Talent
Interview videos have two types of talent: your interviewer and your interviewee(s). For interviewers that appear on camera, you’ll want to pick someone experienced with interviewing as their role will be to help interview subjects feel at ease, and as a result, prompt engaging responses. You may also want someone who has an appropriate knowledge base for answers to questions posed to interviewees like experts or thought leaders.
Research
Following on from above, a practised interviewer will research their interviewee to not only get an understanding of how they fit within the goal of your video and audience, but also discover what’s interesting about them — and what subject matter they’ll likely want to cover e.g. any recent news. This research then helps inform questions.
Interview questions
We always recommend creating a list of questions in advance, and thinking about what answers you’re looking for and where those may take your conversation (and banking follow-up questions there, too). A simple structure for interviews often starts with the interviewer introducing the interviewee and why they’re relevant to viewers right now, then doubling back to:
- The interviewee’s background, and how they got to where they are
- What they’re currently working on, and highlights / challenges
- The future, and what’s coming up for them in the next 12 months
Tip: when interviewing, ask your interviewee to repeat the question you’ve just asked in their answer, for ease of video editing later.
Location
When filming an interview, it helps to shoot in a location that gives context, so think about your topic and plan your visuals accordingly. If you’re lucky enough to have an in-house studio, this will obviously be a huge help; however, B2B backdrops like a company’s headquarters or an interviewee’s office can also help add legitimacy. For a relaxed mood, try a park or gardens, or alternatively, for a high-energy vibe, hit the pavement on your city’s streets. Here, try a directional microphone, which doesn’t pick up surrounding noise.
Ultimately, you’re aiming for somewhere quiet (or with consistent ambient noise); if you’re outdoors, don’t forget to check filming permits.
Read our blog, ‘The 7 best DIY video backdrops for your brand’, to learn more about video locations and settings.