Television is one of the most powerful forms of marketing. In fact, according to a recent study by Ball State University on the media consumption habits of the average American, "Television remains the dominant medium in most U.S. households."

In addition to the massive amount of exposure you can get through television publicity, TV viewers and potential clients get to see and hear you which gives them a greater sense of connection with your.

While there are many great things about TV publicity, it is important to recognize its limitations by acknowledging some of the benefits as well as drawbacks of being on television.

Pros of TV Publicity

* Provides the ability to reach a large target audience during a concentrated period of time. Regional news programs and talk shows capture between 500,000 to 1.5 million viewers while national shows get an average of 3.5 million viewers daily.

* Gives you, your business or product instant credibility because of the implied third party endorsement. Just having a picture of your book displayed on the TV screen can increase your sales. Plus, when your website is mentioned or linked to the shows official website viewers can get additional content and information about you.

* TV publicity is free. The cost for a 30 second TV commercial during a regional news program or talk show to promote your product or service could be as much $100,000. The cost is more than triple that amount for a national commercial. Televison publicity allows you to showcase your expertise without the hefty price tag.

Cons of TV Publicity

* There is very limited time to convey a lot of information. Talk show segments are approximately 4 to 6 minutes long. News programs cover stories in even shorter times, averaging just one to 3 minutes per story.

* It's one of the most competitive forms of publicity so you have to be persistent and keep contacting producers with compelling pitches until you grab their attention and convince them to book you.

* Television publicity requires repetition to be fully effective. In marketing, "The Rule of 7" says it may take up to 7 impressions before a potential customer will take notice of you and then take action. Being on TV one time may not be enough to get the desired results.

Now that you are aware of some of the pros and cons of TV publicity you can better determine if it fits within your overall marketing plan.