First, thank you for considering or agreeing to be a guest on a CSIA video interview or podcast. These interviews are posted and broadcast throughout the automation industry and are a valuable tool for elevating you, your company and CSIA. It can be a little unnerving to be the subject of an interview. No worries. We’ll hold your hand through the whole process and help you look like the industry authority that you are.
Let’s get started . . .
I use Hubspot Meeting for scheduling our interviews. Choose an available time slot and complete the form. If none of the suggested days/times is convenient for you, feel free to suggest a time that will work with your schedule. Try to schedule one to two weeks or more so I have some advance notice.
I am in the U.S. Central Time Zone, (Madison, WI/Chicago, IL) and will make accommodations for guests who are international. Let's also schedule a brief pre-interview to fix any tech issues and make certain you are set for our main appointment and to answer your questions.
Currently, the interview opportunity is offered only to companies that have a Gold Profile upgrade on the Industrial Automation Exchange.
I conduct the interviews via Zoom Conferencing or in person if we can manage it. See below for audio requirements.
To produce a high-quality show, I record the direct audio and video using Zoom. I will send a URL to you ahead of the interview.
For microphones, I recommend the following in preferred order:
Do not use:
Please connect via a wired connection.
The audio and video is a “live version” of the questions asked in the Featured Interviews that are posted to the Exchange. The Featured Interview looks like this. While you will be completing these questions in writing separate from the live interview, please do not read from them during this time. Remember, we are just having a conversation. To give you an idea of how the live interview will go, listen to the podcast.
While this is a conversation, you will do most of the talking. I won’t read from a list of questions, but I will have some notes. I’ll ask open-ended questions. Do your best to be detailed and elaborate as much as possible. I might ask you, How did you do that? Why did that happen? This is not a super personal Barbara Walters-type interview, but I will ask you where you grew up, where you went to school, what you wanted to be when you grew up, etc.
You may want to create a bulleted list of things you want the audience to know so you can work them into the interview, but don't sweat it; just roll with it and have fun! Let me know if there is anything you want me to ask you to lead the conversation that way
Select the proper location for the interview. The ideal location is a small secluded room in which you can shut out distractions (and noises), control the lighting, and display a generic background. Large unfurnished conference rooms are not great because of echo.
Ideally, you’ll want to have some diffused lighting so as not to create shadows or glare. You should also be positioned in such a way that you can be seen on camera from about the waist up — not just your face. Try to position yourself so you are front lit, not back lit, or else you will be seen as a silhouette. Try not to have a bright window behind you.
Test all the technology. Test your connection. Test your camera. Test your lighting. Test your sound. Test the video program.
After the interview, I will edit the recording. While I am doing that, you should complete the Featured Interview form. I will post the text, audio or video on a page like this. Once the episode is released I will announce it via the CSIA Exchange and CSIA’s social media accounts. As per the scheduling form, you should submit all of your social media usernames and links. Then “like and follow” our social media accounts and we will reciprocate.
Once this is done, we can mention and tag you and your company If you can promote the episode within all of your social media accounts, Not only will it help us grow, it will help you get more listens and views! Here's how to promote your episode.
Read More Tips for Being a Great Podcast Guest