Your Media Moment & Beyond! | Janet Vasil | Media Coach/Consultant | Magnetic Media Expert Platform Training | Business FAME | Bucks County, Pennsylvania

I often meet friends, colleagues, mastermind partners, prospects and clients at area coffee shops and restaurants, and sometimes it is difficult to come up with a spot that is convenient for both of us. 

That's why I was excited to find a cool tool online to make arranging those meetings easier. It's called MeetWays.com

It's not brand new but it's new to me. You plug in two addresses and it suggests a point of interest that is at the half-way point, so both parties can meet in the middle. You can specify coffee, pizza, hotel, etc. It will give you a list of places to choose from plus a map. I've tested it several times with good results.

I am usually big on meeting at places like Panera Bread and Starbucks, but in my part of Southeastern Pennsylvania, there isn't one on every corner the way they are in some parts of the country.  Plus at times, I may be meeting people driving from South Jersey or the Poconos or some far-off place in between.

Now we can pick a spot that's a fair distance for both parties much more easily. Such a simple time-saver I didn't know could be so handy until it appeared!

Love technology!  What cool tools do you use for meetings?

I watched the first video in a 4 video product launch last week and it got me thinking about how your on-camera presence can make or break what you say or sell.

The video featured a coach promoting her new program. The video was clearly done by media professionals. It was beautifully shot and edited. To use a Hollywood term, you could see the money on the screen.

Unfortunatey, the presentation by the coach was off. She made all the classic mistakes people do when they have not done the work to get comfortable on-camera.

All of her performance issues could be easily fixed with a little time and practice.

Here is the short list of key problems:

• Poor eye contact
• No facial expression
• Flat voice with an uninterested delivery

Her eyes looked at the lens with an unblinking stare, not quite “deer in the headlights” fear, but more like dead fish eyes without the warmth and twinkle that comes through when you are speaking face-to-face.

She appeared to be trying to remember a script in her head or perhaps she was reading from a teleprompter without enough practice to make it look natural (what we call prompter stare).

Her face showed no animation. She was expressionless. Maybe she was botoxed because her forehead, eye brows and cheeks never moved.  Her mouth barely moved!  I never saw her teeth or a smile.

On top of that, her voice was almost a monotone. Last week I wrote about why vocal energy is important so I won’t go over it again. You can read that post here: Voice Matters

I suspect what happened is, she chose a production company that works almost exclusively with professional talent, not amateurs. These companies  know all the tricks for getting the lighting, audio and other myriad details just right to make a "high production value" video, but may not have the presentation training skills or interest in helping you be an effective spokesperson for your product or service.

These producers are used to working with professional talent, actors, models and broadcasters, who are media trained to “bring it” 100-percent on every take. I once watched actor Martin Sheen shoot a public service announcement. The production crew did dozens of takes for various technical reasons – a plane flew over head, a shadow in the background, the camera bobbled on a walking shot, etc.

All the Director said after each take was, “Again, Martin.”

Sheen was letter perfect, walking and talking, every time. He repeated the script over and over without a hint of pique or complaint. The crew paid no attention to his performance. His consistently polished presentation was simply expected from pro talent. (Sure, pros flub up. We’ve all seen hilarious movie outtakes, but they generally don’t do it very often – or they’ll be out of work!)

One question I get is, if content is King, why should my video presence matter?  My answer is – depending on your target audience, it's possible a video might seem too slick, but in most cases, a polished performance is a communication asset. You don't have to be Hollywood actor perfect, just an authentic expert who is more magnetic because she is a confident and poised presenter.

Another why: We’ve all grown up watching TV and movies and our minds have come to expect certain minimal standards. Plus if your market is buying YOU, your message can get lost in the medium, because if you appear ill at ease on-camera, the viewer will feel uncomfortable watching you. (not a good selling point)

The bottom line: When you hire a video producer or production company, make sure they have done lots of work with non-professionals, regular business people just like you and that they are willing to spend the time to produce a technically good video AND help you give your best performance.

I'll share some tips for improving your on-camera presence next week.

Thoughts? 

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I was bummed when I heard that the Google Reader was going away.  I used it every day to keep up with news so I sprang into action to test the alternatives and find a replacement that suited me before the July 1, 2013 deadline.

Here’s that post:  http://www.yourmediamoment.com/replacing-google-reader/

Now for an update:  I’ve made my RSS reader choice and it isn’t any of the ones I wrote about!

Instead, I have chosen (drum roll, please) Newsblur

It has a clean, easy to navigate interface very similar to the google reader. Adding and subtracting feeds is simple. You can read the posts within Newsblur or click to the original site to read them in context. It suggests blogs I might like and I can highlight and hide stories in a function they call “training.”

I use it on my computer and on my iPad.  The app is also available for iPhones and Android.  The free service lets you keep up with the news from a generous 64 sites.  The paid service is very reasonably priced at $24.00 a year and offers unlimited sites (yikes!), among other features.

The people behind it were swamped after the google reader announcement and don’t have the deep pockets of a google, so getting a premium account will help them continue to improve their reader…and most important to me, since I like it so much, keep them in business!

I am quite happily reading with Newsblur morning and night, have moved all my feeds from Google and have stopped testing the others.  Looks like my quest was a success!

Which reader works best for you?

Blog Audio Intro Vocal Energy

I have a friend who has created several excellent online training programs. Trouble is, they are videos with voice-over and her voice lacks dynamism.

She is an engaging person in person, full of energy and passion, but it doesn’t come across on the videos.  And while the content is terrific and valuable, I can’t help but feel people who purchase her courses will be disappointed and probably not stick with the training to get the  results they want. They may even ask for a refund!

I hear a lot of hosts of podcasts and webinars with voice problems. When people don’t see you speaking, you need to pump up your delivery to keep their interest. Jazzy video images and fancy graphics are not enough to hold their attention, if your voice sounds ho-hum, mumbly, too soft or lacks inflection.

Frankly, even on camera, you need to be more animated than you probably are face-to-face, because video cuts your energy by about two-thirds. But that’s a post for another day.

Have you ever heard an online audio presentation with a dramatic pre-recorded opening intro full of high energy music and sound effects that perks up your ears?  Then, when the host comes on, their voice is  nearly monotone.  What a disappointment after that rousing intro!  I have to admit, when that happens, I do not hang around for long.

Here are some voice training tips to help you grab listeners by the ears:

• Practice by recording your voice on your computer, phone or tablet and playing it back.  Record yourself reading the newspaper or a magazine article with a lot of expression.  (a good mic will make your voice sound better in your “official” recordings, but you can practice with free tools)

• During practice recordings,  make your voice extra animated and dramatic, even go to comical lengths, to get a feel for what sounds right in playback. (Have a friend listen too, because we’re usually too hard on ourselves…or not hard enough!)

• Make every word count. Enunciate clearly and keep the strength and energy in your voice steady from the start of each sentence to the end.

• Stand up when you record or do some simple exercises right before you record to get the blood circulating.  It helps you sound better and think better!

• Imagine “projecting” your voice beyond the microphone into a room to give the sound more power. (Sometimes experts say speak normally and let the microphone do the work of amplification. That’s good advice for people who already have a dynamic delivery and know how to project, but a bad idea for those who haven’t found the right vocal energy level yet.)

•  Support the voice to reduce tension and vocal stress through proper breathing.

• Block out distractions.  Focus all your concentration on communicating through the power of your voice.

These are a few of the things professionally-trained voice-over artists and broadcasters do to sound more polished and authoritative, but you don’t have to train like a pro.

Just practice and take a few steps to sound your best.  An expressive voice will help you attract more listeners to your great information and a voice that is easy on the ears will make them eager to come back for more.

What do you do when you hear a lackluster voice on a webinar, podcast or training audio?  Do you stay or turn away?

Please leave your thoughts in a comment.

Writing a blog is a commitment and sometimes even the most creative, prolific writers get stuck.  I keep a running list of ideas I’d like to explore and look for different ways to present the same types of  content in an easy to digest and interesting form.  (For example, I am thinking of adding audio blog posts that comment on or amplify my written content – stay tuned for that.)

Here are seven popular post types to consider:

•  Lists – putting info into bullet points or writing other forms of short orderly information blocks is an easy way for readers to scan a post and grasp the golden nuggets fast. A free wordpress plugin called list.ly can help you create, curate and share lists.  Check out a good review post about it from a UK friend here.

•  How-To’s  – beyond entertainment, people go to the Internet looking for answers and solutions to problems.  Why not teach them something on your blog?

•  Resource Guide – a big collection of useful information and links on a specific topic. These posts often get passed around, printed and saved.

•  Reviews – tell your readers about your experience with a product or service or review a new tool you’ve found.

•  Day of the Week – pick a day to always post a certain kind of content and give it a name such as Fan Mail Friday to address readers’ questions or Get Motivated Monday with some  “start the week right” tips for productivity, organization, food, exercise, fashion, mindset or whatever info fits your audience.

•  Video – what’s more personal than speaking to your loyal fans face-to-face or showing them something related to your expertise?  It’s easier than ever to do by shooting a quick short video  with a webcam, smart phone or tablet.   Even easier, gather a collection of YouTube videos on a topic linked with a few of your written insights to make a post.

•  Guest posts – ask other writers to contribute an article to your blog.  It gives your readers a new perspective in a different voice and helps you take a break from the blogging grind. (Be sure to return the favor and give your contributor a break by sending them a post of your own. I wrote about being a guest poster recently here.)

These are only a few of dozens of ideas.  Gauge what appeals to your audience from the number and quality of comments, social media shares, etc.  Plus  survey your list from time to time to ask what they want to read!

What types of posts do you like most?  Please leave your thoughts in a comment.

I believe in free speech as much as the next guy, maybe more. But sometimes the comments that pass for fact on social media sites make me a little crazy.

Sure, the point of social media is to be social and it’s fun to comment back and forth as if we were smiling and laughing at a cocktail party or chatting to our neighbor over the back fence.

But online media adds another element. Depending on your privacy settings, what you post can also be public speech and a certain responsibility goes along with what reasonable people say in public.

Now, online exchanges venting about a product or service that isn’t working right or customer service that isn’t responding well may get you faster action. The same goes for word of mouth recommendations or warnings and that’s a good thing.

However, making up facts or passing along dubious claims is another story. We’ve all heard versions of the Big Lie Quote:  “Tell a lie often enough and it will become truth.”

Your opinions are your own, but facts are facts.   Yet I’ve done media literacy exercises with students who could not recognize the difference between fact and opinion.

Falsehoods spread on the Internet can be damaging as we witnessed with the recent twitter hack on the AP feed that affected the stock market. If a  news item on social media sounds fishy, pause before you pass it along.  (For example, people rush to post RIP’s for celebs who are  not dead, when two extra clicks would get them the facts).

Sometimes respected news organizations get their facts wrong too and I am not saying I go around acting like the fact police on social media or get into flame wars with people who express wrong-headed assertions as fact. (thought I am tempted at times).  I simply use restraint in my own social media activities.

A friend of mine said at a gathering of social media professionals that she views herself as “My Name, Inc.” in all her online interactions, whether it’s for business or personal purposes.

That’s a good practice for any expert who wants to establish and maintain an online reputation as a thoughtful, intelligent leader. Decide carefully what you will share in public.

It is similar to what I tell media clients. You cannot control what a reporter asks, but you can control what comes out of your mouth.

Beyond a quick Google search, here are some sites to help you “Check Your Facts:”

factcheck.org

snopes.com

politifact.com

What is your opinion?    Please leave a comment.

It’s said most people have at least one or two books in them and as I’ve often written, adding the title author to your name can do wonders for your personality marketing.

Authoring a book will, among other things, build your credibility and expert status, open the door to speaking engagements online and in person, boost your media appeal and get your name on Amazon, the world’s largest bookstore.

Self publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle and Create Space make the reality of holding your book in your hand easier than ever. Yet, people who have a great story to tell and want to share their journey and their knowledge in a book, will hesitate to pick up a pen or touch a keyboard, because they don’t see themselves as writers.

I have a way for you to get over that hurdle:

Talk Your Book!

My friend, Kristen Eckstein of  Ultimate Book Coach, recently reminded me of this super technique for getting the story out of your head and onto the page.  Talk into a digital voice recorder, an app on your smartphone or tablet, voice recording software on your computer, etc. It is a quick and easy form of note taking.

You’ll want to give yourself some structure and a deadline or you might be making short voice recordings forever!  It helps to work from a rough outline, a list of points or a series of questions you want to cover in your book. You may be able to pull more content from speeches or interviews you’ve given, etc.

You might do a picture book, saying only a few lines about the images you’ve chosen or a quotes book talking briefly about the quotes you’ve collected.  As a business book, simply connect the pictures or quotes to your area of expertise and relate them to your business message.  Once your audio content is transcribed, you or someone you hire can organize it into book form.

I transcribe audio interviews using Dragon Naturally Speaking software. It automatically turns an mp3 voice recording into text and is an easy tool to use. Plus, the accuracy is excellent.

Sure, I’ve left out a few steps. There’s copy editing, formatting, cover art, etc.  That’s why author is a respected title. People know a book takes dedication.

Still, if you can talk, you can create a short, effective “marketing piece” book without doing much writing at all.

Are you ready to talk your book? Or maybe you already have.  Let me know your thoughts in a comment.

See larger image Dragon NaturallySpeaking Home 12.0, English (DVD-ROM) List Price: $99.99 USD New From: $47.95 In Stock Used from: $39.94 In Stock Release date August 15, 2012.

Last week’s tragic events in Boston had the news media scrambling and the whole nation glued to their screens ( TV, computer, mobile) for every twist and turn.

There was some stellar reporting and some egregious errors. No excuses, but I can tell you from experience, newsgathering is messy and covering breaking news is even messier.

The first comments from even the most trusted sources are generally only bits and pieces of the story and may prove inaccurate once more facts become known.

Hard working, serious journalists do not set out to make mistakes deliberately. Still, when reporters do get it wrong, the news organization has an obligation to quickly correct the record, apologize for the error and re-commit to doing better.

TV news adds another layer of complexity when it decides to stay on the air LIVE indefinitely, in what’s called wall-to-wall coverage, during an unfolding crisis.  A lot of missteps can occur, because the newsroom gets swamped and new accurate information does not flow onto the air in an orderly fashion.

To pass the time waiting for the next fresh bit of information, anchors and reporters repeat endlessly what appear to be the facts at the time and experts may expound on all manner of minutiae that will have no relevance once the dust settles and the full story is sorted out.

Even though the broadcasters may keep saying, “folks, we don’t have all the facts in yet and this may change,” the act of putting the information on the air gives it the appearance and weight of fact.

Add the rapid fire activity on social media and the opportunity for lies, half-truths and distortions gets bigger. ( To be fair, social media is also valuable in news. ie -CNN’s reporters on the ground could not be sure what they were seeing when the second suspect was taken into custody, but confirmation came moments later when the Boston Police Department tweeted they got him.)

That’s why, as media consumers, viewers need to have their own yardstick for gauging the information presented. There’s a whole area of education called media literacy to help everyone think more critically about what they see, hear and read in all types of media, not just the news but in movies,advertising, etc. You can read about the basic tenets here:  Introduction to Media Literacy

I use a simpler test in the spirit of the old Ronald Reagan cold war quote, “Trust, but verify.”

Here are 3 steps I apply during breaking news:

• Consider the Source: Where is this information coming from and what are their  qualifications for knowing this information?  For example, you wouldn’t ask the coroner how the search for the suspects is going.

• Is This for Real?  Does something sound plausible or preposterous?   To be sure, news is unpredictable and shocking things do happen, but sometimes in the rush to fill long hours of live coverage, outlandish ideas get air time.  Trust your gut.

• Think for Yourself.  Question what you’re hearing, check the coverage from more than one news outlet and be a bit skeptical. Recognize that in a chaotic developing situation, first reports will be incomplete and expect that not every detail that gets reported will hold up.

Yes, it is the media professional’s job to inform us and to get it right.  But I believe, as media consumers, it’s our job to use our own filters and best judgment to make sense of the news.

How do you get and decipher the news?   Please leave a comment.

As the King or Queen of your domain, it makes sense to secure your castle from invaders.

This past week, technology news has been full of reports of a new wave of cyber attacks and these threats are not just affecting the big players.

Now, this is NOT my area of expertise by any means. I take all the standard precautions with my wp sites and keep up with what’s happening by following wordpress experts like Regina Smola at http://www.wpsecuritylock.com/

Still, despite my security steps, two of my self-hosted wordpress sites were attacked. Fortunately, I use a service called sucuri.net which monitors and fixes sites. It detected and took care of the problem right away. (Phew)

A self-hosted wp blog is an excellent home base on which  to build your online presence and media expert platform.  But recognize that rogues exist in the world and these Internet tools are not “set it and forget it.”

If you’ve neglected your site, check the health of your blog now and get expert help if you need it.

What do you do to defend your realm?

Update 4-19-13:  Experts say worse attacks yet to come:  http://www.imgrind.com/massive-wordpress-attack-underway-secure-your-installations-now/

I was at an event last week with over 100 attendees and a woman I know through social media  approached me. We have several real life friends in common and we were instantly deep in conversation because of our online exchanges.

She complimented me on a recent webinar I’d done and said one of my tips had been a catalyst for her to take action on something she’d been wanting to accomplish.

But the best part was, she thanked me for looking like my photo!

If your goal is to “get virtually famous” with increased visibility to enhance your credibility and authority as an expert in my field, the image you project online should reflect the person you are in the real world.

Here’s why. Experts and authors have to work hard to get noticed. Every aspect of your online presence should show you are likeable, approachable and trustworthy so people feel comfortable hiring you and working with you.

Having a great professional profile photo helps foster that trust, while seeing someone who looks nothing like their photo may harm it. It’s fine to use a photograph that has been touched up. We all want to look our best. Just keep your online image in the realm of possibility.

It was a wonderful thing to be recognized and make an immediate connection because a “virtual” friend felt she already knew me.

Has this happened to you yet?

Here’s a related post I wrote in 2010:

http://www.yourmediamoment.com/professional-image/