Authors: Here’s How to Create a Podcast That Expands Your Reach

Guest post by Amy Collett

Podcasting is quickly becoming one of the most effective ways to promote a brand and move a business forward. And authors worldwide have taken notice. In fact, the overwhelming majority of bestselling authors maintain a podcast presence.

You’ve come to the right place if you’re thinking about starting a podcast to boost your writing career. Below, Caligraphics Design discusses how to effectively prepare, produce, and leverage an author podcast!

Determine Your Audience and Niche    

First, you need to figure out what kind of listeners you will target your podcast to and identify a niche that you can fill. Maybe you hope to inform and inspire beginner freelance writers or independent authors, or perhaps your goal is to reach established novelists. Choose an audience to base the rest of your podcast strategy around.

Think About Marketing

Too many podcasters fail to implement an effective marketing strategy, which can significantly limit your reach. Before diving deep into producing your podcast, start thinking about how you will promote it and garner a following.

For example, you’ll need a good name for your podcast that stands out and remains top of mind with your audience. You also need a professional website where listeners can find your podcast and other content relevant to your brand. Many podcasters use YouTube to showcase their content. Look into YouTube banner templates to create a customized banner with your own text, images, and logo if you go that route.

Choose a Format

There are many different formats to consider for your podcast; the one you roll with must set you up to succeed in your ultimate goals. Here are a few of the most popular podcast formats:

• Interview show
• Solo training
• Quick tip
• News analysis
• News briefing
• True crime
• Fiction
• Genre review

Do you want to help other writers develop strategies for producing better content? A solo training format might be the ticket. Is your primary goal to inspire people to start writing in general? An interview show format could be ideal. Think about your mission, and structure your podcast accordingly.

Establish Your Show Branding

Some people underestimate the importance of branding a podcast because it’s primarily an auditory experience. However, as with any other type of show, you need professional branding that attracts new listeners and distinguishes you from other authors.

For example, you’ll need to design album art that shows up on your website and streaming platforms and an introduction to each episode. Some podcasters include music and voiceover in their intros. Moreover, make sure you have a solid outro to close out your episodes.

Get the Gear and Record

You could spend days researching the plethora of podcast equipment on the market. But at the end of the day, there are only a few items you really need to get started, and you can build your setup from there. Invest in a high-quality dynamic microphone, over-the-ear headphones, and mic arm. And of course, you’ll need a reliable computer and editing software!

Once you obtain the essential gear, choose a podcast host (where you will upload and store your episode files), and start recording your first episode. The easiest method is to record directly into your editing software. Then, you’ll have everything set up to edit your file for professional bliss!

Conclusion

Authors everywhere are starting podcasts. However, while it’s an excellent way to get your name out there and solidify your place in the industry, you must come at it with a good strategy if you hope to stand out and succeed in the long run.

Following the steps above will get you off to a strong start, but there is much more to producing and launching a podcast. Keep learning as much as you can to create a podcast that puts you on the bestseller list!

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about our book cover design services? Visit CaligraphicsDesign.com today!