5 Ways to Earn Backlinks With Successful Video Interviews

Regardless of the industry you’re in, our digital age requires that you generate a certain amount of captivating content that can attract links. However, producing content that is interesting and informative enough for the public can be difficult, and potentially pricey. A common solution to this problem is to seek video interviews with well-established individuals in your industry; while other methods are generally riskier both time and wallet-wise, video interviews are inexpensive, easy to make, and successfully attract links. Additionally, acquiring experts to interview is easier than you might expect, and few technological tools are necessary (Skype, a method of recording the interview, and basic editing software – free and available on most PCs and Mac computers).  

To begin, we’ll examine the sorts of links interviews can attract. By looking at the links that lead to interviews, we can detect what kind of links interviews can pull. There are five main types of links that interviews can inspire, provided below:

1. Links from the Interviewees

The well-established individuals you interview likely have a network that they can promote to. If you interview them, they will generally provide a link to the interview they participated in as a form of self-promotion on various media and social-media sites (e.g. their website, Facebook, twitter, etc.). Since they are ideally experts with a large following, this will automatically get you several links to the interview.

2. Links from the Expert’s Following

Well-established individuals in any industry generally have a prominent following, and people in their network are likely to post links to interviews with the expert they know, admire, and follow. In the Facebook world, any so-called self-selecting “bubble” generally shares the same self-confirming articles – once somebody shares an article, it is likely somebody else in the network will share the same article in a kind of domino effect. If you get this process started, you will have an easy time generating many shares.

 

3. Links from Journalists

Journalists generally write quickly and need to find information and quotes by experts or individuals who are informed about their topic. However, people in journalism often do not have the time to find the entrepreneurs or experts they need, and will rely on secondary sources. If your interview is easily accessible, it will appear in their search and they are likely to use it and provide a link to your page.  

4. Links from Resource websites

When you establish yourself as a reliable source for interviews and information, you will begin to come up as an important resource for information. People who generate lists of industry materials will then be able to provide links to you. The trick is to generate consistent interviews, and remember that you don’t necessarily require a famous expert for each interview – as long as some of the interviews are with very well-known people, you will be regarded as a reliable source of information.

5. Links from Various Niche Websites

Some websites are very specialized, and if you write about a topic that falls into line with a specific site’s mission, they will link to your interview to provide relevant information to their audience.

Now we have established where the links come from – but how do you sign on experts to begin with, and how do you generate the videos?

How to Generate Expert Videos

 

• Know your subject & prepare

 

Make sure you thoroughly research your subject. Look up other interviews your expert has done, and avoid questions that have already been asked many times – if your published interview simply repeats questions and answers that can be found elsewhere, why would people link to you over anybody else? Make your interview stand out by asking innovative, thoughtful questions that a potential audience could be interested in.  

 

• Don’t overthink the tech

 

You don’t need fancy video and recording equipment for an interview with an expert. Even people at the top of their industry use methods such as Google Hangouts and Skype to both conduct interviews and record them. You don’t need to spend any money to get a great interview; all you need is a reliable computer.

 

• Don’t worry about minor errors

 

While you want to keep your production high, you don’t need a flawless video. Taking out small errors can take hours, and the benefit is negligible. Additionally, a completely seamless video can make it seem inauthentic; it’s often humanizing and interesting to view something that is polished but not perfect.

 

• Focus on putting your interview online

 

Try to publish your interview as soon as you can after conducting it. The faster you publish, the more likely the expert will remember the interview, and share it on his/her website or social media page, inspiring others to link and share. Remember that promotion is key!

 

 

• Have a method of getting your experts

 

 

Successful people are generally busy, and when you’re a low priority, they will only give you time when a slot opens up. Getting an interview therefore generally comes down to luck – they have time when you ask for it. Therefore, it’s important that you send out several e-mails at the same time, to cast the widest net possible. If you get in the custom of finding people who would be great to interview and sending a few e-mails to those individuals per day (pick a fixed number), you’re more likely to keep this net wide, and have more returns. In the beginning, don’t be surprised if only a few respond – this number will increase as you become more established.  

Conclusion

Start interviewing today. Reach out to people you already know who you could interview, or who could help you connect with a person to interview; remember that interpersonal connections are the best way to get your foot in the door. Once you start interviewing, develop a method for getting more interviews, and continue publishing as much as possible. You’ll get better with practice, and your following will also increase with each publication. As your content expands, links will follow.