To date there are literally millions of podcasts out there each with a different subject to hock at us, most of them informational or for entertainment.
Currently Ryan McKinley and I are recording a podcast called Fanboys on Fiction, and we are getting some regular hits on iTunes and on the host site, Podomatic.com. However, I heard a podcast recently that is using a very interesting marketing strategy.
The podcast is called Welcome to Nightvale, and it is definitely weird but at the same time sardonically funny. It is a fake news broadcast about the town of Nightvale where weird things that happen are simply “normal” to them or not taken seriously. I have been listening to the first few episodes (and there are now 29 or so) and it is brilliant in that it is completely unrelated to the editor/podcaster of “Common Place Books”, but leads listeners back to the indie publisher’s webpage where one can find two books for sale.
The crazy thing is, the podcast is becoming insanely popular and because of this people are buying the books. Podcasts are initially free to produce if one has Garageband or some other recording medium that makes sound files. If more storage space is desired (and it will eventually happen as I have used over half of my storage space) one might throw down $80-$100 per year. If a writer is a creative sort (what am I saying?) and were to produce a silly podcast like Welcome to Nightvale, it could be an easy method to draw potential readers to buy books.
If you are a writer who might have access to Garageband and a good microphone, perhaps you could record a funny or engaging podcast to drive readers to your website or blog. If you are a writer, then you are already a creative soul. All it takes is teaching yourself a few tricks about making a podcast. I have provided some links to YouTube videos below that will get you started.
Recording a Podcast Using Garageband
Recording a Podcast Using Audacity
You can also host a podcast on podcastgarden absolutely free forever!
All you have to do after that is copy your RSS feed for iTunes, submit and start podcasting!
Related articles
- Welcome to Nightvale (ravencor.wordpress.com)
- Podcasting 101 (slideshare.net)
- iPad Podcasting tips! (mpc6300.wordpress.com)
- Unbelievably Devoted To Podcasting (basicpodcastingtips.com)
Writing Is Hard Work 
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