Most of the interviews I conduct are by phone, sometimes by e-mail, depending on how busy the person I'm trying to interview is, and, on three occasions since working at Hammock, in person. But after today's interview with my colleague Summer Huggins for a Hammorati post I'm working up, I can add another medium to that: Instant Messenger.

And I'd have to say, I wish I could do every interview by IM. The reasoning?

• During the interview, as I was waiting for Summer to craft her superbly thought-out quotes, I got up from my desk twice and was back by the time she was ready for her next question.
• IM cuts down on noise distractions. This past year, I scheduled a phone interview for 8:30 a.m. the morning of the Hammock Halloween Costume Contest. Yes, very bad idea. Had I been interviewing via IM, I could have joined in the fun of asking, "Barbara, what's that on your head?"
• With IM, there's no cutting people off and having to apologize awkwardly while simultaneously asking them if they could repeat what they said because you were talking over them and not listening. Just wait for their response and type your next question.
• You don't have to transcribe everything they say and worry about whether you're getting all the details right. With IM, it's all right there in front of you.

Of course, using IM is a great idea only if you don't accidentally "X" the box before you save it. Is there anything worse than having to tell someone, "Umm, I just lost your interview. Could you repeat everything you said? No, from the top. Like, let's start with your name and how long you've been in business."?

My hands just got sweaty thinking about that...

Click over here to read about the other ways we use IM at Hammock.