5 Ways to Become a Regularly Featured Expert in the Media

Have you ever watched the news and noticed they tend to interview certain people fairly regularly? They have become “expert commentators” on that network. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be called upon for your expertise too?

Your voice has value. You don’t need to have the most degrees or be in business for decades to share your expertise.

Here are 5 Ways to Become a Regularly Featured Expert in the Media:

1) Establish Your Authority: The first step to becoming a regularly featured expert in the news is to identify your area of expertise. It's essential to be clear about what you specialize in and what sets you apart from others in your industry.

2) Be Prepared: When you're interviewed by a journalist, make sure you're prepared. Research the topic, be knowledgeable about your industry, and be able to articulate your points clearly and concisely. If you're not sure about something, don't be afraid to say so. Being honest and transparent will help you build credibility with journalists and their audience. Consider signing up for media training to ensure you have the skills and confidence to communicate with the media.

3) Engage on Social Media: Social media is a powerful tool for building your personal brand and establishing yourself as an expert in your industry. Share your insights, participate in relevant conversations, and engage with your followers. If you have a strong opinion on something and you can back it up, state that opinion. If journalists are looking to showcase differing opinions, they will know you can speak passionately about the topic. By building your social media presence, you'll increase your visibility and attract the attention of journalists looking for experts to feature in their stories. Share your expertise, offer your insights on relevant topics, and be a valuable resource to them.

“Don’t wait for journalists to reach out to you. Be proactive and pitch yourself as an expert on relevant topics.”

Be Proactive: Don't wait for journalists to reach out to you. Be proactive and pitch yourself as an expert on relevant topics. Use platforms like HARO (Help A Reporter Out) to connect with journalists looking for expert sources. Pitching yourself can be intimidating, but it's a great way to get your name out there and establish yourself as an expert in your field. ALWAYS send out an email the minute you hear a story breaking that you could be an expert on. It can be as simple as, “If you are looking for additional context on this story, I am an expert in XYZ and I would be happy to chat.”

Be Available: When a journalist reaches out to you for a comment or interview, be available and responsive. Journalists work on tight deadlines, and if you're not available, they'll move on to the next expert. Make sure you're available via email or phone and respond promptly when they reach out to you.

Becoming a regularly featured expert in the news takes time, effort, and sometimes it just comes down to the right timing or sheer luck. Journalists are busy and need to act quickly on stories so once they see that you are well-spoken, can speak with authority on a topic, and respond in a timely manner, they will call you back.

Contact me if you want to learn how to pitch the media yourself and become a featured media expert.