6 Tips For Hosting Better Video Interviews

Are you interviewing industry experts on video? Here are some actionable tips that will make your interviews better.

It's no secret that video content is one of the most effective mediums for driving traffic. While there are many different styles of videos that are effective (webinars, screen recordings, etc.), an interview with industry experts is one of the best ways to educate your audience and grab attention.The beauty of hosting an interview-style video with an industry expert is the cross-promotion. Your interviewee will be motivated to promote the video with their network, so it's a really organic way to introduce your brand to a new audience. However, if the quality of your interview is lacking, they may not be as willing to share with their audience. Not to mention, your own audience will be less likely to engage with the video.So how can we make our video interviews better? First, let's look at the qualities that make a great interviewer.

What Qualities Make For A Great Interviewer?

1. They’re prepared

A great interviewer isn’t going to walk into an interview without having done their homework. You need to research your guest ahead of time to come up with thought-provoking questions and conversations that will drive the interview.Do a Google search, research LinkedIn, and watch other interviews the person has done. These are great ways to properly prep for an interview.

2. They’re inquisitive

A great interviewer won’t just ask cookie-cutter questions, and they'll aim to have much more than a good conversation. Great interviewers are searching for the story. They solicit good advice from their guest. They are prepared to ask follow-up questions and keep the conversation going.

3. They’re adaptive

Great interviewers don't panic if the conversation heads slightly off-track. They know how to follow the thread of discussion – you never know what wisdom or purpose could come of it. Of course, you have to keep the interview on track, but you also need to be flexible.

4. They’re curious

A great interviewer is thoughtful, curious, and interested in learning a new perspective. This gives more meaning to the conversation and the story the guest is telling.

6 Tips For Hosting Better Video Interviews

1. Do your research before the interview

You should take some time to research your guest, their work, their company, and so on. This will help you get an idea of what you want to talk about during the interview. If your guest has done other interviews (maybe on another show), take some time to listen to them. What are the most important or interesting points addressed in these interviews? Can you dive deeper into those topics?

2. Spend time with the guest ahead of the interview

Take at least 10-15 minutes to chat with your guest before the interview. If you take some time to talk with them and have a conversation with them, they’ll be more comfortable talking to you during the interview.This is especially helpful when you’ve only talked to guests over email beforehand. Work out the awkward greetings and build some rapport. You’ll be able to tell the difference between an interview that started cold and one where you warmed up the guest with conversation for a few minutes.

3. Be conversational

Keep a conversational tone for the interview. You want the interview to sound like a discussion, not an interrogation. Let the conversation and interview flow naturally. This will put your interviewee at ease.This is another time when having a list of questions prepared beforehand comes in handy, since you can lead parts of the conversation to the next question. This is incredibly helpful when trying to nail those seamless segues during your interview.

4. Go with open-ended questions

Rather than asking yes or no questions or questions with simple, one-sentence answers, ask open-ended questions. This will allow your guest to offer their advice, opinions, experience, and wisdom. It will also allow them to form their own response and give a thoughtful answer. The last thing you want to do is prompt them to give an answer you’ve already decided for them.

5. Address topics that may have been overlooked or approach topics in a new way

You don’t want your interview to be like all the other interviews out there. This is your chance to find your voice and differentiate yourself. This ultimately gives listeners more of a reason for tuning in to your show.See if you can pick a topic that might not have been covered by anyone before. At the very least, try to take a different perspective on a familiar topic. Your guest will probably appreciate not being asked the same questions that they’ve answered a dozen times before.

6. Be a good listener

You have to be a good listener. Let your guest talk. You’re having a conversation with them, of course, but you should be guiding the discussion. The spotlight belongs to your guest.This is a skill that takes time to hone. At times, you may interview a guest that will talk without stopping. Other times, you will have a guest on your show that is quiet, reserved, and simply a challenge to speak to. It can feel like you’re desperately pulling out little bits of information. But, over time, you will find that balance that really brings harmony to your interviews. All of which begin with being a good listener.

Posting Video Interviews on Social Media? Beware! Over 80% of Videos Are Watched on Mute.

If you are posting your video interviews on social media, keep in mind that most people are browsing social media with videos on mute. If people are at the office, in public, or in a quiet place, they may not have their volume on. That is why it is so important to add captions to your videos.It's also exactly why, here at Zubtitle, we are creating tools to help you make more effective videos for social media and similar platforms. Zubtitle is an app that allows you to quickly add captions to your videos so you can increase engagement with your audience. Learn more about how to add captions to LinkedIn videos in our previous blog post.So what are you waiting for?Get started automatically adding captions to your videos today.