The Key to Successful Testimonials (Hint: it’s not the person on-screen)

When a testimonial makes it way to your website, it is attached to your brand and can live forever (the wayback machine, anyone?).

These high-level brand-image testimonials call for the highest production values. For the highest quality, we send an entire crew (1 to 6 people – videographer, sound, lighting, makeup, grip) plus a highly-experienced interviewer.

If you’re thinking that just about anyone can ask questions, here’s what’s different about a professional interviewer.

• A good interviewer is most concerned about the quality of the answers and how they’ll work in the final edit.
• A “person asking questions” is just that — focused on the questions.
• A good interviewer knows how to put the interviewee at ease, and they’ve done the prework to know the important content points to cover.
• They have a plan for how the storyline could unfold.
• They’ll make sure you come away with strong opening and closing comments; in fact, they’re constantly listening for great sound bites or phrasing with the potential to be coached into a full thought.
• A good interviewer is constantly “on,” helping the interviewee with their energy and giving them encouragement and coaching on how to look and sound great on camera.
• Truly experienced interviewers know how to subtly help shape good sound bites by making suggestions or picking up on phrasing the interviewee used previously.?

Second only in importance to the quality of the interviewer is the quality of the writer who will take the transcripts and weave together a strong story in script form. In fact, at Blue Marble, the interviewer is likely to be the writer. This approach also saves time and money when the script is approved and sent on to the edit suite.?

When was the last time you added a testimonial to your website? Who handled the interview?