Author Amber hated public speaking. She’d written a great nonfiction book that was ready to launch her coaching business to the next level, and she wanted to get out there to support the book launch. But the idea of standing in front of a crowd left her feeling panicked.
Speaking can be terrifying. Especially in front of live audiences.
But there is one way to speak to a big crowd – the biggest you can imagine, in fact – without breaking a sweat: podcasts.
Why should authors seek out podcasts?
- You don’t have to stand up there with a few hundred (or thousand!) eyes on you. You can just sit in the comfort of your own home and record a podcast interview. Not one person needs to be staring at you while you try and keep the message on your book.
- Many podcasts are audio only – so you truly can do this with ZERO EYES ON YOU.
- Podcasts are edited before they are broadcast. You get the chance to take your time. Even to mess up a little. Of course, you’ll need to talk to the host about how much they edit, but you have the chance to clean up any major gaffes during podcasts in a way you can’t in a live interview.
- Your podcast is recorded. Sure, that sounds obvious, but this means that you not only are speaking to the audience of TODAY, but you’re speaking to all the people who are going to discover that podcast down the road. It’s time invested in your book not just for today, but for the months – and years! – to come.
- One podcast that is targeted to the right audience has the possibility to reach so many more people than any one talk or conference appearance would.
Podcasts are just simply great ways to reach a big, targeted audience without the stress of public speaking.
If learning how to get on podcasts sounds like the marketing opportunity for your book that you need, (and it's such a great tool because it costs you nothing to be on 90% of podcasts!) check out our ON DEMAND premium workshop with Kim Eley and Nakita Rowell-Stevens, hosts of the Sociable Scribes podcast. We’re going to dig into how to use podcasts to get results for your book.
Purchase Podcast Pitching for Authors here.
Tips for Using Podcasts to Market Your Book
As for what to say, we’ll dig into it at the workshop, but here’s some quick tips if you just can’t wait to get started!
- LISTEN TO THE PODCAST FIRST! I am putting that in all-caps because it sounds obvious…but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do it! Listening to a few episodes, minimum, gives you a sense of the rhythm of the show and lets you understand the way the host interviews. And as you listen, make a note of what a successful guest on this particular podcast does. Are jokes a hit? Do they speak formally or casually? Knowing all of this ahead of time will make you more comfortable and more successful.
- Come up with book-focused stories ahead of time. You’re there to promote your book. Decide on a few really tight anecdotes you can pull out that relate to your book, your writing process, or that otherwise directly target your ideal reader. You want to be interesting, sure, but you want to be interesting about your book. The goal is book marketing! It can be easy to get sidetracked once you’re talking, but don’t be afraid of prepping notes and even writing small reminders to yourself to stay on topic!
- Have a call to action. In the same vein as keeping the focus on your book, be sure you have an ask for listeners. Since many podcasts have a long timeline before they’ll air, be sure you’re also thinking ahead about what your ask could be at air time! You can (and should) record before your book has been released, as well as keep pursuing other podcast opportunities after your launch. The best, easiest call to action is to buy your book. Let them know when it’s out and where they can buy it. Say the title clearly and slowly so listeners catch it, and don’t be afraid to repeat it!
Amber’s experience appearing on podcasts was a huge success – she spoke to new members of her target audience, and it helped her push her book, and her career, to the next level! And I want this for you and your book, too!
In our premium podcast workshop we'll cover how to:
- Research the right podcasts & audience
- Craft a pitch that stands out
- Create a media sheet that makes you shine (using the template Kim & Nakita give you!)
- How to be a standout guest so people share (and you get invited on more podcasts!)
- Secrets to leveraging the podcasts to sell more books!
We’ll take questions at the end, and you’ll get a recording sent your way after the event, so you can rewatch it for more tips.
PLUS, you’ll get two great bonuses with this workshop…
- My Pitching Podcasts course, a $47 value, to supplement and add to everything you learned at the workshop
- A template to create your own media sheet that will help you stand out from the pitch pile from Kim and Nakia, a $25 value
Don’t miss it – grab your on demand workshop here!
