This is all kinds of stalker-ish
Build your media exposure by interacting with news stations on social media.
Ever notice that trend last year for dozens of news anchors and reporters who joined Twitter? Visit most news station’s websites and you’ll find somewhere to learn more about your favorite news personality AND what their Twitter account is. Now check: are you following them? Are they following you?
There’s a secret to why news stations push hard to build Twitter or Facebook followings. For an industry that heavily relies on ratings and numbers of viewers, finding new ways to track viewership enhances their ability to sell airtime. But while that might seem as the most obvious reason, the biggest secret is that they can use social media to produce content.
I have a huge complaint with news stories that are receive too much coverage. In a lot of instances, such over-coverage has stopped. That’s mostly due to news stations vetting topics through social media. They ask their viewers what they think and when they hear a lot of complaints – they act.
How can this affect you?
Since you know a lot about your chosen profession, you have a lot to contribute to any news story that deals with your industry. It happens all of the time with me. I see a story about something I know a great deal and I yell at the television. I comment with friends or family who saw the same story or report. I have an opinion and something to contribute.
Until recently, there was no real effective way for typical viewers to contribute. Sure you can go to the story online and leave a comment. You can contact the station with a phone call or by email. When do you see that directly effect a story that is going to air and not one that has already aired?
Especially when reporters or producers vet stories via Twitter – how can you not see the potential to put in your 2 cents? Now keep in mind that there are a lot of average hourly workers that offer their opinion as well. Those opinions are important but they contribute to the overall newscast and not to a particular story. If you’re an expert – you can directly contribute to a story.
To help build your status as an expert in this situation you will need to have a professional website, professional credentials and preferably your own generated content. That way your contribution is taken seriously and it will increase the odds of your contribution being used. I’ve talked many times before about how to make yourself more accessible and how important that truly is when people go online to look for you.
Taking yourself seriously means that others will as well. When you start following your favorite reporters or anchors keep in mind that they have a deadline. They have a level of standard. You need to work to their needs first and remember the ultimate rule: you have to actually be on Twitter to take advantage of this opportunity!
I hope you all are having a good Monday – mine has been off to a crazy start! Have a great week and I’ll see you here again on Wednesday!
Tell a Friend,
TZ
Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.
