From the Editor
Mike Hofman

How to Get on Oprah

 

Writing on the blog Marketing Sherpa, a publicist named Susan Harrow of Harrow Communications in Oakland offers readers a list of do's and don'ts for getting an entrepreneur on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Harrow counsels that companies keep their pitches short and sweet, assemble an online press kit complete with links to video of the founder or a company expert appearing on another TV program (to demonstrate that you are "Oprah ready"), and that you tie your pitch to current events. One successful pitch: "Can washing your hands save your life during flu season? Yes, says Dr. Vicki Rackner, M.D."

The blog also suggests that to get in front of Oprah's audience of nine million, you must first join it. According to Marketing Sherpa, "Harrow tapes the show each week and reads Oprah's website regularly to get a sense of her favorite themes and hot topics. Philanthropy, health and environment are key issues for Oprah right now. Keep these in mind because whatever you're pitching should relate to what's on Oprah's mind."

To read the rest of the blog, click here.

To pitch Oprah, click here.

Do you have more tips for pitching Oprah? If so, what are they?

Mike Hofman was previously editor of Inc.com and a deputy editor at Inc. magazine, which he joined in 1996. The site was nominated for a National Magazine Award for Digital Media in 2010, and was named the best business website by Folio Magazine. In 2006, Hofman was part of a team of writers nominated for a Webby Award for best business blog. He lives in New York City. @mikehofman