Interview Questions for Heidi

Here is a list of questions to jump-start interviews either for radio, print or other media. When interviewing Heidi Richards Mooney, feel free to take from this list and/or add your own.

Questions about Coaching

1. How did you get into the speaking, coaching and training business?

2. What was your first year in business like as a professional speaker, coach?

3. What is the difference between being a coach and a consultant?

4. How long must someone commit to working with a coach?

5. How does one know when they are ready to be coached?

6. What kind of businesses do you typically work with?

7. What’s the first thing you suggest a potential client do, if they are considering a coach? A speaker? A trainer?

8. How important is confidentiality in the coaching relationship?

9. How long is a typical coaching session? What is the frequency of sessions?

10. What, if any significant partnerships have played a role in your success?

11. What are some of the programs/resources you offer clients to compliment your coaching, speaking and training?

Questions about Creating/Maintaining a Website

1.Can you give me some background on what your sites are all about (i.e. What kind of value, opportunities, etc do you offer your visitors)?

2. Can you tell us about how you first got started on the Internet? What was your first web site, and how did you grow/expand from there?

3. Can you give us some background on yourself? Where did you come from? What was your experience before you first got started online?

4. What compelled you to start your own Internet business?

5. How much time and money did it take for you to initially get the site up and running?

6. Did you design the sites yourself, or did you hire a web designer to do it for you? Please tell me about that experience.

7. Who is your target market? Where can your visitors be found online?

8. How much traffic are you seeing to your site (unique visitors vs. repeat visitors)? And where is your traffic predominantly coming from?

9. What is the best way to collect the opt-in e-mail addresses of potential customers?

10. How often do you follow up with your prospects and customers?

11. What do you consider the most important marketing strategies for promoting a website?

12. What is search engine placement & optimization? Why is it important

13. Do you recommend buying advertising online (i.e. banner ads, e-zine ads, pay-per-click search engine campaigns, etc)? If so, which ones do you recommend and why?

14. Do you promote your site offline as well?

15. What are some of the challenges you have personally experienced building and growing your site?

16. What is the biggest mistake you have made since you first launched your sites?

17. What major mistakes do you see other Internet entrepreneurs making?

18. What advice do you have for beginners who are interested in selling over the Web? With regards to the Womens ECommerce Association, how do you see being a member as a benefit to you and your organization?

Questions about being an Entrepreneur

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.Where did you come from? What was your experience before you first got started in business?

2. What was your first year in business like as a retail florist?

3.What were/are some of the obstacles you have encountered (overcome)

4. What is the most unique aspect of your business? And what do you enjoy most?

5. What would you say is your biggest challenge personally? Professionally?

6. How has your experience, credentials and background helped you in marketing to new clients?

7. What, if any significant partnerships have played a role in your success?

8. What are some of the trends you are noticing in business?

9. What do you enjoy most about what you do? On a personal note, what do you enjoy doing most outside of work?

10. Where do you see yourself in five years?

11. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers/listeners/viewers?

12. Who is your ideal client/customer?

Questions about being an Author

1. I noticed you have written several books, how did you start out writing?

2. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

3. How long did it take you to get started? In other words, you wanted to write a book, what was the time frame from conception to actually starting to write?

4. Why do you think it took so long?

5. Describe your circumstances when you are in the writing mode, location, time of day, etc.

6. How do you stay balance during these writing frenzies.

7. What tips or advice would you offer readers to get started?

8. Why did you choose self-publishing over traditional publishing?

9. If you could do anything over, what would it be?

10. Whats your next project?

11. Any other comments?

Miscellaneous Questions

1. Tell us about some of the leaders you admire.

2. Do you have any role models and did/do you have any mentors? If so, what impact did that have on you?

3. Why do you think it is important to mentor others?

4. What does success mean to you?

5. What would you say is your Claim to Fame?

6. If you had your life to live over, what would you change?

7. Having experienced success in so many different areas, you are a wealth of knowledge and a true role model for other women in business.

8. Can you share some specific tips or points that can help our readers/listeners/viewers develop their businesses?

9. What do you do to keep yourself sharp? What have you done to be a better person/professional this past year that has made a real difference?

10.  Fill in the blank.  I won’t feel I’ve accomplished my life’s mission unless/until I do what _____________?

11. What do you do to support the community you live/work in?