Satellite Media Tours, also known as SMTs and broadcast amplification, are a strategic public relations tactic where a spokesperson or expert is featured in interviews on a series of media outlets, typically local TV news or radio, or a combination of both.
In the old days, the interviewee conducted the interviews via satellite from a single location, typically a TV studio. But nowadays, the same can be done from a person’s home or other location using common technology like Zoom. The interviews are conducted back-to-back-to-back, with each window being about 10 minutes in length. The interviews can be live or pre-taped to air at a later date, or a combination of both.
Although they have been around for a long time, SMTs remain incredibly effective as part of an integrated, multi-channel campaign. And they’re even more powerful when you have something genuinely unique and interesting to share. That’s where research data comes in!
By attaching an SMT to a larger research project (such as a trend report like this Talker Research Travel Trend Report), your brand can extend the life and value of that research investment and give you another method by which to earn coverage.
You can also control the content within your overarching media campaign by maintaining message consistency throughout the SMT. It also reduces the chance of misquoting or misinterpretation, and ensures that your brand is mentioned alongside the data and topic.
Research data as the launching point
Research is your friend when it comes to PR and media campaigns. If you get it right, not only will you gain valuable insights into what makes your target audience tick, you will unearth interesting, relevant and relatable data to make your brand storytelling really connect.
Together with Talker Research, we conduct online surveys to generate newsworthy talking points so you can build campaigns, grab headlines and increase exposure for your brand.
Unlike any other research provider, Talker Research utilizes our in-house creative capabilities to make your research go the extra mile for you. From guaranteed earned media coverage in online news publications and white paper reports to trend reporting, social media assets and, yes, SMTs, leveraging research data gives you a clear hook for any PR campaign that is designed from the ground up to garner media attention and engagement.
SMTs shine when brands have:
- A clear “reason to talk now” – You could conduct a research-led SMT to coincide with a product launch, raise awareness for a particular date peg or month or draw attention to a seasonal spike or trend.
- Visual storytelling – You can show off video of products to demo, or relatable lifestyle scenes that contribute to the overall story your Talker Research data is telling.
- Expert or celebrity talent – Incorporating a topical expert (or even a celebrity or social media influencer) gives your Talker Research data authority and increases audience pull and resonance.
- A national message with local relevance – Appearing on 15-20 local TV stations across the country in a given morning not only increases the reach of your message, but can position market-specific information within a larger or broader data set.
Interested in elevating a campaign with a research-led Satellite Media Tour? Contact us to learn more!
Van Darden
Director of Media Relations