Conducting a successful podcast interview can be a tricky proposition for a podcaster starting out. Once you have determined individuals that will appeal to your target audience contact potential interviewees and arrange a time to conduct the interview. Following this guide will insure that the interview goes off without a hitch.
1. Prepare Questions in Advance
Prepare
a list of questions prior to the interview, contemplate possible
follow-up questions based on the expected responses. Create a list of
notes along with the questions that are accessible during the interview
and will help you direct the conversation.
2. Research Interview Subject
Do
your homework about the individual or individuals you are interviewing.
A little due diligence will go a long way. Search newsgroups and Google
for the interviewees name, product, or company, and build a background.
The research will help predict the interviewees responses to your
questions. Listen to previous interviews in which the interviewee
participated, read their blog and articles to get a feel for the
interviewees position on issues.
3. Confirm Pronunciation
Confirm
how the pronunciation of the interviewee's name prior to beginning the
interview! It will save you from any potential embarrassment if the
name is incorrectly pronounced.
4. Scope
Explain
the scope of the interview to the person you are interviewing. It is
important they are aware of the expectations, agenda, time and format
of the podcast show. Create a stock email to send to interviewees that
explains the format and tweak the email for any special cases.
5. Hardware and Software
Be
sure to inform guests of any required hardware or software that they
must install prior to the interview. The more advance notice your
provide the easier it will be for your guests to be prepared.
6. Test!
Test
equipment prior to beginning the interview. Check sound quality, and
volume levels to make sure that the settings are correct.
7. Relax
In
order to relax your guest spend a few minutes chatting before the
interview begins this will put them at ease and relieve some of the
guests interviewer's nerves.
8. Avoid Yes or No
Ask
your questions in a logical sequence. When framing your questions,
avoid questions that will result in "yes" or "no" answers. Questions
should be open ended and you should encourage your guests to elaborate
on their responses.
9. Provide Guests Tips
Make
suggestions to your guest prior to the interview. Encourage the
interviewees to talk slow, articulate their words, and to remain a
consistent distance from the microphone throughout the interview.
10. Stay in Control
Keep
in mind that YOU are the interviewer and you should be directing and
controlling the conversation. Occasionally that means you might need to
interrupt your guest or bring them back to the topic at hand. There are
ways to effectively do this without being rude, practice language that
you might use, or better yet watch television interviewers when
involved in a conflict and take a cue from the language and techniques
that they use.
11. Time Cues
Let your
interviewer know that you will provide time warnings and involve, use
statements like: "one more question", or "let's wrap this up, can you
quickly tell me" to cue your guest that time is almost up.
12. Give Thanks
Thank
your guest on and off air. Provide them a copy or link to the
interview. Encourage your guest to link to the show, this could
potentially bring your show some additional publicity for your show.