by Fey Ugokwe, J.D.

Hmmm…there you sit, poised-at-post, pinpoint perfect, having hungrily haunted every palm-pressing event within near-and-nether radii, wondering whether becoming one of the few, the fabulous, the local business/organization glitterati is actually in grasp.  Verily, it may very well be for you, and if so, relax and rest reassured--if your goal is imminently, daringly, driving down the photo-tv fastlane as a biz/org expert, here are some

suggestions that could have you switching to your region’s industry fame-route in a flash:

I.  Get Thee to a Media Coach

A well-recommended media coach is your contemporary guide—and may indeed be the actual ‘in’--to your local industry good life.  A short i-search and perusal of the resultant websites, as well as a similar search of relevant chamber of commerce and business association websites, could very well you lead you to your local media mentor.  Additionally, there are several national/international coaching associations that maintain searchable databases containing the contact information of such available advisors.  

21st century media coaches can typically advise clients from everything to routinely-on-camera n’ in-print-wear for their specific colouring and frame, to tv-mag-newspaper-where--in the viable near vicinity, strategically--to market their widgets.   Many media coaches are themselves former arts & entertainment personnel—e.g., former journalists, acting coaches, etc.---and typically, thereby, the genesis and genius of their consultations are years of related, practical experience (tandem naturally, with inimitable, innate skill) and an i-rolodex-full of keen contacts.  Thyself will be glaringly glorious when they get thee to a fantastic photographer for the all-important heady-looking head shot, and just wait ‘til they trot you through effective tv/camera preparations—you may merrily not remember your former, non-glitterati self. Media coaches can usually also assist you with a portion of the presentation of your own self-created shows, commercials, and print media.  Some media coaches also superlatively maintain decidedly eco-friendly interactive i-tutorials and text/e-mail policies, such as would save you frequent, gas-guzzling trips to their territories.  Essentially, a truly marvellous media coach can save you--the glitterati-goal-oriented—the endless hours, money, and disappointment that is the stuff of the` traditional try-try-try again method of ne’er-ending networking, and have you leaping, in lightning’s time, into the local limelight.

II. i-Publish Your Publicity  

If you’re light-starved, there’s no sense in finally getting fed if no one has knowledge of it.  Adding a ‘Press’, ‘In the News’, or other such similar nomer of a tab and attendant page to your website or blog, a) ensures that the all who visit your i-spot will be apprised of your media march; and, b) allows you to maintain the record of each event for the duration that you desire (as, e.g., internet-server search links are periodically deleted and updated). Let ye not forget to consider adding any accolades attained to the same page, as they too, are work-newsworthy occurrences.  The fringe benefit of being a little,

i-boastful bear is that when prospective clients have an i-gander at your list of lamp-moments, they may be more likely to sign up for your services. So, consider establishing such a routine of i-logging your industry flash time.  Also, electronically uploading your media moments is also quite eco-, as it reduces the possibility that you will be piling up a million paper copies, of e.g., every time there is a snail- news/mag send-up of you and your biz/org—a go-green plus. 

III. Always Ring the PostPerson, Thrice

Dive into that bevy of business cards you’ve been haplessly hoarding, and locate those belonging to media personnel, e.g., radio, newspaper, and magazine insiders. The principles of probability dictate that if you’ve duly circled sufficient ballroom-turned-biz function floors in your day, you’ve collected at least a couple. Blip an e-mail to remind said media insiders of your initial interaction (and thereby, current planetary existence), and to schedule a lunch or a tele-chat to talk about how you can mutually assist each other’s entities.  

During your second interaction—whilst ye gnosh at noontime-fare or traditionally acknowledge the achievements of Alexander Graham Bell via teletalk--briefly best-market your biz/org, giving your media insider an update as to the latest lovely event therein--and then interrupt yourself to inquire about their own biz needs.  Listening to them will primarily assist you with quickly assessing how to angle your (hopefully) 10-minutes-later-inquiry as regards how to get them to place you in/on their medium. Also, you may discern that there is a colleague that could assist with one of their expressed needs—which will usually endear you to said insider e’en more.

By the by, one of the easiest, most widely utilized of ways to wander into their world is via an interview of you.  So, if they do not suggest an ‘in’ to their medium you might considering pulling that one out of your possibilities pocket for their pondering.  After ‘tis all done and well said, follow-up with an e- or a call to thank them for their time--and add a line with hopeful language as regards an/the (‘the’ solely if you’re confirming a firm opportunity extended by them during your chat) upcoming few minutes in their medium. Chances are, resultantly, that your chances are awfully good to get a few future moments in their galaxy.

Thus, indeed the glimmering glitterati industry sun may be well within your reach…and that means ye may then resultantly enjoy the enviable responsibility of figuring out just how to manage the multiplicity of calls for mercifully more of the biz/org you…