Publicity & Promotion Tips To Leave Effective Voice Mails For The Media - From Promoting Books To Getting Booked!

Voice Mail Tips From America's #1 Publicist & Media Strategist

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To Help You Achieve The Media Placements & Business Success Of Your Dreams.

Lead With Your Strength! Never Ramble---30 Second Voice Mails Or Less

Great voice mail messages get lots of call backs
Leave a voice mail that is fast and friendly, packed with great info
Create a greater chance of landing major media placements with great voice mail techniques on major networks, magazines and newspapers
Remember, your voice mail is an audition for yourself

1. Your voice mail message should always include your phone number twice--once at the beginning and again at the end of the voice mail. Speak at a fast pace when leaving a voice mail BUT slow down and speak clearly when leaving the contact information. It is very frustrating for the producer or anyone in the media to miss the phone number and have to replay the voice mail message.

2. The “30 Second Voice Mail Pitch”! Rule: Never ramble. Lead with your strengths and focus on the benefit to the media outlet. Pick one or two benefits that the media outlet can use right away. Make your choice a benefit, that fits their audience profile. Keep in mind that this will not be your only chance to pitch to that media contact. Believe me, there will be more voice mails to follow! Practice your “30 Second Pitch” until you can say it naturally and conversationally with enthusiasm and joy.

3. Never leave more than one message per day EVER. I usually like to keep the follow-up process to leaving a message once every two to three days for radio, four to five days for TV and weekly for Print. But remember, the media gets hundreds of calls and the competition for the major outlets is fierce so if you keep your voice mails targeted, benefit rich you increase your chances of being right for the media outlet and getting your call back.

4. Keep calling and try to actually speak to the person. Try to find out when your media contact will be available from the receptionist. Email the contact letting him/her know you would like to call at a specified time. Then set your clock and CALL. But be ready with your “30 Second Pitch”.

5. It is always better to speak personally to your contact. I like to say in our office "voice mail is pretend work"! But with these tips you can help make voice mail work for you. Leaving voice mails is not the same as getting the job done. Many experts can think they are working but in reality, we do not know how many of those voice mails will be heard by the targeted media person.

6. Always email information pertaining to your subject matter. This way, the media contact will have something in their hands with your phone number on it that makes it easier for them to contact you. One big media pet peeve is when people blast everyone with the same email. They appreciate when you take the time to carefully identify the right media contacts for your topic.

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7. When following up on your fax or email, never simply say did you get my email? Always say "I am just following up on my email about . . . (and go into a few exciting points about your topic). This refreshes their memory plus allows you to get another "pitch" in.

8. Never leave the same message twice. Always change your "message" to include another great point about why they would want to have you on. Keep changing the content until you get the results you desire.

9. Practice leaving yourself a message and if you get bored listening to yourself then you know you are in trouble! It's the first step. Your voice mail is an audition. Preparation is the key--know what you are going to say and then say it with high energy and confidence! If you are good and know why you are the right fit for the target media, you will have natural confidence. The problems come in when the caller does not know why they work for the media outlet.

10. Speak on the louder side (rather than soft and hushed) and prepare your pitch. Practice your pitch on some smaller stations FIRST to work out the glitches. Never wing your pitch and cut out all of the "umms".

EXTRA PUBLICITY TIP: You must capture the attention of the producer within the first 10 seconds--or else your phone call will be wasted. Your message will most likely get deleted. Your voice and tonality is the key. Do NOT be monotone and boring because no matter what you are saying you will NOT be heard. Only practice and becoming comfortable with your script will let you sound natural and flexible. Be excited and raise and lower your tonality, essentially mesmerizing the listener with a high-quality, easy to listen to, flow of information. If you find you just don't have the time to research, contact the media only to be sent to voice mail, you may wish to hire a professional publicity company who can make it through the voice mail barrier.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Your voice mail is an audition for the interview--if your message is filled with verbal talent, enthusiasm, credentials and knowledge--they will like you!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO US: Sign Up With Annie Jennings PR As As Expert & Get Your FREE CD Just For Letting Us Know About Yourself! Expert Sign Up

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