There are questions that can Kickstarter or kick-start the conversation regardless of who your guest is and smart tips on how to create engaging conversations.
RESEARCH
‘What do you do’ and ‘Tell me about yourself ‘ don’t dig deep enough to create a compelling narrative.
- Due diligence is critical to sparking a stimulating narrative that delivers the content your audience craves.
- Social media lends lots of details about your guests that help direct your questions about their personal life and passions that can elevate your program.
- Tactically you can also (with their permission) tag them on your page and provide your audience with the opportunity to ask your guests questions as well.
HAVE A SIGNATURE OPENING & CLOSE
You can make your content engaging by asking a routine question at the start or the end of an episode. This helps to make your program memorable and sticky.
- Start each episode with a brief BIO of who you are.
- End each program with a ‘Word of Advice’ that gives your audience a key takeaway about the state of the industry, including tips, trends, and new ideas to improve their own career.
RULES OF THE ROAD
A successful program results when you get the quest to reveal who they are, what they think, and value most. Be sure to provide your guest with the interview format and questions beforehand, this will help create a successful program.
- Keep the conversation edgy, let the conversation flow organically. If the narrative goes off-script but is intriguing let it play out. Unplanned interplay with your guest could turn out to be more engaging and authentic.
- Avoid close-ended questions that require a simple yes or no, as it could create a boring interview. Make sure you ask questions that can be answered with an in-depth explanation.
- Ask questions relevant to current events, pop culture, and our daily lives. This will keep your audience engaged.
- Don’t put your guest on the spot by jumping into personal questions. Now when to redirect the conversation if the guest becomes quiet or uncomfortable with the questioning.
- Keep it positive. Don’t create an insulting or negative conversation.
TOP 25 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
- How would your family and friends describe you (in one word)?
- What is your favorite thing about you?
- What is your one superpower? Why?
- Who has been the most considerable influence on your life?
- Tell me about the three most influential people in your life and how they impacted you.
- How did you get started? What do you wish you had known when you started?
- What do you think your unique skill(s) is that has helped you become successful?
- What are you most excited about now? And who commands your attention right now?
- Who’s leading the conversation today? Who is doing it right? Who’s wrong?
- What do people misunderstand about the legal field? What are the common myths and misconceptions about the legal industry?
- What are the things lawyers are struggling with right now?
- What are the biggest challenges the legal industry is facing right now, and to best manage it?
- What is the one thing that makes you most nervous about the industry?
- What are the most important lessons to learn?
- In your opinion, what is the most crucial personality trait/strength attorneys need to thrive in the legal space?
- Who do you turn to when you feel stuck?
- What do you think the industry will look like in five years? Ten years?
- What are three books you would recommend to my audience and why?
- Are there any resources that helped you get to where you are today?
- What is your approach to networking?
- What are the unique skills that helped you be successful?
- What does your future hold?
- Tell us about what you’re working on now and what’s next?
- What’s one question you wish that I asked you? Is there anything else you want to tell us that we need to know?
- Where can we find you online?
CREATE ORIGINAL AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS
- When distilling down the interview, break down the narrative highlighting the features and benefits, how it can be used to improve their careers.
- Lend credibility and trust by source your information from authority sites only (make sureit’s recent).
- Tell stories to capture the attention of your audience. Make them think outside the box.
If your content doesn’t engage your readers, they won’t consume and retain the information. Put your personality into everything you produce.
