October 15, 2012
Posted by: Kristin Sunde, Public Relations Director
We’ve all experienced it – you’re watching a piece on a local or national news broadcast and when it’s finished, can’t quite recall what the person being interviewed said because you were so distracted by his or her appearance.
The opportunity to promote your organization, product or service in a TV news story is a wonderful thing, so take care your message is actually heard. Follow these tips to be sure your appearance doesn’t detract from the points you’re trying to make:
- Leave bold jewelry at home. Subdued and understated is best (unless, of course, it’s the jewelry you’re trying to sell). You want viewers looking at your face, not your earrings, necklace or jangling bracelets.
- Solid colors work better than patterns, and layers camouflage trouble spots, especially in seated interviews. Both men and women can’t go wrong with a jacket layered over a blouse or button-down shirt. Just remember to dress for the occasion. A suit jacket doesn’t necessarily work well if you’re doing a neighborhood clean-up.
- Keep hair simple. If you tend to play with your hair or constantly tuck it behind your ears, pull it back so you aren’t tempted to fidget with it during the interview.
- Avoid shine. Men, especially those with less hair, might want to use a bit of powder to reduce forehead shine.
- Women can apply a little more makeup than usual when doing a TV interview. Be sure to check that you don’t have lipstick on your teeth before smiling big into the camera.
- Ask for feedback. If you’ve got a friend or co-worker whose appearance is always polished, ask for some advice before the interview. He or she can help you feel confident that you’re looking your best.
Once you feel good about your appearance, you can concentrate on delivering your key messages, and likewise, the audience won’t be distracted while listening to them.