In the marketing world, a great interview can help humanize your brand and help you connect to your target audience on a personal level. But filming a successful interview takes time, preparation, and practice. So, we’ve put together the following TV and video interview techniques to help you make the most of your camera debut and maximize your video marketing content.
Consider Your Setting
Your setting can establish the overall tone for your interview before you even start talking. For example, a studio environment can help you look polished and professional while filming in your facility or home may help you look more approachable and relatable. Discuss your options for interview settings with your videographer to determine what suits your vision.Bonus Tip: You may also want to discuss any potential technical challenges about your setting of choice, such as if your in-house space has enough space to accommodate a film crew.
Practice, But Don’t Rehearse
It’s totally normal to be nervous before doing an interview, especially if it’s your first time in front of a camera. To ease your nerves, try staging “mock” interviews with your friends and family to practice responding so you can feel more confident on filming day. A great TV interview tip is to “warm up” by talking with your interviewer beforehand.While gathering research and making notes is great, we recommend against pre-writing your responses. You want your interview to feel natural, like a real conversation, not a rehearsed statement. Instead, focus on your general ideas and goals rather than working out your exact responses.
Know Where To Look
Most of the time, a videographer will not want you to look straight into the camera. Instead, they may ask you to make eye contact with the interviewer or another spot off-camera. Before you get started, verify where the film crew would like you to look, and stick to your eyeline — don’t look up or down.Repeat The Question
If you want to use the interview in soundbites or clips, include the question in your answer to lend greater context. For example, if the interviewer asks, “Why should people work with your company” start your answer with, “People should choose our company because…”That way, the clip will have context for editing, and you won’t need to include any audio from the off-camera interviewer.
Wear The Right Outfit
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all dress code for video interviews, we suggest choosing solid colors. Patterns, like plaid or stripes, can create visual noise and distract from your face.The best colors to wear on TV are generally jewel tones, like red, green, blue, and purple, since they’re flattering for nearly any skin tone and can brighten your overall look.
Bonus Tip: You can learn more about what to wear for TV interviews in our full guide on what to wear on camera.
Take Your Time
When the interviewer asks you a question, don’t launch into your answer right away or speak too fast. Instead, take a second or two to think about your answer. When you feel ready, you can voice your thoughts with more composure.Try to speak more slowly than you usually would, too. Slowing down to concentrate on your enunciation can help you come across clearly and confidently.
Bonus Tip: Don’t take it too far in the opposite direction, like a robot. You don’t want to sound too rehearsed or stiff.
Drink Water
Dry mouth can leave you sounding parched or affect your enunciation. So, if you’re able, bring a water bottle to sip between takes. Water can also help you stay hydrated and focused on your thoughts, especially if any bright studio lights are making you sweat.What’s more, dehydration can negatively impact your short-term memory, attention, and energy levels. On the other hand, staying hydrated improves your memory and mood, helping you stay sharp and on your A-game.
Be Concise
If you want to use your interview clips in marketing materials, especially short-form videos, try to keep your responses concise. When the average TikTok video length is between 35 and 55 seconds, you have to make your point before your audience starts scrolling. So, try to keep your response times under a minute each for ideal soundbites.Master Your Breathing Technique
If you’re having a hard time staying calm, focus on your breathing. Slow, deep breaths can lower your heart rate and help you feel more relaxed and calm. This is a great interview technique to use between takes, or when leading up to the interview.That said, if you’re worried about looking tired or low-energy on camera, you can take a series of quick, shallow breaths before the camera rolls to get your blood pumping. It’s all about striking the right balance.
Don't be Afraid Of Mistakes
Lastly, remember that flubbing an answer isn’t the end of the world. If you find yourself stumbling over your words, you can always pause, take a breath, and start again. If the interview isn’t live, your video team can edit your best takes into clips for your website, social media, or other marketing materials.A Rhode Island Videographer for Your Video Interviews
If you’re ready to make your on-camera debut in a video interview, McVeigh Media is here to help.We’ve helped countless professionals tell their stories to the camera, having worked with brands like Jaguar, AAA. We’ll help you look and sound your best on camera, so you’ll have a polished and professional interview for your video marketing plan.
Contact us today to work with a Rhode Island videographer who can take your video marketing to the next level.
Posted by Sean McVeigh
