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BOOK EXCERPT
📖 25 Questions To Answer Before Your Next Media Interview
Excerpted and adapted from My Interview Tactics book by Bart Smith.
Reprinted by Permission
One of the fastest ways to improve an interview is to ask yourself the right questions before it begins.
These questions force you to think through your message, audience, stories, logistics, online presence and follow-up plan before you are live on the air.
Before your next TV, radio, podcast, YouTube or livestream interview, answer these 25 questions:
1. Why am I doing this interview?
Know the personal or professional goal behind the appearance.
2. Who is the audience?
Understand who will be watching or listening and what matters to them.
3. What is the main message I want people to remember?
Reduce your interview to one clear central idea.
4. What are the three most important points I want to make?
Choose your strongest supporting ideas so you do not try to say everything.
5. What story best illustrates my message?
Prepare a memorable example that brings your point to life.
6. What problem am I helping the audience understand or solve?
A useful interview gives the audience something they can understand, use or act on.
7. What questions am I most likely to be asked?
Anticipate the obvious questions and practice clear responses.
8. What questions would I love the host to ask me?
Create a suggested question list that guides the interview toward your strongest material.
9. Can I answer each important question in 30 seconds?
Practice being concise for short interview formats.
10. Can I expand those answers to one or two minutes when needed?
Prepare for longer podcast, radio or livestream conversations.
11. What facts, examples or statistics do I need to remember?
Review important details before the interview so you are not scrambling for information.
12. Which stories or examples should I avoid because they take too long?
Know what to leave out when time is limited.
13. What is the host's style?
Know whether the conversation is formal, casual, fast-paced, humorous, technical or confrontational.
14. What kinds of guests has this show featured before?
Past guests help you understand what the host and audience respond to.
15. What should I wear if the interview is on video?
Choose clothing and grooming that fit the show and look good on camera.
16. Is my background clean and professional?
Remove clutter and distractions before a remote video interview.
17. Have I tested my camera, microphone and lighting?
Do not discover technical problems when the interview is already starting.
18. Is my Internet connection reliable?
Use the most stable connection available and close unnecessary bandwidth-heavy applications.
19. Is my website ready for people who look me up?
Make sure your home page, bio, book page, services and contact information are current.
20. Is my Interview Me page ready?
Give hosts and producers an easy place to find your bio, topics, questions, images and links.
21. Is my Media Room or Press Room current?
Keep sample interviews, media assets and credibility materials organized.
22. Where do I want the audience to go after the interview?
Choose one clear call-to-action.
23. Can I say that website, book title or call-to-action clearly and quickly?
Practice saying it naturally so it does not sound forced.
24. What will I do immediately after the interview?
Plan to thank the host, save the link or recording and respond to new inquiries.
25. How will I reuse this interview?
Think ahead about clips, quotes, articles, emails, social posts and future pitch material.
FINAL THOUGHT
If you can answer these 25 questions before the interview, you will walk in far more prepared than the average guest.
And that is the point: do the thinking before the interview so you can be present, confident, helpful and memorable during it.
(THIS CONTINUES IN THE BOOK)
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