Getting interviewed as an author is no small deal. If you’ve just landed your first interview, awesome! While it may seem daunting, a one-on-one interview is a massive opportunity to promote both yourself and your book to a new audience.
What you say during an interview matters, and whether it’s your first interview or 100th interview, we all have room to improve. Here are a few things to do before an interview to ensure that you make a lasting impression.
Know Who Is Interviewing You
It is very worthwhile to know more about the person/programme that is interviewing you.
Before even thinking about what you want to say during the interview, you want to make sure that you are familiar with the interview format. While it may seem obvious, if you can actually take time to watch the show, listen to the podcast, listen to the radio show or read that publication, this will be a major confidence factor as you begin to get interviewed.
If the programme or show is in another country or state, then go online to find out more. In the Internet Age, you can find out everything you need to know, without even leaving home
Know their Audience
Next, you need to identify your target audience. It’s important to ask yourself, “Who is my target audience, and does it line up with the audience of the show, podcast or publication I am being interviewed for?”
Physically write out groups of people who would be included in either audience and find the overlap between the two. Whether it’s parents, educators, business people or teens, it’s vital to know who you are speaking to.
Once you figure out your target audience, you can tailor your message with that specific audience in mind. By crafting your message around an audience, what you say during your interview will leave a lasting impact.
Identify your What, Why and Where
To begin crafting your message, you first need to identify your “what.” Your “what” is usually a short soundbite. It clearly describes the product. In this case, the product is your book.
Next, you need to figure out your “why.” Your “why” will help you distinguish you and your book from other books. Why are you and your product different from anything else? Why should your audience care? Why does your book matter? Not to you, to the reader.
Finally, you need to be specific with your “where.” Where are people going to find your product? Do you want to send them to your website? Do you want to send them to Amazon? Do you want to send them to a retail store? You need to be very clear on this during your interview.
Know What Makes a Great Interview
Knowing what makes a great interview is extremely important. I encourage you to consume as much media as you can. The more media you’re consuming, the more of a feel you will have for what really speaks to you.
What do you think makes a great interview? Do you notice things that don’t make a great interview? Think about where they are looking or if they are saying “um” or “uh” too much. Get very clear on what makes a great interview.
If you follow these 5 steps, you will go into the interview feeling well prepared and ready to deliver your message to the audience.
Remember that ultimately, you want to be engaging. What you say and how you act during the interview is what will pull people in and keep them captured.
If you want to learn more about being prepared for interviews, among a host of other topics related to building your platform and publicizing your book, check out Author to Infleuncer Accelerator, our DIY membership community for authors who want to take a hands-on approach to marketing their books.