No matter who you are, being interviewed for a feature is a high compliment. It means that someone believes you to be knowledgeable in your field, and they want to share that with others. However, not everyone is comfortable with being interviewed. In fact, it can be a bit nerve-wracking as the requests can sometimes be on the spot.
If you’re uncomfortable being interviewed, then usually your answers will come off awkward or as ‘trying too hard.’ You don’t have to try hard – you already made it when you go invited to be interviewed. 😉
Now, you don’t have to be perfect or polished, but there are some things you can do to make your interview interesting for others to read. This post goes over tips for being interviewed for a feature article, regardless if the interview is via video, newspaper, a podcast episode, or a blog post.
Tips For Being Interviewed For a Feature
1. Know who you are, and what you do. A lot of people who can’t smoothly explain who they are and what they do, really aren’t quite sure on either, so it’s important to think about those things and put it into words that you can easily share.
Example:
“I’m Nile Flores. I’m a sassy Southern Illinois mom who is WordPress designer and developer. I build WordPress websites that convert.”
This allows you to know exactly who I am, and what I do. It’s short, sweet, and still informative. You may be asked to give a little more about yourself, but as long as you begin with who you are and what you do, the rest of your bio will fall into place.
2. Don’t be so brief on your answers. Brief answers show either a lack of interest in answering, awkwardness, or worse, no personality. Let your personality shine through your words, even if you may be a person who is “a man or woman of little words.”
3. Don’t list all of your accolades. Hearing about your success may seem interesting. Hearing about half a dozen awards is flat out bragging… and annoying. One or two award mentions may be fine. Listing too many seems like you’re trying too hard. Rather than impress them with a lot of awards, try impressing them with a brief case study that could get people to connect better with you.
4. Mention one piece of information that could be endearing. This allows people to connect with you because you seem more human. It could be a unique hobby, a pet, a new baby in your family, or some interesting charity you love to participate in all the time.
5. Keep on topic, and try not to get sidetrack. If you have a lot of experience in your field, or in several fields, it’s really easy to put way too much information. Try to stay on topic. Those long side tangents may end up confusing people, or make them think you’re all over the place and can’t stay focused.
Do you have any tips for being interviewed that haven’t been mentioned above?
Yes, allowing myself to make point of interest cards. This on method has saved me so much time. Makes it all flow naturally.
Thanks Nile for making us feel comfortable.
thank you for this great post NILE
How about tips for how to get interviewed? That would be really useful.
I definitely could do one for how to get featured… though I usually just get approached via email these days. I’ve never sought out anyone to be featured. I have suggested people and they’ve been interviewed for features. So… hmm… good suggestion for a topic to cover.
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a pretty good way to find an interview opportunity. Requests go out three times a day and they are not always targeted towards high level experts. There are frequent requests for small business owners and marketers so I do not imagine it is very difficult for anybody with some type of credibility to find an opportunity at least once every month or two. I think HARO is fairly well known among SEO and marketing crowds but as I understand it there are a lot of unfulfilled requests that could be snatched up.
That goes back to the old saying that “Content is King,” write/do something worth being interviewed about and they’ll coming knocking on your door. The other option is to work really hard contacting dozens and dozens of people and convince them that you’re someone worth being interviewed about. The first option is the best option though. I used to be in the army and did some public speaking about the Iraq War: this led to people seeking me out to be interviewed/featured, etc.
Look back at number 1. Get your own bio see what it is that makes you worth being interviewed and if no one’s knocking on your door knock on their door and give them your bio and show them what you’ve done and why they should’ve taken notice in the first place. HARO is a good resource but it costs money.
A good thing you could do is keep it local. Everyone’s always looking for “NATIONAL” media etc. But people often forget the power of locality. Talk to local bloggers/reporters/people. See what face-to-face networking you can do and then transfer it to the web.
Hi Nile,
Great tips when we are being interviewed. I always have to remind myself to keep on point. My mind wanders to all the many things I want to share. So I do have to write a few things on a card and stick to them. Otherwise I can go all over the place.
Oh my, Number 3 is one to steer clear of. That makes such a boring interview…I’ve seen some and all they talk about is I have done this, or that…who the heck cares…we are there not to toot our own horn, but to give value to a specific area.
Thanks for these tips!
-Donna
Hey Nile,
Doing interviews can be a bit nerve wrecking for those of us that aren’t use to it. I’ve done a handful of interviews and at first it was pretty scary but now I’m more opened to them.
You shared some great tips and which was helpful for me. But the one that stuck out the most for me was number 1.
When I first did an interview and someone ask me that fretful question I didn’t really have a clue of what to say LOL. Now since I had a bit of practice I have a better idea and have incorporated it into my About Me page on my blog.
Thanks for the share Nile! I hope you have a great weekend!
Hello Nile, I have been asked to do interviews in the past and have always turned them down for fear of not knowing what to say, I know I shouldn’t be that way but just am.
So this post was very valuable to me, I even took notes LOL
Great tips, thanks for sharing… Chery :))
Hey Nile,
Nice topic, valuable tips .
Many of us having fear of interviews , we don’t understand what to say? how to say? This 5 tips will help to prepare for such interview.
I would like to say here, that Just be your self and follow Nile’s 5 tips for being interviewed for a feature 🙂
Hey Nile,
These are amazing tips. Surely, there are handful of things that are still short in my personal experience. I have been interviewed couple of times in the last few months. I have been conducting webinars, seminars, and workshops to explore the deep understanding of blogging in my local area.
I always get confused when someone approaches me for an interview. Normally, I refuse to come on the board. However, I think following these tips can bring lots of positive vibes in me.
Nice tips Nile!
It definitely helps to at least have some type of outline or checklist and as
you pointed out, if you merely stay on point,you should just fine.
Numbers 3 & 4 are some great takeaways for me as well! We’ve got to remember to
keep the focus off of our so called accomplishments!
And focus on sharing ‘how” our business, products or services help solve their problems!
These tips are also good for how to write about yourself on your “about page” too, or perhaps even on a resume. Great job Nile.
Great points Nile, definitely useful because getting interviewed will skyrocket your credibility, traffic and followers.
Nile,
It is so important to know who I am and what I want to be known for so that each time I speak I reiterate my main message. I also need to know what I want people to subscribe to or purchase so that I gear my conversation toward identifying their problem or need and positioning my product or services as the unique solution.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
I like your short description of who you are. Thanks for sharing these great tips that will help when being interviewed. Using some card to write my points on what to talk about would be of great help.
Nile, excellent suggestions for how to handle being interviewed for a feature! I agree with everything you said and I also think you need to be authentic and really listen to the questions that are being asked rather than just having a script worked out in your mind of what you want to cover during a interview. Thanks for the tips!
Thank you so much for such a useful post. It is really a great help. 🙂
Excellent Post Nile!
Thanks for sharing these valuable tips. I try to steer clear of doing interviews because I’ve always tell myself that I will make a fool of myself. I am working on improving myself so I can get interviewed. Lot’s of take away from your article.
Cheers
Vivette
Sounds like doing a pre-interview and debriefing is the way to go. It can be very difficult to do an interview on the spot but if at least know about yourself well enough to cover the minimal and basics you can expand once you hit other topics. One of the most difficult things for myself is staying on topic!
People who are interviewed sometimes attract higher-quality prospects. People who come to you because of these activities view you as an expert. Therefore, they are pre-disposed to want to work with you, and more willing to pay your stated fee.
Hey Nile, came back to see your reply to our comments? Knowing how busy you are, keeps me wondering when we will get a reply?
I think of the process to understand sharing what you believe in and how you contribute to giving solutions to just everyday challenges.
Thanks again for all the support you give us. I will return to see any replies to our comments.
You give good advice, Nile. I especially agree with #3. It’s so much better and more meaningful for people to find out some other way of other awards and recognition someone has received, rather than by his tooting his own horn! As with a resume, it’s better to stick with a few that will mean the most to the listeners.
Hi Nile,
Nice tips for being interviewed. Especially, for brief answers. People generally gives interview just for backlinks and provide brief answers which shows their lack of interest.
Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic guide and it’s very reliable sources article. It’s very helpful and useful about these 5 Tips For Being Interviewed For a Feature. Glad to read this. Thanks for sharing this article. Great post!
Hey Nile,
Nice topic and valuable tips .
I have been asked to do interviews in the past and have always turned them down for fear of not knowing what to say, I know I shouldn’t be that way but just am.
I would like to say here, that Just be your self and follow Nile’s 5 tips for being interviewed for a feature.
Nile,
Just recently I have been invited to be interviewed on 4 different summits. Each interviewer has their own style. Two of these are video conferences and 2 are podcasts. I noticed that some of the speakers gave very long winded responses that I found difficult to follow. It is so much better to stay on topic, to have your potential responses ready without having to read them. One idea is to post some key point directly onto the edge of your computer screen for a video and to have a brief outline of your key points in large print on a sheet of paper to refer to if you are doing a podcast and cannot be seen.
I like your suggestion to say something endearing – very good thing to do. And it is so important not to overemphasize your credentials. That is why an interview is so good; the interviewer has your bio so you don’t have to say what you do.
Another important point is to not be shy about mentioning your products and services, more than once, during and definitely at the end of the interview. If you can weave it into the discussion in such a way that your services become the solution to the problems you introduce the audience to. This is something I need to practice more.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Great points! Could have used this when I was interviewed for a feature on Uber last week!
Hi Nile I’m Interested at the topic that advice interviewee to avoid being too brief at answering the question that maybe reflect the impression of Indifference.I agree with you that personality play a primary role in selecting people.
Hello Nile.
I’ve been asked before to get interviewed before and it is a little nerve-wracking, so tips are always welcome!
Your tip on sharing something endearing or personal is really a good point. I find that when I listen to experts who are being interviewed and they share something about themselves, it really makes it much easier to connect with them.
I also like how Dr. Erica Goodstone points out how having notes handy to look at as a reference is a good idea.
Karen
Hi, thanks for tips, but i still think the best one is be yourself ! 🙂
I know there is a lot of tricks but honesty and experience should help you a lot.
Des
Nile Good job..
You give good advice, I especially agree with #5. It’s so much useful and more meaningful for people to find out some other way of other awards and recognition someone has received,
These tips surely will come in handy whenever that time comes. It’s important to keep an elevator pitch introduction of yourself when trying to introduce briefly.
I have never been interviewed, but these are all great tips. I will keep these in mind if I ever get interviewed.
Interviews aren’t one of my strongest points. While people think that I’m outgoing, I’m think I’m a shy person. One problem that I need to work on is to stop thinking about what the other person may be thinking. Another thing that I need to fix to how to just focus on the person who’s interviewing me – I have a tendency to try to decipher the other person’s body language and facial expression, then I adjust accordingly which I think is not good. So, thanks for this and I’ll keep your tips in mind.
I really hate being interviewed. I always have a hard time with my nerves. Thanks for the tips!
These are all really great tips. I think I would be really nervous if someone interviewed me.
I’ve never been interviewed by this is great to know. I am bad at talking to others so hopefully I wouldn’t do so bad. Great tips!
I have never been interviewed, but thank you for all of these great ips, just in case I ever am. Good things to know.
Great post! I have a love/hate relationship with interviews. I am always flattered but I hate talking about myself!!
I have never been interviewed before..but I have learnt some tips here for future occurrence.
These are some really great tips to keep in mind! Unfortunately, my problem would be talking too much and not being too brief, lol
These are great tips!! The first time we were featured on anything was so nerve wrecking but its a great experience!
I get to interview people for my job. It’s nice to know how interviewees think…
These are some great tips…I especially like #’s 2 and 4! I am often a guest blogger on various websites and get asked to provide a short biography…I could use these tips to help me write something memorable!
I so agree with number three. Including a couple of your award is fitting but listing all can be annoying. Great points you have here.
Staying focused and on topic is so difficult for me, I always seem to stray from topic when I get nervous. I’ll admit though I have not had many interview opportunities before.
Those are really great tips. I haven’t had an interview, outside of a job interview.
Excellent points on how to give a great interview for a feature! I think the answers need to be direct and to the point but friendly and relatable. People pay more attention to you when they relate!
These are all great tips. I tend to ramble and get off track so that one is an important one for me to remember.
These are some great tips. I’ll definitely keep these in mind for the future.
I am a pretty good interviewee but I tend to get off topic. I need to work on that a bit.
These are really great tips for being interviewed. I always get nervous when being interviewed.
These sounds like some great tips for those who do regular interviews. I have never been interviewed for anything. I am sure my shyness would make me freeze up and I would sound like a total dork, but it’s nice to know there are things you can do to prepare.
These are definitely some great tips. I agree with not listing all of your accolades. 🙂
These are great tips, although I can’t imagine anyone ever wanting to interview me! Maybe someday? LOL
Thank you for the tips. I will remember them. We never know. I might get interviewed. 🙂
These are definitely some awesome tips for getting interviewed!! I hope I’m interviewed someday and if it ever happens I will keep these tips in mind 😉
These are great tips. I interview a lot of people for assignments that I write (oftentimes by requesting written responses), and I often cannot tell you how many times a short answer could have made a fabulous point, but I could not use it because they did not elaborate. Also, I’ve asked follow-up questions and people have said, ‘oh, I should have been clearer or maybe I should have spoken more on this…let me clarify’ – you want to be as clear as possible. You don’t want your quotes and/or statements to be taken out of context.
These are great tips! I’m naturally an awkward person so interviews are tough for me. Hopefully this means I’ll be better with interviews later, lol!
These are really great tips. I’ve never been interviewed before, maybe sometime soon!
I love the last tip – try not to get sidetracked – most people tend to do that.
These are really great tips. Not just for being featured, but for being interviewed in general! Thank you for sharing these. I’ll save them for later!
Howdy Nile,
Awesome tips when we are being met. I generally need to remind myself to continue point. My psyche meanders to all the numerous things I need to impart. So I do need to compose a couple of things on a card and stick to them. Else I can go everywhere. continuously get confounded when somebody approaches me for a meeting. Typically, I decline to go ahead the board. Nonetheless, I think taking after these tips can bring heaps of positive rage in me.
Nile, may I suggest that those who choose contribute. Allow, yourself to review the type of questions that have been asked of past contributors. This will help you feel comfortable and remain natural. Not feeling stressed when that date arrives and you seem not to remember anything about yourself.
This was a good chance for others to share their experiences. Thank you for supporting us and allowing our minds to grow.
Very interesting! I’ve never been asked to do a feature before, but I feel like I’d be much more prepared after reading this. Good info.
Hey… I always have to remind myself to keep on point. My mind wanders to all the many things I want to share. So I do have to write a few things on a card and stick to them. Otherwise I can go all over the place.I always get confused when someone approaches me for an interview. Normally, I refuse to come on the board. However, I think following these tips can bring lots of positive vibes in me. 🙂
Fantastic guide and it’s very reliable sources article. It’s very helpful and useful about these 5 Tips For Being Interviewed For a Feature. Glad to read this. Thanks for sharing this article. Great post!
Hello Nile,
I recently found your blog and I am getting very brilliant stuffs to read and learn.
Loved this point- Don’t be so brief on your answers.
And more importantly this one – try impressing them with a brief case study that could get people to connect better with you..
Keep posting !
Hey thanks, this is super helpful. I have to say though, I’ve had enormous success nodding with interviewees. Especially with sensitive questions, I like to show that I’m with them and that they can talk. I guess it’s my way of being real with them and making them comfortable.
Am glad i stumble on this post, i have been interviewed before and it’s not always easy to answer some questions or not having opinion about yourself. that’d be the most awkward moment. so #1 is most important. Though #5 could be a trick to be evasive to questions you do not wish to answer. Thanks Nile for sharing this post.
Hey.,I recently found your blog and I am getting very brilliant stuffs to read and learn.This will help you feel comfortable and remain natural. Not feeling stressed when that date arrives and you seem not to remember anything about yourself.Awesome tips when we are being met. I generally need to remind myself to continue point. My psyche meanders to all the numerous things I need to impart. So I do need to compose a couple of things on a card and stick to them. Else I can go everywhere. continuously get confounded when somebody approaches me for a meeting. Typically, I decline to go ahead the board. Nonetheless, I think taking after these tips can bring heaps of positive rage in me. 🙂
Hi Nile,
Thanks for sharing some excellent tips which make it easy for bloggers for being interviewed in future. Indeed these tips are very worthwhile for those who feel uncomfortable when some one asked him/her for interview. So, in this case these 5 tips plays an imperative role in this scenario.
Thanks for fantastic share Nile 🙂
Regard’s
Mairaj
This would be really useful. Thank you Nile!
nice article, one worth bookmarking for future reference. 🙂
Hello Nile
Thank you for sharing such a great article. I always feared interviews and presentation as well. I use to become nervous and than I am not even able to understand the question easily. This article helped me with both o things. Thanks for the article, looking forward to read more from you.
Valuable points.. Thanks for the awesome update.. 🙂