Strategically Speaking: A Blog by Denha Media Group
Some of the most memorable Mackinac moments are crafted quotes and comments that were actually strategically created to be memorable sound bites in speeches and media interviews.
It’s all about knowing how to tell your own story.
Nearly one year later, you may not remember exactly who said what during the 2015 Mackinac Policy Conference and at the Detroit Policy Conference but at the time, the messages were noted.
The Policy Conference Challenge
In the spirit of memorable moments, I thought we could play a little game as we head up to the 2016 conference and try to figure out who said what last year.
Can you match the below person with his or her quote? The correct answers will be posted on the Denha Media Group Facebook page on Wednesday, June 1st.
Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah
Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post Columnist Eugene Robinson
Operation Hope Founder John Hope Bryant
Bill Ford, Jr.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell
Westland Mayor William R. Wild
Governor Rick Snyder
_____ “You all need to tell your state legislators to get some balls…If we don’t want to be a Third World country, we’ve got to fix our infrastructure.” (Detroit News)
_____ “The people who run Michigan are here…this conversation necessarily takes us out of our comfort zones and into places we don’t normally go. But that’s OK … that’s how we make progress. We do things that make us uncomfortable.” (Detroit Free Press)
_____ “We consider this a Michigan statewide management retreat, because it really is the top level of leaders of our political and business community all in one place, all at one time, all having the same conversation.” (MLive)
_____ “We are in a time of great change … We just need to be open-mined enough and nimble enough …We know how to make things … we can make it here better than anyone else can.” (CBS Detroit)
_____ “…disinvesting in the MEDC while Michigan’s economy is growing will set the state and its cities farther behind.” (Crain’s Detroit Business)
_____ “We actually have more than 20 percent of open jobs than we had in 2011…that is why this huge topic of the skilled trades is so critically important.” (WJR)
_____ “Nothing changes your life more than God, love, or moving your credit score 120 points.” (At the Detroit Policy Conference/Detroit News)
8 Tips to Create the Quotable Quote and Solid Sound Bite
Whether you are creating your own content for your various platforms or telling your story to the media, there are simple tips for creating the quotable quotes and the sound soundbites!
Answer the question that is actually being asked.
Shock without being inappropriately shocking.
Say what others are thinking but no one has the guts to say.
Think pithy and clever not pathetic and quirky.
Be concise not convoluted.
Get to the point (the 20-second soundbite and the quick quote).
Be relevant. Offer ideas and opinions about the topic being discussed.
Use social media to post your own quotes about a current event topic.
Vanessa Denha Garmo has been attending the Mackinac Policy Conference since the early 90s.
Vanessa Denha Garmo is a communications strategist and the founder of Denha Media Group.
