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What Can We Learn From Gayle King’s R Kelly Interview?

“That set, no matter how many handlers, supporters, or attorneys R Kelly brought along with him, was Gayle King’s house.”

Demetri Ravanos

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Last week the world was treated to a master class in interviewing courtesy of CBS’s Gayle King. The CBS This Morning anchor sat down for a one-on-one interview with R. Kelly. If you haven’t done so already, take some time to watch it, but keep in mind, it isn’t easy to get through.

The interview represented the first time the embattled R&B star has spoken since the release of the docu-series Surviving R Kelly, which detailed the stories of women that say Kelly held them against their will and in many cases began sexual relationships with them before they turned 18. That he would speak on the record about the charges was both shocking and newsworthy, and it is a credit to King that she and CBS landed the exclusive.

R. Kelly, not surprisingly, was combative and downright unhinged. By now you have seen this picture of the moment he stood up and appeared to try to intimidate King.

Whether or not Kelly was ever going actually hit or try to otherwise harm Gayle King is irrelevant. He wanted to make it clear that she should be uncomfortable sitting across from him and making these accusations. He wanted to throw her off her game and gain an upper hand in the interview.

But look at King.

Not only is she calm. She isn’t even making eye contact. She isn’t going to engage him the way he wants her to, the way that might put her on the defensive.

A lot of us had fun with this interview. Countless memes were generated from the image above. Saturday Night Live even made the interview the focus of its cold open this week.

The comedy coming from the interview was fun. We all had a good laugh. I even generated a little meme from it myself.

But if you are in the sports media, I hope the fun didn’t overshadow the great work Gayle King did, because there is something we can all take away from it. You may not ever be in a situation that contentious, but any job that requires you to give an opinion about another person’s performance can come with its share of confrontations. Notice how King stayed in control of the situation and didn’t waiver or give in to Kelly’s attempts to elicit sympathy instead of provide answers.

I asked a couple of friends in the sports media their thoughts on the interview and maintaining their cool and some level of professionalism when talking to someone that clearly isn’t happy to be a part of the conversation.

Nate Kreckman is the afternoon drive host at Altitude Sports 92.5 in Denver. He says the key to staying professional in that situation is to come into the interview as a professional.

Image result for nate kreckman

“As long as your intention is to ask direct questions in an attempt to extract some sort of honesty or truth out of the interviewee, then it’s pretty easy to stay calm,” Nate said via text message. “If you’re trying to grandstand or gotcha the interviewee for the glorification of your own ego and to get some attention, then you ultimately will look bad and invite criticism onto yourself.”

Taylor Zarzour of Sirius XM’s ESPNU Radio and the SEC Network didn’t just tell me about a specific instance where it was clear that his interview subject wasn’t enjoying Taylor’s company. He sent along a picture someone snapped of Taylor looking uncomfortable while Bob Knight was clearly reading him the riot act.

“It was as fun as it looked. Right before the [NCAA basketball] Tournament started he came in with Billy Packer to the studio on my show in Charlotte.” This would have been a few years ago when Taylor hosted afternoons on WFNZ along with Marc James.

Taylor simply said that it was a fun time of year. Knight, who never misses a chance to start a fight, said something to the effect of it not being a fun time of year for coaches that are about to get fired, as if Taylor was including people getting fired as part of what America considers fun about college basketball.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is FullSizeRender-1024x764.jpg

Knight knows he scores points with his fans by dumping on the media, and that is what he did here. “See, people like you, the media, the problem is you don’t think of the impact it has on them,” Knight said according to Taylor’s recollection.

He fired back at Knight that not only did Knight not know what Taylor was thinking, but that there was a very real chance the former coach didn’t even know Taylor’s name.

“Regardless of what your mother calls you, you said it’s fun, and it’s not fun for everyone,” Knight shot back.

Taylor told me that he thought it was clear that Knight appreciated someone pushing back against him. “When it was over he slapped me on the back and smiled as he walked out.”

“There’s no way I could’ve done that at the beginning of my career. I would’ve crumbled. But as time has gone on I’ve realized how important it is to represent your audience, be poised, prepared, and to stand your ground.”

Be professional. Represent your audience. Be poised and prepared, and if you know you’re right, stand your ground. Those are the lessons that come to mind for Kreckman and Zarzour when asked about how to deal with a volatile or potentially volatile interview, and they are the qualities that made Gayle King shine next to a man trying everything he could to discredit her and her line of questioning.

Image result for gayle king r kelly metoo

That set, no matter how many handlers, supporters, or attorneys R Kelly brought along with him, was Gayle King’s house. She wasn’t there to put him on trial, but she also wasn’t going to cede an inch to him.

It reminded me of that scene from Captain America: Civil War at Peggy Carter’s funeral. Her niece, Sharon, delivers the eulogy and says that her aunt taught her to stand up for herself when she knows she isn’t wrong. “Even if the whole world is telling you to move,” Agent Carter said according to Sharon, “it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye and say ‘No. You move.'”

Gayle King didn’t walk into that room to make money off R. Kelly’s name. That is why he couldn’t throw her off with violent outbursts or crocodile tears. She wasn’t going to let R. Kelly use her to say whatever he wanted without answering a real question.

We’re thankful when a guest agrees to join us on our show or give us a few minutes on the sideline or in the locker room after a game. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask hard questions. If they object, you have to be ready to answer your own gut check.

Did you come here for a “gotcha moment” or are you asking a legitimate question that the player or coach just doesn’t want to answer? If its the latter, follow Gayle King’s example.

Image result for gayle king r kelly

Stay calm and in control. Your job isn’t to make the interviewee look good. It is to be fair. If you can honestly say you are being fair, there is no reason to shrink in the face of conflict.

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How to Help Your Clients with Low Website Conversions

Don’t assume there isn’t enough traffic; focus on optimizing user engagement once visitors arrive on the site.

Jeff Caves

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Graphic for how to increase website conversions
Credit: WPDesigner.Biz

Are your clients dealing with low website conversions? Whenever a marketing campaign is run, and the goal is to convert website visitors into leads, the temptation is to blame low traffic, amongst other issues, for low form fills or appointments being generated.  Just spend more money, you may think! Sometimes, you must look at at least four other potential issues to tackle poor conversion rates. Here are some actionable steps using the IT services industry to increase website conversions.

IT Solutions specializes in providing products, services, or solutions related to technology, particularly in areas such as software development, hardware sales, IT consulting, cybersecurity, cloud computing, networking, and digital transformations. They faced challenges with their website conversions. Despite driving substantial traffic through Google Ads and other SEO tactics, they struggled to convert website visitors into form fills for appointment requests. A 2% to 5% conversion rate could be considered reasonable. Of course, conversion rates can vary based on various factors, such as the competitiveness of the local market, the quality of the website (and radio stations help most to fix that) and its user experience, the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and the reputation and offerings of the IT solutions business. Focusing on improving the quality of leads and providing exceptional customer service can be just as crucial as achieving high conversion rates. Don’t blame EVERYTHING on the marketing tactics! 

The Diagnosis

Upon thorough analysis, several critical issues were identified with IT Solutions’ website:

1. High Bounce Rate: Nobody was checking out the business. If 70% or more of website visitors only visit the landing page, that is an issue.  It could be slow loading times, irrelevant content, poor user experience, or unclear calls-to-action that prevent them from wanting to know more about IT Solutions. You can check the bounce rate on the Google Analytics page for the website in the left-hand sidebar, click on “Behavior” to expand the menu, then click on “Site Content,” and finally, click on “Landing Pages.” You’ll see a list of landing pages and their respective bounce rates.

2. Complex Navigation: It was hard to move around the website to find relevant information about IT services, and it was unclear who they were initiating contact with and for what purpose.

3. Unclear Calls-to-Action (CTAs): The website lacked clear and compelling CTAs guiding visitors toward requesting an appointment. Simply stating “click here for an appointment” is like asking for a meeting whenever or without establishing value. Here are 28 CTAs for free.

4. Lengthy Forms: The appointment forms were long, without qualifying information, and requested excessive information upfront, deterring potential leads from completing them.

Action Plan

1. Optimize Landing Pages:

   – Redo high-traffic landing pages with clear messaging and compelling CTAs.

   – Showcase IT Solutions’ services as benefits, making it easier for users to request appointments, thereby increasing user engagement and conversions.

2. Simplify Navigation:

   – Reorganize the menu and add more action-oriented links.

   – Provide additional options for users to access relevant information, such as “Get a free IT Solutions 15-point checkup NOW” and “Take this 5-question survey to diagnose your IT issues,” motivating them to book appointments.

3. Enhance CTAs:

   – Utilize concise and persuasive messaging throughout the website.

   – Encourage visitors to take action, whether requesting a free download about “5 things you can do to solve your IT issues on your own” or “get a free pizza for booking an appointment.”

4. Improve the Form Fill:

   – Add a further line about the number of employees who qualify for incoming leads.

   – Highlight the value of leads based on company size, prioritizing forms with higher potential impact.

Review landing pages, navigation, CTAs, and form experience to address website conversion issues. Don’t assume there isn’t enough traffic; focus on optimizing user engagement once visitors arrive on the site.

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‘NHL on TNT’ Gives Hockey Fans the ‘NBA on TNT’ Treatment

Watching Albert and Olczyk call a hockey game is like watching Picasso paint and da Vinci sculpt. They are masters of their respective crafts.

John Molori

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NHL on TNT studio

Let’s play a little word association, sports media style. If I say TNT, what is your response? Chances are it will be a three-letter abbreviation of your own, namely, NBA. Over the years, TNT has built a reputation as arguably the premiere network to telecast the National Basketball Association.

The NBA on TNT pregame and halftime shows have become the gold standard with stars like Ernie Johnson, Jr., Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. Still, it’s not just this quartet of roundball royalty that has fortified TNT’s hoops coverage.

The rep was also built on tremendous play-by-play announcers like Bob Neal and Kevin Harlan, color analysts like Doug Collins and Reggie Miller, and courtside reporters like the late Craig Sager and current sideline star Allie LaForce.

Indeed, TNT and the NBA have become synonymous, but I have some news for you. This network is not just about professional basketball. This past week I went off the grid with TNT looking at their in-game and studio coverage of the NHL.

On March 24, the NHL on TNT provided coverage of the Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche matchup. Kenny Albert did play-by-play with Eddie Olczyk on color. Albert is not as noted as his legendary broadcasting father Marv Albert, but he has certainly staked his claim as one of the best in the business – able to cross over to multiple sports with equal aplomb.

Hockey is a strong suit for Albert. His rat-tat-tat, drama-building style draws viewers in and keeps us on the edge of our seats. Similarly, Olczyk is one of the top four or five NHL game analysts in the business. His style is understated, providing calm and clear analysis of key plays. They work really well together.

Albert eschews any kind of hackneyed and trite catch phrases for his goal calls. An emphatic, “He shoots and scores!” is plenty enough.

Hockey is a different beast when it comes to play-by-play. Unlike basketball, baseball, football, or even soccer and tennis, there is a minimum of breaks in the action. With hockey, a play-by-play announcer has to know the names of the players like he or she knows her kids’ names.

To me, it is the hardest sport for play-by-play and equally difficult for a color analyst. In basketball, after a team scores, the play-by-play announcer will keep silent and give the color analyst time to talk until the play crosses center court. In baseball and football, there is ample room for commentary.

Hockey does not offer such space, but Olczyk gets the most out of the minimal amount of time. Watching Albert and Olczyk call a hockey game is like watching Picasso paint and da Vinci sculpt. They are masters of their respective crafts.

Coming back from a break in the game, Albert and Olczyk provided on air commentary and then tossed to ice level reporter Brian Boucher who has grown into a tremendous asset to the TNT broadcasts. Boucher provided real talk about Colorado’s objectives of staying on top of their division and vying for the top seed in the Western Conference.

The Penguins, squarely in a rebuilding year having dumped talent at the NHL trade deadline, surprisingly jumped out to a 2–0 lead in this game, and the TNT between periods studio crew was all over it. The excellent Liam McHugh hosted alongside Colby Armstrong, Anson Carter, and Keith Yandle.

Armstrong was especially entertaining. With Pittsburgh outshooting the Avs 16-4, Armstrong noted that it’s the best he’s seen Pittsburgh play in a long time. His reasoning was that teams get geared up for playing Colorado even if it’s out of fear. Great stuff.

Both teams tallied two goals in the second period giving Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame. When Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon set up Jonathan Drouin for a goal to make it 4-3, Albert and Olczyk showed their strengths.

Albert called the pass from MacKinnon and one-timer goal from Drouin, and immediately noted that MacKinnon now had a point in all 34 of Colorado’s home games this season. On the goal replay, Olczyk showed how the play developed pointing out how McKinnon allowed Pittsburgh’s Evgenii Malkin to come in close before making the past to Drouin.

The TNT production team then showed a graphic displaying that McKinnon is now second all-time in longest home points streaks trailing only Wayne Gretzky. This was a sublime sequence of symmetry between talent and technicians like a songwriter, musician, and singer creating beautiful music.

What was supposed to be a blowout win for Colorado had now become a hockey barn burner, and the TNT crew was up to the task. Every goal and key play was followed up with replays from multiple angles showing the genesis of the action.

TNT has certainly taken to the velocity of the hockey broadcast with movement that challenges directors, graphics professionals, and videographers.

When there were breaks in this non-stop action, Olczyk was at his best. No hockey analyst draws on his experience as a player and explains that experience better to viewers. The TNT broadcast also lets Boucher freewheel and join in the flow of discussion without having to be introduced.

TNT does not merely rely on the traditional wide shot of the entire rink. We see close-up shots of each goaltender after a great save and the sweat of players on the bench or in the penalty box.

When McKinnon tied the game at 4-4 with 4:38 left in the third period, we got a series of tremendous crowd shots showing the Colorado fans going absolutely berserk. The sage Albert and Olczyk wisely remained quiet for several seconds, letting the cheers do the talking.

When Drouin scored the game winner at 4:06 of overtime, Albert exercised controlled enthusiasm, raising his voice on the call of the goal, but not becoming the show and overshadowing the play itself. He is definitely in the mold of Dan Kelly, Gary Thorne, and Sean McDonough, announcers who enhance but do not supersede the game.

Putting a cherry on top of this hockey Sunday, TNT showed a graphic that the Avalanche now led the NHL in comeback wins this season with 25 and that they were riding a 9-game winning streak. In analyzing the goal, Olczyk opined that the altitude of playing in Colorado was prevalent as the Penguins seemed to tire as the game progressed – really interesting insight.

In the postgame show, Anson Carter made a great point that the chemistry between Drouin and MacKinnon stems from the fact that they have been playing together going back to junior hockey. McKinnon joined in from the arena for a postgame interview. The analysts asked solid questions and even did a funny MVP chant together as the interview ended.

The NHL on TNT takes no back seat to its elder NBA sister. The broadcast provides viewers with flash, dash, and serious hockey talk from every angle – in studio, from the broadcast booth, and on the ice.

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Kim Mulkey Now Has Everyone Anticipating Washington Post Story

I can’t imagine what headline, under normal circumstances, the Washington Post would have to put on a Kim Mulkey story to make me want to read it.

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photo of LSU women's college basketball coach Kim Mulkey
Credit: Dailymail.co.uk

The Washington Post, you might’ve heard, has a story coming out about controversial LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey. The reason you might’ve heard is because Kim Mulkey told you. The Tigers coach read a fiery prepared statement just before her team started the Women’s NCAA Tournament. In the statement, Mulkey threatened to sue The Post for defamation before the first word was even published.

Now, I’ve never run a public relations firm but that did not seem like a good idea. The Washington Post story on Mulkey is one of the bigger stories in sports right now and nobody even knows what’s in it. The reason the story, apparently unflattering to Mulkey, is even on anyone’s radar screen is Mulkey herself.

It all started with an innocuous social media post by Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde right in the middle of the most anticipated two days in sports, the NCAA Tournament Round of 64. On his X account, Forde posted: “Hearing some buzz about a big Washington Post story in the works on LSU women’s hoops coach Kim Mulkey, potentially next week. Wagons being circled, etc.”

You know what generally will go unnoticed at 4:00 on the first Friday of the NCAA Tournament? A post on X about a women’s basketball coach. But don’t tell Mulkey, she saw Forde’s post and decided to fight fire with nuclear weaponry. The result: the average person like me now is really interested in what has Mulkey so incensed. By “average person like me” I mean that I can’t imagine what headline, under normal circumstances, the Washington Post would have to put on a Kim Mulkey story to make me want to read it. Maybe:

“LSU Women’s Coach Discovers Ark of the Covenant”

Or:

“Mulkey Reveals True JFK Assassin(s)”

Perhaps:

“Famed Women’s Basketball Coach Reveals the Mystery Behind Slow Drivers in the Left Lane”

Literally any of those catch my attention more than whatever will likely be the Washington Post headline about Mulkey. But now Mulkey is “Mad as Hell and is not going to take this anymore” so I now have an interest I would never before have had in this story. It has been fascinating to watch the online speculation about the subject of the article and all we really know, as of now, is that it will be written by Kent Babb. This is a dream come true for Babb; he writes an article that is, presumably, not flattering about Kim Mulkey and, before it is even published, she gives the article the greatest commercial anyone could give it. Babb couldn’t have entered into a business agreement with Mulkey and had this turn out better for him.

For those who don’t follow Babb, he is a former NFL reporter who now is an award-winning writer for the Washington Post. In his 14 years with The Post, he has written sports features and authored a couple of books. One of those sports features stories was a deep dive into what he viewed as a large inequity in the level of pay for LSU head football coach Brian Kelly and his LSU players. It is this piece Mulkey described as a “hit piece” and, based on that piece, referred to Babb as a “sleazy reporter.” Babb, and many others, resented the fact his story was labeled as a hit piece. In fact, Babb essentially confirmed he was the author Mulkey was referencing when he shared the original article on X with the comment: “Hit piece?”

Whether a printed piece or a recorded interview, I can’t imagine a better promotion for it than the subject of the interview threatening a libel/slander lawsuit, especially before it is even released. That simply screams “This piece is salacious!!” Also, libel and slander suits get settled all the time, right? Of course they don’t, they seem to never even get filed. That little thing called discovery is a scary thing for most public figures.

The NCAA Tournament has been very entertaining, and I think the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be terrific. For only the fifth time ever, the top two seeds have advanced to the third round which sets up for a remarkable weekend. For me, I guess it will now include a Washington Post article, not a sentence I’d normally say.

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