Soundbites help you reach the people you want to influence. Al Upchurch, Senior Vice President at Marx Layne & Company, gives five key elements to producing memorable soundbites.
- An interview is worth nothing without your target messages. Make sure the soundbite conveys one of those messages.
- Be clear and concise. Complicated answers to questions may provide good background for the reporter, but it’s not a valuable soundbite.
- Use impactful language and imagery whenever possible. Your soundbite has to make the reporter take notice while grabbing the attention of viewers or readers.
- Preparation is essential. Quotable interviews rarely happen with answers that come off the top of your head. Spend the time necessary to develop soundbites for each of your important messages.
- No one excels at anything without practice. Make the soundbites easily remembered and practice delivering them. If you’re not comfortable saying it, revise it. When you speak to a reporter, nothing you say should sound rehearsed.