, as a life long designer/inventor and so on, I could get a life break, and if you took the time to learn about me, you would not judge me for where I am at right now on the food chain. I assure you Geraldo, you will not only understand my designs, you will be the one who will make history by taking this to the people, BP, and President Obama.
You know something Geraldo, you will be doing all that the DAY you see my designs. Period. Confident, well, me personally? perhaps a little, my designs? Beep Yea!!! They are worked reworked and like and investigator learning what happened, I designed to what will happen with the sealing system, the connections, the wild card of Methane, and so on. I try everyday to get someone to investigate my designs, and not me... I know where I live, I am poor, I have not been a world class deep ocean wellhead repairman authorized by Neptune himself, but, Geraldo, who is? I ask David Cameron that question, and I guess, that is who he is looking for. To bad.
If you want a huge story, call me, come and look with all the experts you want, and a way to protect my interest and I promise you one. I have emails to U.S. Coast Guard, Bobby Jindal, The White House many times, the EPA, Green web sites, Save the Wolves, My local news papers, Louisiana news papers, England News media, The Prime Minister David Cameron and Staff, well the list is large, and yes, BP, there web site of 50 words or less, and 200 words or less... No true interest from outsiders, as I described what my designs will do, sure a little vague, but, I was looking for a person to go over all the details, and show just how the complete system will work, no freeze up's to clog the pipe line ever, that could create an oil hammer that could take out the wellhead. It's like a train Geraldo, it will not stop in a dime or a dollar, well, please, (Dear God) come and see my designs, learn my story, and then let's control that oil. I learned the president is on tour now, so, you are it man. You.
Here is my letter to the President Today: (*update: yesterday: 06-18-2010)
(and below my info. was that I sent to my short list of friends...)
(*and now an AOL reply)
Good Morning President, Barack Obama,
I am pleased to inform you that I have complete designs at the ready to control the BP / Deephorizon wellhead two million gallon per day leak.
I apologize for my previous letters being substandard and completely undecipherable. You see sir, I am not a writer, yep. However, I am a learned, trained, and practicing plumber, inventor, proto type designer/builder and much more. Yes sir, I am a man of talents, but not of means, yet. That talent thing and my plans to change the world to a water as a fuel source, where gas stations will be where people stop for snacks and car water, is a future I can embrace. Can't you?
I design things you wont find at your local, well, anywhere store. I would one day like to send you information about my International Space Station Shower Device (Environment Specific) that I may be introducing to Richard Brandson one day soon. You know with the our NASA space program being what it is today.
Calling in BP one more time for a chat, “we” have designs to control your two million gallon oil leak, at 100% clean, at the wellhead. It will seal up and keep the oil out of the environment, once in place. Now, that’s a phone call everybody wants to hear about.
I am the best bet for controlling that BP thing. The cost of sealing up that oil in to a pipe, could be about a million dollars, a million two five. BP will just pay.
I have looked at a few ideas out there that address the wellhead leak. I am pleased and saddened to say that no one is even close to my designs, still. The designs that will work, the first time, and for years if need be. Again, at 100% clean.
For the "people", call me and then, investigate my designs, Designs America needs now, and by taking this action it is just days from controlling the oil flow at 100%, clean. I am counting on you, as all Americans are, as BP has sixty thousand "ideas" to go threw (can you imagine, a soda can a two budgie cords, as a earnest idea? yea, me either.), and frankly, I think BP is stalling, perhaps, looking for my designs. The answer is here and now. I look forward to helping you in this matter,
Thank you,
Kevin Ray Kinney
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
805-461-5587 H
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
kinney1a2b3@aol.com
My friends print this Letter of Hope, give it to everybody you know, and don't know. Soon, we will see action.
Oh, yes, send it to your Churches, your local government officials, every Governor, House Representative, Senator, and let them all know the end of the BP oil leak is nearing it's end. The President has this Letter as of Today: 06-18-2010 and he will act on this and your letter campaign of support. So tell him, go for it!!
Barack Obama : www.WhiteHouse.gov/contact Under: Message of Support. Tell him to call me as soon as he can, in doing that simple message, you are making history. So, I say to you, go for it and Thank you for helping American's threw your actions and there time of need.
God Bless you and America. Kevin Ray Kinney 06-18-2010
*Patricia: Out of 365 million people and one president, you are #5 to contact me, about anything. Above is a letter to Geraldo Riveria informing him of my designs and the letter to The White House. Personally, This is beyond any rational/responsible "government" actions to date. I invited them to investigate the work I have done, and for about 42 days, nothing but a form letter from The White House assuring me that BP will pay... They did not read any of my letters, they wanted to lock in a new "BP Economy". Let it leak on for another 20 billion, perhaps by then the people will rely on the government more and more... I hope that I am way off base there, and they, at The White House are very busy, to busy to Read and Respond to "this" Low Priority National Security Issue. As you know the president got the money, issue is closed till August, that's what BP purchased. Why else would the president be on tour for two weeks? Don't look at the oil, or the wildlife there rolling up on the beaches, no, noooo, look at the Money over here, that's right, the m o n e y... good sheeple... So, till August then. cool. ugh.
Kevin... I go to your local news station.. call every reporter especiallyt he newer ones.... anything to get their attention..
I have worked in retail, worked as a community leader, volunteer and student, small business entrepreneur, a special education teacher and became a parent of now successful grown adults.
Everyone in my journey has taught me more than I could have imagined and fed my desire to make a difference. My goal was to take what I learned, go back to school and to get into a business opportunity where I can impact people and their companies. I shopped for a small company I felt I can work toward makeing a difference within, as well as extend my ripples throughout the business world as an agent of positive change. I realized the changes may never be realized personally but I wanted to be in a position to have the dialog at the very least and weave the complexity of business with a touch of spirituality. I wanted an opportunity to reconnect the very soul, the passion and the love of what is within a person to their every day opportunities. Titles were least important and in fact my belief is that titles can be somewhat limiting.
Money was not my focus for taking the job I felt was a good fit. I just needed enough money to save for the type of retirement I could envision. Learning about social capital, emotional intelligence, appreciative inquiry I started to read and write about the opportunities there might be to build partnerships between rural and corporate America. I wanted to gather more tools, take notes and someday to teach what I have learned in a university(s).
I love people for all they are because each of us is an important part of the larger picture. I believe in business as a positive agent for change in our world. I beleive it is a great vehicle to spread democracy without bullets.
In the industry that spends a lot of time talking about quality, our tendancy is to measure and then talk about all of the things we cannot learn from in business. If we just turned that around and look at what we can measure that turns out well, why, and where we were successful, I believe we would actually experience the change that people always say they are a part of leading.
The truth is each of us is the only leader of change there is in the world and in a combined effort through business, using our passions and ability to understand what we bring to the table, we can create a sustainable, profitable more peaceful world that enjoys food, water, clothing, shelter and personal respect.
I work for a wonderful small manufacturing business that has taught me great things in life. We are all slowly learning about this model of business and it is our hope we can become a noted model of sustainable and profitable business. I hope we can model the busienss behaviors that teach others about our hope to support many success stories of business as a positive agent of change.
I do not have a book.
I do not claim a title.
I do not follow the traditional boundaries of business I am told.
I love what I do each day, the people and their stories in my journey. I hope the opportunities we are providing for people to choose from at WALCO Tool & Engineering can be nurturing to the spirit.
WALCO Tool & Engineering makes parts for equipment designed by large companies. We are the front lines of America's manufacturing. I never cease to be amazed in my day. It is truly amazing what we do, the talent we bring to the table and the success stories for which we have been part of in the world of everchanging technology. It is even more amazing what I believe we can accomplish. We have continued to grow and hire people. The hope is we can do more to let people know who we are,what we envision, and what we can do to support the growth and opportunities for people.
Our ripples are spreading across the globe indirectly and our hope is we bring positive change to everyone we interact with through the use of our talent and passions, or those for whom our talents create a ripple of opportunities.
Thank you for the opporunity to introduce WALCO Tool & Engineering.
We have 10 family health food stores in East and Central Texas called Granary St and Herbmart. We compete with the successfully compete with the corporate giants but it would be nice to get some recognition from Oprah...
It would be great if the MAGIC WATER BEADS would be able to get into a major talk show like Oprah or Ellen's because www.MagicWaterBeads.com is a fad taking over this country.
I am a designer / inventor of futuristic ideas and fun feel good ideas. From a new energy source (that is in trials) to a Yard Game. Getting started is the hardest step. Funding is not available out there, people and banks are holding onto there funds to see what is the next government regulation, what is going on at Wall Street, Freddie / Fannie black hole of money, and so on. In a time where America needs her inventors and designers to come up with the next idea that people will want to buy. Right now most people who live on the Gulf of Mexico would want a new idea to control the BP oil wellhead leaking into there environment. I know and have done just that. Kevin Ray Kinney, a name you will see more of in the future. I did not design this system to become famous, or Political, but, it seams to be the only way to get things done. So, you want breaking news: Kinney for President 2014 where I will hire competent people who act to a crisis and reach out to solve the problems America faces in every category. No more knee "jerk" reactions or comments, I will read every bill, front to back and then make a comment, I feel I would owe it to you, to go the extra mile and do my job, like getting business going with tax breaks, Tax breaks for Made In America, we need industry that creates more jobs and products and services that lead to reducing our New American Debt,
and government cuts by 50% maybe more at the looks at things today and planned for you tomorrow. I would have made sure the BP disaster was my top priority to stop the flow, and getting in all the help needed to keep the oil from our shores. I would have set up a White House "South" and stayed there till the leak was stopped, thankfully, I would have used the best of the best to help me with my ideas, and any and all ideas you may have with a one week National Announcement: asking for your ideas to control the oil, and guaranteeing if your ideas are used you will receive compensation as your President. Together, America can do anything we put our minds to. We need to regulate our food, insurance, and so on, we also need to regulate our government. We are all individuals with one vote, we need to see the manipulative agenda of a few who are pulling on you and your friends to react. We are all American's first, Period. Learning history is the first step to learning who is telling you the truth.
Look, you just might see someone else to vote for in 2014, and that's OK, but, if you want that oil wellhead under control, Please investigate my designs. I can promise you one thing, they will work. Now, copy this and send it to someone else who wants this oil leak under control and send it to The White House, President Barack Obama will be back there in about a week and a half. Heck, if we start now, we could be sending my controlling system to the Wellhead by the time he gets back to The White House. USA45thPresident@aol.com
Survive a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
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Always be prepared for the SCA. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can help save your life. It’s portable. It’s affordable. It’s easy to use. And now because of the recent technological advances, non-medical personnel can use these simple electronic devices to treat a person in cardiac arrest and save a precious life. When used within 3-5 minutes, AED can increse the chances of survival to 75%.
AEDs are now available for home and professional use. For more information call:
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