I got a call from a client the other day who was very excited that she had gotten herself booked for an interview on Channel 8. “Channel 8?” I asked. “You mean the community access station?” Indeed it was true. What may surprise my faithful readers is that I said, “Great!”

I told her that many of the smaller public broadcasting or cable community access stations are what I like to call, “Might See TV.” Because you might see it go by as you flip channels looking for something to watch.

The greatest example of good Might See TV was painter Bob Ross. No matter how many times I flipped by, I would invariably flip back to stare – mesmerized by his ability to effortlessly create “happy little trees” and “whatever else lives in your world.”

Unfortunately, most small station appearances fail to garner any real audience. This doesn’t mean that they hold no value for the person being featured. Appearances such as these, while never the heart of a good media relations campaign, can be valuable in a three distinct ways.

1. Practice, practice, practice. Anytime you can have practice responding to, and interacting with a reporter, or interview host is valuable. Hone your message. Watch your physical habits and practice displaying passion and urgency. Nobody’s watching anyway, so be comfortable and experiment.

2. New video footage. I always remind my speaker and consulting clients to record and videotape everything. How many times have we “rocked” on stage only to find that there is no record of our…uh,…rocking. Use TV appearances such as this to get a great new clip for your demo video.

3. You never know who’s watching. That it. You never know. From prospective clients or customers needing help, to meeting planners, investors, potential partners or even Hollywood agents, you never know who’s out there. So get out there.

The same advice holds true for small community newspapers or online-zines. If someone wants to talk to you for insight or expertise, be clear of their angle and audience and then talk until your green in the wallet.

To paraphrase a well-known maxim: There are no small promotional opportunities – just small promoters!

David Avrin is known internationally as the Visibility Coach. A noted speaker, author, publicist, branding consultant and executive coach, David shows professionals how to stand apart and raise their profile in a competitive marketplace. Visit him online at www.visibilitycoach.com.