“Always
assume your first question may be your last. Make it count.” That’s the advice
from journalist Martin Perlich, who has written, The
Art of the Interview: a Step-by-Step Guide to Insightful Interviewing.

While
there are some amazing writers online, there seem to be far fewer great
interviewers. (And really no courses on how to be a good interviewer, even in J-schools.) I don’t know about you but listening to many podcasts, vlogs and
Webinars is often painful because the interviewer asks rather boring questions,
or doesn’t pick up on a quirky comment and guide the conversation into an
interesting, new place.

 Based
on conversations with journalists and my own experiences ( I began my career as
a journalist) here are some interviewing tips. 

• Be prepared and do
  good homework. This is at least 50%, maybe more,  of what makes a good interview. When Susan
  Bratton of  New Life Media prepares
  for a “Dishy Mix” interview she really pushes her guests to provide the unusual
  tidbits and then she digs, digs, digs. 
  I believe one reason she gets such interesting people to agree to
  be interviewed  – and reveal so much about themselves — is that she makes it easy and interesting for them due to
  her homework. Another podcaster who really does his homework is Paul Dunay of Buzz Marketing for Technology. And then, of course, there's the infamous James Lipton of Inside the Actors Studio who constantly surprises his famous actor guests with just how much he knows about them.

• Start off with a
  question that puts the person in a good light and makes him or her comfortable.  If you begin by asking too
  provocative a question, the interviewee may shut down. Perlich suggests that
  the  opener question should distinguish
  you and bring something new to the “travel weary Subject.”   “The Opener speaks volume about who you
  are,” he explains. “It should contain a kernel of original insight into
  the Subject and his or her work. Show you care enough to have penetrated
  past the home page of the official website. The Opener should display both
  your power and respect for your Subject.”

• Be totally
  interested in the other person and really listen to what they’re
  saying.  In researching my book
  Beyond Buzz I asked Robin Young, host of NPR’s Here & Now lunchtime
  news show and a brillant interviewer, for her suggestions. Her advice:

1. Listen

2. Really listen.

3. After you’ve listened, ask questions relative
to what you heard when you listened.

4. Then, listen to the answer

5. Follow up with another question to make sure
you heard correctly what the speaker was saying.

5a. Then, listen some more.

• Ask the
  unexpected: What are people wasting too much time on?  What should
  be worrying people about this issue? What are the three biggest
  obstacles to using or succeeding in this field?  What could completely disrupt the game? What are you sick of talking about and why?

• Avoid these
  questions:  So how id it
  feel?  What was it like? Where did it
  all begin for you? And anything that elicits a yes or no response.

• Keep asking
  questions until you understand the answer: If you don’t understand the
  answer, neither will your listeners.

• Wrap with either of
  these two questions: “Is there something you’d like to add?” or “What am I
  forgetting?”

 Lastly, I find it helpful to listen to good interviewers, and collect “wow” questions.

Other advice?