Marianne Schwab is the author of "The Experts Guide to TV Talk Shows" and, as an Audience & Authority Accelerator, she is the go-to broadcast media expert to show you how to tell your story, get you booked on TV, and media coach you on how to ace your on-camera interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich & Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
Can we talk about why you need media coaching for TV interviews? If you’re an online-entrepreneur, expert, influencer, or non-fiction book author and you or your publicist have booked a coveted TV interview to promote your brand, product, or service, there is one thing you do not want to do….you do NOT want to blow your credibility by blowing your interview so you definitely need media coaching.
Now this is where most publicists will just drop you into the deep end and say, “swim!” or maybe they only help you from a publicist’s point of view to prepare you for your interview. But here’s what you need — a talk show producer’s perspective to coach you on how not to blow your big break!
Here’s why – you see, when television viewers first see you on camera on their favorite TV talk show or in a newscast, they make an initial judgment in the first four seconds you’re on the aire and that judgment is finalized largely within 30 seconds.
You only have ONE chance to get it right when it comes to your talk show appearance and that’s why you need Media Coaching.
Here are three key things you need to know:
1. Experts Make Interviewing Look Easy. But what you may not know is that even the most experienced on-camera experts prepare and rehearse for every single TV interview.
2. Avoid Looking Like Bambi in Headlights. Media coaching is essential to learn the skills of mastering your message and time constraints of a TV interview, handling nerves, know what to say when you get a curveball question, and ace your on-camera delivery with poise and polish.
3. Skipping Media Coaching is a Recipe for an On-Camera Disaster. As a producer, my job is to make sure that when you get in front of the camera that you look and do your best and if you skip media coaching, you’re gambling with your reputation since you could derail your credibility and all you’ve worked so hard for when landing a TV interview.
Every expert that I’ve ever worked with for TV appearances invests time in preparing for each and every interview so that when the red light for the camera goes on, they look like they’re making it up on the spot, but what most people don’t know is that they spent hours making it look effortless.
When I work with experts and clients to prepare for them for their talk show interviews, I see things they’re not aware of or I know how to make tweaks to fine tune and polish their on-camera delivery. Sort of like how Golf pros have coaches to perfect their game – I work in a similar way.
My client’s crush their interviews with media coaching. In fact, here’s what my client, Dan Henry, author of the Wall Street Journal best seller, Digital Millionaire Secrets, had to say, “Marianne is a producer, not a publicist. She knows what it’s like to be on the TV producer side. So she knows exactly who to contact, how to pitch the segment, what to say on the segment, how to deal with it — absolutely everything.”
So, if you’ve booked a talk show interview or want to find out more about how I work with clients, please reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook!
Marianne Schwab is the the creator of the ‘Seen on TV’ System and, as Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich & Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
In Part One of How to Shoot and Edit an “Events Highlights Video,” I showed you the “wizard behind the curtain” to share my basic process on producing an event video. And now, I’m doing the same thing for editing the footage into an event highlights video. This method is great for documenting your business events (or life events).
Let’s take another look at the FHL 2020 Highlights Video.
FHL 2020 Video Highlights Video
The reason my FHL Video Highlights video “moves” is because I actually used 77 different shots in a 2:30 minute video.
I used a $30 editing app, LUMA FUSION, on my iPad to edit most videos. If you’re using a laptop, CAMTASIA, is a great program with an awesome online tutorial.
1. Transfer video and photos to edit system. I used the AIR DROP feature on my iPhone to quickly transfer my video and photos to my iPad so I could edit it. Last year, I edited a shorter video using a $15 app, VIDEORAMA, on my iPhone (So you can edit without an iPad – I just like the larger “canvas” and addditional features with my iPad).
2. The music drives the video. I like editing to music for a highlights reel, so I grabbed a music track from iMovie trailers. Make sure you use music that you have permission to use if you’re posting it online.
3. Tell a “visual story” about the event. Now, think of how you want to open your story and the story you want to tell. I used establishing shots of FHL (Funnel Hacking Live) and then I thought of key events to capture: First, people flooding into to the event; Second, inside the first moments of the event that “told the story;” Third, the Super Power Happy Hour; Fourth, Dinners with my mastermind friends, Etc.
4. Keep it simple. Less is more. Trim the footage down when the shot is too long. There are only a few shots that I let linger on my video.
5. Just start adding footage and play around. The thing I love about linear editing is that you can move shots around so easily. You can reorder you video shots, cut out what’s not working, and easily review it.
6. Understand that editing takes time! Generally plan on one hour for every one minute of video when you’re changing your shots every three to five seconds. For my video that was 2:30 minutes with a FAST CUT EDITING STYLE? I spent five to six HOURS pulling that together.
I have over twenty years of experience putting together edit plans and supervising professional edits, so when you’re starting out, it may take longer.
So it all starts with production and capturing great video and b-roll shots to tell your story. You can always make a plan before the event, but sometimes, you just need to show up, point your camera, and record.
If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube Channel, do that now because I have some content you don’t want to miss.
Now you know my process, I’d love for you to let me know your biggest takeaway tips here!
Would you like to know how to shoot and edit an “Event Highlights Reel” for your next event or speaking engagement? Well, I want to share my process to make this simple.
I recently attended one of my favorite businesses conferences of the year, Funnel Hacking Live (or FHL 2020). FHL is not your typical marketing event. It’s not a boring, stuffy conference, but a learning festival with the most positive digital marketers and entrepreneurs you’ll ever meet.
This was my second year attending FHL and I just loved producing this highlights video of my amazing week in Nashville with the some of the most “awesomest” people on the planet.
To get the most out of this blog post, please watch the video below. It’s short. It’s fun. And my tips will make a LOT more sense if you watch this first, okay? Push the “play button.”
FHL 2020 Video Highlights Video
PART ONE: VIDEO PRODUCTION (WITH MY iPHONE):
I’m pulling back the “wizard behind the curtain” to share my basic process on producing an event video (and how I edit the footage into an event highlights video). This method is great for documenting your business events (or life events).
CAMERA EQUIPMENT NEEDED: A smartphone is a great tool for shooting high quality video these days. In fact, you really don’t need a “fancy” camera. I shot the video above entirely on my iPhone 6S Plus (yeah, I know, it’s not the latest model, but that’s sort of the point) and then I edited the video on my iPad. These are the basics and in this two part blog post, I’ll be sharing links to easy and inexpensive tools that I used.
VIDEO PRODUCTION – MY SIX SECRETS OF GETTING GREAT FOOTAGE: When I’m at an event with my iPhone camera, I’m like a kid in a candy shot. I’m constantly seeing cool b-roll shots that will make video magic and here are six of my tips to seeing the event through “my lens.”
1. Capturing establishing shots are key to your video story. When you see a sign, capture it on video. These make great establishing shots and can help tell your story or move it along. Use some fun “fun camera moves” like start wide and move into the sign.
Don’t stand in front of the sign, but shoot from the left side of it to capture the angle.
If you do stand in front of it, capture a straight shot of the sign and then tilt the camera up to to the left and then back to the right and back again. You’ll see I see this “camera move” in several shots in my video that I have shared below.
Capture signs at the event to use as establishing shots or to move your visual story along.
2. Your video b-roll doesn’t need to be long. If it’s only 5 seconds of video, it may be usable. Most of my highlights video b-roll came from shots are not longer than :10-:12 seconds so it’s about capturing magic MOMENTS.
Fugetek Selfie Stick & Tripod (Left) (Integrated, Portable All-In-One Professional, Heavy Duty Aluminum, Lightweight, Bluetooth Remote For Apple & Android Devices, Non Skid Tripod Feet, Extends To 51″).
3. Use a selfie-stick tripod when you’re shooting video. This inexpensive ($18-$22) piece of equipment from Fugetek that I got at Amazon Prime is multi-purposeful -you can use it to steady your camera when you’re shooting b-roll, you can use it take selfie videos/photos, and you can use it as a tripod (it extends to over four feet) and shoot stand-up videos or interviews.
Instead of taking a “Selfie Photo” take a “Selfie Video.” When you have your shot set for your selfie, wave for part of the shot and then just POSE like you’d pose for a selfie. You can later capture the POSE as a still shot from the video and you have your selfie photo. You can see I used this tip a lot in my video. This tip is gold.
4. Get a good microphone to capture interviews. People will watch bad video, but they’ll ditch a video with bad audio. You don’t have to spend a fortune either and you can get a Dual Lavalier Microphone for under $40 or invest in a wireless microphone (that’ll set you back around $200). If you’re recording interviews or want to capture good event audio, defintely invest in a lavalier mic to record the best quality sound. Otherwise, your audio will s*ck.
5. Add pizazz with fun video features. When you’re capturing video, don’t forget to use fun features like TIME LAPSE on your video settings. Do be sure you capture at least :03 seconds of footage. That doesn’t mean you count to three, but that you count to 15 s-l-o-w-l-y while you’re rolling so that you have a good piece of video to use. You do this even longer! These are great for crowd shots.
6. It’s okay to add some still photos to your video. You can incorporate still shots in your video like I did but use an edit “move” or transition when you use them. Most simple edit programs have this feature but don’t make the “Homer Simpson Method” mistake of using on “Star Wipe” & “Star Wipe” Transitions. I address editing techniques in Part Two: Editing Your Video.
So it all starts with production and capturing great video and b-roll shots to tell your story. You can always make a plan before the event, but sometimes, you just need to show up, point your camera, and record.
If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube Channel, do that now because I have some content you don’t want to miss.
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with TV Interviews . I can’t wait to connect with you there.
It felt like an impossible dream since I was stuck in the middle of “Nowheresville, Indiana.” When I was a little girl, I escaped into the make believe world of television shows. Visions of meeting the stars that came into my living room via the TV set danced in my head as I daydreamed that I would one day work in the world of entertainment.
Marianne Schwab is a Former National Network TV Talk Show Producer based in Los Angeles.
But there was just one problem. One very big problem. All the “show biz jobs” were located a world away in New York and Los Angeles and it seemed like the odds were stacked way against me ever getting hired on a television show, let alone getting out of Indiana. But it all started with a little girl’s dream.
Hey, there. I’m Marianne Schwab and I’m a former national network TV Talk Show Producer. I guess you could say I’m just one of those typical overnight success stories that took ten years. Now, after being a TV Producer for over two decades, I guess you could say that I make what I do look easy, but it didn’t start out that way, I assure you.
I grew up in a tiny house in a small town and my parents both worked full-time jobs to make ends meet “back then.” In fact, my mom once bragged to her friends that she got my entire back-to-school wardrobe at garage sales. I was so embarrassed that we were poor and I’ll never forget the stench on my winter coat that year because my mom couldn’t even afford to have it dry-cleaned.
My first “cell phone.” A Producer’s #1 Tool.
Well, I guess it’s no wonder that I escaped into the make believe world of television shows and dreamed that I’d one day work in the entertainment industry and meet the stars who came into my living room on the TV screen.
I hated that the family budget was tight so I looked for ways to make my own money. I found lots of odd jobs as a kid to scrape together a couple bucks here and there and then at twelve, I started delivering a paper route. I also had a babysitting business taking care of a lot of the kids in my neighborhood and, when I was old enough at sixteen, I started waiting tables AND working at a local Target to finance my college education (and ultimately my dream of moving to New York City). Such glamorous beginnings, right?
Then, when I turned twenty-one, I set out for the Big Apple. With my college degree in one hand and a $1,000 loan from my local bank in the other, I got hired right away on a TV Talk Show as a producer.….right away SIX years later.
Since I had absolutely no contacts in show biz, I would struggle for years and years working office temp jobs as a secretary and living paycheck to paycheck before I made that magical connection that ultimately put my career as a TV Talk Show Producer on track. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about WHO you know.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing, I had to learn how to be a talk show producer and they really didn’t teach this in school. My classes at NYU were about the nuts and bolts of producing so I started studying colleagues that I admired to see how they did it.
On the set in New York City with Regis Philbin.
So, you see, when I got hired as a Segment Producer on my first TV Talk Show, I didn’t exactly know what I was doing. Sure, I’d produced a couple of short films, but a daily TV show is a lot different. I was basically thrown into the “deep end” and told to “swim.”
At first, I had a few segments bomb but after licking my wounds, I analyzed the disasters and re-calibrated my methods. Begging for a life preserver was not an option since I had to figure it out because this was my big break I’d been dreaming about since high school so I had to figure out the recipe for the secret sauce or my career could have been over as soon as it began.
Eventually, I mastered the winning formula to hit a home run with almost every single segment and interview I produced and that’s how I help my clients today. I take everything I learned from being a TV insider, including my connections, to get my clients on TV.
Oh, and you know those celebrities that came into my living room via the TV set? I met a lot of them as a producer and it was so thrilling to work with them and see my dreams come true.
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video . I can’t wait to connect with you there.
TV viewers will size you up quickly and since television is a visual medium, you (or your client) need to make sure you know the basics and the nuances on how to look good on TV — and it’s not just about delivering your message for the media.
In my book, The Insider’s Guide to Media Training, I cover a lot of topics that are all part of the process to polish on-camera interviews. Looking Good on TV – Part One of my book excerpt covered the basics of wardrobe guidelines for men and women. Looking Good on TV – Part Twodelved into the details of what colors work best on television and what colors you need to avoid. Now, Looking Good on TV – Part Three is all about patterns and prints that work best and the ones to avoid turning your wardrobe into a fashion disaster on camera along with a few final wardrobe tips that will make all the difference in fine tuning your on-camera appearance.
Prints and Patterns that Work Best On Camera. Without the right wardrobe planning, certain prints and patterns can be very difficult to pull off, for a variety of reasons. So always exercise caution when you think you absolutely have to wear a patterned or print dress, blouse, or slacks.
Tiny print patterns (like flowers) are generally safe and flattering, but large prints can add pounds you don’t have because they create optical illusions. Horizontal patterns are infamous for making a person look wide. Generally, stripes are not a good look on camera and shouldn’t be worn.
Prints and Patterns to Avoid On Camera. Patterns that look great in person don’t always translate well on camera. These patterns include pinstripes, chevron, plaid, fine checks, stripes, herringbone, hounds tooth and similar patterns that can cause a moiré effect on camera. Small, repetitive patterns, should be avoided.
The moiré effect is a visual perception that occurs when viewing a set of tiny stripes, dots, or checks that are superimposed on another set of lines or dots, and which seem to actually move back and forth or flicker. It is very distracting and not camera-friendly, so stay away from these patterns.
No Logos or Written Words on Clothing. Wearing a logo implies product or brand endorsement so do not wear any clothing with visible commercial logos, unless it is for your own company.
Accessories and Jewelry. If you know about fashion then you know that accessories and jewelry can really bring your look to life, but less is more when it comes to accessorizing what you wear on camera.
When it comes to jewelry, wearing anything too distracting takes the focus off you and off your message. Avoid wearing shiny jewelry or watches since they can catch the light and cause a glare. Also, women should not wear dangly earrings or more than one ring per hand.
Finally, avoid jingly jewelry (especially bracelets) or accessories since the microphones on set are very sensitive and will appear to magnify that noise, which may make it difficult to understand what you are saying. Remove jewelry that moves, makes noise, or could hit your microphone.
Shoes and Socks. Unless you are certain, never assume that your shoes, socks, or stockings won’t be visible in the shot during your interview. Shoes don’t matter that much when they’re not in the shot, but it’s important to wear ones that are appropriate and which cover your feet. Men should wear over-the-calf socks so that if you cross your legs no skin is visible (as the camera may be capturing you from a low angle).
A good way to ensure that you’re on point regarding your on-camera wardrobe is to study the fashion choices worn by talk show hosts and their guests and then mimic the style that suits you best. Do not go trendy for its own sake, unless the style genuinely flatters you.
You may feel like you really aren’t skilled at fashion styling and if that’s the case you should consider investing in a consultation with an image consultant who specializes in on-camera looks. They can help you put a few winning wardrobe pieces together as your go-to outfits for interviews.
If you follow these guidelines they will not only make you look good (and professional) on television, but your well-planned preparation will contribute to a smooth running production (and earn you positive notice from producers who may one day be interested in re-booking you).
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video . I can’t wait to connect with you there.
Viewers will size you up quickly and since TV is a visual medium, you (or your client) need to make sure to look good on TV — and it’s not just about the message. In my book, The Insider’s Guide to Media Training, I cover a lot of topics that are all part of the process to polish on-camera interviews. Looking Good on TV – Part One of my book excerpt covered the basics of wardrobe guidelines for men and women. Now, Looking Good on TV – Part Two delves into the colors that work best on television and the ones to avoid.
Solid Colors – What Works Best and What to Avoid
Solid colors work best for television, but there are the good, the bad, and the ugly of color choices and that’s why you need to understand some basics about how colors look before the camera, whose lens captures their values and hues very differently than the naked eye does. One advantage to wearing solid colors is that your wardrobe won’t easily become dated since rich, saturated colors never go out of style.
You should choose colors that not only flatter your skin tone and hair color, but also work well on camera. In 1987, color consultant Carole Jackson, wrote Color Me Beautiful, a book that has become the gold standard for determining which colors work best for you. The book is still available through Amazon. When it comes to color, you should also consider the set design of the show you’ll be appearing on since you don’t want to disappear into the background, but nor do you want to stand out from it in a way that is distracting.
Solid Colors that Work Best On Camera
Jewel tones are all the rage right now but make sure you choose a color that looks great on you, not just the hanger. The colors near your face will either drain you of life or highlight your best features, like your eyes, on camera. There’s a palette of colors that look best on each of us and look especially great on video. Go to MediaTrainingGuide.com and download my quick wardrobe tips that show you a palette of colors that the camera loves.
The safest color on TV is blue but there are many shades of blue and if you’re on a blue screen, then you should avoid this color in any shade.
Pastel shirts or muted colors work well on camera, but do require some caution since they may wash out if they are too soft and can appear more white than their actual color. One useful tip is that pastel colors layered with darker solids like suit jackets will not appear washed out. In fact, pastel colored shirts or blouses are preferred over white since there is no extreme contrast between the dark solid, but instead provide a flattering layer.
Pastels and jewel tones look good, but do avoid ‘glowing’ colors (i.e. neon, certain hues of blues, purples, and reds). Other good colors include beige, gray, green, brown and blue.
If you want to add visual interest with color, try layering two jewel tones in the same color family or two colors that complement each other. Another option is to layer a solid on top of a pattern to mute its effect on camera.
Solid Colors to Avoid On Camera
Certain solids should be avoided or worn with caution because they can be a little tricky. These are colors which the camera is particularly prone to capturing in a wonky way, or which create issues with lighting. Four colors to avoid are all white, black, red, and purple.
White: Solid white should be avoided whether it’s a suit, dress, jacket, blouse, shirt or pants. Why? It’s all about lighting. White glows and becomes the most noticeable thing on the TV screen and certain combinations with other solid colors in your attire will create a contrast of light and dark colors (i.e. black and white, dark blue and white, etc.) that make the camera lens go crazy (and the director of photography bonkers). Exceptions do exist and most often involve a chef’s uniform or doctor’s white lab jacket, but this is the general rule. Off white, cream, beige, soft yellow, light blue are colors that can all give a soft, lighter look without blowing out the lighting.
Black: Black isn’t a complete “no-no,” but you need to be careful when you wear it. Be aware that if you’re wearing an outfit that is solid black, that black will suck up all the light, causing your body to become invisible against many studio backdrops. So you certainly want to avoid wearing a black shirt under a black suit jacket, but you can wear a jewel or pastel tone shirt underneath as long as it’s not high contrast. Like whites, exceptions do apply and black can look good on camera, but it usually requires good lighting and makeup to add life back to your complexion. If you want to wear a dark color, navy is a better choice. Dark browns and blues are fine alone or combined with pastel colors or jewel tones. Women can also can accessorize with a colorful scarf to avoid an all black look.
Red, Purple & Orange: Certain shades of bright red can appear glowing orange and bleed on camera, so if you do wear red, make sure you choose a shade that is blue based rather than yellow based. Also, HDTV has largely solved the “purple” problem, but it’s still a tricky color for cameras to capture authentically. You’ll find your purple dress, blouse, or tie will look blue. Darker shades of red, purple, and orange usually work best.
Green: You only need to avoid wearing any shade of green (including some shades of blue) when you are working with a green screen and the control room is keying in the set background.
So that sums up what colors work best and the colors to avoid when it comes to making wardrobe decisions for on-camera interviews, but equally important are fabric patterns.
My next post? Tune in for Looking Good on TV – Part Three for essential info on prints and patterns that work best on TV and how to avoid on-camera fashion disasters.
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video . I can’t wait to connect with you there.
In my book, The Insider’s Guide to Media Training, I cover a lot of topics that are all part of the process to polish on-camera interviews. Viewers will size you up quickly and since TV is a visual medium, you (or your client) need to make sure to look good on TV — and it’s not just about the message.
As you focus on your verbal delivery, mastering the art of conveying your unique knowledge with assurance and ease, you must at the same time never forget that your appearance is equally critical for success on television. In this series of blog posts, I’m sharing a chapter from my book, so here is Looking Good on TV(Part One).
For any appearance on camera, you must take complete control over every detail of your personal appearance with appropriate wardrobe choices, professional makeup and hair, and a vocal delivery that exudes confidence. It’s all part of your on-camera package, and will even precede your message in making that first impression with a television audience ready to size you up in a matter of seconds.
Marianne Schwab being interviewed via Satellite on WPMT-TV, Fox43.
People shouldn’t judge you by your appearance, but they will. You’ve heard it said that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. When television viewers first see you on camera on their favorite TV talk show or in a newscast, they make an initial judgment in the first four seconds and that judgment is finalized largely within 30 seconds (or less). Everything contributing to the way you look on camera is important and if it’s not helping you, it’s, unfortunately, hurting you. A first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo so you must set a favorable tone from the first moment viewers see and hear you.
Wardrobe Guidelines for On-Camera Talent
Your wardrobe choices are a major factor in controlling how you appear and appeal to viewers. As a producer, I have a keen sense of what clothes look best on camera and what clothes are a fashion disaster. A little wardrobe planning, including perhaps some professional guidance about what works and what doesn’t work on camera, can go a long way toward helping you craft a look that projects the confidence and trustworthiness needed to get your message through to viewers.
In order to choose the best wardrobe for your interviews, let’s take a general look at style, color, prints and pattern, fabric, jewelry, accessories, and shoes, and review some miscellaneous do’s and don’ts.
Style for Men and Women
You certainly want to make a good first impression with a quality wardrobe when you appear on camera, but that does not mean that you have to invest thousands of dollars in designer clothes. In fact, a few simple guidelines can lead to smart choices in quality garments that will make you look like a million bucks without investing a small fortune.
Style – Men. Whether you are a CEO, chef, or a Hollywood animal trainer, you should choose the right attire that fits your profession, position, and your company culture. Not all CEOs wear suits and not all animal trainers wear khaki shorts and even if you do, you should evaluate how that attire will look on camera and make adjustments to favorably portray your personal brand.
For most men in professional careers, a wwell-fittedsuit is an obvious choice. Black and dark blue suits work best and you will need to pay attention not just to the patterns and color of your shirt, but the tie as well. Avoid vests because they are outdated and tend to look a little stuffy on TV.
Men should have about an inch of their shirt cuff showing past their suit sleeves. Sometimes a trendy style may read well in certain situations, but it can look ridiculous on camera or simply not flatter you.
Style – Women. Women have many choices when it comes to fashionable attire but if you remember this simple rule, it’ll take you a long way: If it doesn’t flatter you, do not wear it. I don’t care if it’s the hottest new trend, do not wear it.
Lately, I’ve noticed a huge trend for female on-air personalities, hosts, and anchors to wear sleeveless dresses and blouses — even in the middle of winter. This can be a good look if your upper arms are toned and tanned, but it can be very unflattering if you do not work out or are a tad overweight. Also, you have to apply body makeup on your arms. Just because it’s trendy doesn’t mean you have to wear it.
I personally think that it’s better to dress with classic pieces that have timeless value. The investment you make in your wardrobe will go further as a result and you can think in terms of building on your wardrobe instead of replacing it the moment the fashion trends turn. Obviously, if your expertise is fashion, then you need to make a more personalized decision to reflect your profession, but for the “rest of us,” it’s best to find outfits that flatter what we have to work with. That said, one way to determine how to dress for your interview is to take note of what on-air talent tends to wear and modify it to your personal style and profession.
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video . I can’t wait to connect with you there.
Marianne Schwab is the author of The Insider’s Guide to Media Training and, as Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich & Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
No doubt about, video seems to be on a mission to take over the internet and there are some powerful video marketing statistics that show how the handwriting is on the wall.
No doubt about, video seems to be on a mission to take over the internet and there are some powerful video marketing statistics that show how the handwriting is on the wall. So, why is video so popular? With the advancement of technology, almost anyone with a smartphone now has access to a high end video camera at their fingertips. That means you longer have to spend tens of thousands on production hiring a professional crew.
Powerful statistics you cannot ignore
But here’s the rub, even though
the technology is easy and so much more affordable, moving images are NOT
enough, because you have to produce a video that grabs attention: shots must be
framed well, have a message that resonates, and images that captivate.
And the storytelling can be the
most complicated to get right unless you know someone who can help you with
it. I hope you will allow me to do just that.
Follow me on Instagram where I share a lot of storytelling techniques that’ll work for you in any business or Influencer outreach.
Good storytelling makes your
audience fall in love with you (or at least “in like” with
you). And soon, you’ll earn their trust and they’ll want to buy from
you. Whether you’re promoting someone else’s product or business or your
own.
Now, I have a special invitation for you today to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video. I can’t wait to connect with you there!
Marianne Schwab is the author of The Insider’s Guide to Media Training
and, as a Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast
media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera
interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich
& Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
Have you ever wondered how to get booked on a TV talk show or news
program to promote your non-fiction book, product, brand, or business?
Well, Stephanie Chandler of the Non-Fiction Authors Association will
interview me on Jan. 30th at 10am PT / 1pm ET and I will spill the beans
on insider secrets so you can crack the code.
As a former network TV talk show producer, you’ll get access “inside
my brain” and learn how a producer thinks so that you understand how to
create a pitch that gets attention and gets results. Here’s How to
Participate: Live access to this teleseminar is FREE for the Nonfiction
Authors Association (NFAA) community. Not a member yet? No problem.
If you’re not yet a member of NFAA and you’d like to participate in
this teleseminar, please join NFAA (for free) at this link: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/join/
Marianne Schwab is the author of The Insider’s Guide to Media Training
and, as a Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast
media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera
interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich
& Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
The unknown can certainly be scary, but you know what? Once you
actually do the thing you fear (like learning to drive a car, learning a
new software program, or even making your video), you realize that the
“thought or fear” of doing “the thing” was keeping you from doing “a
thing” that is now almost second nature.
Why do we put off learning and sometimes even “fear” it? I am not
sure if I have an answer for that one, but I do know that I certainly do
it especially when it comes to keeping on top of the latest technology,
social media tools, and even learning how to use new video production
equipment. At first, I fight it, then I force myself to learn it, and
then I wonder, WHY did I procrastinate and wait so long to learn
something that helps me so much.
I’ve been listening to High Performance Habits
written by Brendon Burchard, a very well-known high-performance coach,
and he shares about his experience of learning to create and produce his
own videos. He knew nothing about producing videos or being on-camera
but knew that he needed to learn how to master this skill to advance his
business. He started making videos a little over ten years ago when
YouTube was basically in its infancy, and now his videos have millions
of views and he’s built a multi-million dollar business as a result
because he’s been able to reach an audience he wanted to serve.
Brendon
faced his fear of being on camera, mastered the skills needed to
produce high-quality videos, and now, he is respected around the world
for the high-performance brand he has created. Do the thing you fear,
and the death of fear is certain.
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video. I can’t wait to connect with you there
Marianne Schwab is the author of The Insider’s Guide to Media Training
and, as a Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast
media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera
interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich
& Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
Turning your mess into your message can either be really easy or it
can be super difficult depending on your story, your brand, or your
profession. Let’s start with a couple of easy examples.
Turn Your Mess into Your Message.
If you’re a fitness expert like Kaelin Tuell (@ladyboss)
who you lost 65 pounds and now teaches others how to do the same, your
mess of being overweight and how you solved it is a golden ticket to
marketing success. You are your own testimonial and other people
struggling with weight issues will be able to relate to you and be
inspired by you.
If you’re a former drug addict and now a multi-millionaire like Grant Cardone (@GrantCardone),
your mess inspires people from almost all circumstances because you see
how you can hit rock bottom in your life and turn it around to 10x your
success.
For most of us, though, we feel like our “mess” isn’t big enough or
dramatic enough to move our tribe or our ideal clients, but that’s where
you’re wrong. Your “mess” is YOUR struggle and sharing bits of that
struggle so that people understand you didn’t come out of the womb as
the successful person you are, but you worked to get there and you’re
just where they used to be, but you worked hard to achieve your goals.
Or, it’s how you helped others overcome their mess. This will allow
them to relate to you as a “real person,” endear themselves to you and
they’ll respect and trust you because you shared your struggle.
Now,
there is a fine line in how sharing your mess and your struggle that
you don’t want to cross versus over-sharing and providing too much
information that undermines your authority as an expert. Perhaps your
struggle was working 60-to-80 hour work weeks for years, sacrificing
your social life so that you could be a high performer in your industry
and the good, bad, and ugly lessons you learned along the way. Also, if
you’re sharing the mess of people you helped, ALWAYS get permission
and/or change the names “to protect the innocent.”
You see, when most people watch Olympians compete, they never think
about the thousands of hours of training and sacrifice that Gabby
Douglas (@GabbyCVDouglas) put into a two-minute gymnastic routine or what it took for Michael Phelps (@M_Phelps00)
to break records in swimming. That’s why you need to share your
struggle and that’s why the producers of the Olympics provide a
back-story video feature when you watch the broadcast of the event so
that the audience sees and understands the struggle (and sometimes the
mess) that the athlete overcame to get there. They weren’t born
champions. They worked very hard to become champions. And now the NBC-TV
audience is engaged in the story and have a new respect for the
athlete.
So start thinking how to turn your “mess” into your
message. What obstacles have you overcome? Lack of money? Lack of
education? Lack of physical ability? Lack of support from your family
and friends? Share your struggle, unpack how you overcame the odds that
were stacked against you, and you’ll earn the trust of your tribe.
Now, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video. I can’t wait to connect with you there!
I’ve been producing video content for over 25 years. That is
probably longer than some of you have been on the planet earth and you
need to realize that you are living in an awesome time where technology
makes it so easy to share your message. You see, broadcast TV, radio,
newspapers, and roadside billboards used to be the only options
available to reach your client or customer, but social media marketing
has been a game changer to not only reach the world via laptops and
smartphones but also micro-target your audience in ways never before
possible.
Using social media to share your message (live streaming or
pre-recorded) is like pouring gasoline on a fire and it ignites your
video content in a way that has never been possible until the past few
years. When you produce high-value video content combined with a
strategic use of hashtags, keywords, and paid ads across social media
platforms, you’ll fan the flames to explode visibility, engagement, and
ultimately, revenues.
But before you strike that match, make sure your content is awesome
and not mediocre. That’s where my 25 years of producing video is almost
visceral at this point. Many people like @GaryVee
preach to the masses that you need to start pushing tons of content
(don’t get me wrong, he’s RIGHT), but you must push GOOD content.
Low-quality content means low-quality brand.
Remember, the ultimate goal of your content strategy
is to build trust with your potential clients to the degree that they
not only WANT to buy your product or service, but they MUST buy from
YOU!
Hey, have you joined my exclusive Facebook group yet to “Grow Your Business with Video?” You haven’t? Well, I’m personally inviting you to join now! Yay!
Things you DON’T notice: good directing, good dialogue writing, good
photography, and good marketing. You don’t notice them because you
SHOULDN’T notice them. When it’s good and done correctly, it should
flow so organically that you feel as though you are experiencing
“real life.”
No one likes to be “sold.”
Things you DO notice: bad directing, bad dialogue writing, bad
photography, and bad marketing. It sticks out like a sore thumb and is
distracting in that you’re actually thinking about where the camera was
placed, the conversation in the movie feels stilted and unnatural, the
photo is not framed well, or the ad is trying to hard to sell you.
Here are examples of bad marketing: • The campaign feels like you’re trying too hard to be original (and it doesn’t work.) • The ad focuses on the process instead of the results. • It feels like they’re trying to SELL you on an idea and no one likes being “sold.”
So what do you do? Study what other people who are really good at it
are doing and do what they do (but tailor it to your product,
business, or service, of course). Master marketer, Russell Brunson, is
big on “funnel-hacking” successful sales funnels. He looks at what his
competitors are doing and then he models it for his own product and
teaches others how to do it. If you have no idea what funnel-hacking is
or want to learn more about how to use digital marketing to showcase
your special expertise, then you gotta get Russell’s book, Expert Secrets. This book is a game-changer about how you market your business or services.
You know, I would love you to join my Facebook community where we
can really dive into the weeds on content strategies. I have a special
invitation for you to join me and my group of positive minded people in
my exclusiveFacebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video. I look forward to engaging with you there!
Video marketing can be incredibly valuable. However, what do the
numbers say? Here are stats about video marketing, distribution,
viewership and the approach. The numbers tell the story.
Did you know that around the globe, 52% of marketers name video as the type of content with the best ROI.
Also, according to Cisco, 72% of mobile traffic will be online video content by 2019.
But
that’s not all, because the top 5% of videos retain an average of 77%
of viewers until the end of the video. For reference, the average video
only retains 37% of viewers for the full duration.
Here are more powerful statistics about video marketing that you should not ignore:
65% of video viewers watch more than 75% of their selected video.•
Videos increase brand association by 139%.•
Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading that same message in text.
Using the word “video” in an email subject line boosts the open rates by 19%.•
Roughly 1/3 of all time online is spent viewing and sharing videos.•
Blog posts incorporating video attract 3 times as many inbound links as blog posts without video.•
More video content is uploaded online in 30 days than the major U.S. television networks have created in 30 years.
Info Courtesy of BluLeadz
Hey, I have a special invitation for you to join me and my group of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video. I look forward to engaging with you there!
Most people may think that to be a good writer, you need to WRITE a lot and that is true. There’s nothing like exercising your writing muscle to fine tune your talent and skill.
Most people may think that to be a good writer, you need to WRITE a lot and that is true. There’s nothing like exercising your writing muscle to fine tune your talent and skill.
However, I’ve been listening to “High Performance Habits” by BrendonBurchand on Audible and he talks about how he learned how to write and said, “If you want to be a good writer, you need to READ a LOT.” This really resonated with me because I when I was 25, and was starting my journey and education as a TV producer and content creator, I realized that I had not seen a LOT of the movie classics like “North by Northwest” or anything directed by Hitchcock and a list of 100 others. I was living in New York City at the time and decided to make it my mission to remedy this.
Now, even though I could have rented a lot of the classics, I decided I wanted to see them in the way they were meant to be seen….projected in the movie theater and the Regency Theater by Lincoln Center was the perfect place to do just that. The Regency would have wonderful themed movie series featuring Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock, and so many more (and they were all DOUBLE features). The movies changed every two-to-three days so I’d purchase the series pass and proceed to spend three nights a week being transported in a Hollywood time machine of sorts, catching up on the most famous films ever produced.
This was not just entertaining, but very educational and by the time I turned 26, I had screened over 300 movies (classics and lesser-known films) in one year. Almost through “osmosis,” I was absorbing how to structure a story, write good dialogue, and frame a shot and had assimilated a visceral talent for good storytelling since I had studied the masters.
How do artists learn to paint? They study the masters. How do writers learn to write? They study the masters (like Brendon suggests). And how do you learn how to make videos that work? You study the masters.
I certainly honed my storytelling skills by watching classic films (when studios were run by creatives instead of MBAs). But this is a hack that I’ve also used for learning how to create marketing videos for my website, sales funnels, and social media outreach as well, and then merged it with everything I’ve learned as a former network TV talk show producer (where I have also studied colleagues I admire to fine tune my skills).
So, study the people who doing video marketing well. And study the people who aren’t doing well. Watch their videos and master classes. This is not the entire approach to honing your video marketing skills, but it is a very necessary use of your time as you navigate these waters. You see what to do and say and what NOT to do and say. In fact, some of the most powerful lessons come from watching really bad videos or people doing it really badly. This isn’t meant to be snarky, but that we learn more from mistakes than we do from flawless examples.
Now, I have a special invitation for you today to join me and my community of positive minded people in my Facebook Group to Grow Your Business with Video. I can’t wait to connect with you there!
Marianne Schwab is the author of The Insider’s Guide to Media Training
and, as a Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast
media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera
interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich
& Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
Have you ever wondered how to get booked on a TV talk show or news
program to promote your non-fiction book, product, brand, or business?
Well, Stephanie Chandler of the Non-Fiction Authors Association will
interview me on Jan. 30th at 10am PT / 1pm ET and I will spill the beans
on insider secrets so you can crack the code.
As a former network TV talk show producer, you’ll get access “inside my brain” and learn how a producer thinks so that you understand how to create a pitch that gets attention and gets results. Here’s How to Participate: Live access to this teleseminar is FREE for the Nonfiction Authors Association (NFAA) community. Not a member yet? No problem. If you’re not yet a member of NFAA and you’d like to participate in this teleseminar, please join NFAA (for free) at this link: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/join/
Marianne Schwab is the author of The Insider’s Guide to Media Training
and, as a Content Creation Strategist, she is the go-to broadcast
media expert to show you how to get booked on TV and ace your on-camera
interview. Her producer credits include Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Runaway with the Rich
& Famous, E! Entertainment Television ON E! Specials, and many more. She has worked in broadcast for over 25 years and is currently the Executive Producer for CMP Media Cafe, a company specializing in broadcast public relations where she provides customized media training services for clients.
MarianneSchwabLive 