10 tips for becoming recognised on TV as an expert in your field

PRESS DISPENSARY - Tuesday, Jun 22, 2010 - findaTVexpert.com outlines the 10 steps experts need to take if they want to be considered for TV opportunities. Because in the absence of a "Britain's Got Experts" or "The X-Pert Factor", if experts want to showcase their skills and their passion to the TV industry, they need to get to work.

"Britain's Got Talent has come and gone and auditions for The X-Factor are underway. Both shows are fantastic opportunities for singers and dancers to promote themselves to the industry', says Claire Richmond, ex TV producer and founder of findaTVexpert.com. "But if you're an expert - historian, scientist, property guru, chef, lawyer, businessman, tradesman, doctor, dentist, designer, criminologist, psychologist, marine biologist, etc - and you want to promote yourself to the TV industry, you have to understand the market, figure out what you have to offer and start making some noise. In other words, you need to get to work."

And here are findaTVexpert's 10 Steps to doing just that:

1. Define your USP. There are thousands of experts like you out there. What makes you stand out from the rest? What's going to make TV producers, commissioners and - ultimately - viewers, sit up and take notice of you? Is it your contagious enthusiasm for the subject matter? Your quirky personality? Your sense of humour? Or maybe the projects you're working on or the people you have access to?

2. Understand the market. If you're applying for a job, you research the company and figure out what you what you have to offer. If you want to get on TV, the same applies. Watch TV. Think TV. Understand TV. Read the media sections of the nationals and sign up for the trade magazines to keep your finger on the pulse of what's being commissioned, which shows are getting the highest ratings, who's making them and, more importantly, why you'd be perfect for them.

3. Write a book & become the authority. Researchers and producers often browse online bookshops to find out who has written books about the subject/area of expertise that's relevant to the programme they're developing. So if you've got a book in you, write it.

4. Give presentations at consumer fairs, trade fairs, networking events & exhibitions. You never know who'll be listening - or on the hunt for talent.

5. Be at the top of Google/Yahoo/Bing searches under key words that relate to your expertise. Words that a researcher would type in to find experts like you. Blogs, websites, etc all help your search engine optimization.

6. Join clubs, associations & networking groups that are relevant to your area of expertise and make sure you're on their list of experts who are happy to be contacted by the media.

7. Join the online directories of experts which TV production companies turn to when they're looking for an expert to comment on a subject or be part of a show. www.findaTVexpert.com is one of them - and the only one that is run by a TV producer who understands the needs of the experts and of the industry.

8. Get quoted. Researchers and development producers scour newspapers and magazines for experts and ideas. And if an article in which you're quoted catches their eye, you could be the first expert they contact - assuming they can find you. That's why Steps 5, 6 & 7 are so important.

9. Be pro-active. Watch the programmes which feature experts like you, find who makes them (check the credits at the end for the name of the production company and the executive producer) and contact them directly. But before you do, make sure you've defined your USP and figured out what you have to offer (Steps 1 & 2). And keep your email short and to the point.

10. Get a showreel. TV's a visual medium so promote yourself to it in a visual way. Photos are good but showreels or video pitches are better because the industry can see what you look and sound like on camera. Keep your videos short (one minute maximum), engaging and to the point. And remember: they'll know within the first 10 seconds if you're what they're looking for. So make those first 10 seconds count: big smile, lots of energy and great eye contact. Really switch it on.

"Some experts get a lucky break. They just happen to be in the right place at the right time," says Richmond. "But the harder you work at promoting yourself and increasing your visibility, the luckier you will be. Because the TV industry is always on the hunt for new experts, new ideas and the next big thing - but it has to be able to find you."

Notes for editors

Members of the media looking for experts (TV, Radio and Press) can register on findaTVexpert.com and search the site for free. (Register here) And if the experts have what you're looking for, you contact them directly. findaTVexpert is not an agent and doesn't get involved in fees, contracts and negotiations.

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