33 Tips to Help You Ace a Media Interview (Infographic) Dispel nerves and put your best foot forward when getting face time with reporters.

By Nina Zipkin

Shutterstock

You have your company up and running and you want to get the word out. Doing press interviews are a great way to get your product or service in front of a new audience and tell your story.

For some people, talking to strangers or being on camera is a no-brainer. But for those who have never done an interview, the experience can be overwhelming. If you're in that category, don't panic. There is hope.

Related: Writing Tips: How to Come Up With 50 Topic Ideas in 30 Minutes

A new infographic, embedded below and compiled by online education marketplace Udemy and PR guru Elena Verlee, offers a 33-point checklist to help you prepare for your media interview. Here are three takeaways:

1. You wouldn't go into a pitch or client meeting without having a firm grasp of your numbers, who your customer is and where your company fits in the industry. Approach an interview the same way. Brush up on the current market trends and make sure you have a sense of what the reporter's story is about – say, a profile of your company, or a broader look at what's happening in your field. You can always grab a friend or colleague and run through some possible questions to alleviate any nerves.

2. On the day of the interview, take a deep breath, be present (that means switching off your phone), make eye contact and speak thoughtfully. After the fact, you can certainly send along more information or clarify an answer if you have new data. Ask for a copy of the final story, but don't ask to see your quotes ahead of time.

3. It's natural to want to come across well in an interview setting. Just remember to think about what you want an audience to remember about your company and go from there.

For more strategies, check out the infographic below.

Click to Enlarge

Crowdfunding Greece's Bailout: Is It Practical?

Related: 7 Public Speaking Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

After a 12-Year-Old's Side Hustle Made Over $4,000 in 1 Day, He and His Dad Grew the Business to Nearly $50,000 a Month: 'It Takes Commitment'

Madden Forrest and his father, Steven, turned their passion for football into a lucrative business.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Google, Spotify Down in a Massive Outage Affecting Tens of Thousands. Here's What We Know.

Both Google and Spotify appear to be down for thousands of users.

Franchise

30 Questions You Should Ask Before You Invest in a Franchise

Here are the five aspects of a great franchise.

Business News

Mattel Signs First-of-Its-Kind Deal With OpenAI to Bring ChatGPT to 'Iconic' Toys

Mattel is also allowing its employees to use ChatGPT Enterprise to help design new products.

Business News

This 'Sweet' Role Is the Highest Paid Position at Walmart After Managers

If you're creative and have a sweet tooth, the coveted (and lucrative) cake decorator position at Walmart may be for you.