One of the best experiences I had last week was being the invited speaker at the WBIS monthly meeting. I am a member of the organization, which offers substantive guidance and support -- in a great atmosphere -- to women entrepreneurs. It was an honor for WBIS CEO and Founder Sheila Dixon to ask me to give the presentation on ways members can maximize their media exposure.
 

After several years of experience booking guests for media interviews and events, I have narrowed down to five (5) the characteristics of the best guests. We had a good time as I shared them at the WBIS monthly luncheon. The short version of the 5 Quick Tips, as I called them, is below.
 

*Be available. If you want to get media exposure, expose yourself. Have a phone number, email address or website so people can find you. Once they contact you, get back to them quickly. It goes without saying that this also makes it easier for anyone who wants to do any business with you to find you. Once found, do your best to fit the interview into your schedule, or offer someone else who can do it.
 

*Ask about the interview structure. Be clear about whether it's for radio, television or print. Find out whether the interview can be done in-person or over the phone, live or on tape. Find out how long the interview is, and whether it has to be done "right now." If you can take at least a couple of minutes to pull your thoughts together, do it.
 

*"Stay Focused!" You would have had to be at the WBIS meeting for why I refer to this in this particular way. However, the bottom line is, keep your mind on what you are doing, saying and who you are saying it to during the interview. If you are doing a phone interview from home, don't do it in the chair that you curl up in to scarf down ice cream while watching movies. You may stand, but don't walk around too much. You don't want your breathing to start to sound like the rating of the interview has just gone from PG to R.
 

*Tell the truth, but not the whole story. This is one of my favorite phrases. Directly answer the question, but keep it simple, straight-forward. This helps you stay focused, and keeps you from babbling. Plus, the inappropriate, incorrect and goofy stuff usually happens when the interview subject is talking too much.
 

*Show personality and ENJOY yourself (or at least look and sound like you do). You don't have to have one of those perky personalities. But relax, use your wit and rely upon your command of the subject. Yes, you DO have command of the subjet or they would not have asked to interview you. Sometimes it's just a matter of looking at the question they pose from a different angle, but remain confident that you've got what it takes to be of service to the interviewer, the audience and your business/organization.
 

Don't worry. Very few people get all of these things right all of the time. But just like most things in life, do your best and trust that your best is enough. It usually is.