How to conduct an expert interview: a complete guide for insight-driven research

The most insightful market information comes from experienced people rather than from statistics.

Data and reports can offer a glimpse of what’s going on, but it is real people, with knowledge and hands-on experience, who provide true understanding of a market, thus shaping projects, influencing investments, and redefining your industry perspective.

That’s the true power of an expert interview.

And thanks to platforms like Expert Network Calls (ENC), connecting with niche professionals has never been easier. Yet, access alone isn’t enough because, if you want to make the most of every expert conversation, you need to adopt a thoughtful approach.

Read on to learn about the key steps to conducting efficient, insightful, and truly valuable expert interviews.

What are expert interviews?

An expert interview can be defined as a method of qualitative study that is used to obtain in-depth information and insights from subject matter experts who possess specialized knowledge in a certain field, industry, or subject.

These interviews are essential to the entire research process because they provide a dynamic primary research phase allowing:

1. Assumptions to be validated
2. Strategic initiatives to be improved
3. Firsthand information about a topic or business to be obtained.

So, the question is, how do you prepare for a well-designed expert interview?

Mastering the art of such a discussion is vital to unlocking valuable expert insights, and here’s how you can prepare to truly leverage every conversation:

Step one. Be clear about what you need

You must know why you need to interview someone before you even choose who to interview. Every step, from choosing an expert to formulating your research questions, should be guided by your needs.

Ask yourself:

1. What am I trying to find out?
2. What don’t I know yet?
3. What decisions will this interview inform?

In this first step, you are defining a direction.

Step two. Choosing the right expert

To evaluate information about an expert's background, accomplishments, and field of expertise, bear in mind that not all experts are equal. The rule of thumb is that ‘famous’ does not automatically equate with usefulness.

When shortlisting experts for an interview, you want someone who is:

1. Close enough to the industry to offer strategic insight
2. Senior enough to understand broader implications
3. Neutral enough to speak honestly.

For instance, if you're looking into fintech compliance workflows, a bank’s Regional Digital Operations Manager will probably be more useful than the Head of Global Finance.

Where to find information about the expert

1. Study their official website if they have one
2. Read their LinkedIn page
3. Look for interviews and articles featuring them
4. Search for their published works.

Step three. Formulating relevant questions

Look for a balance between a) targeted questions that extract important information and b) open-ended ones that invite in-depth answers.

Things to consider when putting questions down on paper:

1. Avoid using Yes/No questions as these could restrict the interview's depth
2. Have your follow-up questions ready to explore the expert's insightful answers in more detail, for example, “Why do you say that?” or “What happened next?”
3. Avoid hypothetical questions such as “What would you do?” and replace these with questions about actual experiences - “What did you do in similar situations?”

Step four. Setting up a format and scheduling the interview

Whether the interview is to be conducted in person, over the phone, or via video conference, arrange an appropriate time and format.

You should also consider verifying the information required with the expert and giving them a synopsis of the subjects you plan to cover.

To prevent technical difficulties, always ensure your internet connection and recording equipment are working properly before starting the call.

After attending to these four steps in preparation, it is now time to learn how to conduct an expert interview.

How to conduct an effective expert interview: a step-by-step guide.

Begin the interview with a friendly greeting to establish a positive connection and help the expert to feel comfortable. Here are some important aspects to think about:

1. Brief introduction

Introduce yourself and state the goal of the discussion at the start of the interview, thus giving the expert a sense of comfort and your gratitude for their time. Also, emphasize that your goal is to listen, not to contribute.

2. Active listening

1. Maintain eye contact, whether in person or on camera, to demonstrate your genuine interest in the expert's answers.
2. Pay close attention to what the expert has to say, and be ready to adapt your questions according to the responses.

Make use of platforms that allow you to make detailed notes and record the interview, which might help you with your follow-up questions, but avoid letting tools dominate your conversation. After all, you are interacting with a human, not gathering data points.

3. Ask follow-up questions

1. Spontaneous follow-up queries may at times provide the most insightful information, which is why you should not feel uncomfortable to ‘change gear’ if the expert says something intriguing or surprising.
2. You could consider using questions like “Could you tell me more about that?” or “Why is that crucial, in your opinion?”

4. Tracking time

Follow the schedule to show appreciation for the expert's time and ensure that you cover every important topic within a specific time frame.

If time is running out, only ask the most salient questions.

5. Wrapping up

Conclude the interview by summarizing the main ideas and thanking the expert for their time and the expertise they shared.

Things to avoid during the interview

Professionals also make mistakes, so check out the things you should try to avoid:

1. Over-preparing: You may become robotic as a result.
2. Under-preparing: You might waste your money and the expert’s time.
3. Asking questions that suggest the answer you want to hear: Instead of asking, “Would you say X is a major problem?” ask something more neutral, such as “How big of an issue is X, in your opinion?”
4. Failing to close the loop: If you don’t ask follow-up questions or connect the expert’s answers to your goals, you will miss out.

Things to do after the expert interview

Here are things you might want to do following the interview:

1. Show your appreciation to the expert

Expressing gratitude and sending a customized email to follow up is a means of creating lasting professional connections and goes beyond simple etiquette.

You could also outline which insights were particularly beneficial.

2. Analyze and organize the notes you took

Arrange the data according to your objectives, to compile study results for instance. To preserve the accuracy of your information and verify any data points for correctness, we recommend organizing the notes immediately after the meeting so as not lose any important information.

3. Establish contact and ask follow-up questions (if you need to)

You might occasionally notice that you require more details or explanations on particular issues discussed during an interview. Never be afraid to ask additional questions since this follow-up can keep the lines of communication open for future work and improve your relationship with the expert.

What are expert interview best practices in a nutshell?

1. Define your research needs and goals early.
2. Select experts based on relevance, not just their title.
3. Create a structured but flexible interview guide.
4. Use thoughtful interview questions, including clarifiers and follow-ups.
5. Treat expert calls as strategic conversations, not interrogations.
6. Synthesize learning into valuable insight.

Why do you need to conduct expert interviews?

Let's face it – most secondary research has a shelf life, and a market report can become rather dated even by the time it reaches your mailbox, or, worse, it may simply lack the important details you need. This is the main reason why qualitative interviews are so valuable.

You can draw on life experience through an expert interview and learn not just what is happening, but why, how, and what’s next.

This is especially true in:

1. Private equity, where pre-deal expert calls can reveal overlooked risks or prospects
2. Product teams that need first-hand feedback before launching
3. Strategy consulting where real-world decision-making information supports or contradicts theoretical models.

Why are expert interviews crucial for research and industry?

During conversations with experts, companies, start-ups, consultants, researchers, and other parties engaged in an interview can gain direct access to valuable and even very niche insights that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

From information to action

The power of expert interviews to convert knowledge into action is what makes them so useful.

Organizations can examine the information gleaned from an expert during the interview and use this to spot trends, predict changes, and make well-informed decisions.

This means that unprocessed data can be turned into useful knowledge that can guide strategies, improve goods and/or services, or address particular issues.

For instance:

1. In healthcare, interviews with experts can help in the development of new methods of treatment, enhancing patient care, and organizing public health initiatives.
2. In finance, economists and financial analysts provide information on potential investments, dangers, and market trends.
3. In technology, IT and engineering professionals can assist businesses to adjust to new technologies such as automation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
4. In sustainability, environmental science experts can help to devise more environmentally friendly practices.

Expert interview types

Depending on their goal and format, expert interviews can be divided into several categories.

Informative interviews

The purpose of informative interviews is to obtain in-depth knowledge about a certain subject from the expert who can offer insights based on their expertise.

Exploratory interviews

These are used to investigate new subjects or locations on which there is very little data available on the market and by open access. These interviews help to find the solutions to major problems, address difficulties, and discover possible directions for further research.

Evaluative interviews

These are carried out to evaluate whether certain assumptions, information, or corporate market tactics are valid and applicable – experts provide constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.

Advisory interviews

During these interviews, subject-matter experts use their knowledge to provide professional advice, guidance, workable answers, and potential strategies regarding certain matters or solutions.

What are some real-world uses across different sectors?

On the ENC platform, companies can engage with one or several expert networks at once and gain insights into various sectors. What follows are just some of the case studies that demonstrate the importance of expert interviews in different sectors.

Sustainability and environment

A flood protection agency sought to improve infrastructure design by evaluating steel sheet piles vs concrete options to build retaining walls in the UK and in Germany.

Through ENC, they engaged engineers and planners to understand material selection, regulatory factors, and environmental trade-offs.

Expert advice helped to define the future design goals, compare best practices, and plan stronger, more sustainable infrastructure for areas at risk of flooding.

Technology

A consulting team was preparing a proposal on generative AI adoption in banking and fintech for a client.

The company engaged with the ENC platform for support in the preliminary search for vetted experts whose input they would require.

Expert networks from our platform helped the company to identify potential experts – CEOs, CTOs, Chief AI Officers, and product leads from global banks, fintech startups, and AI vendors – who assisted by providing high-value insights.

Healthcare

A client launched a benchmarking study on pharmaceutical distributor margins in a European country.

To support the project, the team used ENC to identify local industry experts. Early expert screening provided valuable information that enabled efficient planning and ensured targeted insights to guide market analysis and decision-making.

What are the best tips for conducting an expert interview?

1. Be adaptable

Being adaptable and adjusting to the conversation as it progresses is essential for conducting a lucrative expert interview.

Having a strategy is useful, but in order to maximize the expert's knowledge, remain flexible.

2. Keep a friendly tone

An interesting interview feels more like a discussion, and less like a rigid Q&A session. To ensure that you and the expert have a positive encounter, keep the conversation flowing.

3. Test your equipment beforehand

If the interview is to be recorded, check your equipment in advance to prevent technical problems, including the internet connection and the software you will use.

The future of expert interviews: Trends and innovations

Using innovative technology and increasing access to a range of expertise will be key components of expert interviews in the future.

Expert networks are becoming increasingly rich in data sets, making use of AI for automation, and extending internationally to include more varied viewpoints.

Here are some of the trends to keep an eye out for:

Improved data integration

Expert networks are integrating a variety of data sources, such as news, company records, and reports, in addition to transcripts, which allows their clients to gain a better understanding of specific marketplaces and industries.

AI-powered automation

AI is being applied to increase productivity, automate administrative duties, and optimize the consultation process, which makes it simpler for clients to locate suitable professionals and allows for more engaging discussions.

Diverse data collection methods

In order to obtain more accurate and faster insights, besides traditional one-on-one interviews, expert networks are looking into automated surveys, written reports, real-time data feeds, focus groups, webinars, and more.

Advanced analytics

Expert networks use AI and machine learning to improve their services, namely to process larger amounts of complex data, enhance expert matching, offer more detailed insights, and help their clients to identify patterns and draw useful conclusions from expert insights.

Final word

Conducting an expert interview is more than just obtaining data – it comes down to identifying patterns, understanding the bigger picture, and making smarter decisions.

When you master expert interviews, these conversations can save you time on research, help you to make better decisions, and drive you to think in ways that reading dozens of documents never would.

Take your time, plan your conversation carefully, be curious, and listen to the expert. Remember, every valuable insight comes from a strong question that you can only ask when you know exactly what you want to learn.