As a book lover, author, and/or someone who helps others publish, you might feel that writing is your natural marketing superpower. But don’t forget, there are other excellent and enjoyable ways to spread the word about your work and your book(s), including being a podcast guest.
Earlier in 2022, our monthly meeting attendees heard insights from Becky Parker Geist, BAIPA President and CEO of Pro Audio Voices, describing the benefits of podcasting to accompany your audiobook. (BAIPA members can log in to catch the replay here.)
Since then, I’ve come across several BAIPA members who have been interviewed as guests on podcasts and live YouTube broadcasts. We even have a few members who host their own regular podcast.
Here’s a quick roundup of recent interviews I found. There’s plenty of inspiration here, showing that regardless of your genre, talking about your book and/or work is a great way to reach new readers.
Fiction
- Esther Erman: Reading and Writing Podcast episode about her novel Rebecca of Salerno.
- John Byrne Barry: Exploring End-of-Life Controversies Through Fiction, tying in with his assisted suicide family thriller, When I Killed My Father. You can also hear John on Let’s Talk Death and Morning Coffee With Larry Quicksall.
- John Cammidge: Sausalito Books by the Bay YouTube interview, highlighting his novel She Wore a Yellow Dress.
- Anthony Lee Head: Tiki Man Radio YouTube interview, featuring his book Driftwood.
- Gary F. Bengier: Journey to Authorship at The Author’s Corner, adding to awareness of his novel, Unfettered Journey.
Nonfiction, Essays, and Memoir
- Lorraine Segal: Conflict Resolution and more with Dr. Darian Parker, in anticipation of her forthcoming memoir, Angels and Earthworms.
- Janice Litvin: Banish Organizational Burnout on the Bombshell Business YouTube channel, promoting her work and book, Banish Burnout Toolkit. You can find additional interviews with Janice here.
- David Hirzel: When Your Life Depends on It: Extreme Decision Making Lessons from the Antarctic, getting word out about his book of the same name.
- Richard Haiduck: Shifting Gears and Rethinking the Boundaries of Retirement, reaching a wider audience for his book, Shifting Gears.
- Rob Badger & Nita Winter: Secrets to Taking Better Wildflower Photos, an ideal introduction to their book, Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change.
Advice for Independent Publishers
- Pauline Wiles: Your author website, a 24 hour employee, with Author Nation, answering common questions about creating an effective author website.
- Judy Baker: Take the Overwhelm Out of Book Marketing, also with Author Nation, introducing her value as your Book Marketing Mentor.
- Kelley Way: Using Content Legally on the Indy Author Podcast, demonstrating her expertise as an attorney.
- Ruth Schwartz: Untangling KDP and Untangling IngramSpark on Your Guide to Book Publishing, showing her in-depth knowledge of how to turn your manuscript into a book.
- Arlene Miller: Tap Dancing, Marching Music, and Grammar, promoting her many grammar books and related services.
BAIPA members who host their own podcast
- Becky Parker Geist: Audio Book Connection brings you engaging conversations with authors, narrators, post-production audio engineers, marketing teams as well as audio book listeners and fans.
- Emmanuel M. Arriaga: Collaborating Conversations discusses books, science fiction, and the impact of future technologies on society.
- Judy Juanita: Malik and His Family: a fictional podcast, in which a young boy on his way to school asks his mother about life.
Are you inspired to be a podcast guest?
Podcast hosts typically receive a huge number of unsolicited pitches, and often lament the low quality of those inquiries. You can stand out easily in your pitch by respecting their time and audience as follows:
- Always research the podcast and its intended audience to make sure you’re a good fit, and that the format includes guest interviews. This means listening to at least one episode, possibly more, so you can get clear about how your material complements other episodes.
- In your pitch, make it clear how the audience will benefit from the conversation. It’s not simply about free publicity for you!
- Be sure to address the podcast host by name. (You’d be surprised how many pitches don’t make the effort to personalize their message.)
- Provide the host with everything they ask for, in a timely manner.
- And once you’ve been selected as a guest… share the podcast episode with your own audience. The host is depending on you and other guests to spread the word for a win-win result.
Have your say
Have you enjoyed your experience as a podcast guest? Did I miss your recent podcast interview in this roundup? Let us know in the comments below.
