How to Write a Good Interview

Think about what your reader needs to know.

source: pixabay

A good interview is a two-way exchange. It serves both the reader and the interviewee; as the interviewer, you are the conduit between them.

For the person being interviewed, it is a publicity opportunity — a chance to get more eyes in places they want them to be.

For the audience, it is a chance to learn some unique and useful information — something that will help them in some way, or answers to a question they’re interested in, even if that is simply “What’s the next thing this writer is working on?”

Before you write your interview questions, ask the person you’re interviewing a few things:

• What they want to appear in the introduction — any links to previous or upcoming projects, for instance.
• If there are any questions they’d like to answer in particular — especially, again, on any upcoming projects, so they can generate more buzz for it.

That’s your service to the interviewee. But now, for your audience:

• Think about what sort of insight your interviewee has that could be useful to your reader. Are they a blogger? Ask them if they have any tips for first-time bloggers. Have they ever run a successful marketing campaign? Ask them for…