Depending on the kind of content you create, you may end up conducting interviews now and then. Find out how to pull them off like a pro here!

As social creatures, we spend a lot of time communicating with one another and asking questions. That’s not to say it’s always an easy thing to do, particularly when we’re unfamiliar with someone. Pile on the added pressure of wanting to ensure a conversation steers in a specific direction and is engaging to watch, and a simple chat can become downright daunting.

Conducting interviews is a fantastic way to get fresh information, and makes for very popular content. Whilst catching up with simmerdown in an interview, we received some valuable pearls of wisdom as a bonus. Whether you’re a music journalist getting the lowdown on a band’s latest tour, or you’re a dressmaker chatting to an industry expert for your website, interviews are great vehicles for entertainment.

Check out our top tips for conducting interviews that will dig into the details, whilst ensuring you and your guest are comfortable and happy!

Homework

Fail to prepare, and you should prepare to fail (as many of my teachers used to warn). Before going into any interview, you should do plenty of research on your interviewee. Find out their backstory, check out previous work they’ve done, and see what’s in the pipeline for them.

Not only will this help you to feel more confident when interviewing them, but it will help shape your questions. There’s no point asking questions when the answers are already out there for all to see.

Pick a Theme

Without a clear direction for the interview, you risk your questions being scattered and incoherent. You’d be surprised how much time is taken up by just 4 or 5 questions.

People don’t generally want to be interviewed for hours, so you need to think carefully about what exactly you’re trying to learn from them. Picking a theme you’re interested in hearing about will act as a guide. For example, a theme could simply be somebody’s most recent project they worked on. Or, it could be how they approach creating and making.

Double Check Details

Plan the logistical details of the interview in plenty of time. This means securing a date and time, as well as a location. If you intend on conducting the interview virtually, make sure you have tested the software you are going to use.

Then, nearer the time, check in with your interviewee to double-check they have all the details they need and are still good to go ahead. This sounds basic but, it will go a long way in making yourself and your interviewee feel more relaxed.

Prompts

Trying to commit everything to memory is ambitious and, honestly, a bit silly. Keep a list of your questions and prompts with you when conducting interviews. This way, you can be more present in the interview and really listen to what is being said. Doing so will allow you to pose new questions that might lead on nicely from a guest’s answer.

Be Yourself

An age-old classic piece of advice, but particularly applicable here. You could be interviewing for your YouTube channel or for a news site, consistency is key. Apologies for all the clichés.

If you’re conducting interviews whilst trying to play a role, you’re going to appear disingenuous. Watching interactions which aren’t authentic can quickly become awkward and uncomfortable. Not to mention the fact that whoever you’re speaking to will pick up on it as well.

Think about your own character and strengths, and bring these to the table each time. You’ll soon be carving out a niche for yourself and finding your natural interviewing style.