Don't Be Scared

We just started the fourth year of Insight on Business the News Hour. For those of you who are not familiar with the concept it is the only daily (M-F), hour long business news broadcast in the Midwest. OK, WBBM in Chicago has a business broadcast but nobody else that we could find. We're on AM-940, FM-104.5 and in HD at 103.3 HD2 out of the Des Moines Radio Group.

The format pf the broadcast is pretty simple we offer up the daily business news from the nation, region and the Greater Des Moines Metro. We do the markets and then two long-form business interviews with established businesses to startups. Each interview segment runs 12 -15 minutes.

And, nope, we don't charge these businesses to come in and tell their story. Otherwise it wouldn't be...news.

The biggest obstacle we have is not finding sponsors. It's not writing and delivering the news. The biggest obstacle is getting guests to come on the broadcast to tell their story. No kidding. We give these businesses $1,000 worth of on-air broadcast time, social media boosts and give them the photos we take in studio along with the mp3 so they can use it in their marketing effort time. You would think that business people would grab the opportunity to share their story but, sadly it's like pulling teeth.

I moan about this from time to time and this week a client of our advertising agency said, "Michael, the reason they don't want to go on the air is because they are scared."

He's right. I get it that more people fear public speaking than death but really? We're offering an opportunity and so few take it.

I'm not complaining but I am hoping some of you will read this and consider that our goal is not to make you uncomfortable but to boost your brand and build awareness of what you do. It's called positive press.

So, when we call and leave a message...call us back? We would, honestly, love to help you tell your story.