Interviewing a subject-matter expert (SME) isn't always easy. Use these tips to keep the interview on track.
Content marketing has a lot in common with traditional journalism. Much as a reporter might need to make half a dozen phone calls to understand the context and verify the accuracy of the story she’s writing, in the content marketing field, you’ll often need to tap into subject-matter expert (SME) knowledge to get to the heart of your subject, whether that means talking to an internal expert, an outside industry expert, or one of your business’ customers. You’ll need to dive in deeply and get all the information you need to create a narrative that moves readers to action, whether you’re developing a ghostwritten thought leadership story, a solution-oriented white paper, or a customer case study.
When interviewing a subject-matter expert, consider their story in the context of the hero’s journey. Finding the professional triumph and adversity that defines their particular plot is part of the successful interview.
But what if your main character turns out to be a tough interview? Here are three common reasons why a SME interview might hit the skids, and how to get it rolling again:
If we had a nickel for every corporate source who thought good brand journalism was just a thinly veiled attempt at the hard sell we’d be doing the backstroke through coins like Scrooge McDuck.
You can’t really blame an SME for expecting you want the party line, or even hoping that’s all you want, since that tired script is easy to recite. This interview pitfall is so common, in fact, that I’d go into a talk with your SME, especially an internal SME, expecting that you will have to gently push them to stray from the script. Have a curious, critical cap on while your SME is talking, and follow up on self-promotional stories by digging for the conflict. This isn’t to say that you’re a muckraker, but you are looking for the problem in any story because it’s the problem that makes a story interesting and inspiring.
By problem, we mean the pain points through which your SME learned the most. Say you have an SME who starts out the interview by continuing to talk about a big award the company just won for highest sales in the sector. She’s saying the typical stuff — the team worked hard, best team ever, quality product, etc. Boilerplate accolades that a reader can recite with their eyes closed. Get them past that deadening content by digging deeper with questions like:
Here’s another one that comes up all the time: Your SME tells you an interesting story — usually one in which something unusual happened, which often means either the company was in particularly dire straits, or it overachieved in some notable fashion, or both. The story is great—it’s got real and relatable pain points, showcases the company’s unique skillset, and has specific lessons for the reader in spades.
Then your SME pulls the rug out. “Too bad we can’t get into all that,” they say. “Client would get upset.” Or they simply frown and say the phrase every journalist dreads: “You’re not going to use that, right?”
Sometimes there are clear reasons why an anecdote or data point can’t be used: It’s something that may be protected under a non-disclosure agreement, for instance. In other cases, it could just be a matter of the client’s vanity. He doesn’t want to appear weak, or admit to mistakes, even though they help showcase the path his business has taken. How do you work out what the situation is, and salvage a great story that your SME doesn’t want to share publicly?
Here’s what to do:
Does your SME revert to jargon-heavy sector speak? Are they saying a lot but not, you know, in words anyone will understand?
Redirect them away from corporate jargon into more universal problems and solutions that will appeal to your audience. Be polite, but not shy about doing this.
Remember—your SMEs are busy people, and every minute you waste on useless quotes is a minute less you have for the good ones. Part of your job as interviewer is to help your source tell their story in the clearest way possible. Be honest with them about this if necessary, with a question like, “Can you reword that for the layman? I just want to make sure everyone understands this great information.”
If there’s an important piece of jargon that just has to be used in your quote, you can always clarify it with a simple definition.
Another way to keep your quotes clear and simple is to make your questions clear and simple. As former journalist and founder of C-SPAN Brian Lamb once said, “My basic approach to interviewing is to ask the basic questions that might even sound naive, or not intellectual. Sometimes when you ask the simple questions like ‘Who are you?’ or ‘What do you do?’ you learn the most.”
In other words—never underestimate the power of the simple question.
Steering a brief interview toward quote gold is a tough job. You’ve got to be prepared at the start and able to listen to your source while you tack to keep the conversation moving. To recap, here are the roadblocks you’re likely to encounter, and tips on getting around them:
Practice these strategies until they’re second nature, and you’ll be well on your way to being not only an ace content writer but also an interview artist.
For more tips on mastering the craft of content marketing, download our new ebook, The Art of the Voice.
Sara brings more than 15 years of experience as a writer, reporter, and editor to Eucalypt. She specializes in long-form narrative, in-depth reporting, and crawling inside complex topics so that she can write about them in clear, engaging prose. At Eucalypt, she writes copy of all shapes and sizes as the resident word nerd.
For tech startups in Florida, these venture capital firms offer the best sources of capital and operational support in the region.
Customer case studies can be difficult to get right. Here's our guide to building a collaborative process that helps you build a compelling narrative.
By building comprehensive marketing campaigns that are as robust and data-driven as any ecommerce company’s, you’ll be able to go beyond pulling on heartstrings, and focus on the science of an effective fundraising strategy.