Remote User Interviewing Basics

Structuring information You can structure your notes even better if the tool you're using allows you to use tags. When working with transcripts, identify the main ideas and topics. You can use these insights for all kinds of things — from adding new features to enhancing your custom journey map.

Following up After the interview, we asked interviewees to send in any questions they had, but we didn't have time or couldn't answer them.

--------------------------------------------- Performing a retrospective You can fix any mistakes you made and improve your approach if you did an interview by yourself. If it's a team effort, then the retrospective should be done in iterations after one or two interviews. Share the recording with someone more skilled and ask for their feedback.

Closing on the right note If it's supposed to take 40 minutes, then it'll take 40 minutes. If you're running out of time, let an interviewee finish their thought before asking the last question.

Asking again Use a close-ended question to clarify what someone meant (e.g., I just want to make sure, did it happen last night?).

More listening, less talking The interviewer may just be thinking over the question at hand, so don't rush to fill those silences when you're less experienced.

Recording the interview But if a respondent does not agree for the interview to be recorded, you can take notes or ask an observer to do that for you.

Stop worrying and help respondents do the same Whenever you feel nervous during an interview, acknowledge the feeling and be open about it. This won't take away the stress, but it will ease it. If a respondent appears to be anxious, ask if the interview questions are making them feel that way.

--------------------------------------------- Starting off the right foot The interviewer and interviewee should have cameras to see each other during an interview. If a respondent cannot turn on the camera, make sure your camera is on as well.