BART SMITH OFFICIAL WEBSITE • AUTHOR • YOUTUBER • COOKIE BAKER • COOKBOOK CHEF • FUTURES TRADER
BOOK EXCERPT
📖 15 Interview Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Credibility
Excerpted and adapted from My Interview Tactics book by Bart Smith.
Reprinted by Permission
A good interview can build credibility, attract new followers, generate leads and open doors to future media opportunities. A poor interview can do the opposite.
The problem is that many interview mistakes are not dramatic. They are small habits that make a guest look unprepared, unfocused, difficult to interview or overly promotional.
Here are 15 interview mistakes worth avoiding if you want hosts, producers and audiences to remember you for the right reasons:
1. Winging The Interview
Preparation matters. If you have not reviewed your topic, your talking points, your stories and your call-to-action, you are far more likely to ramble, freeze or forget something important.
2. Not Knowing Your Main Message
You should know the one thing you want the audience to understand or remember. If your message is unclear to you, it will probably be unclear to everyone listening.
3. Giving Answers That Are Too Long
A TV segment may require short answers while a podcast may allow more depth. Learn to answer the same question in 30 seconds, 60 seconds or two minutes depending on the format.
4. Rambling Off-Topic
Answer the question that was asked. Wandering into unrelated stories or long explanations makes the host work harder and can weaken your credibility.
5. Trying To Say Everything You Know
An interview is not a lecture. The audience does not need every fact, idea or story you have. Give them the strongest information that fits the time available.
6. Sounding Over-Rehearsed
Preparation should make you sound more natural, not robotic. Know your key points, but speak conversationally instead of memorizing every sentence.
7. Failing To Practice Out Loud
Thinking through an answer silently is not the same as saying it on camera or into a microphone. Practice your questions out loud and record yourself so you can hear where you ramble or lose clarity.
8. Not Knowing Your Own Material
You should be able to explain your book, business, product, story or expertise without constantly looking things up. Strong preparation gives you flexibility when the host asks an unexpected question.
9. Ignoring Your On-Camera Appearance
For video interviews, posture, facial expressions, lighting, camera angle, clothing and background all influence how viewers perceive you before you even finish your first answer.
10. Failing To Test Your Technology
For remote interviews, test your camera, microphone, lighting, Internet connection and background beforehand. Technical problems can make an otherwise strong guest look unprepared.
11. Hard-Selling Instead Of Serving
The audience wants useful information, stories and insights, not a commercial disguised as an interview. Provide value first. Mention your book, website or offer naturally when the opportunity makes sense.
12. Forgetting Your Call-To-Action
If the host asks where people can learn more, you should already know the answer. Give one clear next step instead of overwhelming viewers or listeners with multiple confusing choices.
13. Making The Host Look Bad
A great guest supports the host. Do not talk over them, fight for control or ignore the direction of the conversation. Make the interview easy and enjoyable for the person asking the questions.
14. Not Reviewing Your Past Interviews
Every interview is training material. Watch or listen afterward and note what worked, where you rambled, which answers were too long, which stories landed and what you want to improve next time.
15. Treating The Interview As A One-Time Event
Save the recording or link. Add strong interviews to your website and media room. Repurpose clips, quotes and ideas. A good interview can keep building your credibility long after the original appearance.
FINAL THOUGHT
You do not need to be perfect to give a great interview. You need to be prepared, clear, useful, conversational and easy to interview.
The more interviews you do, review and improve from, the more natural and credible you become.
(THIS CONTINUES IN THE BOOK)
# # #
WOULD YOU LIKE TO:
RETURN TO THE:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO:
Website Design by Bart Smith
© Bart Smith | All Rights Reserved
