Sell the Message by Selling the Messenger

My name is T.J.Walker is president of Media Training Worldwide.

I have trained people from hundred and ninety one countries on how to speak effectively to the media and hold on folks.

Would you want to buy something from that guy.

Would you want to listen to someone like that.

Ultimately we care about the messages the messages of your company your organization your product your service your campaign.

But we are human beings and human beings do not divorce the style and the substance.

It’s not that one is more important than the other.

You have to have both.

So when it comes to speaking to the media and if there’s a visual component with television or video you kind of get that right.

Because if you look scared stiff nervous like that guy a few seconds ago no one’s going to focus on anything you say.

No one’s going to remember your message.

I remember about 30 years ago I was hosting a political TV talk show and I thought I just had the best show ever I said so many brilliant insights or so I thought couldn’t wait for the viewer mail to come in.

This was before the days of e-mail letter comes in Dare T.J.

Would you wear that ugly tie for if you have something that stands out visually.

No one’s going to remember anything you said so that’s why it’s critically important.

You know how to look your best come across your best sound your best and not be distracted.

Now this is nothing specific to video or TV.

It’s with all communication if I send you a resumé and a cover letter and my resume makes perfect everything you’re looking for but my cover letter is filled with typos spelling errors smudges on the paper.

Chances are you’re going to throw away my resumé and the cover letter right.

Bad grammar commas in the wrong place.

It’s a mess.

In that case my style will overwhelm my substance even though my resumé was great.

On the other hand let’s say I write you the most beautiful cover letter ever.

Great paper punctuation style everything flows perfectly.

But then you look at my resume.

I have no relevant experience in your field and I’ve never worked anywhere other than fast food for two weeks.

You’re going to hire me.

Probably not.

My point is it all communication.

It’s never just about style it’s never just about substance.

You always have to have both but if you don’t have the initial style it’s going to turn people off.

They’re not even going to focus or listen to your substance.

So that’s why I always start off a media training whether it’s in person or online giving people the tips they need to know to look their best to come across comfortable confident relaxed.

I want you to really feel comfortable with how you’re coming across whether it’s your own video or whether you’re being interviewed by the toughest harshest most confrontational talk show host in your country.

So that’s what we’re going to cover right now.