Last week, I attended the Blogging While Brown conference, which is geared toward people of color who also blog. As expected, I got some good blogging tips. But I also left with a takeaway that was quite unexpected:
Podcasting is becoming as significant as blogging.
I know, I know, we’re writers, not “talkers.” Still, I think a case can be made for the writer to consider podcasting:
You’ll need a platform to sell yourself book
You hear it everywhere (especially if you write non-fiction): if you want to sell books, you must have a platform. In other words, you need to have a presence online or elsewhere that enables potential readers to get to know you, trust you, and want to buy your book.
Most people interpret “platform” to mean blogging, having an updated website, or actively engaging in social media—and they are correct.
But being a writer doesn’t mean your entire presence has to be in the form of the written word. Podcasting may be a particularly great option, for example, for perfectionists who refuse to allow to people to read anything that has not been revised ten times (and therefore have trouble getting blogs out regularly).
Why not switch it up allow people to hear your voice (you know, the one that comes out of your mouth)?
There aren’t that many podcasts
At BWB, I attended a session taught by podcasting guru Rob Walch. He used some fancy charts and graphs to make the point that there are a LOT more blogs out there than podcasts.
The podcast market isn’t oversaturated (yet). Not only that, most of the podcasts that do exist are hosted by men.
A lot of us are blogging to get our names or voices out there. But it’s hard when there’s so much competition. Podcasting presents a real opportunity—especially for a woman—to make a name for oneself.
Writers are natural storytellers
My favorite podcasts are This American Life and Dear Sugar, and I think it’s because they are hosted by natural storytellers.
This American Life engages its audience by hooking the reader, creating tension, and leading us to a satisfying conclusion (sound familiar?). Dear Sugar is an advice show hosted by writers Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond, who use their podcast not only to provide comfort to the lost and lonely, but to tell stories about the human condition.
As writers, we are also natural storytellers. We’re observers, we’re researchers, and we have a bunch of other skills that are crucial to a great podcast. Just as a reader can feel like the author is speaking directly to him or her through a book, a podcast host is speaking directly to his or her listeners, literally.
This intimacy requires thoughtfulness, compelling storytelling, and compassion—who better to do all that than a writer?
Podcasting isn’t that hard (logistically)
Just like you can get yourself on the internet, you can get yourself on iTunes. I know it’s possible because I saw my friend do it a few weeks ago.
I don’t have the expertise to tell you how to make it happen step by step, but if Rob Walch’s books and podcasts are anything like his presentation, they should get you started.
Give it a try
It never hurts to explore something new, and if you never try it, you’ll never know how well podcasting might work for you. As a writer, you’re already prepared to create a great podcast. Give it a try and see how it goes.
Who knows? Your podcast could become one of the strongest parts of your platform, drawing scores of new readers to your book. Isn’t that worth a shot?
What are your favorite podcasts? Have you ever tried podcasting? Let me know in the comments.
PRACTICE
Take fifteen minutes to write a pitch for a podcast with you as the host. Share in the comments section!
The post The Case for Podcasting (As a Writer) appeared first on The Write Practice.
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