We just received word that several IdeaTango members, and InventBay expo exhibitors will have their 15 seconds of fame TONIGHT, November 14, 2008, on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s Pitch to America segment.
Here’s a sample Pitch to America segment from September.
Once we have video of our inventors, we’ll definitely be posting that on our InventBay.com Blog.
Along with this great news, brings up the questions, “how were these individuals so lucky as to have their invention or business on NATIONAL television? Here are my thoughts on that . . .
Although each opportunity for publicity will be different, I think there are just a few simple things that entrepreneurs need to keep in mind in order to get publicity:
- Be persistent. I actually went to a presentation last night by 5-time Emmy Award winning reporting Shawne Duperon, and she said that in order to get something in the news, you need to pitch it 27 times. 27 TIMES! “I don’t have time for that,” you say. Well she also gave a shortcut. Build a relationship with a reporter and skip this waiting line. But to even build a relationship with someone will take persistence: going to networking events, calling, etc. So #1 reason these inventors are on TV tonight, they never gave up. They went to shows, they met people, they built those relationships.
- Energy. I know that energy definitely came into play with the Tiger Taco guys, Chris Miller and his partner. Those guys are full of energy and people just love being around them because of that. They radiate positive energy! For example, they gave InventBay expo staff members samples of their own products to help the unloading of boxes. And they helped stuff bags for the expo. And then they ran around the expo all weekend meeting everyone they could. To get publicity, it greatly helps to be enthusiastic (but not overly enthusiastic, that’s called crazy) about your product.
In my opinion, energy and persistence were the common variables in the publicity success of these inventors. Once you have publicity once, it’s much easier to get more, because that gives your product credibility in the eyes of journalists. So if you are lucky to get publicity, use it to your advantage.
Bryan Daigle
Yeah being crazy is bad!
It also helps to turn down the “we’re all that” arrogance … doesn’t mean you can’t show confidence, but if you come off as so full of yourself and your invention, then you don’t give someone (media = people) the chance to “own” your solution … just saying keep it light, have fun, and it will come.
What I’m thinking about this morning: what is the impact of being “NOT SOLD” … I think 99% of the viewers see this as Leno’s Caesar’s thumb on the product, but it’s actually if we sold out during the show; George and I and that slice of crazy inventors who actually want to manufacture and deal with everything that comes from not selling out or licensing our IP.
Well it’s too early in the morning and I need coffee … I’m just going around and trying to do some damage control (if needed, and with a sense of humor; being on the Leno Show is major and humbling for a couple of neighbors who are just trying to do things right and all that jazz).
I have a dust shield that clips to a base ball cap like Jay would wears when working on or under his cars. The bucketdriver is another invention I started. thank you Z