Key Media has one of the most impressive rosters of B2B publications in the world – and our dedicated team of journalists are always on the lookout to interview the most insightful, engaging and inspiring industry figures.
So – what if you’ve been approached by a B2B publication who would like to interview you? It’s a great opportunity for exposure … but it might seem a little daunting at first.
Relax. Our top tips will show you how to put your best foot forward …
- ARRANGE A TIME THAT SUITS YOU
Morning full of meetings? Juggling a thousand things at once? That’s probably not the best time to squeeze in a media interview.
Choose a time that’s a little less busy than the others – or at least a time when you won’t be overly distracted! You want to project your best self, and the journalist wants to write about your best self. Setting the right time aside is a vital part of that process.
- GET THE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE
You may be a master of the off-the-cuff improv exchange – but, even so, it still can’t hurt to ask your interviewer for a list of questions in advance.
The list probably won’t be comprehensive – most interviews allow a little ‘drifting space’ to talk around subjects naturally – but it will at least give a good idea of what’s in store. Even if it turns out to be wholly unneeded, unneeded prep is always better than sorely-needed prep, right?
- SIMPLE ANSWERS, CENTRAL POINTS
Your interviewer – or whoever gets the lucky task of transcribing your interview – will thank you for this one: keep your responses simple and focused.
This isn’t to say that you should give robotic ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses – and if you’re in a conversational mood, feel free to ramble – but a good journalist will be angling to find the central point in your answer anyway. Why not cut to the chase and give it to them?
- SELL YOURSELF
You’re the focus here – so even if the topic of the interview is a wider subject in general, don’t be afraid to slip in some promotion for yourself!
Keeping it tactful always helps … but journalists will expect you to engage in some self-selling for you or your organisation. It’s part of the deal: you give your expertise, people get to find out who you are and what you have to offer.
- FOLLOW UP AND PROMOTE
Remember that, for a journalist, interviewing someone and publishing their story is an everyday occurrence. The publication date for your interview will be just one of dozens they’re dealing with – so sometimes communication post-discussion can fall by the wayside.
It’s always a good idea to check in after the interview – first with a generalised ‘is there anything else you need from me?’ request, secondly with a request for notification when the story goes live. This will keep you both updated and on the journalist’s radar – which will mean you’re at the forefront of their mind as an interviewee in similar future stories.