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How to Run a Better Video Interview

When it comes to interviewing someone for a marketing video, there are many things to consider. The questions you ask, and your tone, will greatly impact the person's responses and how they feel about your company. This blog post is going to walk you through some of the basics, as well as provide some tips for what not to do when interviewing people on camera.

Interviewing someone can be a tricky business, but if done right, it can yield amazing results!

 

1. Prepare Questions

Create a list of questions and topics to discuss beforehand. Have a plan for the interview— think about what you want to know and how you will ask those questions. For example, getting feedback from your customers to film positive testimonials is one of the most valuable things you can do for your brand. One way to do this is by asking questions to customers about their experience using your product or services. It’s a good idea to brief your interviewee on the topics you’d like to cover and send over a few sample questions. Whether you are interviewing a C-suite executive or local artist, you should touch base with them beforehand over the phone or email, so they aren’t coming in cold. Just be mindful that the most engaging interviews sound natural and conversational, not rehearsed.

 

2. Set the Scene

Turn off all other distractions— no phones or computers during the interview process! Be mindful of distractions in the background and put away anything that could be knocked over by accident. Avoid interruptions in your video, so it's easier for people to focus on what you'relaying. Lastly, make sure you have proper lighting and microphone setup and check the audio and picture before the camera starts rolling. Sound checks can help get your subject warmed up too!

 

3. Start Asking Questions

Try using open-ended questions that are not leading and have no biases attached to them. You should also brief your interviewee to restate the question in their answers, since the interviewer’s voice is usually edited out. Additionally, ask follow-up questions in order to get more information out of your participant. A great last question is to ask them if there’s anything you didn’t cover that they would like to share.

 

4. Build Rapport

Keep your body language open and welcoming when interviewing someone face-to-face. Don't forget to smile and make eye contact with your subject while talking. The lights and camera are intimidating, so empathize with your subject and reassure them they are doing an excellent job, to calm nerves. Another way to make them feel at ease is to make sure only the people that need to be there are in the room to reduce the pressure of crowd watching. Remember not to talk too much—let them do most of the talking! If they stop mid-sentence, wait for them to continue instead of filling in the silence with more words on your own.

Do you want to create a filmed interview? Video interviewing is an effective way to get your company noticed, but it can be daunting. Many pieces need to fit in place to achieve a good end result. That’s where Rock Shore comes in!  We are experts at making you feel at ease when shooting interviews of any kind. Contact us today, so we can talk about how we can help you produce better videos for your business or organization!

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