Honesty is the Best Policy -- Especially When It Comes to Dealing with the PressWritten by By Carolyn Moncel
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 reporter to clarify then give straightest answer possible, and only elaborate if you feel comfortable doing so. Perceiving your company story to be boring. Never embellish your company story. Remember that in addition to basic facts about your company, it's little tidbits that seem unimportant that can actually peak a reporter's interest. Not knowing how to respond to reporter's questions. There's no shame in not knowing an answer. The reporter will respect your honesty, and by doing so, your story placement can still be secured - as long as you make it a top priority to find answers to questions and deliver them to reporter immediately. Lack of preparation before interview. Do a little research on reporter prior to interview by reading past articles. Then try to anticipate types of questions that reporter might ask, and prepare truthful answers for them. It's fine to ask reporter what story topic will be before doing interview. That information will also give you some additional clues about story's tone. If you don't believe me, then take advice from veteran CBS News anchor, Dan Rather. He says when doubt as to how you should answer a reporter's questions, there is four acceptable answers: 1. I know that answer, and I will give it to you 2. I don't know answer, but I will try to find it and give it to you 3. I know answer, but I'm not going to tell you 4. I know answer, but I'll have to kill you if I tell you. The last one, of course, is a joke, but you get idea. Next month's topic will cover what you should say once media calls. Until then follow playground rules and never lie to media - period. There is no profit in doing so, and you'll only end up hurting yourself and your company's credibility. Always tell truth, even if truth turns out not to be all that interesting.
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondave Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her at carolyn@motiontemps.com or by phone in the United States at 877.815.0167 or 011.331.4997.9059 in France.
| | Running With the Big DogsWritten by D. Monday
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The field is so crowded with marketing guru wannabes that hardly anybody is making money. The few who are, make themselves part of guru circle of special friends. That’s why you see same people promoting each other and giving testimonials every time you read a sales letter for latest marketing ebook or seminar. If you can become a part of inner circle, you have a chance. But do you have cash and resources it takes to do this? How many people can realistically be a part of that lucrative inner circle? It’s time for a reality check, people. Many of us have lost money trying to run with big dogs. I say it’s time for a change. It’s okay to read material of big dogs to learn basics of Internet marketing, but then, it’s time to go out on your own. Use that knowledge to come up with your own UNIQUE idea to promote online. Internet marketing is a means to an end for most of us, not way to wealth. If you don’t believe me, ask all those other folks who have tried and given up. If you’re getting discouraged, don’t throw in towel just yet. Try being yourself. That’s right. Let your hair down. Time to put your dog to bed. Remake that loser marketing site into something you really enjoy pursuing. Maybe you won’t make millions like Mark, but I guarantee you’ll have a lot more fun online. D. Monday Copyright 2003 *************************************** Each month, D. Monday finds hottest to quirkiest, coolest to craziest web sites and features them on hot new site: **Virtually Famous** at http://www.humanflavor.com.
D. Monday is the creative voice behind the popular web site Virtually Famous.
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