With Spring right around the corner and snow no longer being a factor this winter, I want to say Happy Spring to everyone and hope that you are enjoying the longer sunlight thanks to Daylight Saving Time!
In this podcast episode, “Why podcasts are perfect for an author”, I wanted to piggy back onto previous episode #280, where I talked about authors and audiobooks and why it’s important for them to think about starting a podcast
Oh, and by the way, if you live in Delaware, I invite you to an Author’s Book Signing event that I am hosting on May 20th at Helping One More Entrepreneur, located at 108 Patriot Drive, Suite A, in Middletown Delaware.
It’s going to be a great day with authors selling copies of their books as well as reading excerpts from them and I will be speaking about the importance of authors having a podcast or being a guest on a podcast. We are also going to have a special Keynote Speaker, Lois Hoffman, -aka- The Happy Publisher, who will be talking about self-publishing.
Now, in this podcast episode I am giving you 5 Reasons Why a Podcast is Perfect For an Author.
As an author you should either start a podcast or be a guest on a podcast and if you’re looking to be a guest on a podcast. LinkedIn, is the best platform whether you are looking for guests or if you are looking to being a guest on podcast. If you do a search on LinkedIn using keywords based upon the topic of your book, journal or guide I bet you will find several podcast hosts or guests that you can reach out to. As a matter of fact, I get guest requests all the time for my “Out and About with Antionette” podcast, episodes of which can be heard every Wednesday at 1 PM.
Check out podcasts with topics that are in line with your book, then send an email – the worse they can say is, “no thank you” but the best thing they can say, is “yes” – nothing beats a fail but a try!
Reason #1
Podcasts are perfect for authors because they allow authors to talk more in depth about the characters or plot. They can give behind-the-scenes info about the the characters, plots or theme. Authors can give more information about what’s going with that character or why he or she is part of the story or plot.
As the author, you are able to talk more about your book on a weekly basis, chapter by chapter and giving more information, enticing your readers to come back week after week.
If you’re an author you can get really deep into the character and the plot of your story. When creating engaging content, podcasts offer a unique opportunity to provide engaging and interactive content that can captivate your audience and keep them coming back for more.
Reason #2
An author with a podcast can possibly led to a spike in book sales, especially if you are a guest on other shows. I’ve had many authors on my podcast with recent guests including Sheldon Epps, Cynthia Brown and Dr. Eunice Gwanmesia.
You can also generate additional revenue because podcasting can be a lucrative endeavor, especially if you monetize your content through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or other marketing methods.
Being a guest on a podcast is great because it can be frustrating for many newly-published and self-published authors to sell books but don’t want to start their own show. Being a podcast guest expands your network, and can help you connect with other authors, industry experts, and thought leaders in your field, which can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
Reason #3
An author with a podcast is oftentimes seen as more of an authority or expert in their field. As you start to appear as a guest on other podcasts, you’re going to be considered a sought-after speaker!
And we know when the COVID pandemic shut the world down there were no in-person book signings. Even though we’re slowly doing more in-person events, it will still be a while before we get back to pre-Covid conditions. However, with a podcast there is an opportunity to share and talk about your book in a very relaxed and safe environment.
You still may not want to get dressed up and go to a bookstore or library for a book signing. Oh, speaking of book signings, on Friday March 17th, I will be accompanying my client, Dr. Eunice Gwanmesia, author of The Power Of Your Identity, at her book signing, so if you are in the area of the Wilmington public library, please stop by and purchase a copy of her book.
Reason #4
Podcasts are Evergreen – they last a lot longer than social media posts.
Yes, you can post on social media all day, everyday but those posts last less than 90 minutes and people are scrolling off to something else or it’s buried underneath other posts. But your podcast is your voice which can be heard for years and years to come because a podcast is evergreen.
Imagine someone searching about a particular topic and your book or your podcast pops up in that search, not only do they get to hear your episodes, purchase a copy of your book and learn more about you. You are able to reach a new audience: with a wider reach and this can help you connect with listeners who may not have heard of you or your work before.
Your episodes can be weekly chapters that also include why you wrote the book and any upcoming projects in the future. It is a great way to keep yourself out there and more likely to be found online.
Reason #5
Last but not least when you have a podcast and you are author you have a more intimate relationship with your readers. More people are likely to listen to you read your book then they are to read it. Yes, there are many who love to read; they love holding a book in their hands and turning pages. They like to carry a hardback book on the plane, or to the beach, but it’s so much easier to just pop in earbuds to listen from their Smartphone and since everyone has a Smartphone they can pull up your podcast anytime, anywhere!
So, if you’re an author and you want to be a guest on Out & About with Antionette, send an email to [email protected] and I’ll get you on the schedule soon as I’m booking now for April, May and June.
