Interviewing experts to create info products

[Enzo]

Hi guys,

Has anyone found any resources they have used to build a format/structure for interviewing 'experts' to generate material for info products. I appreciate that open questions will need to be used, however I want to ensure that I get the most out of the interview time I have negotiated, so if there is a killer system out there then I would be interested in using it.

Thanks, as always, in advance for your help.

Enzo

:)

[Keep a Movin' Dan]

What kind of info product do you have in mind? I've had the most success interviewing experts when I plan what I'm going to do in some detail, then formulate questions, and have a back-and-forth. If you can identify very specific pieces of information that you need, an e-mail might suffice--that's what I'm doing on one point of the info product I'm working on. Specific questions work best for specific information, open-ended questions are what get you the quotable lines.

[Gina71]

So - when you're interviewing experts, recording their answers, and profiting from that - how do you compensate the expert?

What's in it for them??

[Keep a Movin' Dan]

:) A feeling of satisfaction that they're doing their service to the world as experts, and maybe some help getting their name out there. I know you're an expert-person Gina and are making a big effort to profit from it, but not everyone things in those terms.

[Gina71]

;) Funny, Dan! Thanks for making me smile!
I don't consider myself an expert by any means. However I was coming from more of a sales angle. Specifically, how to approach the expert and encourage them to participate in your muse.

Like - if you wanted to interview someone who is an expert in their field, do you tell them you are recording the conversation and selling the transcripts online? Or would you ask for the interview to gather information to share with the wider community?

People do things based on perceived benefits. Money is not the only benefit...as you mention, there are many others such as giving back to the community, sharing their knowledge with like minded people, passion for the subject, etc.

I am curious...Does anyone know how Rhonda Byrne encouraged the "experts" to be part of the DVD The Secret?

[Keep a Movin' Dan]

I just "I'm doing X, and I'd like to interview you for it." I've both given and gotten interviews on that basis. I'd feel weird telling people I would sell the transcript, but I'd feel weird selling transcripts in the first place: unless you're a really stellar interviewer, the transcript isn't going to be that interesting.

I never paid much attention to The Secret particularly, but usually the people behind those projects would just say "I'd like to interview you for this documentary/DVD." Occasionally there's a flap about presenting the purpose of the documentary in a misleading way--I think that happened with Bill Maher's recent documentary--but that's the most you ever have to resort to.

[Enzo]

Gina71 - in the book I think Tim talks about offer the 'expert' a copy of the audio/video of the interview for them to do what they want with, is normally enough.

[Gina71]

You're right Enzo. I do remember reading that now.
I'm sure that would be enough for most experts.

Hope you find the format you're looking for.
Have a good one.
Gina71