Effective
Podcast Interviews
By S. Housley
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.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts.
In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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