Tag: podcasts

Categories
Career

You Should Start a Podcast

I heard it every conference. “Build your platform!” Along with the dreaded social media, writers in sessions kept telling us to be consistent with a blog.

But I didn’t read blogs anymore. No one I knew kept up with an RSS blog feed. What did the younger generation do? Looking around at my friends, they listened to podcasts.

As a musician and songwriter, I had the recording equipment and the tech knowhow in GarageBand. So I began to brainstorm and research.

What could I do on a podcast that supported and supplemented my writing career?

An author friend also got excited about the podcast, and so we began Brew & Ink, a story podcast where we wrote a chapter and gave the audience choices which influenced the next chapter. It was fun, and we also generated eBooks we could give away for email addresses.

I also started a ministry podcast, Kingdom Over Coffee.

Over time, these podcasts have been great tools for networking and platform building, many in ways I didn’t expect. A side note: Kingdom Over Coffee has grown far more the past couple years. Brew & Ink is on hold for a while (my friend has had to step away for personal reasons), although we have almost 3,000 on our email list from that podcast alone.

If you’re an author, you should podcast.

Yes, there are a ton of them, but the market continues to grow, especially internationally as more and more people get access to internet and smart phones. You don’t need a huge audience, anyway, just enough to connect with others on a shared interest.

Things I experienced from podcasting (and why you should, too):

  1. Be a better speaker. Listening to my own voice was awful. I said “um” way too much. In a world where we have to be more comfortable speaking in front of a camera, even as authors, this is a valuable skill.
  2. More networking. At first, I had friends on my podcast. I interviewed other authors or pastors I knew, depending on the podcast. Once I was consistent, guests started suggesting people outside of my circle. I’ve interviewed directors of Christian films, persecuted missionaries, and authors on the NYT bestsellers list.
  3. A way to be generous. I picked a topic (or topics) I loved to talk about and gave away information about it in conversation form. It’s free to listen to a podcast, and I can help promote my guests and their current projects.
  4. People get to hear my voice. Writing can and should have personality. We should write with our voice. But much of communication is nonverbal, so I can relate more of my personality, quirks, and meaning (and sarcasm!) through my voice, even more through sound and video, if your podcast is also on YouTube.
  5. A reason to email my lists. Got a new podcast coming out? Now I have a free thing to share with my email list. Those emails can also have other information about me as an author, but an interesting podcast episode is a great reason to contact your email list.

You can get started way easier than you think.

If you have a computer or a decent phone, you can start quickly. Good equipment is cheaper and more accessible than ever. Come up with a topic you’re fascinated by that is also broad enough to have numerous conversations and guests. Or perhaps you’ll have a partner or friend on the podcast every week and continue to have discussions on that topic.

Find a couple podcasts you enjoy listening to and explore what you like about them. Come up with a title for your own, have fun, and start engaging with people and guests about interesting and impactful subjects. Podcasting is a great way to build an audience by being kind and generous. Start today!

Britt Mooney loves to live and tell great stories with God. A pastor, podcaster, and author, Britt lives in Suwanee GA on adventure with his amazing wife, Becca, their three creative kids, and a dog. 

For his Podcasting 101 class go to Serious Writer Academy

Follow him on FB @KingdomOverCoffee, IG @authormbmooney, and YouTube @greatstorieschangetheworld 

Categories
Marketing Sense

Why Your Podcast Pitch Isn’t Working and What to Do Instead

Marketing sense

No matter how dignified we are, holding our just-published book in our hands for the first time makes us squeal with glee, and rightly so.

We’ve heard that the fastest way to “get the word out” is via interviews, so we visit social media groups and share our availability. Here’s where our momentum often stops cold.

Our approach is, shall we say…lacking? Isn’t it enough to reveal that we’re ready to be interviewed? Uh, no.

Recently I read a Facebook post by Max, “My book is hot off the presses! I’m ready to be interviewed. My topic is XYZ. I look forward to hearing from you.” That was his entire ‘pitch.’

Experienced podcasters won’t reach out to Max, and he’ll never know why.

Though he didn’t realize it, Max practiced passive marketing…an announcement to the world at large that he was available for interviews, expecting that same world to run to his door, eager to help him reach his goals. This is an easy trap to fall into for anyone.

The world isn’t trying to help us reach our goals. They’re busy trying to reach their own goals. They’re on the lookout for guests who will help them.

It helps to remember that hosts who interview us give us a GIFT…access to their audience. They’ve built that audience by serving them well, developing deep relationships and thus earning their listeners’ trust. Wise hosts do not take that trust lightly.

We must help potential podcast hosts see how we can help them serve their audience.

3 Steps to Significantly Increase Your Pitch’s Odds

Make a list of 10-20 podcasts: Research podcasts that serve the same / similar audience as yours OR who discuss the same / similar topic as yours. Do they host guests? Who have they recently interviewed? How might you be able to add to that discussion by offering a deeper perspective, an opposing view, or different (yet still helpful) information?

Analyze the podcast: Listen to 3-8 full episodes. More if necessary. Is the host well-prepared, or do they work best off-the-cuff? Is their program live or recorded (and which fits your communication style best)? Does the audience participate, and if so, is the feedback live?

How long is the program, and do guests stay on the entire time, or only for a segment? You want to be knowledgeable about the program, who’s in their audience, and the host’s goals for the program.

Write your pitch: Keep it short and on point. If you’re pitching via email, be clear. Podcast Guest Pitch is a wise title. Bonus points for adding a short value phrase or keywords.

Don’t be vague. Tie your message into the program’s main topic. What can you add to the conversation, and how will your contribution benefit the audience? You’re there to help the podcast host serve his or her audience. How can you do that, specifically?

Add your website link. If you’ve been interviewed before, add those links (within reason). This helps the podcaster know what to expect if they invite you.

 Above All, Keep Pitching!

Repeat the steps above often. As potential hosts respond (not all will), make a note of their questions or comments.

Questions can mean you’ve left out information they want before deciding, or they’re intrigued and want to confirm you’ll be a good fit. Respond professionally, don’t over-promise, and if you’re not sure about something, simply say so.

If their answer is “no,” decide whether to keep them on your list. Today’s “no” might mean “never,” but it could also be tomorrow’s “yes.” BIG difference.

And if you sense you’re a natural fit but the host doesn’t see it yet, follow up without harassing them. They may have a bad day when you originally contacted them.

Podcasters are human, too, or so I’m told. 🙂

Patricia Durgin

Patricia Durgin is an Online Marketing Coach and Facebook Live Expert. She trains Christian writers and speakers exclusively, helping them develop their messaging, marketing funnels, conversational emails, and Facebook Live programs. Patricia hosted 505 (60-minute) Facebook Live programs from 2018-2020. That program is on indefinite hiatus. She’s also a regular faculty member at Christian writers and speakers conferences around the country.

Website: marketersonamission.com
Facebook: MarketersOnAMission

Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

Writer, Educate Thyself

Last month we talked about the basic steps involved in getting your manuscript ready for submission. This month, I want to talk about something I struggle with, and that’s keeping up.

I don’t mean keeping up with laundry or keeping up with the neighbors’ fabulously maintained lawn. If those are your things, high fives to you, but what I mean is the constant challenge to stay current in an industry that’s always changing.

I’m by no means an expert at this. I feel like I’m just starting to get my head around it, so don’t be shy about commenting here with suggestions or corrections.

I’m always curious about a) who/what is getting published, b) what are my readers reading? c) are there any new hints/tips/tricks for writers I need to know about?

You might be thinking, yes, but I can get all this at a conference, shouldn’t I just go to a conference or two and call it good? Why do I need to spend precious writing time on industry info?

Yes, you can and should get yourself to as many conferences as possible. They are an excellent and much needed resource. However, conferences can be expensive endeavors. My budget doesn’t allow for me to attend nearly as many as I’d like. Plus, working parents can’t always get time away from day jobs or find appropriate child care.  

And guess what happens when the conference is over? The industry keeps moving. If you rely only on conference info, you may find yourself out of touch sooner than you’d like. That’s why you need to invest a little time and energy each week.

How do we do it? How do we supplement the education we get at conferences?

As I mentioned, I am figuring this out as I go. I have found three resources (aside from Almost an Author, which obviously I love) that consistently turn up new, reliable information.

1) SCBWI – Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators. My local SCBWI chapter has been a fountain of information, connected me with critique groups (whom I love dearly), and hosts local quarterly events where we can meet other writers, editors, and agents, and exchange ideas.

2) PODCASTS – What better way to be productive during your commute than listening to podcasts about writing? I’ve recently discovered a delightful middle grade book review podcast hosted by a pair of Australian children’s authors called Middle Grade Mavens. A few others that I like are the SCBWI Conversations Podcast, Matthew Winner’s Children’s Book Podcast, and the Middle Grade Ninja Podcast by Robert Kent, and The Manuscript Academy.

3) SERIOUS WRITER – I subscribe to the Serious Writer Club, which I highly recommend for the access to content and frequent Q&A sessions. The SW Club is only open for enrollment a couple of times a year. Check out their website and subscribe to their mailing list for open enrollment dates.  

Whether you spend a little time each day or a little time each week, the point is the same: immerse yourself as much as you can in your reader and writer life. Staying as connected and current as possible will help you step closer and closer to your goals.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.