Let’s face it, being interviewed in any capacity is not the most natural thing in the world to endure.
Throw a camera into the mix….. and well, ‘rabbit’ and ‘headlights’ is the most likely outcome for your interview subject.
But with video customer success stories and case studies becoming a key marketing tool in the B2B landscape, having a sure-fire process for prepping your interviewees before the actual shoot is vital.
If they feel relaxed, in safe hands, and know what’s expected of them, your job will be a lot easier and the final edit a much smoother process.
Read on for our top tips to ensure your video shoots run as smoothly as possible, and you have strong storytelling for your customer success stories.
Send them a brief
Don’t assume that the interviewee/s will do any prep before the shoot. Even if they do, it might not be what you plan to ask them or need them to say. Take the time to write a clear, concise brief for the interviewee that outlines what’s expected of them, how the video shoot will work, timings for the day, the story you want to tell and the questions you plan to ask, what to wear (more on this later), and anything else that will help prevent any surprises for your interview subject on the day.No line learning
Encourage your interviewee/s to have an idea of the key points and story they want to tell, but make sure they don’t ‘learn their answers’ – you want the video to feel natural and unrehearsed. This isn’t a scripted production.Stats are welcome
If possible, ask the interviewee/s to come armed with a few key measurable results or quantifiable outcomes. You don’t need actual figures – percentages or ballpark figures work best – i.e. productivity increased by 30%, or revenue more than doubled. This will help you bring the story to life.Clothing Dos & Don’ts
Most people won’t be aware of the issues that certain colours or patterns can cause on screen when shooting video. Ask them in advance not to wear clothes that are:- Green
- Chequered
- Stripes
- Anything with an intricate pattern