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Author Media presents Novel Marketing, the longest-running book marketing podcast in the world. This is the show for writers who want to build their platform, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about.
I’m your host, Thomas Umstattd Jr., and today we are going to talk about guesting on podcasts.
90% of Top USA Today Authors Guest on Podcasts
- Fiction
- Nonfiction
- Even Children’s authors.
Why?
Because podcasts listeners read books!
Podcast listeners are:
- better educated
- make more money
- are more socially connected
Podcasting is not a fad. Slow 1-3% year over year growth for the last 15 years. 2019 was the first time the number of people who listen to podcasts passed 51%.
Hosting a podcast is a great way to go deep with a small audience, but if you want to get the word out about your book, the best way to do it is to guest on other podcasts.
Guesting gives you:
- The influence of a podcast without the work of starting a podcast.
- A high credibility way to reach new audiences
- The chance to reach influencers you could reach any other way
- The chance to reach readers you can’t reach any other way
I have been watching this trend for a while. This is part of the reason we launched the Podcast Host Directory. To make it easier to get in touch with podcasters.
A lot of patrons have been using the Podcast Host Directory but there is a problem. What is the use of having a podcasters email address for a podcaster if you don’t know what to put in the email.
So, I am excited to announce that I have launched a new course! The course is called How to Get Booked as a Podcast Guest.
I’m going to go through the course and give you a taste of the tips inside. So think of this episode as a TL;DR for the whole course.
Section 1 Intro
This section provides big picture.
Why podcast hosts want guests.
For many of them it is because no guest means no show. Or it means they have to do more heavy lifting. It is a lot more work for me to put together a solo show like this one than it is for me to prepare for an interview.
Why podcast hosts turn down guests.
I get pitched with a lot of podcast pitches, and I turn down nearly all of them. But I don’t just look at my own experience. I also got feedback from dozens of other podcasts as to why they turn down guests.
The number one reason for both them and me is poor topic audience fit. You have to adapt your pitch to match the podcast you are pitching.
How to Become a More Attractive Guest
There are ways to become a more attractive guest. The first is to improve your audio. I have a free gear guide on exactly what to get that you can get at www.authormedia.com/gear.
Another way to be more attractive is to have a press kit, we have an entire episode about that, it is episode 157.
Section 2 Pitching
Where to find Podcasts to Pitch
The next thing we talk about is where to find podcasts to pitch. I have a step by step process that starts with listing all the topics you could potentially talk about, I imagine this list is a lot longer than you might think.
How to Track Your Pitches
In the next two sessions, I teach you two different ways to track your podcast pitches. They are with a spreadsheet or with Trello. They both work, it is just a matter of personal preference. Tracking pitches is important because it helps you with follow up, scheduling and discipline.
- Tracking Spreadsheet Template
- If spreadsheets stress you out, don’t worry. I also show you how to track your pitches with Trello
How to Contact Podcast Hosts
There are several ways to do this but the easiest to use the podcast host directory.
How to Pitch Podcasts
This session is worth the price of admission all by itself. It not only comes with video instruction by me on how best to pitch each podcast but also a fill in the blanks template that makes crafting a pitch email super easy.
The most important tips are to:
- Listen to the podcast first so you can customize your pitch.
- Ask!
How to Craft Irresistible Episode Titles
This started out being part of the “How to Pitch Podcasts” but it grew so big it deserved its own section. Pitching good episode titles gives the podcast host a second thing to say “yes” to. The better you do at this, the more podcast hosts will want you on their shows.
Section 3 Performing
This section is basically media training.
- How to Prepare for Podcast Interviews
- Preflight Printable Checklist
- How to Nail Podcast Interviews
- Interview Mistakes to Avoid
- Professional Microphone Technique
- My wife posed as a model demonstrating various microphone techniques. I also show them on camera.
- Post Interview Protocol
Bonuses:
- Tools to Make Your Life Easier (Spoiler one of them is Calendly)
- How to Create a Press Kit
PR firms charge $3000 to do podcast tours, sometimes more depending on which firm you go with. When I was discussing with my mastermind group what to price the course at, they were suggesting prices between $1000 and $300. The consensus was around $500. I might price it at that eventually (especially as more testimonials come through), but at first I am pricing the course at $250.
So what about the patron price? Normally it would be half off and it will be long term. But for the month of October, I am making it 80% off, bringing the price down to just $49 for patrons. This is the perfect companion to the Podcast Host Directory.
Don’t forget, right now the Podcast Host Directory. is only available for $5/mo patrons. As I record this, there are only 31 $5/mo patron slots left.
My goal is to get some early reviews and later as the endorsements come in the price may go up.
Speaking of patrons…
Featured Patron
Lauren Lynch author of The TimeDrifter Series
The TimeDrifter Series by Lauren Lynch Explore ancient civilizations from a Christian worldview in the historical fantasy.
You can become a Novel Marketing Patron here.
Transcript generated algorithmically by Sonix (Affiliate Link).
Do you have a question you would like us to answer on the show? Call our listener help line! 512-827-8377. You can also send us a high-quality recording on NovelMarketing.com/contact.