How to Use Podcasts to Grow Your Author Business (Lessons from One Year of Podcasting)

Podcasts build the kind of trust with listeners that almost no other marketing channel can match, and authors are uniquely positioned to leverage that. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon draw on nearly a year of hosting the Written Word Media Podcast to break down how authors can use podcasting as a genuine reader-building tool, whether that means guesting on other shows or launching their own.What you’ll learn:The psychology behind why podcast listeners trust hosts so deeply, and why that trust transfers directly to book sales (parasocial relationships explained)Why an imperfect, stumbling podcast appearance is often more powerful than a polished blog postHow to find the right shows to pitch as a guest, and the filter every author needs to apply before reaching outExactly what to include in your guest pitch email to get a "yes" from a host (hint: it's not "I'd love to talk about my book")How to prep for a guest appearance: questions in advance, bio tips, gear basics, and the sign-off strategy that turns listeners into readersHow to decide whether to start your own podcast, and the commitment level that separates the 5% who stick with it from everyone elseThe frequency mistake Ricci and Ferol almost made (and what their launch producer talked them out of)Why podcasting, like publishing a book, is a long game, and what realistic traction timelines actually look likeAlso in this episode: Ricci's woodland owl update. 🦉 She's seen it three times now (a photo may or may not appear in the show notes).Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.