Essential Tools for Freelance Interviewing in 2024
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Freelance Interviewing
In the first part of this two-part series, I shared my top strategies for reaching out to and interviewing individuals for articles. This included best practices, effective questions, and even a template for cold emails. However, I realized I omitted an equally vital aspect: the technology that facilitates these interviews.
Reflecting on my early days of interviewing for a weekly publication a decade ago, I remember a landscape where many older individuals were not accustomed to using email. Back then, I relied on a compact recording device with a USB connection to transfer my audio files to a computer. I still recall an enlightening moment when a subject—a faith healer I later profiled for Sojourners and The Billfold—used his phone to record our session. At the time, I was astonished, thinking how much storage that file would consume on his device.
Today, virtually everyone communicates via email, and recording interviews has become as easy as tapping a button on a screen. Below are the tools I utilize to organize and occasionally record interviews (for insights on why I seldom record, refer to Part 1).
Section 1.1: Email Communication
For initiating interviews, I typically use my personal Gmail account. While it's possible to create a separate email specifically for your writing endeavors, I prefer to keep it straightforward. I included my email signature details in Part 1—take a look! Gmail allows for fun customization, including the addition of emojis such as a mailbox icon next to your email address and a mouse symbol by your website link.
Section 1.2: Scheduling with Google Calendar
Once a time is agreed upon, interviewees may request an invitation to ensure the meeting is marked on their calendars. Google Calendar makes this easy: simply click on the interview date and add a meeting. You can even set up a video chat through Google Meet if you choose. For the event title, something like "Interview for [publication article]" works well. If you haven't settled on a publication yet, a title like "Interview about [subject]" suffices. After setting the date and time, you can send an email invitation to your interviewee.
Section 1.3: Utilizing Google Meet
Google Meet facilitates video conversations on both computers and mobile devices. Setting up a meeting is a breeze—just access it via your Google Calendar or go directly to meet.google.com. Meetings are free for up to one hour, which is generally sufficient for most interviews.
Recording Google Meet sessions requires a professional account. For those interested, you can subscribe to Google Workspace Individual, which is free for the first two weeks and costs $9.99 per month thereafter. I typically subscribe for longer interviews or when multiple participants are involved, especially for larger projects like books. I find it more economical to subscribe only when necessary and cancel afterward, ideally letting the project's revenue cover the cost.
Section 1.4: Phone Interviews
Even if you utilize Google Calendar for scheduling, you are not restricted to video chats. In most cases, I prefer to conduct interviews over the phone. Be sure to obtain your interviewee’s phone number in advance and inform them that you will be calling to prevent any confusion.
Subsection 1.4.1: Recording with Audacity
Audacity is a complimentary software that allows you to record audio on your computer and save it in formats like MP3. If you place the phone on speaker, you can record a phone call using Audacity. Additionally, it’s possible to capture a video call by launching Audacity and recording during the meeting. Just remember to seek permission from your interviewee before starting the recording!
This constitutes my toolkit. What about yours? What applications or programs do you find useful for conducting interviews? Feel free to share your insights in the comments!
Chapter 2: Beginner's Guide to Freelancing
The following video provides a comprehensive introduction for those starting their freelancing journey in 2024.
Chapter 3: Hiring Freelancers on Upwork
In this video, you’ll learn effective strategies for hiring freelancers on Upwork, building on previous insights.