How to Do an E-mail Interview in 9 Easy Steps


Need a fresh idea for your e-zine content? Do an interview!

One of the many benefits of being an e-zine publisher is that you'll have no trouble finding experts who will take a few minutes to talk with you. People love free publicity and are generally delighted to get in front of your readers.

But don't assume doing an interview requires an in-person meeting or even a phone date. While those are great, you can also just do an e-mail interview. Once you learn how to do these and realize how easy they are, you'll do them all the time.

Here's what to do:

  • Choose a topic your readers would like to learn more about and that relates to your area of interest.


  • Identify an appropriate expert to interview on the topic.


  • Make your first connection via e-mail or phone. (If your expert is a very busy one, you'll do best to make your initial contact by phone. Be sure to introduce yourself as "publisher of __________ e-zine" to get her attention.


  • If your first connection is via e-mail, here's an example of what you can use:

    Dear Fran:

    My name's Steven Tyler, and I publish the biweekly e-zine "Senior Biz Success." We feature articles and information on small business success for older folks.

    In November we're going to be publishing an issue on success tactics that are particular to seniors, and I'd love to do a short interview with you. The article would feature your contact information to be seen by our 5,500+ subscribers.

    I have five targeted questions that I can send you via e-mail. I'd need your answers back within one week. Then I'd send the edit back to you for a final approval, which I would need within three days.

    Are you game? I'd be honored to interview you, and I'm sure my readers would love to know about your Web site and services. I hope to hear back from you soon. : )

    (NOTE: You can also use the above example as a template for a script if you use the phone instead.)



  • Once the prospect says "yes," construct three to five questions for her to answer. Remember to ask these questions from your readers' point of view. List them in an e-mail and send them to your expert.


  • When you get the answers back, you'll probably need to make some edits to suit your particular readership.


  • Follow up via e-mail or phone if you need to clear up any points. If for any reason your expert's answers weren't on target, rephrase your questions to get the info you need. Also, don't feel obliged to include every bit of information your interviewee provides. You're the editor, so YOU decide what stays and what goes. Keep it focused -- that's your job.


  • Now, assemble your questions and her answers in a neatly organized Q&A format. Insert a brief introduction that tells your readers why this person is qualified to answer your questions as an expert. Then add her contact info at the end.

    Example: Fran Farndale is author of Super Business Tactics for Folks Over 50. Learn more about her book and consulting services at www.superbiztacticsover50.com or write her at fran@superbiztacticsover50.com.


  • Get approval from your expert on the final version before you publish it.

    Not only do interviews give you valuable content to pass on to your readers, but they can also lead to valuable relationships for YOU. Now your interviewee knows who YOU are, and that can possibly lead to referrals or joint ventures in the future.

    So stop right now and write down three experts in your industry whose brains you'd love to pick, and get rolling!


    • More Resources

    Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

    More Email Marketing Information:

    Related Articles

    Could This Be The End of Sp^am?
    The war on sp^am has so far been waged on two fronts:legislation to make sp^am illegal and filters that prevent sp^amreaching its destination.But neither approach has worked.
    Heres Why You Dont NEED a Blog
    The word "blog" seems to be everywhere, and what an ugly word it is! Short for "web log," a blog is a Web page made up of typically short, frequently updated postings that are listed chronologically. It's similar to an online journal.
    Automatic Responder - The Secret of Super Affiliates Success
    Congratulations, you just made a sale!Congratulations, you just made a sale!Congratulations, you just made a sale!Wondering how those Super Affiliates make so many sales overnight selling someone else's products?Well, you shouldn't be anymore, because here's how they actually do it..
    How to Make Your Email Smile
    Technology has a tendency to be impersonal and unfriendly - if you let it. Think of the last time you received an email from someone, read it, and said to yourself, "Boy was that a lifeless, mal-prepared, impersonal message - looks like Randy really cares to stay connected with me.
    11 Creative Ways You Can Use Autoresponders
    1. Pick 4 or more articles you've written that have a common theme and put them in an autoresponder series.
    Dont Attach That!
    The topic of sending attachments by e-mail is not one that is discussed as much as it probably should be. It is easy to attach a file to an e-mail.
    To Lead or Not to Lead?
    Working with Leads or Opt-In Clients can be very confusing at times, Some people will tell you that Leads are not a good source of advertising while others will say that you can not get much better ways of Advertising..
    The Most Critical Strategy to Your Survival, and Prosperity, Online
    For the sake of your long term survival and your short termprofitability online, you've got to think of your businessas more than just one or more products or services. Gettingcustomers is the hard part, so the best strategy is almostalways to gain their business long term.
    Direct Marketing Strategies for Holiday Email Promotions
    Tis the season to leverage customer interest data for successful email marketing.All of the information gathered throughout the year from customer purchases, customer feedback surveys, and other behavior offers direct marketers necessary direction for conceptualizing a successful email campaign.
    Paradigm Shift for the New World
    In the business world, the primary focus is on selling products and generating sustainable and profitable income. In any organization, the results are dependent on the activity of the organization sales, the quality of the product and service as well as the approach to advertising and marketing.
    A Guide To Automated Email Marketing
    You've probably heard the expression, 'the money isin the list'. It's become a bit of a cliché - but it'sthe key to successful web marketing.
    An Unexploited Market: Striking Gold Without Searching for El Dorado
    Companies have been focused on using the Internet to market goods and services to the consumer. Many see this as the major revenue stream on the net.
    Great Response by Auto Responder
    1. Collect leads with your autoresponder.
    Make Your E-mail Signature File WORK for You
    You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files -- they're the few lines of contact information that many of us put at the bottom of every e-mail we send. Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and use sig files -- even AOL.
    The Key (Board) to Success: Effective Emailing
    Email is THE medium of communication for business transactions. Unfortunately, people don't treat email with the same care as face to face interactions.
    Is Your Email Address Blacklisted?
    A lady emailed me yesterday very upset over the fact that her friend's Internet Service Provider (ISP) wasn't delivering important email messages.This lack of delivery caused a real problem for the two of them with ruined plans, missed appointments, and just plain inconvenience.
    Newsletters that Work
    Offer a newsletter in a time frame that will be easy for you to manage.Although doing a newsletter is a great idea, do not be too quick to jump on the bandwagon.
    How To Create An Irresistible Subject Line For Your Next E-mail Promotion
    As I logged into my e-mail account, I clicked on the Bulk folder to check the latest newsletters. Most of the newsletters and mailing lists that I'm subscribing to, arrive in my Bulk folder.
    Email Autoreponder - How to Put your Business on Autopilot
    Answering emails can take up a significant portion of the time you have to do business. Many times the same set of questions are being asked over and over again.
    Viral Marketing with Your Signature File
    Computer viruses are usually a bad thing. They can compromise your security, delete necessary files, and give your PC trouble.