How To Give a Great Audio Interview

I’m an audio junkie.

Whether it’s a podcast or a one-off interview, if it’s audible, I’m into it. I’ve been addicted to several interview-based podcasts for years now, and finally in 2010 launched my very own podcast. As a result of my longtime observance of the art form, I’ve gleaned some lessons about giving good audio and I’m going to share those with you today.

Photo by A. Germain courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

For my own Creative Solopreneur Podcast, I’m constantly scanning the blogosphere for original entrepreneurial voices that I want to bring in front of my audience. Here’s what I’ve learned in six months of scouting interviewees and then chatting them up.

It’s my job to vet interviewees ahead of time for the following characteristics:

• viable business concept that’s actually, uh, a business

• active social media relationships

• a clear understanding of his or her audience and the willingness to try to relate to my listenership, and

• an ability to tell a story well not only through the written word but also out loud.

If you’re considering doing audio interviews for your own site, know that not everyone who rocks the written form will also be an ace at audio. Understandably, unless the interviewee already has audio of him or herself out there, this is the most difficult characteristic to check for. Someone can give great blog post but not come across quite as effectively when speaking. Often this isn’t discovered until the interview is in progress. I’ve heard plenty of dud interviews in my time. Only on other people’s podcasts, of course!

If you’re the one being interviewed, it’s key that you’re able to communicate the following:

• a short, addictively shareable story about what you do {Gentle Reminder: an audio interview, unless expressly designed for this purpose, is not the place for you to give an oral autobiography}

• a working knowledge of who your audience is and what they want and need from you and

• an inkling of how your offer is relevant to the audience of your interviewer

• a few sound bite-y stories {sixty seconds or less} that communicate the value possibilities you can offer to your clients — this creates evidence and suggests social proof, so it’s not just you saying “hey, I do this,” you’re saying, “hey, I’ve done this — lots of times”

• what sets you apart from every other business concept similar to yours in the industry {Say you’re a copywriter who writes for small, creative businesses? So are a dozen other people listening to the interview! So what else you got underneath that hood of yours?} Note: this is about communicating, as viscerally as you can, the why and the how of what you do.

• your PERSONality. Remember, most people who bother to hire a creative solopreneur want to work with a person, an individual, not just a textbook-y expert. Let people in.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Being the interviewee is hard! It’s also great fun, and the more you do it, the better you get. Here’s my most favorite interview I’ve ever given.

What are some qualities you’ve noticed in positively captivating interviewees? Who do you love to hear in interview? Tell me in the comments.