(DGIwire) — Talk shows and news shows alike heavily rely on celebrity interviews to boost their viewership and ratings. Of course, this is not a one-way street—celebrities can benefit from these TV appearances as well, since they usually have a new movie or TV show to promote. Ultimately, though, it helps them sell their biggest commodity—themselves.

Not all interviews—or interviewers—are created equal. Scheduled interviews veer wildly off track when either the celebrity or the interviewer tries to push a personal agenda. Take, for example, actor and comedian Russell Brand’s 2013 appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Brand, famous for his unpredictable antics, was on the show to promote his then-upcoming comedy tour, but quickly realized that the hosts’ only interest was in mocking him. Fortunately—and as a testament to his savoir-faire—Brand regained control over the interview and offered an off-the-cuff, on-air critique of cable news.

Unfortunately, many people aren’t able to bounce back this easily, and find themselves the butt of a media interviewer’s misguided and hurtful humor. For celebrities, this could mean the front cover of a tabloid, but for leaders of publicly traded companies, a bad interview can result in a tarnished reputation and a loss of share price as well as a loss of face.

Any company—publicly traded or otherwise—is only as reputable as its leadership, which is why interviews with the media can be make-or-break moments. Here are some invaluable tips to ensure a positive and beneficial interview for all parties. They are offered by Dian Griesel, Ph.D., President of DGI Comm, an award-winning media relations and news placement agency based in New York City. She is also the author of a new book, ENGAGE: Smart Ideas to Get More Media Coverage, Build Your Influence & Grow Your Business.

1. Know your environment. Inquire about the nature of the interview, including the exact topic(s) to be discussed. This will give you a good idea on what you need to do to prepare for it. Which leads to…
2. Prepare.Before agreeing to an interview, decide on the top three or four points you want to make. Knowing this ahead of time will ensure the important information comes across, and you’re not wasting precious on-air time with minor chitchat.
3. Don’t underestimate a reporter’s agenda. Anticipate that any journalist will have done research on you and your company and that they will ask hard-hitting questions. Failing to prepare answers for these tough questions will make you look like a deer caught in headlights and potentially damage your credibility.
4. Be professional. This includes: arriving early to the interview location with appropriate photo ID; avoiding alcohol prior to the interview, regardless of how you think it might help you relax; being aware of time, since interviews are typically three minutes long and you’ve got a lot of ground to cover; and not bringing notes on the air with you—you will look amateurish if you do.

Some companies offer media training for their most visible employees, but many don’t have it in their budget. For those who are preparing for an interview and want even more helpful lessons, Dian Griesel has them covered. “Interviews are an ideal way to put your best face forward and attract the attention your company deserves,” explains Griesel. “Don’t get caught up in the media’s agenda—use the interview to its full advantage.”

Sage advice—and there’s a lot more of that in her new book.

(DGIwire) — It’s impossible to overlook the benefits the Internet has given us over the past two decades. Email has made keeping in touch with loved ones and staying on top of business affairs faster and easier, and search engines and online databases bring limitless knowledge to our fingertips—and this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the Internet’s features. Most people use their web access positively and stick with their own social networking, emailing and research. Unfortunately, there are malicious people who take advantage of the Internet’s vulnerability — taking the “poison pen” to new heights — to post harmful, distasteful and downright slanderous material—all behind the anonymity of a keyboard.

According to a February 22, 2015 New York Times article, a former saleswoman at Zillow, a real estate website, sued her company in December 2014, describing X-rated messages from her male colleagues. Somehow the details of this lawsuit were leaked online and promptly “went viral,” meaning it circulated around the Internet, drawing hundreds of thousands of readers, which caused an instant public relations crisis for the company.

Zillow isn’t the only company to have its legal documents go public and cause a stir. Papers in a sexual harassment suit filed against Tinder, the dating app, circulated in a popular Buzzfeed post. More and more, the first court filings in these sexual harassment suits are winning wide readerships online before anyone sets foot in a courtroom. While this can be a boon for the plaintiff, as they find themselves with an unexpected virtual support group, it is ultimately a slippery slope for the legal profession. Now, anonymous online commenters are suddenly deciding a verdict before a case has been tried in court, and, more often than not, they don’t have all the facts. Panicky defendants are then left scrambling to clear their names from accusations that are sometimes unsubstantiated.

In the Times, Jonathan Zittrain, a Harvard professor of Internet law, compared the practice to the old campus tactic of scrawling the names of alleged sexual offenders on women’s bathroom walls.

Try as we might to keep our private lives private, personal information will sometimes make its way into the public sphere. If you are the leader of a publicly traded company, having your “dirty laundry” appear online can be detrimental to both your personal reputation and the reputation of your company. Dian Griesel, Ph.D., President of DGI based in New York City and author, knows just how important it is to have a solid crisis management plan in place, in case the worst does happen.

“No one is immune from slanderous attacks on the Internet,” explains Griesel. “Even if your record is squeaky-clean, the internet is a free-for-all where unfortunately people can invent and distort information to their liking. Defending yourself against on-line libel is best accomplished by staying laser-focused on reputation management at all times is essential. The time to plan for an attack is long before it happens. Then, in the event of backlash, a plan is established and in place with spokespersons established, to make sure you and your company are fully prepared and can effectively neutralize or overcome the assault.”

(DGIwire) Finding ways to keep your blog fresh can be a real challenge…especially with a new blog popping onto the scene every half a second. That’s a lot of content to compete with out there! Dian Griesel, president of DGI Comm, a firm that’s been creating content for clients for over 20 years, and author of the new book, ENGAGE: Smart Ideas to Get More Media Coverage, Build Your Influence & Grow Your Business suggests several actions you can take to renew and refresh your blog’s content:

1. Participate in the blogosphere. Read and comment on other blogs in your field. Get involved in the conversation, and build your authority on the subject with readers. Find inspiration from the hot topics being discussed in your field. Chances are something will strike a chord with you and you’ll be able to take the idea and run.
2. Engage your readers. Get them involved in the conversation by asking them to comment on your blog. Maybe even pose a question to your readers in your blog post to get a response and start a dialogue amongst readers. Turning your readers into active participants on the blog makes them feel personally invested. If a reader is concerned about his/her privacy, have the option to submit questions or comments via email.
3. Survey your readers. Learn more about who your readers are and what interests them. This is another method to actively engage your readers while learning valuable information about your readers. The survey doesn’t have to be anything too formal, just a fun, casual “Buzzfeed” style quiz to help you get to know your readers’ preferences, experiences and interests.
4. Run a contest or giveaway. Everybody loves to be a winner! Holding a contest is a fun way to get your readers to play an active role in the blog’s content. Building this bridge between a brand’s followers and your followers is beneficial to both sides.
5. Create a ripple effect: Connect your blog to other social media platforms. Utilize the vast network of potential new readers by engaging Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr communities. Encourage your readers to follow you on these various platforms and share your content with their followers. Follow your readers back to stay in tune with their interests and any trending topics in your field.
6. Check your blog’s site meter stats. Examine these numbers to show you which of your articles are the most popular. Use this information to guide your future posts; expand on the topics and subtopics that capture the interests of your readers.
7. Mix it up. Some people like to get their information visually while others prefer more auditory methods. To reach all types of learners, switch up the style of your posts. Try a video entry, image-based post or even a solely auditory podcast. Cover your bases and give all formats a try.
8. Reconnect with your passion. It can be easy to get bogged down with the statistics and lose sight of what’s really important: your passion, the original inspiration for it all. There was something that ignited your interest in this topic and lead you into the blogosphere. Remind yourself of this and write from that place of genuine enthusiasm for the topic.

Blogging takes discipline and dedication. Constantly coming up with new, creative posts can be a daunting task, but if you remember to stick to your passion, engage with your readers and stay connected to both the industry and the community, you will always have something to post about. Get generating!