How Can Authors Use Podcasts to Sell More Books?
Podcasts have gained popularity over the last decade. According to statistics, there are currently 700,000 active podcasts in 2019, up from 550,000 in 2018. As an author, podcasts are a great platform to create a fan base and sell your book. You could start your own podcast or be a guest on someone else’s. I’ll talk about both here, as either of those paths could help you sell more books.
Create a connection
Podcasts create an excellent opportunity for an author to connect with their audience. Most people view their favorite podcaster as trusted sources of buying recommendations, and your book is no exception. Whether you run your own podcast or get on someone else’s, recommending your book to the audience will lead to sales.
Consistency is key
Just like every other type of content, consistency is the key to success. It doesn’t only mean the frequency of the podcasts, but the format and topics of your podcast. People love tuning in to podcasts where they know what to expect. If you speak about the weather today and politics tomorrow, you’ll lose your listeners. So keep your podcast consistent and also choose the podcasts you guest star on carefully.
Know your audience
Understanding your audience is a critical aspect in marketing. Does your audience consist of readers or fellow writers? Do they want to hear about the writing process or the book’s content only? What other genres do they read? The more you know your audience, the higher your chance of getting through to them and selling them your books.
Collaborate with other like-minded podcasters
Guest appearances on podcasts broadcasting to an audience similar to yours is a great way to grow your fan base. As the guest, it’s essential to add value and over-deliver to the listeners. The goal is to warm up to the new audience at first and get them to trust you before selling them your books.
Give a sneak peek
Your listeners view you as a trusted resource, or an entertainer, or even a friend, so whenever you have a new book in the works, it’s nice to give them a sneak peek of it. A small excerpt should arouse their curiosity.
Align your podcast format with your goals
If one of your goals is to sell your books, your podcast should follow a format that’s relatable to readers and book lovers. Creating the right format for your podcast boils down to how much you know your audience. If you have your audience figured out down to a tee, then it’ll be easy to create personalized content and ultimately sell more books.
Invest in quality
Although starting a podcast is relatively inexpensive, the kind of equipment you use and the amount you invest is proportionate to your podcast’s quality. The higher the quality, the higher the likelihood of your listeners tuning in every time.
Create a community
One of the reasons why podcasting has become so popular is the sense of community associated with it. As a podcaster, you can create a community of loyal readers through your podcast. You can then sell your books to members of your community.
Build a brand
Building a brand is a great way to amass a loyal fan base. When you have a recognizable brand voice, listeners will trust you and buy from you.
Hosting guests
Each guest you host brings along their fan base to your podcast. By hosting the right guests, you can broaden your reach and introduce your book to more potential readers.
Podcasts are undeniably powerful marketing tools for authors. People are leaning more towards audio media than video since it’s less disruptive and can be listened to while driving or doing chores. As podcasts gain popularity, their effectiveness as marketing tools will also increase. I hope these tips about using podcasts to sell more books will help you along your book marketing journey.
~ Nanda
Writers' Conferences you might be interested in:
- The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference – August 23, New York, NY
- Retreat to the River – August 24, Moab, UT
- AWA Group Leadership Training in Chicago – August 30, Chicago, IL
- 19th Library of Congress National Book Festival – August 31, Washington, DC
- The 2019 Boston Writing Workshop – September 7, Boston, MA
Upcoming Literary Events you could attend in LA:
- On August 22 at 7:30 PM, at The Last Book Store in Los Angeles, Dorinne Kondo and friends will share excerpts from her new book, Worldmaking: Race, Performance, and the Work of Creativity.
- On August 24 at 5:30 PM, at Chevalier’s Books in Los Angeles, Téa Obreht will discuss, sign, and read from her new book, Inland.
- On August 27 at 7 PM, at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, Jorjeana Marie will discuss and sign Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas.
- On August 30 at 7:30 PM, in Skylight Books Los Angeles, Dora Malech will read from her new poetry collection Stet, with Michelle Brittan Rosado.
- On September 4 at 7 PM, at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Gary Lippman will discuss and sign Set the Controls for the Heart of Sharon Tate.