As a freelance writer, you’ll frequently need to interview important people for magazine, newspaper, and website articles, or for a book you’re writing.
I’ve already discussed the best methods for actually conducting an interview.Today we’re looking at two critical tasks you must do before the actual interview with someone, VIP or not: getting the subject to agree to the interview and scheduling the interview.
Getting Agreement for the Interview
First off, contact the potential interviewee as soon as possible to actually set up the interview. Phone is typically better than e-mail. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Identify yourself and state why you want the interview.
This includes explaining what you’re writing, who the audience is, and the size of the audience.
2. State how long you would like the interview to be and how you want to do it.
Be open to negotiation, especially if it is a famous person or someone with a very busy schedule.
3. Discuss whether the interview will be in-person, on the Internet, or over the phone.
If you happen to live near the subject, or will be in the same area as the subject, an in-person interview is optimal. It allows you to establish personal rapport that is difficult to create otherwise. Another option is to use a service that allows you to both use your computers and the Internet to view each other and talk; Skype is currently the number one service for that. Finally, there’s the old standby, the telephone.
4. Ask if the person has a media kit they can send you.
You’ll find many people, especially famous ones who are interviewed and written about often, have a media kit with lots of useful information. FYI: check the person’s website first to see if the media kit is there; it often is.
Scheduling the Interview
Schedule the interview so you have plenty of time after it’s complete to process the information and do what you need to do for your article.
Important: confirm the interview day, time, and length the day before, even if you can only leave a phone message or send an e-mail.
Your subject may ask to see the questions ahead of time. This is often a reasonable request: you want the subject to have good answers ready. Depending on the type of interview and the nature of your interviewee, you should also keep some questions in reserve for follow-up and so the interviewee can’t totally shape the interview to his or her liking.
Your Take
Any advice to share about getting agreement for an interview? Scheduling an interview?What’s been your experience?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: @DanielleMcGaw
Great advice John! I think that one of the reasons that people don’t succeed in getting the interviews they want is because they go in unprepared. Your tips should definitely help them get ready though!
Danielle McGaw recently posted…Starting a Business? Don’t Skip These Tips!
Thanks Danielle. Being fully prepared before contacting someone for an interview is crucial.
John Soares recently posted…8 Ways to Increase the Joy of Writing
Twitter: @annewayman
It helps, of course, if you can tell the subject you’ve already got a publication lined up, but it isn’t always necessary. Most people really love to talk about themselves.
If you are prepared by knowing something about the person, and a media kit helps, but isn’t always available and there are other sources (think google) to be checked as well, your chances are good.
Good article as usual!
A
Anne Wayman recently posted…3 Questions & Answers About Publishing
I’ve found that the the more important the publication, the more willing the person is to be interviewed. I know that’s the case for me when I’m being interviewed.
The Internet is a very good resource for finding information about the interviewee, as long as writers pay close attention to the credibility of that information.
John Soares recently posted…Write Faster: 12 Top Tips for Freelance Writers
Twitter: @kikolani
I think I might be more apt to taking on podcast / video interviews if people offered me a list of questions beforehand. I know I should be able to answer them regardless, but I’d rather not be stuck in one of those “uh” moments when being recorded. I think I’ll ask for that from now on.
Kristi Hines recently posted…Measuring Social Media ROI and Goal Conversions with Google Analytics 5
I feel the same way about live interviews that will stay on the Internet forever. I like knowing what the questions will be so I can have a good answer.
That said, I recently was interviewed by Carol Tice of MakeALivingWriting.com about my main freelance writing niche, writing supplements for college textbooks. We did have several questions that were submitted by listeners in real time.
John Soares recently posted…Freelance Writer’s Guide to Internet Research
For those interested in how to perform well when being interviewed for podcast, see my post “Top 10 Tips For a Successful Teleseminar-Podcast Interview.”
John Soares recently posted…Freelance Writer’s Guide to Internet Research
Twitter: @websiteweekend
I’d emphasize again nailing down a time and date precisely. Busy people don’t have time to mess around. Getting that commitment and acting on it is crucial.
I’m even like this myself. If someone doesn’t set a precise time and date, I won’t remember.
Totally agree. You’ve got set the date and time, and the specific length of the interview. Regarding length, the writer should be prepared to go a bit longer if the subject wants to; sometimes the best stuff comes late in the interview when the subject is more comfortable.
John Soares recently posted…Small Positive Changes Add Up to a Big Difference in Your Life
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