In the realm of marketing, video has become a powerful tool to engage audiences, convey messages, and establish brand identity. One of the most effective formats is the video interview, where key people within your organization share insights, explain products, or deliver key messaging in a professional setting. But for these interviews to truly resonate with your audience, preparation is key. Here are the steps to ensure a successful marketing video interview.
1. Define Your Goals and Audience
Before stepping in front of the camera, it’s essential to be clear on your goals. What message do you want to communicate? Are you introducing a new product, sharing customer testimonials, or discussing your company’s mission? Understanding your goals will help shape the interview’s content and tone.
Equally important is understanding your audience. Are they potential clients, partners, or industry peers? Knowing who will watch the video helps you tailor the language, tone, and style of the interview to make it more relatable and impactful.
2. Craft the Right Questions
The foundation of a great interview is great questions. These should be carefully crafted to elicit meaningful responses while keeping the audience engaged. Instead of simple yes/no questions, focus on open-ended ones that encourage detailed and thoughtful answers.
For example:
- Instead of asking, “Do you think this product will succeed?” ask, “How do you see this product transforming the market?”
- Instead of asking, “Can you explain your role?” ask, “What aspects of your role drive the company’s success?”
This approach ensures the interview remains dynamic and informative, offering viewers valuable insights.
3. Prepare the Interviewee
Even the most experienced professionals can become nervous when the camera starts rolling. To avoid stilted responses, it’s essential that interviewees are well-prepared.
- Rehearse: Allow interviewees time to practice their responses. Encourage them to stay natural but remind them to hit key points.
- Confidence-building: Brief the interviewee on camera techniques, such as maintaining eye contact, speaking clearly, and staying calm.
- Focus on key messages: Make sure they understand the main message or points that need to come across.
An interviewee who feels prepared will appear more confident, relaxed, and authentic on camera.
4. Set the Scene
The visual environment of the interview can have a huge impact on its effectiveness. You want a setting that reflects your brand, yet is neutral enough to keep the focus on the person speaking.
Here are key considerations for setting the scene:
- Background: Choose a clean, uncluttered background that complements the tone of the interview. Avoid distractions or elements that can steal focus.
- Lighting: Proper lighting is crucial for professional-quality video. Aim for soft, even lighting to avoid harsh shadows. At St Louis Video Services, we provide private studio lighting setups tailored to small productions and interview scenes.
- Props and Set Design: Depending on the theme, props or set elements can enhance the video. A large enough studio space, like ours, offers the flexibility to incorporate relevant props that complement the interview.
5. Pay Attention to Sound Quality
A high-quality video interview depends as much on sound as it does on visuals. Clear, crisp audio ensures your audience can fully engage with the content. We recommend using professional microphones, as the built-in microphones in cameras may not deliver the best sound quality.
At St Louis Video Services, we provide professional sound operators who ensure the perfect audio setup for interviews. Whether it’s reducing background noise or ensuring the right levels, proper audio will make a big difference in how your video is perceived.
6. Timing and Pacing
A successful interview video is concise yet thorough. While you want to dive deep into key points, avoid lengthy rambling answers. Keep responses focused and to the point. A well-timed and paced interview will keep the audience engaged while still delivering all necessary information.
7. Post-Production and Editing
The post-production phase is where the magic happens. Editing ensures the interview flows smoothly, trimming unnecessary segments and highlighting key moments. It’s also where branding elements, captions, and graphics can be added to reinforce your message.
At St Louis Video Services, our post-production experts will craft the final product to align with your brand’s vision. We can incorporate graphics, add captions, and ensure that the final video reflects a polished and professional look.
Why Choose St Louis Video Services for Your Next Interview Production?
At St Louis Video Services, we understand the importance of getting every element of your video interview just right. As a full-service professional commercial photography and video production company, we offer top-tier equipment and a highly experienced creative crew to ensure successful image and video acquisition.
Our services extend beyond basic production. We provide:
- Full-service studio and location video and photography: Whether you’re shooting in our studio or on location, we have the right tools and skills.
- Editing and post-production: Your video will go through meticulous editing to ensure the highest quality.
- Licensed drone pilots: We can elevate your production with dynamic aerial footage and even fly drones indoors.
- Custom productions: We tailor each production to your specific media requirements, ensuring your message is clear and impactful.
- Repurposing photography and video branding: We help you get more traction from your media assets by repurposing them across platforms.
- Studio lighting and setup: Our private studio lighting and set designs are perfect for small productions or interviews, and our large studio space allows for versatile set designs that can include props to round out your visual story.
Since 1982, we have worked with businesses, marketing firms, and agencies across the St. Louis area. Whether you need a custom interview setup, camera operators, sound engineers, or cutting-edge equipment, St Louis Video Services has everything you need to make your next video production perfect.
Let us help you tell your story through a successful marketing video interview. Contact us today to get started.
St Louis Video Services 