I double dog dare you, right now, to pick up your phone, push the purple podcast icon, click the search symbol, and type either one of these podcast shows that I mention below or the name of an author you love or even a subject area, such as "writing kid lit." Do a Google search for "Top 10 Podcasts for Writers 2019"--but just please, give a podcast a chance if you haven't yet.
It is easy professional development for writers because you can listen to these while you do the dishes, drive your kids around, or take your dog for a walk. You know how you have that stack of writing craft books you will never get to? A lot of that information you can find ON PODCASTS for FREE.
And no, I'm not being paid by Apple or anyone to promote how wonderful podcasts are--although there's an idea.
Last week, I wrote about my adventure with my picture book, Listen, Lucy! Listen!, and I mentioned that I finally found inspiration for what to do with this contract-canceled book by listening to a podcast. One of our bloggers, Sue Bradford Edwards, said I should write a post on marketing podcasts, so here it is. She didn't mention that I should go on a long soapbox about how everyone should listen to them, but I can't follow directions very well.
Here are the podcasts I listen to that have marketing help for writers. If you have some suggestions on writing-related podcasts, please leave them in the comments and let us know what areas they cover for interested Muffin readers!
Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast by Chris and Becca Syme
Although they are currently not making any more new episodes, they have 136 in their archives! I like these two because Chris, the mom, is a marketing expert (not just with books), and Becca is a working author who has made the USA Today Bestsellers List. The episodes are short (usually around 30 minutes), and they have a lot of ideas that you can put into practice today, such as build your email marketing list and create an automation for your newsletter sign-ups (even before you have a book out). To check out this podcast, you can go to the website here or subscribe to the podcast on the app. A few of the episodes you should probably skip--anything to do with Amazon policies because those seem to change daily. But so many of the practices they preach are ones that will be around for a long time.
Social Media Examiner: Social Media Marketing Podcast
What I like about this podcast is that it is not only for book marketers, and I think sometimes it is important as authors to remember that there are a lot of small businesses out there trying to market their wares, and you need to think of your author career as a small business. This show focuses a lot on using social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, You Tube) for marketing. The experts he interviews always make it seem like getting involved in the latest trend on these sites is doable for anyone. I like that. So many times I think: I can't create an Instagram story. I don't know how to make a video. But then yesterday, I listened to the podcast about Instagram stories, and I made one for WOW! celebrating the beginning of NaNoWriMo. Check that podcast out here.
The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn
This is not going to be a new one for most of you; but if you haven't listened to any of Joanna Penn's podcast episodes yet, then you should--just for her lovely accent! On her website, she has a list of podcast episodes, which you can actually click on the title of the episode to read a transcript of it if you really are against listening to podcasts. (Pointing my finger at you!) But this awesome list also allows you to find what subject you are interested in. A lot of the episodes are about marketing--or she is interviewing authors who are successful, and they share tips about their marketing. You can find all that--for free! here .
5 comments:
Margo,
You know you don't have to tell me to listen to some podcasts! I haven't check out any of the ones you mentioned though so I'm excited. I also listen to the Goal Digger podcast (Jenna Kutcher) for personal development and have learned so much. I also like Amy Porterfield's Online Marketing Made Easy podcast and the Business Boutique by Christy Wright and Don't Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller. I've found I most like listening to the stories of other entrepreneurs and writers that are featured and always pick up such great tips. I keep trying to encourage my husband to find some personal development podcasts to listen to and he insists on listening to YouTube videos by motivational speakers in the car. To each his own, I guess.
Thanks for those suggestions, Renee! I will check some of those out. So many podcasts, so little time.
Aaaaargh! I think you--along with Renee--might have sucked me into (finally) giving podcasts a serious try. (I need some seriousseriousserious help with using social media, along with marketing.)
I don't know what it is with me and podcasts. I guess I feel a bit disconnected without a face or images to look at. However, I fell in love with the "S Town" podcast.
I hope you feel bad about what you did. ;)
I can't say that I've never tried podcasts but I've never found one I liked enough to go back. Most of them I tried were content-light and spent more time trying to sell me x, y, or z in the firt ten minutes than they spent on the alleged topic.
But I think you and Renee (and a string of really bad audio books) have convinced me to give these specific podcasts a try.
Sioux--I just listened to S-Town recently and was riveted. It was such a great example of storytelling and reporting. Did you know John's "estate" is trying to sue NPR because of the way they "profited" off John's story? I have a feeling it's the cousin they interviewed in the story who's behind all the lawsuit mess. I also think the podcast is being turned into a feature film. I feel so dumb that it took me so long to finally listen to it!
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