Things You'll Need:
- Word processing software
- PDF software
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Step 1
Find appropriate experts to interview. Many freelance writers publish newsletters. The reasons range from building brand loyalty to selling ancillary products and services.
One of the easiest ways to increase subscriber rates is to interview experts for your freelance writing newsletter. Even seasoned freelance writers can be intimidated by this process.
To interview experts for your freelance writing newsletter, you must first locate appropriate ones. Depending on your objective, appropriate can take on different meanings. However, you want to always try to find experts who have achieved some measure of success in their field.
For example, if a new, hot freelance writing niche comes along, finding an expert to interview who has mastered how to get new clients in that niche would make a good interview topic.
Remember, every business owner—and freelance writers are no different—are always looking for ways to secure more clients, make more money and create passive streams of income.
Affiliate marketers, ebook writers and seminar producers would all make ideal subjects to interview for any of the above stated objectives. -
Step 2
Research experts. Once you define who you’re looking for, it’s time to research interview experts for your freelance writing newsletter.
For example, say you run across the blog of a long-time freelance writer. From her “About” page you glean that she has been freelancing for over 10 years and has published numerous ebooks.
This is an ideal candidate to interview. -
Step 3
Make initial contact. To heighten your chance of success when you are looking to interview experts for your freelance writing newsletter, the initial contact is crucial. It should be brief, to the point and concise.
Five facets to include: (i) who you are; (ii) what you do; (iii) why you’re contacting them; (iv) a detail or two you noticed about them from the online presence; and (v) proposed deadline. -
Step 4
Compose interview questions. Once a subject has agreed to be interviewed, it’s time to compose interview questions.
While you may have a general idea of some questions you want to ask potential interviewees, don’t finalize the list until you have an actual expert to interview.
When you interview experts for your freelance writing newsletter, you are imparting their specific knowledge and expertise to readers. So, study their website, blog and other marketing material so that you can compose specific questions.
You may ask something like the following: I noticed from your latest ebook, that you detail five free marketing techniques any freelance writer can use to get more clients. A link to the ebook from the mention in the article encourages readers to visit the interviewee’s website.
They will thank you for this because after all, one of the key reasons they agreed to the interview is for the publicity. -
Step 5
Email the questions. After you have composed the questions, email them to the subject, along with a note about any specifics you want covered.
For example, your note might say: My overall objective is to get readers to understand how critical consistent marketing is to achieving success as a freelance writer. So, if you can lend some particular advice in this area, that would be ideal. -
Step 6
After you have received the answers to your questions back, it is customary to send the interviewee a note with a reminder as to when the issue will be published
Once the issue has been published, send the interviewee a copy and/or a link to the issue on your site. Invite them to link to it (most will). This provides more inbound links to your site and increases your website’s search engine rankings.
When you interview experts for your freelance writing newsletter, you not only offer free advertising to them, you increase your notoriety as well.
Comments
jennareed said
on 8/17/2009 Thank you for your article! The five facets to include were especially helpful. 5's.