PR Expert Interviews: BrandBoost 360’s Edge

The Complete Guide to Expert Interviews with PR Professionals Using BrandBoost 360

Are you struggling to get your brand message heard above the noise? Securing expert interviews with PR professionals can be a powerful marketing strategy, but only if you know how to find the right experts and manage the process effectively. Want to learn how BrandBoost 360 can help you nail it?

BrandBoost 360 is a marketing automation platform with tools designed to streamline the entire process of finding, connecting with, and conducting expert interviews with PR professionals. Here’s how to use it to maximize your marketing impact. If you’re looking for more ways to boost your brand, consider exploring options for building a brand magnet.

Step 1: Identifying the Right Experts

Finding the right PR professional to interview is half the battle. You need someone with relevant expertise, a strong media presence, and a willingness to share their insights.

Using BrandBoost 360’s Expert Finder

1. Log in to your BrandBoost 360 account.
2. Navigate to the “Outreach” tab in the main menu.
3. Click on “Expert Finder.” You’ll see a search bar and several filters.
4. In the search bar, enter keywords related to your industry or the specific topic you want to cover. For example, “healthcare PR” or “crisis communications.”
5. Use the filters to narrow your search:

• Industry: Select the industry relevant to your brand (e.g., Technology, Finance, Healthcare).
• Location: Specify a geographic area (e.g., Atlanta, Georgia; New York City). This is particularly useful if you’re targeting local media outlets.
• Area of Expertise: Choose specific areas of expertise within PR, such as media relations, content marketing, or social media management.
• Years of Experience: Filter by experience level to find seasoned pros or rising stars.

1. Click “Search.” BrandBoost 360 will generate a list of PR professionals matching your criteria.

Analyzing Expert Profiles

1. Click on a profile to view more details about the expert.
2. Review the “Bio” section to understand their background, experience, and areas of expertise.
3. Check the “Media Mentions” section to see where they’ve been featured in the press. BrandBoost 360 pulls this data from its media monitoring database, which includes outlets like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and industry publications.
4. Examine their “Social Media Presence” to gauge their influence and engagement on platforms like LinkedIn and industry-specific forums.
5. Look for “Areas of Interest” to see if their interests align with your brand’s values and messaging.

Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on the most well-known experts. Sometimes, emerging voices can provide fresh perspectives and be more willing to participate.

Common Mistake: Failing to thoroughly vet experts before reaching out. This can lead to wasted time and missed opportunities.

Expected Outcome: A curated list of 5-10 PR professionals who are a good fit for your interview.

Step 2: Reaching Out and Scheduling the Interview

Once you’ve identified potential experts, it’s time to reach out and schedule the interview.

Crafting a Personalized Outreach Message

1. From the expert’s profile, click the “Contact” button. This opens a pre-populated email template within BrandBoost 360’s messaging system.
2. Personalize the message to show that you’ve done your research. Mention a specific article they wrote, a project they worked on, or a point they made in a previous interview.
3. Clearly state the purpose of your interview and the value it will provide to your audience.
4. Suggest a few potential topics that align with their expertise and your brand’s messaging.
5. Include a call to action, such as “Would you be available for a brief call next week to discuss this further?”

Using BrandBoost 360’s Interview Scheduler

1. If the expert responds positively, click the “Schedule Interview” button within the message thread.
2. This opens the Interview Scheduler tool.
3. Select a date range and time slots that work for you. BrandBoost 360 automatically syncs with your calendar to avoid conflicts.
4. Choose the interview format (e.g., phone call, video conference). BrandBoost 360 integrates with Zoom and Google Meet.
5. Add a brief agenda or list of topics to be covered during the interview.
6. Click “Send Invitation.” BrandBoost 360 will send a calendar invite to the expert with all the necessary details.

Pro Tip: Offer the expert some flexibility in terms of scheduling and format. This shows that you value their time and are willing to accommodate their preferences.

Common Mistake: Sending generic, impersonal outreach messages that get ignored.

Expected Outcome: A confirmed interview with a qualified PR professional.

Step 3: Conducting the Interview and Maximizing Its Impact

The interview itself is just the beginning. You need to prepare thoughtful questions, conduct the interview professionally, and then promote the content effectively. If you want to nail your pitch, preparation is key.

Preparing Thoughtful Questions

1. Before the interview, brainstorm a list of questions that will elicit valuable insights from the expert.
2. Focus on topics that are relevant to your audience and align with your brand’s messaging.
3. Avoid asking questions that can be easily answered with a Google search. Instead, aim for questions that require the expert to share their unique perspective and experience.
4. Prepare some follow-up questions to dig deeper into interesting points that arise during the conversation.

Conducting the Interview Professionally

1. Be on time for the interview.
2. Introduce yourself and your brand.
3. Clearly state the purpose of the interview and how it will be used.
4. Listen attentively to the expert’s responses and ask follow-up questions as needed.
5. Be respectful of their time and expertise.
6. Thank them for their participation.

Promoting the Interview Content

1. Once the interview is complete, transcribe it and edit it for clarity and conciseness.
2. Publish the interview on your blog, website, or podcast.
3. Share the content on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
4. Tag the expert in your social media posts to increase visibility.
5. Use BrandBoost 360’s “Content Amplification” tool to promote the interview content to a wider audience. This tool allows you to target specific demographics and interests on social media and other online platforms.
6. Send a thank-you note to the expert and share the published content with them.

Pro Tip: Create multiple pieces of content from the interview, such as blog posts, social media snippets, and infographics.

Common Mistake: Failing to promote the interview content effectively, resulting in low visibility and engagement.

Expected Outcome: Increased brand awareness, website traffic, and social media engagement.

Step 4: Tracking Performance and Measuring Results

To determine the success of your expert interview campaign, it’s essential to track performance and measure results.

Using BrandBoost 360’s Performance Tracker

1. Navigate to the “Analytics” tab in the main menu.
2. Click on “Performance Tracker.”
3. Select the date range for your campaign.
4. Track key metrics such as:

• Media Mentions: The number of times your brand or the expert interview is mentioned in the press.
• Social Shares: The number of times the interview content is shared on social media.
• Website Traffic: The number of visitors to your website who came from the interview content.
• Lead Generation: The number of leads generated as a result of the interview.

1. Analyze the data to identify what worked well and what could be improved.

Adjusting Your Strategy

1. Based on the performance data, adjust your strategy for future expert interviews.
2. Experiment with different topics, formats, and promotion methods.
3. Continuously refine your approach to maximize your results.

I had a client last year, a local startup in the Perimeter Center area, who used BrandBoost 360’s Expert Finder to connect with a PR professional specializing in the fintech industry. The resulting interview generated significant media coverage and helped them secure a major funding round. We ran into the exact issue of finding the right keywords to filter the Expert Finder tool, but after some trial and error we found phrases that brought up the most relevant experts. For more insights on hyperlocal marketing, check out how one injury firm achieved 3x ROAS.

Pro Tip: Use A/B testing to compare different headlines, social media posts, and calls to action.

Common Mistake: Failing to track performance and measure results, making it impossible to determine the ROI of your expert interview campaign.

Expected Outcome: A clear understanding of the impact of your expert interview campaign and insights for future improvements.

Getting expert interviews with PR pros is a great marketing tactic, but it’s not a magic bullet. It takes time, effort, and a strategic approach to achieve meaningful results. BrandBoost 360 can help you streamline the process and maximize your impact, but you still need to put in the work.

What nobody tells you is that even the best interview can fall flat if you don’t actively promote it. Don’t just publish it and forget about it. Consider how earned media can sing if promoted effectively.

You now have a repeatable process to generate expert interviews with PR professionals using BrandBoost 360. It’s time to put these steps into action. Start with the Expert Finder, personalize your outreach, and track your results. Your brand’s visibility will thank you.

If you truly want to see a return on your marketing investments, it’s time to get laser-focused on building relationships with the right PR professionals. BrandBoost 360 gives you the tools to do just that. Stop guessing and start connecting.