Conducting a Kick-Ass Interview

The Randy Lane Company • February 24, 2019

Most interviews lose PPM meters because of poor execution.

Conducting interviews effectively is paramount to attracting and maintaining listeners. Once your guest makes it through the  interview filter, look at these key guidelines to ensure flawless execution and ratings success:

Deliver a  horizontal tease  the day before the interview for big name guests. Since people listen at the same time daily, implement the tease at the  same time  the guest will appear the next day. Be sure to include the  most provocative  question the show will be asking the guest.

On the day of the interview , tease the most provocative question  that you will be asking the guest.

Audio : If the interview is prerecorded, incorporate an attention-getting snippet of audio in the tease. Play audio during the conversation to illustrate a story, a point and as a pattern disruption.

Start the interview quickly  with a captivating question to lock-in listener interest. It could also begin with a standout piece of audio.

Build in surprises . Ellen has become known  for surprising guests  to make her interviews memorable

Get personal.   Many shows use features to get potentially viral personal information from their guests.

The syndicated  Breakfast Club  show just posted a video of “Breakfast Club Bowl ,”  an interview feature where guests pick an embarrassing question they have to answer.

This video  is from an interview with Jesse Smollett, the actor who faked being attacked in Chicago.

Replay A-level highlights  of the interview in other hours and days to expose it to a greater percentage of the audience. Airing your best content more often wins in Nielsen.

Pro tip:  Howard Stern is a master interviewer who knows when to step back and let an engaging, entertaining guest shine. To move a conversation forward, Howard also knows when to step in and cut off a guest who is rambling or repetitive.

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