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Do You Pay The People You Interview?

by magentawave
18 replies
I want to do a phone interview with someone that read my ebook and took it to a whole new and extremely profitable level.

I'll make an ebook and mp3 (and maybe a physical book and CD later) of the interview and sell it to my list.

So the questions I have are...

1) Do you pay the people you do phone interviews with?

2) Do you get resistance from them when they find out that you will be making money from their interview?

3) If you do get resistance, how do you respond to that resistance?

Thank you.
Steve
#interviews #pay #people #phone
  • Profile picture of the author Jelasco
    I think you'll find that people are rarely directly paid for doing interviews.

    They benefit in other ways. They get exposure. They sometimes get rights to the interview, which they can use as part of a product or bonus.

    If the interview is for a paid product, the people being interviewed typically get a free copy of the product as well as being able to participate in the launch.
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    • Profile picture of the author magentawave
      Originally Posted by Jelasco View Post

      I think you'll find that people are rarely directly paid for doing interviews.

      They benefit in other ways. They get exposure. They sometimes get rights to the interview, which they can use as part of a product or bonus.

      If the interview is for a paid product, the people being interviewed typically get a free copy of the product as well as being able to participate in the launch.
      The niche for the product I'm selling has nothing to do with internet marketing and the guy I'm interviewing isn't involved in internet marketing either. Since that is the case, how would you handle it if he resists doing it for free?

      Thank you for your reply!
      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Jelasco
        Originally Posted by magentawave View Post

        The niche for the product I'm selling has nothing to do with internet marketing and the guy I'm interviewing isn't involved in internet marketing either. Since that is the case, how would you handle it if he resists doing it for free?
        It doesn't matter what the niche is. What I said still applies.

        Many people want publicity, especially if they are authors or business people. Even if not they may be flattered to be asked, particularly if they are not famous.

        If they resist doing it for free, I would find others. You won't get 100% of people to agree to anything. Once you have some on board, you can mention that you already interviewed so & so (name drop).
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        • Profile picture of the author DeePower
          There's a fine line here. You have to make it clear you will be selling the interview for a profit, whether that's in an ebook, audio, or hard copy book doesn't matter. Have him/her sign a release form that gives you all rights to the interview to use however you see fit, in any format you see fit, or not use the interview at all.

          We've interviewed hundreds of people (entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, New York Times Bestselling authors, editors, agents, and bookstore owners). Several of them wanted to be paid. Their logic was that we would be making money off their efforts and knowledge so they should be paid for it.

          We declined to interview them after it was clear that they wanted to be paid. We also had each interviewee sign a release form. Several didn't and we dropped those interviews from the books.

          Dee
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          • Profile picture of the author Jelasco
            Dee, where is the "fine line" if you make it clear upfront that the interview is to be part of a paid product?

            That seems pretty cut and dried to me.

            I'm not saying everyone will agree, but "fine line"?

            I'm a little surprised you got that resistance from authors. Usually they love publicity.
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            • Profile picture of the author DeePower
              The fine line is often blurred after the fact. When the money starts to come in people sometimes regret not having been paid. Getting the release in writing makes it clear to all parties. Our publishers insisted we get a permission or release form from everyone we interviewed. No permission form, the interview wasn't included.

              Bestselling authors don't necessarily need the publicity they get by sharing their knowledge. Most, 90%, were very gracious.

              You may have seen titles like "How to make bazillions of dollars in 20 minutes or less," the byline or credit can vary from

              by Rich and Snotty Internet Marketer no co-author listed
              but was probably ghostwritten by a poor and humble writer who only got paid a pittance of a one time payment.

              by Rich and Snotty Internet Marketer
              and Poor Humble Writer who wrote the book and probably split the advance and revenues but not on an equal share. Maybe 80 - 20.

              By Rich and Snotty Internet Marketer
              with Poor humble writer who wrote the book for probably a one time payment and a tiny portion of the royalties.

              By Rich and Snotty Internet Marketer
              as told to Poor Humble Writer who wrote the book probably for a split but not equal.

              Dee
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              • Profile picture of the author magentawave
                This is great stuff everyone! As usual, this forum is such an outstanding resource for knowledge!

                Thank you very much.
                Steve
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              • Profile picture of the author Jelasco
                Originally Posted by DeePower View Post

                The fine line is often blurred after the fact. When the money starts to come in people sometimes regret not having been paid. Getting the release in writing makes it clear to all parties. Our publishers insisted we get a permission or release form from everyone we interviewed. No permission form, the interview wasn't included.
                I don't see anyone here saying NOT to get permission. That seems rather obvious.
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                • Profile picture of the author Brian Tayler
                  Yes.

                  There are a number of ways to have your interviewee benefit.
                  Pay them directly
                  Let them do profit sharing on any products created with their interview
                  Let them advertise their product during the interview (probably the most common)

                  There are web sites (I specifically remember seeing them when I was in the radio business) for "purchasing" time with B-list actors, physiologists, lawyers, experts, etc.

                  But to answer your question... depending on the interviewee and circumstances obviously... but yes I'd pay a person I'd interview.
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  • Profile picture of the author waken
    Originally Posted by magentawave View Post

    I want to do a phone interview with someone that read my ebook and took it to a whole new and extremely profitable level.

    I'll make an ebook and mp3 (and maybe a physical book and CD later) of the interview and sell it to my list.

    So the questions I have are...

    1) Do you pay the people you do phone interviews with?

    2) Do you get resistance from them when they find out that you will be making money from their interview?

    3) If you do get resistance, how do you respond to that resistance?

    Thank you.
    Steve
    Interview with people who read your book? You mean testimonial ha?

    Just make it clear that you required an interview with them if people are interested for the review before you give out the review copy. This way, you're guaranteed to accomplish your 3 questions above with below answer.

    1) you don;t have to since you already stated that before hand and that they will get your ebook for free. (of course you need to post in related forum and get the right audience)

    2) You won't coz, again, you already specify that very clearly.

    3) drop it! If there is only 1 who person that are reluctant to co-operate out of 10 person who agree to review your book and provide the testimonial, does it really matter to you? Just leave it and go ahead with the genuine..

    Cheers!
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    • Profile picture of the author magentawave
      Originally Posted by waken View Post

      Interview with people who read your book? You mean testimonial ha?

      Just make it clear that you required an interview with them if people are interested for the review before you give out the review copy. This way, you're guaranteed to accomplish your 3 questions above with below answer.

      1) you don;t have to since you already stated that before hand and that they will get your ebook for free. (of course you need to post in related forum and get the right audience)

      2) You won't coz, again, you already specify that very clearly.

      3) drop it! If there is only 1 who person that are reluctant to co-operate out of 10 person who agree to review your book and provide the testimonial, does it really matter to you? Just leave it and go ahead with the genuine..

      Cheers!
      No, no, its NOT a "review" of my book and I already got a testimonial from him for my book. The funny thing is that he admitted to me that he made a TON of money from what he learned in my book...and he did it with a ripped off copy of my book!

      The way he makes money doing this isn't in my book, so the interview will be about how he does it.

      Thanks.
      STeve
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  • Profile picture of the author jhongren
    Originally Posted by magentawave View Post

    I want to do a phone interview with someone that read my ebook and took it to a whole new and extremely profitable level.

    I'll make an ebook and mp3 (and maybe a physical book and CD later) of the interview and sell it to my list.

    So the questions I have are...

    1) Do you pay the people you do phone interviews with?

    2) Do you get resistance from them when they find out that you will be making money from their interview?

    3) If you do get resistance, how do you respond to that resistance?

    Thank you.
    Steve
    Hi Steve,

    You can work out a JV with them. Get the transcription done and pass the interviewee the mp3. Both can always have a new product to be tied into their current product and both benefit.

    I think just tell the interviewee your plan that you are going to sell it and you never know both can come up with a bigger plan to sell more of your ideas.

    There are 6 billions of people on Earth. If he resists, move on.

    Cheers,
    John
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    • Profile picture of the author ishykiel
      I feel that whether one need to pay the interviewee or not depends on the whether they feel that you are providing enough value to them or not.

      If you can convince them that by doing a particular interview, they are going to get very very good exposure and free publicity, I am sure they will do it for you for free.

      I guess there is a formula to this:

      (A) Interviewee Perceive value of doing Interview > Cost and time of doing Interview

      or

      (B) Interviewee Perceive Value of doing Interview < Cost and time of doing Interview

      If the situation is A, you will have a higher chance of getting the interview for Free. But if B, you might need to do more convincing on your end.

      Cheers!

      Ishykiel
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      • Profile picture of the author pehweiliang
        Of course, this depends on what scenarios and what you want.

        Obviously, I would prefer a long-term plan of consistent services and interviews that can derive consistent revenue.

        I would prefer to offer both tangible and intangible rewards to the person who would benefit together with you, especially in the very volatile market of Internet Marketing or Information market.

        Normally, as a good businessmen (even for Internet Marketing Business), you would try to create a win-win situation for both sides, especially with the consideration of the future, and not just a one-off thing.

        This is rather the best scenario. Offer a package, that he would be part of the shareholder of the profits (So that he/she would do the best to give the interview as product). Of course, there are other benefits such as advertisement and reputation for him. Or better still, a higher course and purpose that can bring benefit to the society.

        Most importantly, when you rope him/her in, he/she would be able to give you aspects that you would never have thought of, including his/her contacts or even your future opportunities.

        You lose some profits, but you gain the whole lots of opportunity costs, that would bring you more money.

        Of course, people is concern about competition and so forth. But the fact is Internet Marketing is a very competitive business. Anyone can just set up any Internet Marketing business, but as usual, not many people succeed. It does follows the bell curve of the statistics of business, as only 5% would be successful while the rest fails.

        If you would always create a win-win situation, you would not fear competition so much as most of the people would be happy to work with you all the way. Of course, at the end of the day, it is good to have a basic degree of judging the integrity and characteristics of the people you would be working with, or interviewing with.
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