Avoid these three things during your next Satellite Media Tour

What NOT to do during your next Satellite Media Tour

Satellite Media Tours (SMTs) put your spokesperson in the spotlight – literally and figuratively.  For four to five hours, your spokesperson will be talking to a wide range of TV, radio and web outlets with very little time in between.  While it can be an exciting and exhilarating experience, it also means that there’s little room for error. If you’re the PR pro responsible for managing the SMT you want to ensure that the event goes as smoothly as possible, which means that there are certain things you’d like to avoid.  Here are three tips on what to avoid during your next Satellite Media Tour:

• Tip #1: Don’t Forget to Rehearse

It can’t be stressed enough how rehearsing can positively contribute to the success of an SMT.  When spokespeople know the messaging and are comfortable on the subject matter, the interviews look, sound and feel better. As a PR pro, insist upon mock interviews, rehearsals or formal media training for your spokesperson leading up to the SMT, especially if they don’t have significant on-air experience. 5am the day of is not the ideal time to try to media train your talent and get them on message.

• Tip #2: Don’t Crowd the Kitchen

During a SMT, there is definitely such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen. You’ll want to have only one or two (at the absolute most) people offering your spokesperson tips, advice or details during the Satellite Media Tour.  During many of our SMTs, our producer is the only person in the ear of the spokesperson. Whether the talent has done 100 interviews or it’s their first, getting hit from all sides is never a good idea, and can quickly make your talent lose confidence and degrade the interviews. It is game time when it comes to the day of the SMT, so if there are too many people providing their two cents, you’ll have a confused and distracted spokesperson with too much change.

• Tip #3: Don’t Stress

Loosen up! If you’re tense or stressed, your spokesperson and/or client will feed off your mood. Project an air of confidence even if things aren’t going exactly to plan. If you’ve hired the right SMT firm, whatever may be interrupting the SMT is temporary, and will get back on track quickly.

Do your best to avoid these, and you’re well on your way to a successful satellite media tour.

More SMT Tips & Resources

What makes a Satellite Media Tour Successful?
NIELSEN: Valuable Resource for Planning a SMT
Using B-Roll during Satellite Media Tours
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