Dear Friends,

Every day I still get emails, phone calls and letters from people who are keen or desperate to get on Oprah. To many people she still represents the key to the golden door--the door which opens to riches, notoriety and the good life. For others Oprah is the key to spread the word of their cause. Dozens of people think that they have what it takes and want me to work with them for free. or for a cut of their profits to get them on the show. I don't work like that.

But most people still don't understand what it takes to be on Oprah. And, quite frankly, many don't have what it takes. I won't even take on clients who are willing to pay me handsomely, but don't have the right type of product, service or cause, or the skill and ability necessary to do an outstanding job IF they get selected to be on the show. I carefully screen people to see if it's worth it (to them) to work with me.

In order to fill in the gap between people's desires and talent, a few years ago I wrote "The Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah". I created CDs that focused on the essential details for getting on the show and even had people send in their pitches. Joan Stewart and I did a joint teleclass, chose the most likely candidates, then put them in the hot seat so everyone in the class could benefit by hearing me coach them and help them mold their pitches so they were right for the show.

Emails poured in thanking me for the book and CDs. Many people got called by producers, but then failed to pass the audition. The Oprah kit can only take you so far.

It can't media coach you so you'll know how to say the right things to the right people at the right time. You have to do the rest of the work to get prepared for your day in the sun. It CAN show you how to create a pitch that will get the attention of the producers and show you the 10 steps you need to take to be considered for the show.

That said, I decided to give another Oprah teleclass and to couple it with a one time offer to get the Oprah kit for $99 instead of $147 (see below). I thought if I could give you answers to your questions during the 1 hour teleclass and give you all the rest of the information in the book and CDs this would raise your chances of living your dream of getting on Oprah.

I hope you'll join me (the class is already half full--limit 100) on November 10th.

Warmly,

Susan

P.S. Even if getting on Oprah isn't your dream I suggest you attend the teleclass as it will be an informative class and many of you will have the chance to get your questions about top talk shows answered.

Oprah! Appear on the Oprah Show
In 10 Easy Steps
Copyright (c) 2005 By Susan Harrow

Who wants to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show? Almost everyone. Ambitious authors, business professionals, and charity organizations have aspirations to be on the show that's seen in 111 countries worldwide. But very few of them make it on to the show. And once they do their appearance can either be a bomb or a boon for their business.

A number of my clients have been on the show and had almost nil happen in terms of fame or fortune. Others, well, their products and books sold like hotcakes--that's the dream isn't it? How can you be like the successful clients of mine?

You have until 2011 to try, as Oprah has extended her contract with King World Productions until then. How do you begin? You don't need a big name publicity house to get you on Oprah. But you do need a number of things.

1. Pitch a Hot Topic.

A hot topic is one that everybody is talking about--or should be. Many people ask me if they should keep sending the same idea in over and over again if they get no response. The answer is no. No response means you haven't gotten the attention of any of the producers. You can either come up with another related idea, different angle, or give a topic you've proposed a slight twist.

2. Check out the Upcoming Shows and Regular Features on Oprah's Website.

Go here to read what Oprah's producers need now.

Right there on the site they tell you about the shows they are planning--if they can get the right people for them. Think carefully about how to word your email to fit exactly what the producers need. You'd be surprised at how few people don't know how to do this. If you can, you'll stand out instantly from thousands of other people who ramble and just jot off a careless note. Take your time. Craft your idea thoughtfully.

Oprah's producers encourage you to be succinct by limiting the number of characters you can send to 2000. This is about 150 words or two short paragraphs. One of my clients, a surgeon, who already had the attention, (and direct phone number), of one Oprah producer from another topic we pitched, saw that producers were looking to do a show on embarrassing medical problems. She immediately sent off a pitch showing how, as a doctor, she could help people from literally "dying of embarrassment." Very smart.

3. Research the Message Boards.

You'll find out the kind of stories Oprah's audience want by checking out which stories are most popular on her site. If a topic really sticks then Oprah may do a variation of it in the future as she's very responsive to her audiences needs. You don't even need to read the stories. Just look at the total number of messages for each subject. Then craft a pitch geared toward the topic that has high interest.

4. Speak with a Golden Tongue.

Golden tongues are the ones who don't wag much. They get to the point--an engaging one--quickly. A producer will verify that you can keep an audience's attention by calling you. During this "audition" she's testing to see if you can say something meaningful in 15 second sound bites. If you can't you won't be speaking on the Oprah Show.

When a producer thinks your idea is viable her next step is to see if you are "mediagenic" which means that you are a powerfully fascinating person--on camera. She will need to see a short video of you interacting in a talk show format (speaking in those 15 second sound bites) and will decide in about 30 seconds whether you'll make the cut.

5. Forget Selling.

Of course you want to sell your book, product, service or cause, but producers don't care about that. They only care that they have a great show. And that you don't turn it into a commercial. When you're interviewed you want to keep this motto in mind: How can I help you have a great show?

6. Tie into This Year's Show Theme.

The main theme of the year is making your wildest dreams come true. Really it's about how YOU can make somebody else's dream come true. In other words who are you helping? Are you a person who has the power to facilitate growth in others? Have you done something extraordinary that has benefited an individual or huge group of people?

7. Are You a Do-Gooder?

Well, it's not enough to be a do-gooder. Every non-profit and charity in the world thinks that they're right for Oprah. And most of them are not. To be right for Oprah you must have a story that ties into a topic that's something that Oprah cares about.

Right now she's hot on saving the children of Africa. And she's pretty single minded about it. She believes that we (the United States) must help support this third world if we are to survive ourselves. If you have a cause that serves children and has an impact on the world at large, then by all means pitch it. Or, if you have a cause that directly effects her audience (mostly women) then you must show why it's relevant NOW.

8. Suggest a Celebrity Join You on the Show.

This year's shows are more celebrity driven than previous years. You don't need to know the celebrity personally, but must explain how they are connected to the show segment you're proposing. For example, Michael J. Fox has Parkinsons' disease. So if you're pitching how Parkinsons is afflicting young women in epidemic proportions and propose a show with Fox, you are moving in the right direction.

9. Make it Visual.

We WATCH TV. We LISTEN to the radio. Since TV is driven by what we see, producers want exciting visuals that hold the audience's interest. These props can be everything from B- roll (background footage) of you doing something riveting or surprising or items that illustrate your point. The more unusual the better. Show us something we haven't seen before.

10. Hang in There.

You have until 2011 to come up with an idea that takes hold. Thinking creatively is one of the strongholds of longevity. Sure, you want to get on Oprah, but there are lots of other things that you can do to keep your career careening upward. Continue to watch the news, read magazines and newspapers, surf the Internet, visit Oprah's site often and pay attention to what Oprah is doing on the show. If you've got your eyes open you'll be able to pitch a hot topic that will touch the hearts and minds of the people--and of Oprah soon enough. Good luck! And keep me posted.

Q&A to Get on Oprah & Other TV Talk Shows Teleclass

Top TV talk show producers are looking for a few key things to create a great show with great guests. I'll discuss the criteria that Oprah and other top producers use for shows like Good Morning America so you won't get screened out.

In this free teleclass I'll cover:

• How to be an ideal guest.
• Ways to get your pitch noticed--and chosen over your competition.
• The worst thing you can do.

This will be a very personal call. Send in your questions to Kelly and I'll choose the 10 most popular and answer them on the call. We will also have time to answer your questions as well when I open up the phone lines.

If you've never taken a teleclass with me, or even if you have, this is a chance to get your most pressing questions answered.

November 10th
10am PT, 11am MT, 12pm CT 1pm ET, and 6pm UK
Pre-register by sending a blank email and ask a question by sending an email to Kelly with "Q&A Oprah" in the subject line. Limited to the first 100 people.

Get the Oprah Kit so You can Get on Oprah: Key Offer

We're running a one time opportunity until November 14:
You get the Oprah Training Kit which includes The Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah E-Book, Hard Cover book (same info) and 2 CD set (normally $147) for $99 by using this code*: oprahkit99 Order now!

*(You will be prompted to put in the code AFTER you've entered your credit card information in the shopping cart)

You don't need to attend the teleseminar to take advantage of this special, but we recommend you do.

Want thousands of $ in Free Publicity Tomorrow?

Simply sign up for PR Leads. How it works: With Dan Janal, the founder, you create a list of topics and subject areas that you're qualified to discuss. Queries (leads) from editors, producers and freelancers from magazines, newspapers and TV and radio shows are sent to via email daily as they come in. These are people who need experts (you) for their articles or shows. You respond to their requests. You're quoted, profiled or featured in the media of your choice. Myself and my clients have been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Self, Glamour, Entrepreneur etc. The only complaint I've ever heard from my clients is "I wish I would have done this sooner."

Are You An Accidental Entrepreneur?

My colleague Susan Urquhart-Brown has an unusual book offer for one day only on November 15th. For just $17.95, you can get The Accidental Entrepreneur (which is like having your own small business mentor on call 24 hours a day) plus business building Bonus gifts worth $594 here. (Read more about the bonus gifts and Sign up for your Reminder Email.) If you're one of those people who has stumbled into working for yourself and want some expert guidance on how to grow in a sane and sustainable way, this book is for you.

Think Selling is Sleazy? Not with the Soul of Selling

Selling Circles are a breakthrough program that launched in September with Carol Costello, author of The Soul of Selling. You get a weekend intensive on selling with ease and joy, in the spirit of service, in a way that feeds your soul--plus five hours of master coaching each month to take your business where you want it to go. Best of all, you become part of a strong, supportive community of like-minded sellers who are ready to succeed, as well as to serve.

To find out more about Selling Circles click here.

Come Meet Me

Anywhere in the World
Q&A to Get on Oprah & Other TV Talk Shows Teleclass
November 10th
10am PT, 11am MT, 12pm CT 1pm ET, and 6pm UK
No charge
Register by sending a blank email to Kelly
Ask a question by sending an email to Kelly
with "Q&A Oprah" in the subject line.
Limited to the first 100 people.

Anywhere in the World
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance Teleclass
Anywhere in the World
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius
(For Pitching, Producer calls, Networking or Presentations)
1 hour
Download it at no charge

San Francisco California
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance
January 24, 2006
The Learning Annex
6:30-9:30pm pst
415.788.5500
$44.99 (Take $5.00 off this course for enrolling on the web!)

For further schedule information and course descriptions please visit us.

NOTE: Some new classes do not yet have descriptions. Your patience is appreciated.

Quote

When I began painting, all my paintings were of words which were gutteral utterances like Smash, Boss, Eat. Those words were like flowers in a vase; I just happened to paint words like someone else paints flowers. It wasn't until later that I was interested in combinations of words and making thoughts, sentences, and things like that.

~ Ed Ruscha