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Podcasting is a medium that allows you instant access to an audience. You can become an overnight celebrity via podcasting. There are many people who think podcasting isn't right for their type of business. Today I want to discuss why authors need podcasts.
Your Readers Love You
You've written one or more books. You've developed a following of loyal readers. They absolutely adore you.
If you were to send an email to one of your readers, they would jump for joy. Imagine the experience a reader gets when reading your latest book, then compare that to what she feels when reading an email message from you. Your book engages readers in ways that are difficult to duplicate with email, even if you include a cat picture.
Podcasting Lets You Connect to Your Readers
Your readers will chomp at the bit to have a better connection with you, one of their favorite authors. They will likely buy anything you release. A podcast is no different.
Podcasting allows you the unique opportunity to connect to your readers in a way that you can't with your writing. It is far more personal and let's your readers know more about who you are.
Reach Readers When They Want to Hear From You
We are authors so we definitely read, but do you also listen to audio books?
I personally don't listen to audio books, but many people love consuming books in any way possible. They love reading books in a way that fits their schedule. Audiobooks are portable, making them easy to fit into most any schedule.
As an author, you are no doubt connecting with readers through your website, social media, and your email list. That leaves out readers who would like to hear from you while they are walking, working out, or running errands.
Authors, as with any entrepreneurial type person, want to be where their readers can find them. Many of those readers enjoy listening to podcasts.
You can post all day on social media, but the feed goes by very quickly. A podcast, on the other hand, is ready whenever the reader wants to listen.
Podcasting is Now Mainstream
I've personally been listening to podcasts for a very long time. My first podcast listening experience came when I was attempting to find more uses for my Zune Media Player. I've been addicted since.
Back when I began listening, podcasts were extremely difficult to access. You had to be a tech wizard just to figure out how to download them.
Fast forward to a recent lunch I had with a friend who pulled out his phone and asked for the name of my podcast. I told him, he punched it into the podcast player on page one of his iPhone menu and subscribed. In seconds, I heard my voice coming from his phone.
My friend didn't even know what a podcast was until the podcast application showed up on his iPhone.
Now multiply that by the millions of people who have the new iPhone and you get some idea why interest in podcasting is exploding.
Connected Cars Are Next
Cars are rapidly changing. Even the cheapest models are connecting you to the internet while you travel. The dashboards are changing to focus on the built-in entertainment center in the car.
Podcasts will now be accessible directly from the car's dashboard. A simple touch on a screen and you will have access to thousands of podcasts immediately. This is going to do wonders for the expansion and growth of podcasting as an entertainment medium.
This is an amazing advancement if you ask me. Now podcasts will be even more accessible than ever before. The potential audience is tremendously large!
Power of the Subscription
It is magical when someone subscribes to your podcast and listens to a few episodes. With a podcast, you get to share your thoughts and plans directly. This forms a connection. I don't completely understand the connection, but I've experienced it on both sides.
Listening to your favorite author's podcast makes you feel as though you are friends. When that author publishes a new book, you are going to buy it. This may be in large part because you enjoy reading their books, but it is also going to be because of the connection the podcast causes.
I am about to launch
Ahead of the Curve
Authors are notorious for being behind the curve.
Don’t you wish you would have adopted Twitter sooner? I do. Maybe you wish you’d started your email list as soon as you launched your website.
Podcasting is going mainstream. That is not open for debate. The problem is that not many authors have their own podcast. Why?
When it comes to early adopters of author podcasting, there are two types. The first are the bleeding edge early adopters, like Joanna Penn. The second are people who jumped on a bandwagon that was starting to gain momentum.
The bleeding edge opportunity has passed, but the bandwagon is still working on gaining momentum. If you jump on now, you will have a great seat ahead of everyone else.
Getting Exposure
Not only is a podcast going to give you great exposure, but it will also open up a new line of opportunities for you to get interviews as well.
Prior to the internet, getting a radio or TV interview was a mostly impossible thing for writers. If you didn't come from one of the big 3 publishing companies or were already a celebrity, booking an interview was impossible.
This problem has gone away in today's world. Thanks to outlets like Blog Talk Radio, YouTube and all the other online broadcasting systems, it is easier to get booked for an interview. These platforms all make it simpler to find and secure interview slots.
It is now impossible to know all the talk shows that are available on the internet. Some of these shows are even subsidiaries of major networks. Even some of the big shows that are on broadcast television don't end at their allotted time. They continue on the network's website. This increased availability makes it even easier for authors to get booked on major talk shows.
The biggest and easiest way for new and indie authors to get booked are podcasts and vlogs. Podcasts are the easiest as the host doesn't need to consider how the guest looks on camera and the guest doesn't need a cameraman or to travel to the studio.
Podcast interviews are conducted remotely. All you need is some way to communicate with the host and you are set.
Podcasts and Book Promotion
Podcasting presents many opportunities for author and book promotion. Here are just a few ways podcasting helps an author promote themself.
Publicity
Publicity is the most obvious way a podcast can help. Guest appearances are the most common way to do publicity. Just remember that a podcast is very different from a show over the air. The interviews are available online 24/7, so promoting a podcast should not stop when the interview ends.
An author can download the podcast and offer it as content (always get the permission of the show's host/producer) to bloggers, upload it to
Round-table Discussions
It is often very helpful to conduct round-table discussions with other authors about any topics within the author's expertise and place the audio as content.
Repurposing content in this manner will help increase your notoriety and your authority. You will quickly become a celebrity based upon the content you share.
Start Your Own Podcast
We have covered the benefits of appearing on podcasts as a guest, now let's discuss the benefits of having your own podcast.
A podcast will grow your online platform. You will be able to create calls to action that help build your email list. You will be able to disseminate information about you and your writing directly to your fans. You will go from zero to celebrity.
Having your own podcast gives you creative license. You will meet other authors (because they will want to be interviewed on your show) and that will create connections for you that will be invaluable. There just is no downside to having your own podcast.