Sound bites are crucial if you want to be quoted often in the newspaper, social media, TV and other media. This article will focus on presenting clear answers in sound bite form and how you can ensure you get quoted in the story.
Simply, a sound bite is a short quote that uses ordinary language. That’s it. A reporter needs a sound bite because:
- They have time constraints (think TV) or word count constraints (think newspapers or bloggers).
- Audiences like shorter interview quotes. Why? Because audiences have a short attention span.
It’s a lot easier to show a clip of an interview that has a short succinct answer than an interviewee that goes on and on. TV reporters are working with extremely short time constraints. Typically reporters only have 90 seconds or less to tell their story. So if they interview you, they need you to speak as clearly and concisely as possible.
The media is fighting for the audience’s attention at every turn. For a TV interview the viewer could change the channel, pick up their phone and stop watching or get distracted in another way. So after an interview reporters will go through tape and pick the best sound bites for the story hoping they can keep the audience’s attention to their story.
The magic happens when you speak clearly and get to the exact answer the audience needs to hear. So when you are prepping for an interview prepare yourself by speaking in short sentences. For example this paragraph could be considered the perfect sound bite length. Anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds.
Good Things Happen When you Speak In Sound Bites:
- You get your desired point across and make a good impression
- Sound polished
- Increase your chances of being interviewed again (could be a stepping-stone to becoming a regular on-air expert)
- You will make the story and get quoted
Quotes are an essential building block to every great story a reporter does. And sound bites are an essential building block for every entrepreneur, executive and expert looking to boost their PR and exposure.
*Action Item*
Steps to Getting A Great Sound Bite:
- Write down the quote you’d like to have in the story
- Include 2-3 short sentences
- 1 main point per quote
- Succinct, clear information
- A length of 5-15 seconds long – read the quotes aloud to ensure they stay within this time constraint.
- Practice saying the quote aloud
- Practice saying the quote aloud
- Practice saying the quote aloud
- Practice saying the quote aloud
- Practice saying the quote aloud
Remember practice really does make perfect!