“Remember my name, and you add to my feeling of importance” – Dale Carnegie
Apparently, there’s this significant political season upon us. Candidates on every level vying for votes.
On Wednesday November 6th, we’ll know the winners who delivered their name and their position to the top of voters’ minds.
In radio, we think we are running for office every month in the diary world and every week when markets are digitally measured.
Truth is – we are always running for office.
Every break – every promotion – every appearance.
The industry openly lauds how LOCAL is king when it comes to broadcast. Are you taking full advantage of your – local position?
Every personality is a brand. At the onset of our relationship with a new show or personality, we guide them through developing a Personal Promotion Plan.
Their step-by-step strategic and tactical plan to super-expose them as a brand is often met with hesitation and an RCA Nipper-like head tilt.
We run into talent – with regularity – who are fantastic on-air but invert into their tortoise shell when faced with people on site.
Hesitant to face the listener. Hesitant to regularly – network.
On-site anxiety are typical human reactions:
- Lack of Experience – How to start a conversation, handling awkward mistakes, feeling inauthentic
- Fear of Rejection – Negative judgment, rejected in conversation, perceived insincerity
- Previous Negative Experiences – feeling ignored in conversation, disrespected for their opinion, cultural clashes in a social situation
Among dozens of others.
Let’s arm talent who balk at outside interaction with tips to engage – face-to-face – socially.
Promotional Partner Paige Nienaber calls this “Stuff That Spotify Can’t Do”.
Enlist talent to go beyond the required appearances to add to their Personal Promotional Plan.
Organizations are practically begging people to join their cause:
- Local Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, Business Network International (BNI)
- Non-Profit Boards of Directors, Police and Fire Commissions, Friends of the Library
- Pickleball Leagues, County Leadership Programs, Young Professionals Organizations
That’s where LOCAL relationships are built.
This may appear a network business strategy for your General Manager or Local Seller on the other side of the building.
We are all in – business. Networking organizations efficiently spread the word of YOUR brand when properly engaged.
Experts in brand networking – like Halle Simpson – share tips to navigate the networking conversation that makes an impact:
- Act Like A Host
– Engage the isolated who share social anxiety – that makes an impact
– Place name tag on the right pocket – the eye follows the handshake
– Firm handshake with intentional eye contact
- Open Ended Questions
– Yes/No questions freeze the conversation
– Ask who they are hoping to meet at the event
– Offer to connect to people you know that fit their brand
- What’s THEIR Business
– Deep dive on their business or the state of their business
– Look for clues to make a longer-term connection
– Ask for business card or connection digits
- Follow Up
– Reconnect within the close of the week as their memory will drift
– Linked In – Social Media – Email – Without sales pitch
– Hand-written thank you notes – include part of your conversation notes – THAT will print long-term
These expert networking tips are big – #4 is HUGE!
Nobody does – Thank You Notes. You – can start today.
Positive experience with the listener will get you elected with long-term name recognition.
Say hello to a dude named – Scott Ginsburg. Scott has been wearing his “Hello, My Name Is Scott” nametag since 2000. He even has it tattooed on his chest to ensure it’s always visible.
We are constantly seeking votes – every quarter-hour – every day – every month.
Imagine leveraging Scott’s Passion for name recognition or Halle’s enthusiasm for networking to elevate your media and personal brand.
You’re running for office and looking to get ratings – elected.
Do stuff Spotify can’t do.
Kevin Robinson is a passionate award-winning programmer, consultant and coach – with multi-formats success all over the country. He has advised numerous companies including Audacy (formerly Entercom Communications), Beasley Broadcast Group, Westwood One, Midwest Communications, Townsquare Media, Midwest Family Broadcasting Group, EG Media Group, Federated Media, Kensington Media, mediaBrew Communications, Starved Rock Media, and more. He specializes in strategic radio cluster alignment, building lean-forward tactics and talent coaching – legacy and entry-level – personalities.
Known largely as a trusted talent coach, Kevin is the only personality mentor who’s coached three different morning shows on three different brands in the same major market to the #1 position. His efforts have been recognized by The World Wide Radio Summit, Radio & Records, NAB’s Marconi, and he has coached CMA, ACM and Marconi Award-winning talent. He is also in The Zionsville High School Hall of Fame as part of the 2008 inaugural class. Kevin is an Indiana native – living near Zionsville with his wife of 39 years, Monica and can be reached at kevin@robinsonmedia.fm.
