Planning To Cast a Pod

Podcasts give our readers an additional way to connect to us as writers. If planned carefully, with a specific audience in mind, they can attract new readers to your website or blog. Like wiggly fish after their first bite of worm, they'll be hooked. That's right reader-o-mine you have just been lured in.

My first podcast is about business applications of social media. Ways, as writers, we can get our name to new readers through new technology. Often when I read a new author that I enjoy I search for their website and see if they have a blog. I'm looking to see what else they've written and what they read. Z. A. Maxfield is a great example of this sitch. I read her St. Nacho book and found her website. Now I follow her RSS feed and from her website discovered a new publisher. Since epublishers are so specialized, finding one that fits your reading kink is gold.

The podcast focuses on authors who are trying to decide if Facebook, Twitter and other social media is worth the effort.

Developing the podcast script was a bit like creating a story idea. I did my research, info below. I choose my topic and audience. I wrote a draft, focusing on keeping the tone 'conversational' and then revising it for length. I'll edit it for sound quality, try to remove all the 'and uhm's that I'm sure will crop up. And just like a story, I'll make sure the beginning mirrors the end. After all, in the publishing industry, social media is all about getting your audience to check out your other bait and hook.

Federal Web Managers Council (2010). http://www.usa.gov/webcontent/technology/podcasting.shtml

Villano, M. (2008). Building a Better Podcast. T.H.E. Journal, 35(1), 31-33,.

Griffey, J. (2007). Podcast 1 2 3. Library Journal, 132(11), 32-34.