fbpx

Published and Paid #7: Widen Your Reach by Starting a Podcast

, Published and Paid #7: Widen Your Reach by Starting a Podcast

Published and Paid #7: Widen Your Reach by Starting a Podcast

 

Click here to listen to the full episode!

 

As a Christian writer, you have a God-given message that needs to be heard. But the reality is that most books can only reach so many people, especially if you don’t have a huge following just yet. But what if you could grow your audience and also hone your skills as a writer and speaker – all while growing your audience at the same time? You can by starting a podcast and consistently providing value through it.

 

In Part 7 of the Published and Paid series, Coach Tam lays out the benefits of starting a podcast and top mistakes to avoid so yours doesn’t end up in the “podcast graveyard.” Don’t miss the FREE step-by-step course from approved partner Carey Green to walk you through the whole process!

 

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

 

  • One of the biggest myths about making money as a Christian writer
  • How starting a podcast directly benefits your writing career
  • Why many podcasts never make it past 10 episodes – and how to avoid falling into the same trap
  • What not to do if you want your podcast to be successful
  • How to get direct access to Carey Green’s FREE podcasting course (no email address required!)

 

Be sure to read all the way to the end to grab that direct link!

 

As a Christian writer, you have the opportunity to profoundly impact lives by sharing your faith and values with the world. But did you know that you could also have a lucrative side hustle or make a living doing what you love? 

 

It’s true. And that’s what this Published and Paid series is all about – getting you from where you are right now to where you want to be. 

 

And a big part of that is learning to think outside of the box. After all, it’s your current thinking that has us where you are. So if you want to get to the next level, you have to go to the next level in your thinking. If you haven’t already, go back and check out the previous Published and Paid episodes, because each one is jam-packed with information that will help you change your thinking so you can make more money from your writing, make an impact that lasts, and reach more people. 

 

Remember, having disposable income is important. As Christians, we’re called to love our neighbors as ourselves, and that means going the extra mile to help those in need. Yes, sometimes that will be a spiritual need, but many times it’s a material need. And let’s be honest, it’s hard to help others when you’re barely scraping by yourself. 

 

But what you could do if you had more income at your disposal? Perhaps you could donate more money to causes that help those in need. Or you could free up some of your time to help bring more awareness to important issues and promote compassion and justice. When you have more disposable income, you have greater ability to be a blessing to others and a light in the world. Isn’t that something we should all be passionate about? 

 

Share Your Work While You Hone Your Skills

 

One of the biggest myths about making money as a Christian writer is that you have to find a traditional publishing deal. But – while there are certainly benefits to going the traditional publishing route – there are many other ways to make money as a Christian writer without waiting for someone else’s approval. One of those ways is starting a podcast of your own. 

 

Podcasting offers a unique opportunity to share your work with the world while you hone your skills as a public speaker and teacher. Every time you sit down to record an episode, you force yourself to articulate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner. And that’s important, because being a good writer isn’t just about stringing together a few sentences and hoping for the best – it’s a craft that requires time, effort, and practice to perfect. 

 

Preparing for each podcast episode allows you to research a topic in-depth and learn more about your craft at the same time. As you begin to build an audience, you’ll also find yourself learning how to better communicate with others and explain your work in an interesting and engaging way. As a result, you’ll end up producing higher-quality writing and developing a stronger understanding of your field. 

 

Benefits of Starting a Podcast

 

By investing time in a podcast and creating a quality show, you open up a world of possibilities for your writing career. Starting a podcast is a great way to:

 

  • Build a platform and an audience for your work as a Christian author. By hosting your own podcast, you can reach a wide range of listeners who might not otherwise have had the chance to hear your message. 
  • Connect with other writers and thinkers in the Christian community. Through regular guest appearances and interviews, you can create valuable relationships that may lead to new opportunities down the road. 
  • Build authority and credibility. Podcasters are often seen as experts in their field, because they’re sharing insights and knowledge with their listeners on a regular basis.

 

If you’ve written a book on Christian leadership, for example, you could start a podcast about the leadership principles of Jesus. Then you could share your insights with your audience and invite other leaders that you respect and admire to join you on the show. As your audience continues to grow, and you get better at interviewing and speaking with each episode, you’ll gain more credibility and authority in your field. So if you’re looking to establish yourself as an expert, starting a podcast is a great way to do it.

 

But is starting a podcast really worth the time and effort? After all, there are so many podcasts out there on all kinds of topics. That’s true, but here’s a little secret about the podcasting world: while the market may appear overcrowded, most podcasters simply aren’t consistent enough. It’s not uncommon for a show to fizzle out after a few episodes, or for a podcaster to go inactive. 

 

If you are dedicated to consistently creating quality content, you will quickly distinguish yourself from the competition and capture your audience. For the committed, podcasting is no longer a niche hobby – it’s a viable way to build a business and connect with people all over the world. So if you’re ready to put in the work, there’s no reason you can’t be successful. 

 

Starting a Podcast: What Not To Do

 

All of that said, there are some things you need to avoid if you don’t want your podcast to end up in the “podcast graveyard,” so to speak. It’s commonly said that many podcasts never make it past episode #10. Can you believe that? Just 10 episodes, and that podcast is in the graveyard! 

 

We don’t want that to happen to you. So here are some mistakes you should avoid so you can be well on your way to launching a successful podcast.

 

1. Don’t start a podcast just to start a podcast. 

 

Amazing as podcasts are, and much as they can help your writing career, you have to approach yours in the right way. Before starting a podcast, take some time to think about your goals and your target audience: 

 

  • What are you hoping to achieve with your podcast? 
  • Who, specifically, are you trying to reach? 
  • How will you structure the podcast to directly or indirectly generate income? 

 

Answering these questions will help you stay focused as you move forward and, eventually, help you become profitable. 

 

It’s also important to consider what sets your podcast apart from the millions of other shows out there. What unique perspective do you bring to the table? How can you add value for your listeners? Keep these things in mind as you develop your show, and make sure you’ve answered them all before you hit “Record.”

 

2. Don’t try to do everything yourself. 

 

As a content creator, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have to do everything yourself. After all, you’re the one with the vision and the passion, so it seems obvious that you should be in charge of bringing the project to life. 

 

However – speaking from personal experience – when you don’t get help, it can lead to burnout and frustration. When you try to take on too much, ending up in the podcast graveyard is almost inevitable. 

 

So instead of trying to do everything yourself, delegate tasks to others who can help lighten the load. This will allow you to focus on what you do best: creating great content. By building a team of people who share your vision, you’ll be able to create something that’s truly special – and that wouldn’t have been possible if you were working alone. And believe it or not, this doesn’t have to break the bank. 

 

3. Don’t be afraid to promote your podcast. 

 

If you want people to listen to your show, you have to let them know that it exists! This means promoting your episode across all your social media channels and to your email list, and also being a guest on other podcasts and encouraging your listeners to leave reviews. 

 

But a word of caution: don’t spam people with incessant advertising, make false promises, or overhype your content. Instead, the point is to be creative in your promotion and to measure your results so you can adjust your approach as needed. That’s the best way to effectively promote your podcast and build a loyal audience.

 

4. Don’t give up after the first few episodes. 

 

As mentioned above, many podcast hosts aren’t dedicated or consistent enough and often give up quickly. Do you know why that is? It’s because starting a podcast and keeping it going isn’t easy. It may look easy, but it’s work. Too many hosts give up because they don’t see results immediately and they conclude that their time and energy was wasted. 

 

But the truth is that it takes time and persistence to build anything that lasts – including a successful podcast. The key is to focus on persistence and quality. Keep producing informative, entertaining content, and you will eventually start to see the results. 

 

5. Don’t forget to pray. 

 

Ask God to guide you in your effort all the way from the very beginning. Even as you’re just starting to think about what you want your podcast to be, ask Him to help you to reach people who will appreciate your work. With persistence and prayer, you can make your podcast successful. And over time, you will start to see your podcast grow in popularity as more and more people find it and subscribe. 

 

FREE Step-by-Step Course: How To Podcast

 

By now, you should be starting to see that you can use the gifts God has given you to share your message in a variety of ways. Yes, a book is one vehicle – and one we all love! – but if you want to be published and paid, it’s important that you be open to leveraging other platforms to reach people in ways that a book may not be able to do. And starting a podcast is a great way to reach a much wider audience.

 

Still, you may be nervous about where to start. And if so, that’s perfectly normal! Here’s what you can do.

 

Carey Green, Christian Authors Network approved partner, is all about helping you transition into the medium of podcasting as a way to get your God-given message out into the world. In addition to production and editing, Carey’s company has created an amazing course that walks you through the process of creating and starting a podcast. It begins at the foundational level of understanding what a podcast really is, and at the end, everyone who has completed the course will have taken all the action steps they need to get a polished podcast up and running. 

 

But here’s the best part: Carey has graciously agreed to offer this course for FREE to all of our Publishing Secrets listeners! That’s right, he’s giving you direct access to his step-by-step How To Podcast course – no need to pay a cent or even provide an email address. 

 

This is an excellent opportunity for you to explore starting a podcast as a way to be published and paid. So don’t let this opportunity pass you by! There are people who are waiting for you to get this message out there, and we’ve got the perfect vehicle for you to get started. So click here to access the course and take action today. Then come back next week for the next installment of Published and Paid.

 

BIO

My name is Tamara “Coach Tam” Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) “get you”, 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.  

 

GET CONNECTED

Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroup 

Download the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1 

Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.net 

Follow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/ 

Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/