What is the process for conducting expert interviews for articles?

Find the Right Expert. Choose someone credible with unique insights on your topic.

Do Your Research. Understand their work to ask thoughtful, tailored questions.

Prepare Open-Ended Questions. Aim for responses that go beyond surface-level.

Reach Out Clearly. Introduce yourself, explain your purpose, and be concise.

Schedule Flexibly. Respect their time and offer multiple options.

Record the Interview. With permission, record for accuracy and ease.

Engage Actively. Listen well and ask follow-ups to uncover deeper insights.

Show Appreciation. Thank them genuinely and follow up with a recap or article link.

Use Responsibly. Quote accurately, provide context, and credit their expertise.

Pro Tip: Sharing the final article can strengthen the relationship and expand your reach!

To conduct expert interviews for articles, follow these steps:

1. Identify Experts: Find individuals who have knowledge or experience related to your article topic.

2. Prepare Questions: Create a list of clear and focused questions you want to ask.

3. Reach Out: Contact the experts via email or phone, explaining who you are and why you want to interview them.

4. Schedule the Interview: Set a date and time for the interview that works for both you and the expert.

5. Conduct the Interview: Ask your questions during the interview. Listen carefully and take notes or record the conversation (with permission).

6. Follow Up: Thank the expert for their time and consider sending a summary of key points discussed.

7. Use the Information: Incorporate their insights into your article, ensuring you accurately represent their views.

8. Cite the Expert: Give proper credit to the expert in your article by including their name and any relevant credentials.

Conducting expert interviews is a crucial skill for journalists and researchers seeking to gather in-depth, authoritative information for their articles. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from preparation to post-interview tasks, ensuring that you can conduct effective and insightful expert interviews.

1. Preparation Phase

1.1 Define the Purpose and Scope
Before diving into the interview process, it's essential to clearly define the purpose of the interview and the specific topics you need insights on. This initial step will help you narrow down the field of potential experts to those who are most relevant to your research needs. By having a clear objective, you can ensure that your interview questions and approach are tailored to gather the most pertinent information for your article.

1.2 Identify and Select Appropriate Experts
Selecting the right experts is crucial for the success of your interview and the quality of your article. Here's how to approach this task:

• Identify Relevant Fields and Disciplines: Determine which fields or disciplines are most relevant to your topic. This will help you focus your search for experts who have the necessary knowledge and experience.
• Use Professional Networks and Databases: Leverage professional networks such as LinkedIn, academic databases, and industry-specific directories to find potential experts. These platforms often provide detailed profiles and credentials that can help you assess their suitability.
• Evaluate Expertise and Credibility: Assess the credibility and expertise of potential interviewees by reviewing their publications, previous interviews, and contributions to their field. Look for individuals who have a proven track record and are recognized by their peers.
• Consider Diversity and Representation: Ensure that your selection of experts includes diverse perspectives and backgrounds. This approach can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the topic and prevent bias in your research.
• Seek Recommendations: Ask for recommendations from colleagues, mentors, or other experts in the field. Personal referrals can often lead to high-quality candidates who might not be easily found through public searches.

1.3 Conduct Background Research
Before contacting potential interviewees, conduct thorough background research on both the topic and the experts you've identified. This preparatory research is crucial for several reasons:

It helps you understand the subject matter in depth, allowing you to craft more informed and relevant questions.

1. It provides context for the expert's contributions to the field, enabling you to tailor your approach to their specific expertise.
2. It demonstrates your commitment and professionalism to the interviewee, which can lead to a more productive conversation.

1.4 Develop Interview Questions
Creating effective interview questions is a critical step in the preparation process. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Define Key Competencies: Outline the key areas of expertise you want to explore with the interviewee. This will guide the development of questions that specifically target these areas, ensuring that the interview assesses the most critical aspects of the expert's knowledge.
2. Use a Mix of Question Types: An effective interview guide includes a variety of question types, such as behavioral, situational, and technical questions. This diversity helps in evaluating different dimensions of the expert's insights.
3. Develop Lead and Probing Questions: Create a mix of lead questions that introduce topics and probing questions that delve deeper into the expert's responses. This approach helps in obtaining comprehensive insights into the expert's experiences and knowledge.
4. Craft Open-Ended Questions: Develop questions that are open-ended and designed to elicit detailed responses. Questions should be pointed and relevant to your audience's interests, such as asking experts to put findings in perspective or explain the impact of their research.
5. Prepare Follow-Up Questions: Having a set of follow-up questions ready can help you delve deeper into specific areas of interest that arise during the interview.
6. Pilot Test Questions: Before finalizing your interview questions, conduct a pilot test to identify any potential issues. This step helps in refining the questions and ensuring they effectively measure the intended areas of expertise.

By following this comprehensive guide, you can effectively conduct expert interviews that yield valuable insights for your articles. 

To add onto what others have said:

Keep your questions concise and focused. Also be sure to avoid any leading questions. 

It can be good to ask hard-hitting questions, but be respectful. 

Create an environment where the person being interviewed feels comfortable and respected. 

Follow up your interview with notes and key quotes or insight for what you're including in your article. 

I like to follow up with, "Is there anything else you want to add or that you think I missed." Sometimes they will have something really beneficial that I didn't think to ask, and this gives them a chance to speak more freely. 

Whenever possible, I like to send a list of questions in advance so they have some time to think and prepare for the interview. Always be on time and respect their time, as well. 

Sometimes, the best way to master a process is by understanding what not to do. Here’s how to conduct expert interviews without falling into common pitfalls.

Identify the Right Expert – Avoid rushing to interview the first person who seems a little knowledgeable. If their expertise doesn’t match your topic closely enough, their insights may lack relevance and depth.

Do Your Own Research – If you skip out on your homework you’ll end up asking generic questions. If you don’t know the basics of the topic and the expert’s background, you risk missing out on meaningful insights.

Ask Open-Ended Questions – Relying on yes/no questions will shut down the conversation quickly, leaving you with brief answers that lack depth and fail to capture the expert’s full perspective.

Listen Actively and Shut Up – Don't talking over the expert or fill silences. I've found that the juiciest answers come immediately after they've just given their answer. Interrupting their responses may prevent them from sharing deeper insights.

Be Ready to Adapt – Sticking rigidly to your prepared questions can make the conversation feel stiff and prevent you from exploring valuable, unexpected topics. 

Record the Interview – Relying solely on memory or handwritten notes will result in inaccuracies. Without a recording, you will miss important details or misquote the expert.

Incorporate Quotes Thoughtfully – Avoid dumping quotes randomly into your article. Quotes should support your points, not serve as a standalone. Thoughtless placement makes the article feel disjointed and less credible.

Send a Thank-You Note – Failing to follow up with a thank-you can come across as dismissive and unprofessional. Skipping this step might mean losing the chance for future collaboration with the expert.

By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be able to conduct best expert interviews that are insightful, professional, and highly valuable for your readers.

There are two main steps to this - getting the interview and actually conducting the interview. There are some important things to keep in mind for both.

1. Find an expert. If someone read your article without any interviews, what questions would they be left with? Those are the questions you need to answer. Simply find an expert who can provide that kind of colourful insight.
2. Research, research, research. No one wants to read the answers to basic questions they could have asked themselves. You need to become a semi-expert in order to get the most out of your expert.
3. Never ask yes or no questions. You will get yes or no answers.
4. Read past interviews. What did the interviewers not ask? The aim of the game is to get your expert to provide insight they have never provided before.
5. Do not interrupt or make any noise once you have asked your question, especially if you need to use the audio later.
6. Prepare five really good questions, but be prepared to bounce off their answers too. If an answer prompts an unexpected question - ask it!
7. Take your quotes and blend them into your article to add expert colour. It should not be a Q&A article. Your text should provide the argument/direction and your quotes should provide the expert proof to back it up.

Conducting expert interviews for articles involves several key steps:

1. Identify relevant experts in your field or niche.
2. Reach out to them with a clear and concise email explaining your article topic and requesting their participation.
3. Prepare insightful and well-researched questions tailored to each expert.
4. Schedule the interview at a convenient time for both parties, whether in person, over the phone, or via video call.
5. Conduct the interview professionally, actively listening and asking follow-up questions.
6. Transcribe or record the interview for accuracy during article writing.
7. Incorporate quotes and insights from the experts into your article to add credibility and depth.

Remember, establishing strong relationships with experts can lead to valuable connections and future collaborations!

Interviews are such a great way to create authoritative articles. As a journalist, I've refined my process for conducting expert interviews to ensure I get the most valuable insights every time. Here’s my recommendations:

1. Identify the Right Expert – Start by finding someone who’s genuinely knowledgeable about your topic. Look for individuals with relevant qualifications, a strong reputation in their field, or a history of publishing credible work. For example, if you’re writing about digital marketing trends, you might want to interview a seasoned marketing strategist or a professor who specialises in digital media.
2. Do Your Homework – Before reaching out, do thorough research on both your topic and the expert. Read their previous work, understand their viewpoints, and know their background. This allows you to prepare more thoughtful questions and shows the expert that you respect their time and expertise.
3. Reach Out Professionally – When contacting the expert, be clear about who you are, why you’re reaching out, and what you hope to achieve from the interview. Make your request concise and respectful. You should also try to bring in some of the research you did on them in the previous step because this personalizes the communication and prevents it from looking like you emailed the exact same thing to 20 other people. For instance, “I’m writing an article on [topic] for [publication/my blog], and I saw your [paper/presentation/article/talk] on [topic]. I’d love to get your insights given your extensive research on the topic.”
4. Prepare a Structured List of Questions – Draft a list of open-ended questions that will guide the conversation and elicit detailed responses. Your questions should be specific enough to be meaningful but broad enough to allow the expert to share their unique perspective. Start with easier, general questions to warm up, then move into more specific or challenging topics as the conversation progresses.
5. Test Your Tech Setup – If the interview is happening over the phone or via video, make sure all your equipment is functioning correctly. Check your microphone, camera, and internet connection to avoid technical issues. If it’s an in-person interview, ensure you have all necessary recording devices ready and a backup in case of failure. It sets a professional tone, but it also shows that you respect their time and appreciate the effort they're putting in to speak to you.
6. Create a Comfortable Environment – Whether in person or virtual, start the interview by building rapport. Thank the expert for their time, explain how you plan to use their insights, and reassure them about the interview process. This is also a good opportunity to bring up some of the personal details you collected in step 2. For example, "I see you recently spoke at [conference]. I've never attended. What's it like?" Then you also want to let them know if you'll be recording the interview and how you will or won't be using the recording (see point 8 below). A relaxed environment encourages the interviewee to open up and share more freely.
7. Listen Actively and Be Adaptable – While it’s crucial to have prepared questions, be ready to adapt. Listen carefully to the expert’s responses and be willing to deviate from your script to explore unexpected insights. Some of the most valuable information often comes from impromptu follow-up questions. One of the best things about these interviews is that you can get the kind of information that isn't available through a Google search, making your resulting content really special.
8. Take Detailed Notes and Record the Interview – Always take notes during the interview, but also record it (with permission) to ensure you don’t miss any details. A recording allows you to focus more on the conversation rather than scribbling furiously, and it ensures accuracy when you’re quoting or paraphrasing the expert’s words. I like to joke by saying, "If it's ok with you, I'll be recording this interview so I can refer back to it later. It will remain completely confidential and for my own use only, so you don't need to worry about becoming a Tiktok star..." Feel free to use that or something like it. It works every time.
9. Clarify and Verify Information – Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions or request clarification if something isn’t clear. It’s better to double-check facts and get specifics during the interview than to misinterpret information later. If the expert provides data or studies, ask for the source to verify accuracy. Early in my career, I thought it was embarrassing to admit that I didn't understand a technical aspect that someone was explaining, but I've learnt over time that experts are always happy to explain. They don't necessarily realize that they've become too technical in their explanations.
10. Follow Up with a Thank You – After the interview, send a thank-you email to express your gratitude for their time and insights. This not only shows professionalism and respect but also keeps the door open for future collaboration. It’s also a good opportunity to offer to send them the finished article, letting them see how their contributions have shaped your work. People really appreciate this gesture, and it builds a lot of goodwill.

Being able to interview an expert is such a wonderful opportunity. Following the steps above makes sure you build a good relationship with the expert, and this means you'll easily be able to interview them again in future. They also become likely to refer their expert friends as well, ensuring your articles are always packed with valuable, well-sourced information.