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!

    • (c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of the award-winning manual, "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/

    		 RELATED ARTICLES
    Let The Email Wars Begin
    Things just got a lot hotter in the hyper-competitive world of online email providers.
    One Great Way To Generate A Lot Of Cold Hard Cash From Your Opt-In Email List
    I bet you want to know what that one great way is! Right?!
    10 Reasons to Outsouce Your Next Email Marketing Campaign
    So, why would you want to send your campaigns out using an email service provider(ESP) rather than your standard email program (SEP)? Here are some points to consider??
    Benchmark Study of Email Database Services
    -- Email Appending and ECOA Match Rates Revealed --
    Using Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) For Email Privacy
    Need for Privacy
    Your Money Is Still In Your List - Build It!
    You are a home business entrepreneur. You have just built a fantastic website, acquired a host of good products but your advertising budget is small. How do you go about enticing people to your website? I know exactly how you feel because, like lots of small home business entrepreneurs, I have been right where you are now.
    Will Microsoft Kill Free Email on the Net?
    Spam has been such a problem that email filters are nowwidespread on the Net. These filters are a necessary responseto the menace of spam. However, will the excuse of spam beused by companies such as Hotmail to charge for email? Disturbing news that Hotmail (owned by Microsoft) is blocking perfectly legitimate emails because they have been caught by their anti-spam filters is increasing these fears.
    Why Does Your Business Need An Autoresponder?
    Suppose you have a website with 500 visitors a day, and one in fifty of them requests information. That's ten e-mails you're going to have to send manually for the next few days or weeks. And tomorrow you get another ten, and the next day another ten... can you imagine how complicated managing this process could be?
    Creating A Newsletter And Making Your Website Magnetic
    Creating a newsletter is an ideal way to drive repeat traffic to your website but its design, format and implementation need to be carefully considered in order to achieve the desired results.
    4 Steps To 1,000.. 2,000..3,000 Subscribers In Days!
    Everyone who has been marketing online for sometime already know the value of an email list. An email list, filled with targeted subscribers who opt in, is the most valuable asset for anyone with an online business. If you are not building an email list, then you need to start building one right now.
    Email Scam Warnings
    Most people online are very familiar with the Nigerian Email Letter Scams. They've victimized thousands over the years and continue to do so. I am certain you've received many in your inbox over the course of your online experience. They are easy to recognize to the experienced. But if you are new online check out the following signs. These words are usually included (IN BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS) in the subject line.
    The Power Of Email Marketing
    Have You Considered The Power Of Email Marketing
    Is the IronPort Whitelist Actually An Extortion Tactic?
    It appears that Mr. Gates' prophetic prediction that charging marketers to send email across the Microsoft email networks (MSN and Hotmail) to cut down on Sp*m is about to come true.
    Say More Than Thank You
    Most Websites are gathering e-mail addresses. When you submit your e-mail address, you will be redirected to a thank you page. There is nothing wrong with it, but that page can do more than saying "thank you."
    Are Your Subscribers Receiving Your Newsletter?
    In my e-mail one day, I received the following message:"Hello, I am a subscriber to your ezine and received the attached e-mail. Please advise if this is actually from your website. Thank you."
    Lesson #7: Three Extra Tricks That Can Boost Your Bottom-Line!
    Let's recap what you've learned so far...
    Raid Your Autoresponder Attic For Content
    Why you need new website content.
    Autoresponders - Simple Tweaks That will Improve Your Return Rate
    Autoresponders are, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most powerful and important tools available to anyone marketing on the internet today. They allow you to automatically send out a sequential series of email messages to prospects who have signed up to receive your information and who you therefore know are interested in what you're offering.
    11 Extraordinary Ways To Expand Your Subscriber List
    Here are 11 ways to expand your subscriber list:
    Sequential Autoresponders Build Customer Relatonships
    A powerful reason for making the switch from using theunlimited autoresponders that come free with your web hosting account to paying a monthly fee for an autoresponder service is the building of customer relationships through sequential autoresponders.

    © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013