Marketing Your Faculty: Next-Level Presentation

We’ve spent the last two blogs looking at writing and public speaking, two ways our program's faculties can market themselves and your PA program. I will use today's blog to supplement those ideas; we'll examine how to publicize our expertise.

You, as your publicity agent

To increase the chances of getting booked (and re-booked) as a speaker, guest, or resource, one must proactively approach one’s desired media event organizers and planners. Doing so is easier and cheaper than you might think. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Research events. Identify events, conferences, and organizations that align with your speaking topics and target audience. Research their past speakers, themes, and objectives to ensure your expertise fits well.

• Cultivate relationships with event organizers, even if you are not speaking at their events. Attend networking events, offer assistance when needed, and maintain regular communication, which can lead to future speaking opportunities or recommendations.

• Craft a precise, compelling pitch. Highlight your expertise, unique perspective, and the value you can bring to the event. Tailor your pitch to address the specific needs and interests of the event organizers. Approaching event organizers with a well-prepared pitch and a professional demeanor can significantly enhance your chances of securing speaking engagements. Many events have a formal speaker proposal process for submitting your pitch.

• Seek feedback. Obtaining feedback from colleagues and experts is invaluable for improving your presentation. Discuss your ideas and draft abstracts with multiple people to gain different perspectives. Incorporate their suggestions and revise accordingly. Feedback enhances the quality of your work. After speaking engagements, ask for feedback from the event organizers and audience members. 

• Embrace that feedback with resilience. Whether it results in acceptance, revisions, or rejection, receiving feedback on your work is an integral part of the process. 

• Leverage your network. Utilize your network and connections to get introductions or referrals to event organizers. Recommendations from trusted sources can significantly increase your chances of being considered for speaking engagements.

• Follow up! After submitting a pitch or proposal, follow up with event organizers to express your continued interest and willingness to provide additional information or answer any questions they may have.

• Deliver engaging presentations. Focus on delivering informative, engaging, and memorable presentations by incorporating storytelling, interactive elements, and audience participation to create a lasting impact. People remember impactful speakers and may invite them back again and tell other event planners about them. 

• Continuously refine your skills. As well as listening to feedback, you can practice and watch recordings of yourself to see if you can improve body language, mannerisms, or speaking voice. If self-promotion suits you, you can even take classes to hone your writing and public speaking skills.

The podcast: your new public speaking opportunity

Are you interested in providing expertise on a podcast (or radio program)? Podcasting is an exploding arena with countless opportunities, constantly growing and changing. Podcasters are eager to have exciting guests with information of value to contribute; this is how they retain their audiences.

Podcast appearances might be live, but the podcaster often records and edits them. You only need the ability to communicate via the Internet. If you can attend a Zoom or Teams meeting on your computer or mobile device, you can appear on a podcast or radio program.

Here are some options for locating the right opportunities:

RadioGuestList.com: This service sends twice-weekly callouts from radio shows and podcasts that would like to have guests. These include a description of the program, what kind of guests they want, and contact information. There are free options, but a subscription will boost your reach.

Matchmaker.fm offers a unique platform for individuals to connect with podcasts. Users can narrow down their options by creating a profile and utilizing search filters based on their expertise, language preferences, and location. Starting with the free version, members can send a limited number of pitches to potential podcasts before considering upgrading to the paid version.

Podmatch.com takes a similar approach to podcast/guest matching, using algorithms reminiscent of online dating services. Upon creating a profile, users receive curated "matches" that they can accept or decline. The platform provides a robust dashboard for booking, messaging, and follow-up between parties.

Signing up for these services may require filling out extensive online forms. Though time-consuming, it is well worth the effort. By providing thorough information, users enhance their chances of finding media relationships that align with their niche. 

In our following newsletter:

I’m excited about the next two blogs. We’ll examine the benefits of volunteerism, which is not just a great thing to do but also a great way to generate publicity and make your program's message and expertise clear. Be sure to join me again next week!