You’re an author. A Writer. Why would you need to concern yourself with podcast interviews if you want people reading your book, not listening to you talk about it?

It’s estimated that 505 million people will be listening to podcasts in 2024. 505 million people who are voluntarily tuning into shows that will provide them with new and life-changing information. 505 million chances for you to gain a larger audience and increase your book sales. If this is an avenue that you are interested in taking when marketing your book, there are a few key things to remember.

To help, we’ve created a thorough checklist for authors who are seeking podcast interviews.

1. Prepare Answers to FAQs About Your Book

We’ve all been in the same situation. Someone asks the simplest question, and the mind goes blank. Many authors are faced with this situation when asked questions like, “Why did you write your book?” or “What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?” Prepare ahead of time so it doesn’t happen in the middle of an interview.

Create 4–5 sample questions that you think people will or should be asking you. You could also draw inspiration from early readers, friends, and family members who have been a part of your writing process, and they can assist you in the question creation process. Whoever is creating the questions, keep these three interrogative pronouns in mind: what, why, and how. What, why, and how questions will ensure a healthy and energetic conversation during your interview and allow for a proper flow, which is much more engaging for listeners.

Once you have your questions, rehearse your answers. It sounds simple enough, but the real trick is to rehearse the same answer a number of different ways. You don’t want to sound robotic when you respond to a podcast host, and you absolutely don’t want your followers to pick up on your rehearsed answers. Try rehearsing with someone rather than rehearsing in front of a mirror. This way you can receive immediate feedback on your tone, clarity, and conciseness.

2. Have a Proper Audio Set Up

Now that you’ve prepared and rehearsed, we want people to hear you clearly which requires a decent audio set up. If you have the space, dedicate one room or even a closet to recordings. You’ll need privacy for your interviews, not only so you can freely converse, but also so there are no distractions pulling you away from the podcast host. This is especially important if you are scheduled for a video interview on a podcast. We all remember that iconic clip of a professor’s spot on BBC being interrupted by his daughter strutting in the background.

Now on to the fun gear! We’re not here to promote one brand over another, but we are here to make strong recommendations to invest in quality equipment that matches the quality of podcasts you hope to be on. Featured guests on Entrepreneurs on Fire, The School of Greatness, and Goal Digger are not skipping out on investing in microphones and proper lighting.

You’ve spent a lot of time (and money) on writing your book, so start with the basics and go from there. You’ll need:

● A microphone

● Headphones

● A ring light—for video interviews

These will begin to give you quality interviews that you are proud to share with your network.

3. Audit Your Calendar

You’ve done the prep work and now you’re ready to begin outreach. Whether you are working on outreach on your own, with a publicist, or using the services here at Greenleaf, it is important to prepare your calendar for podcast interviews. Sit down, open your calendar, and be honest with yourself. Are your days filled to the brim with business meetings, consultations, and family gatherings? That’s fantastic! When can you realistically see yourself taking anywhere from forty-five minutes to an hour and a half for a podcast interview?

If you can’t see a ton of time available on your calendar, you’ll need to move some things around. Maybe format your schedule to have 4 hours a week dedicated to podcast interviews. And if you look at your calendar and see an upcoming busy season that can’t be moved, be sure to avoid double-booking yourself by scheduling a podcast interview far in advance.

4. Get (and Stay) Pumped!

You’re booked for your first interview. You’re a rockstar! New people are going to be listening to you explain what your book is about, and you have the opportunity to engage a new audience and get more book sales. We know you’re excited and that you’re going to rock your interview and the next 3 to 4 interviews too. After the first 4 to 5 interviews you may start to feel a little burnt out from answering so many questions and always needing to be “on,” which is understandable. Take a break and recharge before your next interview. Podcasting can be exhausting, but it’s important that you approach each interview with an energetic and cheery disposition.

You may run into a period where you are receiving little media opportunities after recording multiple interviews. Or maybe you’re having a hard time landing any media opportunities in the first place. Don’t fret. Media coverage can occur in waves and it’s natural to run into a slow period while pitching your ideas to the world. The competition is fierce, and podcasts have many reasons why they choose one guest over another. The important thing to know is that it doesn’t mean that you have a bad book, bad ideas, or aren’t worthy of being a guest on a show; it’s just a slow period. You’ll get your coverage soon.

All these tips are important to consider when deciding to move forward with podcast outreach. They’ll allow you to pitch or be pitched with peace of mind and be able to walk into your interviews confident and ready to spread your message. Not wanting to pitch yourself? Reach out to your Greenleaf Consultant or one of our Digital Media Outreach Strategists to discuss our Podcast Outreach services.

Written by Greenleaf's Digital Media Strategist, Gwen Cunningham

Gwen is responsible for securing media opportunities for authors.