Podcast interviews sell books — but only if you're a great guest. Here are some tips on how to make your podcast interview a fantastic experience for you, the host, and the listeners.

This article is an excerpt from Audio for Authors: Podcasting, Audiobooks, and Voice Technologies, available in ebook, print and audiobook editions.

You’ve been booked for a show — congratulations!

These tips will help you make it the best experience for the audience, the host, and also for you.

(1) Research the host and the audience

You should already know about the show, especially if you pitched for the interview. Still, it’s worth spending more time listening to episodes and noting down anything useful about the host or the audience so you can serve them in the best way you can.

The more useful you are, the more inspiring or entertaining, the more they are likely to care about you and be interested in your book. Podcasts can be fantastic word-of-mouth marketing, so you need to make a good impression.

Make sure you write down the name of the host and any key points on a piece of paper next to you so you can refer to it easily. Have they written a book or something you should know about? Or maybe they have something in their bio that shows you have an interest in common.

I always like to find out where people live, not just for time zone reasons, but because it tells you a lot about their life. I will also check out their Twitter stream or other social media on the day of the interview to see if there is any new information they haven’t yet added to their website.

In terms of the audience, try to understand what level they are within your niche.

For example, I do many interviews about writing books, but it is a different conversation when speaking to a podcast for accountants on writing a book for their business than it is to a podcast for established thriller writers. If you know who you’re talking to, you can tailor your material in a much more effective way.

Weave these nuggets into the conversation naturally. It shows that you have done your homework, and podcast hosts love that.

(2) Check your technology and prepare your environment beforehand

Most podcast interviews are conducted over the internet, so you will be sent a link to join at the appropriate time. The most common services at the time of writing are Skype, Zoom, Zencastr, and CleanFeed, and all require different setups.

If you're using new technology, test it first with a friend to make sure your device is properly set up. If you have used the software before, it may still need updating, so log on early or the day before to check the settings.

It can be disconcerting if you turn up for an interview and then can't get the tech to work. You will feel bad. The host may be annoyed. You can try to rearrange, but you may lose the opportunity altogether, so be prepared.

Check your internet connection, especially if you’re using video as it requires significant bandwidth.

If possible, make sure you’re on wired internet instead of Wi-Fi, and if you are on Wi-Fi, make sure you've got a good signal. Close down any other programs and make sure others in your house are not downloading huge files that might impact internet speed.

If you’re planning to do a lot of interviews, it’s worth investing in a separate stand-alone microphone and use earbuds to separate input and output channels for better sound quality.

I use a Blue Yeti microphone, and my Apple iPhone earbuds plugged into the laptop. If you don’t have a separate microphone, it’s still worth using earbuds — phone headset ones are usually fine — so the output audio doesn't echo around the room. You can also use a pop filter over the microphone to stop plosive sounds.

Joanna Penn standing desk podcast setup with Humbleworks desk topper

[This is me at my Humbleworks standing desk topper, which I always use for podcasting. Blue Yeti mic, Apple wired earphones, and the ring light behind is for video lighting.]

As a host, I will always do a soundcheck with my guests before hitting Record, but if you are ready, you will make a good impression and look like a professional.

If you haven’t done interviews in a specific location before, check the sound quality of the room space. Hard floors and high ceilings may cause an echo, so somewhere with soft furnishings is a better idea, or purchase some sound blankets. This is why so many people podcast in a closet!

Make sure children and animals are elsewhere.

Turn off your phone.

Put a Do Not Disturb sign on your door if there are other people in the house.

If this is an important interview and things are difficult to arrange at home, it’s worth hiring a room at a co-working space, then make sure you have a time buffer so you can set everything up beforehand.

Have a glass of room temperature water nearby as you might get a dry mouth if you're nervous. During the interview, sip water while the host is talking, and try not to slurp.

Remember, it’s a conversation, so you will be able to take breaks as they respond and interact. If you have no time for a sip of water, you are performing a monologue. Stop already!

(3) Respect the clock

Interviews are arranged for a particular time slot, and you should get an automated reminder if you have booked using calendar software. If you don’t use an online calendar, then make sure you have checked the time well in advance, especially if the host is in another time zone. Make sure to allow some extra time in case the interview over-runs or you are late starting.

Most interviews I do are with people in other countries, so I am always obsessively checking the time in their city before the interview. This is particularly important around the switch to and from daylight savings time between the US and Europe as there are a couple of weeks when the time difference is not the same as usual.

Be on time or a few minutes early for the meeting. If the host is not there by five minutes past, then check your email as they might have messaged about a delay.

During the interview, be aware of time passing so you can be sure to have a conversation and not just go off into a monologue on a topic. Experienced podcast hosts will control time through interruption, so they get their questions answered, but it’s good to be aware of how fast time flies.

Most podcast hosts will keep to time so you can expect to wind up with a few minutes to spare. But sometimes, they might go over.

It’s hard to interrupt the flow of an interview when you’re the guest, but if you do have to leave, use gentle reminders like, “I know we’re coming to the end of the time now, so I’ll keep this short.”

(4) It’s not about you. It’s about the audience.

It’s natural to be nervous before an interview, but don’t worry. It’s not about you, it’s about the audience.

Most listeners won’t even know who you are at the beginning of the show. They just want information, inspiration or entertainment depending on the genre.

Maya Angelou said it best: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Your energy is incredibly important, and how you interact with the host, how you are as a real person, will resonate far more than what you say. We all crave authentic connection, and that is clear in someone’s voice.

I’m an introvert, and I know it can be hard to bring the energy sometimes, especially when I’m doing an interview at the end of a long day and I’m tired. But the audience is listening in another time in another place, so you need to bring your energy to the show.

Try listening to some upbeat music beforehand, move your body, reset your intentions. Maybe even pour yourself a gin and tonic, my favorite energy booster for interviews after 6 pm!

Do whatever it takes to serve the audience because you never know where this opportunity might lead.

(5) Go with the flow

A podcast interview should be a natural conversation.

The host may send questions in advance, but only ever prepare bullet points. Never read from your notes, as it is immediately apparent in the way your voice changes. You want to connect with the host on the line and the people listening.

You know more than you think, so prepare as much as possible and then relax into the interview.

I know this is hard. The first time I went on live radio back in 2008, I had ten pages of notes spread out around me, so I had a backup if I just blanked on the phone. It went well, and I was only on for a few minutes anyway. I still prep for interviews as much as possible, but I don’t look at my notes during the conversation, and it usually changes direction anyway.

You are the expert on your book. You know your story. You know your niche. Trust yourself to bring that out in the moment.

Make your answers personal, share your stories, and don't just spout catchphrases from your book.

In fact, mention your book as little as possible. Let the host do it as part of the intro, and you’ll likely get a chance to mention it at the end.

Never answer a question with, “In my book it says …” Just answer the question in a way that will best serve the audience.

Be as generous as you can with your answers, and that energy will attract people to you and make them want to buy your book.

Most importantly, this is a conversation, not a monologue.

Don't go on too long answering one question. On the other hand, don't be too short. One of the worst interviewees I ever had was practically monosyllabic. I had to work so hard to make it a decent conversation.

You can ask questions, too. Bring the host into the conversation. Make it interactive.

Listen to their replies and respond appropriately, even if the topic wasn’t on the proposed agenda. Good interviewers don't just read a list of questions. They go where curiosity takes them, so be prepared to change tack or go deeper into a topic.

Have a pen and paper nearby in case you think of things you want to bring up during the interview. I often write down words or notes so that I can circle back to a topic using the same language that the host used earlier. This makes the interview more natural.

Toward the end of the interview, the podcast host will ask you where people can find you and your book/s.

Prepare your call to action and remember that you are on audio.

Make it short and specific and use easy to remember links. Make it evergreen, as many listeners will find the show weeks, months, or even years later.

My call to action for my Joanna Penn brand is:

“My books are available on all the usual online retail stores — and if you’d like to hear more about writing, join me on The Creative Penn Podcast, or TheCreativePenn.com, and that’s Penn with a double ’n.’ If you have a question, find me on Twitter @thecreativepenn.”

Note that my call to action is primarily for another podcast because this is an audio-first environment. You might not have a podcast, but you should at least have a website with an easy-to-say link.

Don’t spout all your social media profiles and sites. Listeners know how to google and how to find books online. If they’re interested in you, they will find your info or go to the podcast show notes. Just be succinct so the host can say thanks and goodbye.

(6) Follow up and promote the show

Most podcast hosts will record well in advance and will let you know when the episode goes live. Promote the link if appropriate for your audience, and thank the host by email or by sharing on social media. They will see it if you tag them.

Some episodes I’ve promoted on other shows have ended up being shared again by that host because I’ve directed so much traffic to it. Hosts certainly appreciate the effort and will continue to promote popular episodes, so you can get ongoing marketing this way.

However, I don't do interviews where the host asks for promotion in exchange for the interview. This implies that they don't have an engaged audience of their own.

What if the interview goes badly?

There are several ways that an interview can go wrong.

Tech issues are the most common, but podcast hosts are used to this. If the internet won’t work, or you get cut off, or the recording failed, don’t worry. You will likely just rearrange for another day.

Be apologetic if it’s your fault and understanding if it’s not, and make the second time even better.

Lack of research on either side can also be an issue. I’ve been on shows where the host has asked me about things I have no experience of. At other times, I’ve pronounced the host’s name wrong, or misunderstood what they asked.

On one occasion, the host kept trying to catch me out with nasty questions and our rapport was non-existent. I wish I had cut the call short and asked for the interview not to be aired. It went out, and I probably sounded like an idiot, but I decided to ignore it and move on.

But these experiences are rare. I’ve done over six hundred interviews in the last decade, and most have been brilliant.

Everything gets better with practice.

There will inevitably be issues, but these things happen, and you can’t let them stop you trying again. Prepare as much as possible, give it your best and see what happens.

If you have any tips or questions, please leave them in the comments.

***

This article is an excerpt from Audio for Authors: Podcasting, Audiobooks, and Voice Technologies, available in ebook, print and audiobook editions.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 54:00 — 44.0MB)

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Audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment in publishing — and podcasts sell audiobooks because you’re reaching people who are already listening. Those who consume media in audio (like me) want everything in this format, and whether it’s conversational interviews, industry news, serial fiction, or a full-cast, multi-voice production, podcasts are on the rise.

In this episode, I’ll explain some of my lessons learned from Podcast Movement 2019 and how it could impact you in terms of creation, marketing and revenue possibilities. Plus, some thoughts on the mindset of a creative entrepreneur, so even if you’re not interested in podcasting yourself, this will be useful.

2019 marked a tipping point with over $1 billion pouring into the industry and the rise of ever more creative podcast networks. Edison Research reported that, among the U.S. population ages 12 and older, the total number of people who have ever listened to a podcast passed 50% for the first time.

“This is a watershed moment for podcasting–a true milestone. With over half of Americans 12+ saying that they have ever listened to a podcast, the medium has firmly crossed into the mainstream.” Tom Webster, Senior Vice President at Edison Research. 

I’ve been podcasting since March 2009 and I’ve never been to a podcast conference before Podcast Movement in August 2019.

Similar to my decision to self-publish before the Kindle, podcasting is something I decided to do way before there were courses and easy-to-use software and even before 4G and smartphones made it worthwhile, so it was strange to find myself amongst thousands of attendees and an industry that has really only just started growing significantly. I have pages of notes for ways I’ll be improving my podcasts — yes, I have two now, which is inevitable if you love audio! — but how can you, as an author, take advantage of podcasting going mainstream?

(1) Attending live events will grow your knowledge and income

This is broader than Podcast Movement but it’s worth stating up front because I need to remind myself of this every time I travel for work.

I’m an introvert. As I write this, I’m utterly exhausted from too many people and too much noise, as well as bloated from hotel food and jet lag. The travel experience was expensive and tiring, and Orlando airport was one of the worst experiences I have had traveling to the USA. I’ve even had to cancel my business credit card because of fraud alerts. On every practical level, it was a terrible trip.

But I’ll be heading to another conference in just a few months, and I will keep going to live events and conferences — yes, even in the USA! — because it’s time away to focus working ON the business, not just IN the business. Without that time to reflect, it’s too easy for everything to become ‘busy work.’ Another book written, another launch, another ad campaign, another social media push, another podcast interview, more and more emails …

You have to get off the wheel sometimes or it will spin you into crazy.

I revisit my business and personal goals every time I travel, especially when I’m alone. I have time to reflect on what’s working, what I need to change, what still makes me excited and what I really have to stop doing before I run away screaming. I always learn from conference sessions and I write a lot of notes, plus this time I discovered some exciting new technology which immediately impacts my business. I meet new people and connect with those I know from years ago.

Selfietastic at Podcast Movement. With Jeff & Will from Big Gay Fiction, Lou Blaser from Second Breaks, Jeremy Bassetti from All Over the Place, and Fei from Fei's World

Podcast Movement has re-ignited my enthusiasm for audio, which was already high 🙂 As my friend Orna Ross tells me, the moment I start to get bored of something is the moment it starts to be recognized by others as important. So I need to double down on podcasting and not let it slide because I feel like I’ve been doing it for so long. I just need to shake it up a bit so expect some changes, all good ones, and more audio, not less.

So get out of your comfort zone, go work on your business, not just in your business.

What events could you attend in person? I know not everyone can afford to travel internationally for conferences, but what local events could you go to that give you a similar experience, even if it’s outside the author niche? In fact, getting out of the author niche is fantastic as you will learn from different industries! 

(2) Voice connects and builds trust. Is there a voice like yours out there?

Fake news. Ad overwhelm. We live in a world where trust is scarce — but also in a world where people crave connection.

We all want to belong, that’s why being indie has become far more than just a method of publishing.

Creatives, we are a tribe.

I loved the tribes that were represented at Podcast Movement. Yes, there were radio execs and greybeards and tech people and ‘veteran’ podcasters like me, but overwhelmingly, it was Millennial and diverse.

I attended a women’s networking event packed full of fascinating people with interesting shows in every niche. From NASA to foraging, dating advice to aviation, investing to government contracts, political shows about race to spiritual conversations. There was a society and culture track that had lively sessions for the LGBTQ community and there were meetups for podcasters of color. I met creators from the Colored Girl Beautiful show as well as the Latter Day Lesbians, and there were pronoun badges so you could indicate your preferences. Whatever you think of using different pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them) it was a mark of respect for other groups which was refreshing.

Podcasting is tribal because it’s so personal.

A lot of this overlaps with Marketing Rebellion by Mark W Schaefer, which I read while I was at the conference. He talks about the rise of ad blockers and the lack of trust in brands trying too hard in a world where we all have a very good radar for advertising and ignore most of it. Millennials, in particular, care more about the people behind things, and they are more likely to buy artisanal and local. They want an emotional attachment to the people behind the products. In the end, we buy from those we know, like, and trust.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“We’re moving inexorably toward a subscription-driven, human-driven, emotion-driven, ad-free, funnel-free, big brand loyalty-free world.” Marketing Rebellion by @markwschaefer” quote=”“We’re moving inexorably toward a subscription-driven, human-driven, emotion-driven, ad-free, funnel-free, big brand loyalty-free world.” Mark W Schaefer, Marketing Rebellion”]

I learned the concept of ‘know, like, trust’ in marketing at the beginning of my journey from people like Seth Godin, Brian Clark at Copyblogger, Yaro Starak, Chris Brogan (my 2009 article on Trust Agents here) and other marketers who focus on relationship and personal authenticity before sales. That’s where social media started, believe it or not, but now it’s overrun with paid ads which of course, I use to sell books like many authors.

But my core is still content marketing and if you listen to my interview with Pamela Wilson on content marketing in episode 443, I go into that in more detail.

I have tried to expand my use of paid ads in recent months, as discussed in episode 442 with Michael Beverley and Russell Blake on Amazon Advertising, but at heart, it’s not what I love, and so I’m scaling that back again. I will continue to use ads but only as a very small part of what I do. I’m doubling down on what I’m good at — and what is useful to you — and that’s writing and podcasting, which I see as part of my body of creative work, as well as a core pillar of my business.

This is what I wrote in my journal after reading Marketing Rebellion: Be more human. Be more helpful. Give more. Serve my audience. Don’t follow the latest trend. Double down on being human. You are not a big brand. Flawed is ok.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Double down on being human. You are not a big brand. Flawed is ok.' w/ @thecreativepenn #marketing” quote=”Double down on being human. You are not a big brand. Flawed is ok.”]

So, here’s my challenge for you. I’m already doing this. I’m already sharing honestly with you guys every week and getting personal about another side of my life on Books and Travel. But what about you?

You’re listening to me because we have something in common, something in my voice and my experience resonates with you. But are there voices out there that reflect your reality?

Are you a white, middle class, Oxford-educated, happily child-free, Gen X, well-traveled, married, female English author who publishes indie? It’s unlikely we cross over on every spectrum, so who else is out there representing you? Or could you be that voice?

“Successful marketing in the future will have to be presented in a way that is unquestionably authentic, local, personalized, and even handcrafted. It will have to make a difference that people can see and experience.” Mark W Schaefer, Marketing Rebellion

(3) Podcasting is the new blogging. Why Google is now indexing podcasts for search.

Google announced on 8 August 2019 that they would be indexing podcast episodes (not just shows) and showing them on the first page of results in a similar way they do with videos right now. [Google Blog] This is currently in English only and in the US right now, but they have a global focus in both territory and language, so expect this to expand over the coming months. [More detail in this article from Pacific Content on Google podcast strategy]

Obviously, they didn’t go into too much detail on tech or everyone would be gaming it tomorrow, but they are reading the audio file, transcribing it in the background and then indexing that text in order to serve audio in search results.

Many people mentioned the potential issue of accents affecting transcripts (i.e. anything not US English) and they said, ‘do anything you can do to help us by adding notes and even a written transcript,’ so I’m pretty happy that I’ve already been transcribing for years. They won’t release the transcript they create but they did take the feedback that lots of people would like to help make it more accurate by uploading their own, a bit like you can on YouTube.

If you have a podcast — or you have been featured on a podcast episode — you don’t need to do anything to be indexed. It will just happen.

People do need to use the word ‘podcast’ in the search at the moment, but in a future roll-out, they won’t need to. Audio will be served alongside other search results like people don’t need to type ‘video’ when they want a how-to thing, they just get served video. The listing will be video, then audio, then text. That has got to demonstrate how people’s preference is skewing away from text search.

An example of a Google Podcast search. Photo credit from Google Blog

There was also a lot of talk in general about language, about how ‘podcast’ is not a word used by many who are new to listening. They suggested calling it a ‘show’ rather than a podcast so people don’t have to ask what it is. A showrunner can also be with an audio network, not just in TV.

So why is this happening? (and this is my opinion, of course!)

I’ve discussed the rise of voice assistants before, and it’s not just smart speakers, it’s using your voice to search on your smartphone. If you use voice search, you expect voice response. [More on voice technology for authors in this interview with Bradley Metrock, and also in this episode on voice search and smart speakers with Miral Sattar.]

Google has a revenue model based on ads for text-based search, but voice search is rising, so they are protecting their future revenue model.

My business has a revenue model based on text-based search as well — 95% of my income is based on organic search which I have built up for years on TheCreativePenn.com which now gets nearly 800,000 uniques per month — so I am following Google by also optimizing for voice search.

The word on the voice assistant front is that there will be a proliferation of assistants. “Google Assistant will win for search. Amazon Alexa will win for buying things from Amazon. Siri will win for delighting you with new experiences.” and the expectation is that you will use multiple voice assistants, not one master assistant. A bit like apps on your smartphone, you’ll use different assistants for different things. [Check out Bret Kinsella at voicebot.ai for more on this.]

So I will be focusing on optimizing my website for voice search as it brings people into my eco-system, and also looking at developing for Alexa in order to drive people to audiobooks, although that is a tiny part of my income compared to search which drives traffic, which drives affiliate income and sponsorship, as well as book sales and course sales from the site.

The same SEO rules apply around headlines (episode titles), keywords, and creating specific content that suits your market. They stressed ‘contextual’ audio a number of times, so think about what type of thing people listen to at different times.

They didn’t mention specific examples, but this has to be ad-based on some form e.g. they can tell you’ve been searching for a new car, maybe you have asked Google Assistant ‘what’s the safest family car?’ and there’s a podcast episode that covers that topic, so maybe they serve you that. Or maybe you’re searching for info about having a baby so they serve you new Mum or Dad shows. That’s just my thoughts but I heard ‘contextual’ a lot so clearly it’s important somehow. All these data points go into an algorithm, so no doubt, things will change over time as it matures.

I asked whether it will have something like Page Rank e.g. a trusted source — or a podcast that has been around for 10 years with lots of incoming links (!) — will do better than a brand new show. There was no definitive answer on that but it would make sense.

They are optimizing around discovery with the aim of doubling podcast listening worldwide by figuring out ways to introduce a first-time user to a podcast (or show). They want to be app independent, although they will have a player button in the episode so native listening can happen in the app.

If people use Google apps and Assistant, it will sync across devices so you can go from listening in the car, to listening on your smart speaker and it will resume where you left off. The Google Podcast app has Auto support, a Sleep timer and more. You can use the Listen on Google button on your website and it will play straight on an Android phone. The listener doesn’t need to have the app installed.

Click below to listen to The Creative Penn Podcast on Google Podcasts

What am I doing in response to this? I considered starting a Q&A podcast but I really can’t manage a third show and the idea is to bring people into my eco-system and this larger, more personal show, so just answering Q&A doesn’t do that, plus it’s my Patreon reward. But I will be doing shorter segments, in-between-isodes, once I sort out what content I want to make for that. So you can expect more audio to come 🙂

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“More shorter-length sub-five-minute podcasts will be made — these work well on smart speakers, and respect listeners’ time. Expect not just news updates in this format, but others, too.” @JamesCridland Podnews.net” quote=”“More shorter-length sub-five-minute podcasts will be made — these work well on smart speakers, and respect listeners’ time. Expect not just news updates in this format, but others, too.” James Cridland, Podnews.net”]

More on predictions for podcasting in this article from Pacific Content

I did talk to one of the Google developers about the possibility of integrating audiobook content because podcasts sell audiobooks, or even just linking through a creator name to other things they are in e.g. narrators and voice talent work on podcasts as well as audiobooks. They wrote that down but Play and Audiobooks are a different team so who knows whether that will funnel through. Fingers crossed.

Weirdly, there was no audiobook presence at all even though there was a dominant audio fiction track and a lot of writers and voice talent present. I asked veteran podcaster Evo Terra, who I first met online years ago when Podiobooks was a thing, and he said that “podcasting is like TV, and audiobooks are like film.” The two are very different mediums and the world is going crazy for TV right now. Podcast fiction is also taking off in some niches, and attracting raving fans and a lot of investment.

There were very few ‘authors’ present but a whole load of creators.

It was great to hear from Aaron Mahnke, creator of LORE, which started as a podcast and is still a top-ranking show, but also got a book deal and a TV show on Amazon Prime. He said, “I’m a creator. I create for a living,” but he creates first for the medium that people prefer.

Lore by Aaron Mahnke, available as a podcast, books and a TV show

You can touch more people with TV and audio right now than you can do with books, and as I have said before,  The Creative Penn Podcast has been downloaded over 3.2 million times in 215 countries which is far further than I have reached with my book sales.

Aaron said, “Everything is storytelling and everyone is a storyteller, whether you think you are or not. Find an idea that is perfect for audio. Create for that medium. Story is more important than tools.”

[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Story is more important than tools.' @amahnke #storytelling #lore” quote=”‘Story is more important than tools.' @amahnke”]

Podcasting is essentially audio-first creation, which is fantastic, but I was still shocked that none of the audiobook companies were there. There was also nothing on how AI text-to-speech might explode the volume of audio created and make it a lot cheaper to create audio. It will likely put a lot of voice talent out of a job but increase the need for audio-first writers and audio editors. As ever, I know I’m early on calling this, but it is coming! [See episode 437 on how AI will disrupt publishing for more predictions.]

(4) The future is global and mobile

There were sessions on international podcasting, although those sessions weren’t well-attended because it was a US-conference. Here are some stats that make me happy to have a global focus:

• 95% of the world’s population live outside of the USA
• Apple iPhone might dominate in the USA, but mobile users outside of the US are predominantly Android. 78% of phones globally are Android but only 1% of podcast listens happen on Android now, so that’s where the growth will be. The player is installed on all phones and you don’t even need the player to play audio on Android.
• Non-US podcast listeners also use Spotify and YouTube to listen and that also reflects in demographics. Younger people listen to podcasts where they also listen to music. [Pandora has also got into podcasts, but is US-specific]. Podcasts are just part of native audio content, not separate which explains YouTube consumption which is where a lot of people listen to music.

Global phone usage compared to USA. From James Cridland Podnews.net. Podcast Movement 2019

If you are outside the US and/or you speak another language, or if you are in an under-represented group, now is a great time to start podcasting.

The Spanish speaking market is growing fast and US podcast networks are starting to launch in multiple languages, for example, Dr. Death by Wondery was released in 7 languages at the same time. Hernan Lopez, CEO of Wondery, Argentinian but US-based, talked about using the model of TV to release globally simultaneously. People expect that now with Netflix. I wish the publishing industry would realize this. It is so annoying to hear about a book and not be able to buy it in the UK when it releases in the US. It also facilitates piracy because people will do anything to get the content they want to consume and if it's not available legally in their market, they will look to pirate it.

Remember, indie authors can release globally all at once, but only if they publish wide because Amazon is not available everywhere. [See episode 429 on exclusivity vs wide publishing for more details]

When asked in one session about the differences in global markets and how they decide what to make, founder of LosPodcasteros, Martina Castro said that there are no rules because it is a completely open market. It has not been done before in this medium so now’s the chance to make content in your niche and see if people want it.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Make things that don’t exist and give people a chance to decide if they want it.” @martinacastro” quote=”“Make things that don’t exist and give people a chance to decide if they want it.” @martinacastro”]

This is the independent creator model!

Don’t base your creation on what is trending or what people are buying. There is not enough evidence in podcasting yet to see trends anyway, but embrace the Millennial trend of micro-niches. The era of the bestseller is over. We now live in the long-tail.

Fun in Florida!

(5) Cool tech and marketing ideas

I have a ton of little notes about interesting things, so here are some of the main ones that might be useful for you.

Descript

I walked past this booth and did a double-take. I couldn’t believe it was real because it is a game-changer. You import a file, it generates a transcript and then you can edit the audio by editing the transcript. You can also use it to generate snippets based on text.

If you do anything with audio, your jaw will have dropped by now 🙂 If you’re not technical, this actually helps you edit without knowing too much. It’s also fantastically useful for audiobooks. So I’m playing with it and it will help me create more snippet based shows where I can add narrative around what others have said, which I am very keen to do.

Get 100 free minutes by using my link: www.TheCreativePenn.com/descript

Cleanfeed

I’ve been using Skype since 2009. I’ve tried Zoom and Zencastr but had trouble with both at various times. Cleanfeed is used by the BBC and essentially cleans up the audio files to make them better across the internet. I’m going to try it out based on a conversation at their booth and this great tip: “It’s 2019 and people are still trying to record interviews with Skype. Look into better options.”

Marketing tips that are also applicable for books

The Traffic Pattern t-shirt modeled by host Derek Vento and Kevin

• T-shirts. Lots of people had t-shirts with their podcast URL and logo on. This works well in an Instagram world where people take selfies with others and share the images. Authors tend to use book covers which don't work so well on t-shirts, so consider using your brand or author name URL instead
• Authentically share snippets from the show e.g. quote images, short, accessible, with consistent branding on IG with link in show notes. Don’t do this for every show. Just pick the top shows and do it with them.
• In real life (IRL) engagement. Connect with people at events and drive them to your podcast. Latter Day Lesbians mentioned they go to Pride events and have a stall for their podcast and have seen growth that way.
• Use business cards with QR codes on that take people to your podcast (or book) landing page — but be aware that many people are on different devices and shop in different places, so don’t just do it to your Apple Podcast or your Amazon US book page

So will I go back to Podcast Movement in 2020?

I won’t be attending next year because at core, it’s not my tribe. I am an author first, podcaster second, but I will likely buy the Virtual Ticket so I can listen to the sessions.

I’ll be making some changes to the podcast both on the front end, so you get more audio, but also in the back end with technical settings etc that you won’t even notice in order to be found further afield. I’ll be refocusing on SEO for audio to make the most of the Google changes and also changing up my Patreon offering. If you are a Patron, you’ll hear about that first.

If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, there are lots of options these days. Similar to self-publishing, the tools and services are exploding and some are great, others are not so great. So do your homework before jumping in. I share how I make mine at TheCreativePenn.com/howtopodcast and I’m currently working on a course on podcasting, audiobooks and voice technology for authors which will be coming out in the next few months. It’s turning into more than I expected, considering this is a growing area.

Thanks for listening and I hope you found it sparked some ideas whether or not you podcast yourself, or are considering pitching podcasts for interviews.

If you’ve found this episode or any of my other episodes useful or inspiring, there are a couple of things you could do right now:

• Tell a friend or two, or an author group you belong to, about the show. It should be available on whatever app they use for music.
• Click to share on social media with the buttons above
• Leave a review on whatever service you listen to
• Support the show on Patreon.com/thecreativepenn and get the backlist Q&A audio with behind the scenes info and ask me anything extra shows. 

Happy creating — whether that's writing or podcasting — and I'll see you next time!

Feel free to leave questions or comments below and join the conversation.

Our lives are becoming increasingly impacted by voice and audio technology, something I discuss frequently on The Creative Penn Podcast. Today, author and podcaster, Paul Sating shares why it's a good idea for authors to podcast, and how it can help with book sales.

It’s difficult to get published but finding a reader base for your books can be even more challenging.

Maybe you’ve leveraged every tactic known to ‘writerhood’; newsletters, blogs, paid ads, and various writer-centric websites aimed at readership.

Even writing nonfiction books isn’t a guaranteed path to market awareness of your brand. The challenge of finding readers, standing out from the crowd, becomes more difficult as the crowd swells.

But what can a writer do? After all, there are only so many avenues available to us. The good news is, publishing is a long road, but it is a road with numerous branches that can help us reach our goal of finding new readers.

One way to create a unique presence is by sharing your voice with the world by starting your own podcast. Now, before you say you couldn’t possibly podcast, allow me to tell you how it’s not as difficult as it may first appear and why you might want to consider getting into this medium.

Reasons to Podcast

1. Anyone can do it (yes, even you).
2. It can expand your author/book brand exponentially.
3. It’s relatively cheap (especially compared to book covers and editors).

Joanna Penn with her podcasting microphone

It requires determination to publish and now I’m asking you to be as determined in believing you can podcast. Many people think it’s too technical, but if you have a computer, Internet connection, and a recording device, you can podcast.

Lack of experience can easily be overcome and don’t worry about the sound of your voice (no one enjoys hearing their own).

The podcast space is an open and friendly space. Plenty of experienced podcasters are more than willing to provide advice and audiences know most of us are hobbyists. They are patient and supportive.

You don’t need the sheen of a highly-produced Hollywood product for thousands of people to enjoy listening to your show. With drive and dedication, your sound and production will consistently improve, a feature of this medium that is uniquely positive.

Fans actually celebrate the improvement over time of the shows they love. It’s a truly empowering experience.

No one expects you to sound like a professional studio and the podcast market is looking for genuine personalities to connect with. Make that be you.

Still not convinced?

Consider the flooded book market, with millions of titles and thousands added every month.

Standing out from the crowd is becoming increasingly difficult. Starting your own podcast creates exposure for your books like no other writer activity.

[Note from Joanna: I talk about this kind of voice branding in my podcast episode about narrating your own audiobooks.]

How Podcasting Can Increase Your Brand Exposure

Leading to a larger fan base, many of whom will read your books.

1. Intimacy

Podcasts are a dynamic medium that allows you to connect with fans (as a creator and as a person) on a deep level. When you podcast, you know you’re speaking to hundreds or even thousands of people, but they know you’re speaking directly to them.

That connection can be incredibly strong. Many fans identify as “friends” of their favorite podcasters, even if they’ve never met them.

2. Accessibility

We’re busy people with busy lives. A considerable strength of audiobooks is that they’re mobile – friendly. People can listen wherever they are and whatever they’re doing.

Podcasts share that strength. People cannot stop to read your blog or your interview when they’re at the job or working out at the gym. But they can listen to your podcast while doing those things. You become ever-present in their daily lives and, over time, part of their routine—you can’t put a price on that.

Lastly, the explosion of reliable podcatchers (apps users listen to podcasts) allows for a permanent on-demand existence for your content.

3. Flexibility

A podcast platform gives you the ability to be responsive to fans by quickly publishing content that is relevant to them or the latest trends.

The very fluid nature of podcasting allows you to release episodes when they are timely and topical, dropping them into millions of devices around the world.

And you’re not ‘stuck’ in what you first create. The medium is structured for easy transitions between podcast categories (fiction, nonfiction, business, self-help, etc.).

What is your niche?

Even with an estimated 500,000 podcasts in the space, there is still room for you. Though those numbers sound intimidating, it pales in comparison to the number of book titles. The key is to identify a niche that works for you (your book publishing strategy/goals).

By identifying a niche market, you can carve out a following by leveraging social media and “Also Listens” (podcast equivalent to Amazon “Also Boughts”). The best part? You can do this organically (for free) over time.

How To Begin

And that brings me to my last point. Starting your own podcast can be done cheaply — you only need an Internet connection, computer, a DAW (digital audio workstation — more about this in a moment) and a mic (and you can always add equipment if you choose to take this more seriously in the future).

Mics aren’t scary and you don’t need to be a sound pro to find one that will suit your needs. In fact, great starter USB microphones (plugged directly into your computer’s USB drive) can be found for less than $100. A decent mic can last well over a decade (can you say the same for your book covers?).

[Note from Joanna: for more information on audio set-up for an author, check out this post from Dan Van Werkhoven, the ‘sound guy' for The Creative Penn Podcast.]

Great starter DAW software (like Audacity) is available for free. Though I upgraded to an Adobe product years ago, I know many successful podcasters who still use Audacity (or Garageband, the Apple equivalent).

The only other cost associated with podcasting (besides time) will be your hosting fees (which can range from free for to roughly $25/month, depending on your needs).

These costs are greatly outweighed by the exposure you’ll earn.

Don’t let fear of the unknown discourage you

There are plenty of resources available to help you get started. Many are free. YouTube is a wonderful place to find free educational resources for all skill levels. Just about any social media platform has a wealth of podcast communities with experienced podcasters were willing to help. You won’t be alone.

Audio is a growing marketplace. With our mobile lifestyle and content saturation, it’s important to not get left behind. For writers who want to obtain/maintain front-of-mind-awareness for readers, podcasting is the next natural step in this evolving marketplace.

If you’re looking to stand out, to grow and strengthen your relationship with your readers, build a unique brand presence, and have a consistent platform to cross-medium promote your books (for free), look no further.

You work hard on your books and they deserve to be in the hands of as many people as possible. Hosting your own podcast can not only be the most effective and cost-efficient way of marketing you and your books; it’s actually incredibly fun.

For many authors who podcast, it doesn’t even feel like marketing. Raising awareness, carving out a niche, building bridges to new readers, all while having fun?

What’s stopping you?

Have you thought about starting your own podcast? Please leave your thoughts below and join the conversation.

Paul Sating has been podcasting for 9 years with over a million downloads and published his first 3 books in 2018. He writes horror, thrillers, and is currently working on an epic fantasy series.

Find his podcasts and books at paulsating.com. Connect on Twitter and Instagram at @paulsating.