Publishing Kids Books ~ Episode 22

Have you wanted to publish books? What about publishing kids books? Today my guest, Autumn McKay has successfully published books along with her husband, Seth. These books are geared for little ones and she shares her journey with you!

Thanks to our sponsor Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference  

Publishing Kids Books Top Tips:

1. An idea that resonates with your buyer – in this case the author, Autumn McKay is a teacher who geared her books currently for kindergarten and younger. In addition, her engineer husband also wrote coloring books.
2. Coloring books – great idea, because they are consumed. Consumable books are a great way to generate additional sales.
3. Traditional vs. Self-publishing? Traditional publishers still want authors to market their own books, and the McKays decided it was in their best interest to self-publish and keep all the profit.
4. Instagram is a way the book is marketed and a way to gather emails.
5. Call to action – whether you are on an interview, speaking before groups of pre-school moms, or even on social media giving away something helps. Autumn used a lead magnet – giving the listener a “taste” of what her books are like in exchange for an email to add to her list. She can then give special promotions and more. Here is a call to action Autumn used as a lead generator. 
6. Email lists are important, they are a way for the subscriber to learn more about the author and what the author offers.
7. Giving the listener a PDF of books – here is an example of what Autumn’s books: BestMomIdeas Book Page PDF

You may want to check out Felice’s book, Information In A Nutshell Writing and Publishing:

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Inside The Mind of a Communication Coach with Special Guest, Marnie Swedberg

Have you wondered what a communication coach does, well with Marnie Swedberg is an expert. Do you wish you had a ministry or were a speaker? Marnie gives you great information that will launch or grow your career.

Thanks to our sponsor, Media Angels host of the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference.

Do everything for the glory of God! Marnie is a coach and mentors communicators.

Learn more about Marnie at Marnie.com

What is your focus and what did God create you to do? Cause we all want to do everything or what somebody else is doing, but what God wants us to do is what he created us to do. Marnie has learned this and her business focus is to help authors and speakers to achieve their best.

The Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference is the place to be in February and Marnie will begin a session with teaching about powerful speed networking and getting the most from your introduction. She will share how one of the most powerful ways to meet and be remembered by people that you just meet.

We discuss:

1. How do you build your ministry?
2. Learn the keys to communication?
3. What can a communication coach teach you?
4. Building a solid foundation with God – God is in the driver’s seat.
5. Collaboration and networking component

What is your role as a Communicator:

Insider strategies and tips focus on targeting your topics, titles, and descriptions in order to capture the attention of your focus audience. Publishers, producers, and planners work with people all the time. Do you know how to position yourself so that you get noticed? What if you want to be on a guest blogger or a guest on a podcast? These are things you will learn at the Communicators Conference. 

You will learn about ways to explode your audience with targeted topics, titles and 30-word wonders as well as so many other things. There is a skill to bubbling to the top of the pile. And that’s where Marnie works with the speakers over at women’s speakers.com. My goal is to help women get ready, get seen and get booked because those all three are critically important. And that’s what we’re going to be doing at this conference to work on the publicity piece.

Coaching for Communicators is important if you want to take your message to a new level. Marnie will do some in-person coaching.

Sometimes it seems like you might be going down a rabbit trail. But honestly that’s how God holds the world together. If you look at the world it’s like this big web and that’s how women’s minds are. Our minds are like a huge web and it’s this big rule of you know electrical connections and everything’s connected to everything else. These coaching, the group sessions are so powerful. So I’m going to be doing two of them. One of them just on your basic speaking ministry, what are your most pressing questions and the other one on the international focus, how to, how to think about going global. And it’s a, it’s a specific session as well. Like it’s going to even include like a packing list for when you’re traveling to an impoverished nation. I mean we’re going to get detailed as well. How to think about it.

When you actually get to opportunity to meet these people in person, to actually connect with them, eye to eye, to see their body language, to have a hug, to hold hands and pray together. This is a whole different dimension. And I think one of the things I’m most excited about is the opportunity for networking and collaborating at this next level where yes, you can reach out to people by email. And I have so many great friends who have never yet met face to face and some of you are coming to the conference. I’m so excited. But for those of you who can’t decide, just pray about it, just ask God, is this, is this something that I should be attending?

Learn more at the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference.com

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Learning At Conferences Episode 20 – with Cindy Rushton

Are you ready? Cindy Rushton’s back! Learning at conferences is important but so much more important if it is live! Join Felice Gerwitz and Cindy Rushton as she shares what she learned at a recent event and how wonderful the connections were, and what she learned. So much great information for you!

Thanks to our sponsor – Thanks to our sponsor, Media Angels host of the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference.

Want to connect with Cindy?

Cindy Rushton’s Website – CindyRushton.com

Facebook Page – Stepping Up To Your Call

Why attend a live conference? Learning at conferences takes center stage in person!

Here are some things that may help you!

1. Pay ahead – it is easy to have excuses of why you can’t go.
2. Plan effectively – take notes but plan to implement.
3. 31-day challenge ahead of time – get your mindset right!
4. Connections – a great way to meet people.
5. Connections on groups such as Facebook.

Conferences, especially learning at conferences when it comes to live events are time and money commitment. When you are invested you tend to want a return on your investment and that is why you will take special care in learning, and actually using the information. Live events challenge you. They introduce you to the mindset of a winner. A winner’s mentality. Many times we want to remain humble and have humility – I get it! But it also means we must focus on succeeding and working smart!

Be sure to connect with Cindy on her Facebook group for the encouragement you need.

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Humor and Speaking Meet Tina Levene ~ Episode 19

Are you funny? Do you use humor and speaking as a combination that helps your audience engage and become captivated with your teaching or subject? Today a special guest, author, and featured speaker at the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference, Tina Levene shares her secrets with you!

Thanks to our sponsor, Media Angels host of the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference.

Tina Levene is a survivor! She had a traumatic childhood and has learned resiliency and strength that only can be attributed to God and her faith! She shares that after she became sober and clean in college at twenty-three years old from alcohol and drugs, she had a spiritual awakening. She believes God saved me her from money situations, nightmares, etc. and realized the love of God.

She has put all that energy into her ministry that has been active for twenty-one years! Tina is the author of five book and is passionate about encouraging others to succeed. In 2012 she started writing and journaling on scraps of paper and this ended up in her first book. Her friend, a Christian publisher encouraged her and gave her “permission to write a book” and said he was gonna publish it!

It took fourteen years to actually sit down to write this book–actually I wrote it within a couple of months and it was published.  It was really Holy spirit driven. Tina has a great sense of humor that is very clean, and she transferred all of those gifts into her ministry. She is also an inspirational speaker. Learn how she uses her sense of humor and speaking to motivate women!

Connect with Tina Levene

Here is a complete list of Tina’s topics on the conference website here.

Tina is a featured speaker for the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference and she is going to talk about: How to energize any audience engagement or moment.

Humor and Speaking

Here are some of the points I speak about with Tina, and she is an expert on humor and speaking.

1. Tina loves to make people smile and laugh.
2. Takes coordination to organize those faults and the visions because comedy is it.
3. Her speaking is a ministry.
4. Audience participation.
5. Something the audience needs to hear
6. Humor heals
7. Allow the audience to loosen up and have a good time
8. Audience engagement
9. Inspires and empowers the audience
10. Gives them the tools they need
11. Helps them to read the audience when they are speaking

Tina will teach some of the elements to using your own brand or sense of humor and speaking to engage the audience.

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Conference Speaker – Meet Meredith Curtis Episode 16

Meredith Curtis attended a conference where I was a featured conference speaker. She had dreams of becoming a published author! Fast forward many years later and not only did Meredith realize her dream, but she also is a speaker herself!  In this episode learn what it takes to become a speaker!

Thanks to our sponsor the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference – visit the website here.

Many authors would love to be a conference speaker. How does an organizer select the best speakers? It is a matter of the needs of the conference but also the information the speaker submits. If you want to attend an amazing conference sure to bring your business to the next level, listen to this show.

Meredith attended a conference seminar on writing and publishing. Her daughters brought her by my booth to introduce me to her and she purchased my book. She was so excited about writing her own curriculum that she used for her own children and others. The talk inspired her to begin her own company, Powerline Productions and print her own books! Not only that–but she hosted her own Finish Well Conferences for teens for years in her area.

When I was planning my Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference I asked several people I knew to submit talks they would like to present, and Meredith’s ideas really resonated with me.

Conference Speaker Sessions: Here are Meredith’s Sessions

1. Prepare Your Heart to Run A Business: The first is as a believer in Jesus, she wants to do it for His glory, and it all begins with what does the Bible says about running a business. The Bible has so much to say about serving others, managing money and even investing, which really is what a business is investing for profit. I talk about how we applied Biblical wisdom to our business and also how we do that in our home. Because our home, is not a country club or an organization, it’s home.
2. God’s Wisdom For Running A Business: Meredith ended up writing a book on Economics  to teach others about the economic cycle, and understand when to expand your business, grow it and thrive. And then there are times when the economy slows so you need to pull back, and your sales may go down. Things become more difficult and you can use that to your advantage to streamline, to cut waste and trim excess until you are ready to start expanding again. This allows you to save money for even more growth.
3. Running A Business Debt Free: The Bible says do not despise the day of small beginnings. And I think that’s an important principle when you’re thinking about starting a business because you just start with what you have and what you can afford to spend. One of the principles is to put aside money for your next expenses and you have to think longterm instead of short term. Meredith will be sharing the seven keys to running a business debt-free at the Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference. 

Meredith and her worship team will be playing live during the conference and be on hand to pray for the attendees–if anyone would like prayers.

This conference is happening because we want to support you and your calling, whether it is to write a book, speak at a conference, have your own podcast, be a consultant or coach for others or travel the world in ministry. Whatever that is, we are here! All are welcome!

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Getting An Interview ~ Episode 11

Want an interview? Well, if you are an author, have a service or sell a product this is a great way to let people from all over the world know about what you have to offer.

Thanks to our sponsor! Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference. Learn more here.

How Do You Get An Interview?

I’ve met people and in the course of a conversation I’ll say, “Hey, can I interview you? I’d love to interview you about ____, my audience would enjoy what you have to say!” Believe me, this happens rarely. But I am approached online often by people I don’t know.

What I have learned is people with a book, a product or a service often approach me in a way that is not going to get them an interview on my podcast and I host several! So if you have something that you want to share, this is important information for you. 

I have a question for you. I actually have several questions and this is something that I would like you to think about if you want an interview.

1. Why do you want that interview? If you’re going to say, I want to make money, then that is a sure fire way to fail. I have found that if you don’t have passion-passion-and-passion, you can’t fake it and if you’re on an interview and you’re not excited about the topic and you don’t have a lot to bring to the table, it’s going to show.
2. What do you have to share that is unique? I shared with you in a previous episode that I wrote a book on writing and publishing. What makes my book unique? It’s short. You can read it in two to four hours and it’s like having a conversation with me. It is my consultation in a nutshell. You can find it on Amazon.
3. How can you capture the eye of someone who has a platform that you want to be featured on? If you didn’t listen to Episode Nine on Connections, go back and listen to that episode or re-listen to it and you will find the importance of catching the eye of a potential podcaster by following them on social media and connecting with them in that way. Be sure to comment and leave a nice review 🙂 All this helps.

Being unique is important. It can be as simple as taking a complex topic and breaking it down. Like I shared with you about my Information In A Nutshell book and we did this in the second book in the Information Nutshell series and that is written by a CPA who wrote Business Tips and Taxes for Writers and Bloggers. Again, a very short book that is going to be something you can access with information that is going to help you to be successful in your business.

The secret sauce in this podcast on how to get an interview is the importance of connections. (If you’ve listened to past episodes, the secret sauce is a little bit of information I’m going to give you that is so important.) This is a surefire way to be seen and to make contact with people who have a platform. For example, Jeanne Burke wrote a book called College Prep Genius.

She is the resident expert on the SAT and ACT which are important for college entrance and more importantly, scholarships. She has been on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, and so many more television and radio shows. I’ve interviewed her several times and she is the walking, talking test prep genius.

Not only did I interview her, but I offered her a podcast on my network. Why? Because she was the perfect fit and her topic is high interest to my audience. So you know, a lot has been made about a pitch and I’m going to go through that in more detail at some point in another podcast. But I just want to give you a very short example of that, but before I do, I want you to be thinking about this and I’m going to ask you more questions.

More Questions!

1. Do you “know” the person that is going to be interviewing you in the sense of you’ve listened to their show, you follow them on social media and remember the secret sauce connection?
2. Is your message a good fit for the person’s show? I can’t tell you the number of times people contact me and they’re not a good fit.
3. Is your message a message that’s not a sales pitch for your product or service. I received something recently from a lady and it was all about selling her book. I really wanted to interview this person, so I went the extra mile and explained to her I needed the “concept” of her product to talk about, not the product itself. She came back with really good information

If you answer these questions and you’ve answered them in a way that is giving to others, then we’re ready for the pitch. The first point is to keep it short. Again, I’ll go into this in detail on another podcast.

KEEP it SIMPLE:

You’re going to keep it simple because you have to grab the person’s attention. Remember your goal and sum it up in a sentence or two at the most, and be sure to tailor the pitch to the person. Know who is receiving your pitch and also what’s in it for me, and I don’t mean me in the sense of you,

I mean me in the sense of the person that you want to interview you, they are going to look at it and say, “Gosh, this is a great fit for my audience.” Be sure to do your research!

After you write your pitch, read it aloud. Keep it short, maybe four 50 to 600 words at the most, and if you’re going to send that in an email or if you’re talking to somebody, keep it to about 60 seconds. Really fine-tune your message because that is so important.

Eventually one of the goals of this platform is to monetize it, to make money, but friends this can’t be the main point. After a couple of years I was able to build my platform to have sponsors contact me. But, this wasn’t immediate so in the meantime

Now I have sponsorships, I have nothing against making money because it helps pay the bills–but the people I know that think podcasting is all about making dollars right off the bat are the ones that struggle.

Connect with me, and be sure to share this podcast and leave me a star rating on your favorite app!

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Blogging – Episode 10

Blogging is one of those online platforms that takes very little work these days to set up and begin. It is used as a platform for authors, podcasters, and people who believe they have a message that they want to share. In this episode, we will examine blogging and how this can help your online presence.

Sponsorship – Ultimate Christian Communicator’s Conference.

Many authors are told they must have a blog with a large following to get a book contract and while there is some truth in this, blogs take time, work and good blogs have a ton of social media work that goes on behind the scenes.

Blogs crop up daily and I am sure the statistics are frightening. I can write, each podcast I create in the hundreds now are mini-blog posts. They contain the content I will share as well as some well-placed search engine optimization phrases. However, I often find it is easier to podcast than it is to write! Why is this?

Marketing. If you are going to blog you have to market. Sorry. It is a sad truth. Many blogs languish because no one knows about them. Some bloggers write to make money, they get readers by giving things away or they talk about deals with links to said deals. Then, their sites are covered with ads with pop up ads and all types of noise so that you can barely read the writing.

Are you like me with too many ideas and too little time? If you are considering a blog here is what I’d recommend you do:

Reason For Blogging:

1. Purpose
2. Can you write?
3. Do you have a topic you are passionate about?
4. Will you run out of information?
5. How often will you post?

The technology of Blogging:

1. Can you set up a website or will you hire this out?
2. Are you a techie? Will you learn?
3. How are your marketing skills?
4. Do you have social media accounts that are for your business/blog?
5. Will you set up an email with an autoresponder?

Do you want your blog to succeed? Here is the secret sauce of the day… you must be passionate about your topic and your topic must be original. You can not copy someone else’s blog or style and call it good enough. How many mommy blogs are out there after the Pioneer Woman made it big? I’m sure a ton of copy cat versions. Now Lee films on the Food Network has a bunch of book deals, a store and so much more. She was real, authentic, humorous and now her blog looks nothing like it first did. But that’s okay! It changed and adapted.

You can look at successful blogs and say, why is this good or why do I like this blog? In that way, you can figure out a style you can live with and that reflects the five points above. The saying if you build it they will come only works in the theatres. In real life, if you build it (aka a blog) you need to be sure your marketing is top-notch or you will be spinning your wheels.

So, here are more questions to ask:

The Bottom Line:

1. Will writing this blog take time away from writing a book or podcasting?
2. Will writing this blog be the perfect way to showcase my podcast, service or books?
3. Will I enjoy writing this blog and it is a passion of mine?
4. Will the benefits outweigh the time constraint.
5. Do I have the social media savviness to get the word out?

If you begin a blog, stick to it. Give yourself a time limit to get it off the ground and share it with everyone. Don’t give up. Make business cards, hand it to friends, mail them to those you think will benefit. Remember the smaller your niche the better it will go, and have fun with it!

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Connections In Writing, Podcasting & Publishing – Episode 9

It’s all about connections, who do you know, how can you get an interview on a podcast, how can you promote your book? Connections mean everything in the industry saturated with mediocre and many time false information about the writing and publishing industry.

Thanks to the: Ultimate Christian Communicators Conference ~ this event is for anyone seriously considering increasing their exposure as a speaker at upcoming events as well as those interested in learning from leaders in the industry! Not to be missed, the conference can be attended live or you can purchase the recorded set.

My story began backward, I had a speaking platform before I had a book. This is actually a great way to begin because when you have a book, product or service, you already have a willing and waiting group of people who are interested in buying what you have to sell. That is one reason I recommend that you begin a podcast if you have allot of information worth sharing.

I’ve worked with many people in the writing, publishing and podcasting world. I’ve met some heads of large publishing companies and learned that I’m very happy as a self-published author. As I may have shared in the past, I received and turned down a four-book publishing contract. Were there times I regretted this? Yes, but then I know that it was all for the best.

One of the introductions to a large publisher came from a friend. He was actually an author but his day job was as an investment planner. I met him at a conference after he heard me speak, liked what I had to say and we had a nice conversation at my book table afterward. He wanted to introduce me to this publisher (who was his publisher) as well as one of his clients. Connections!

Connections help us in time of need. When I had my book publishing offer and read over the contract I realized that I needed to give this company the right of refusal with any of my upcoming books. I also knew that this company had a very narrow focus and my other books would have a larger market. These were not decisions I made lightly. It helped that I could go to a friend who had signed a book deal with another publisher and compare notes. I realized that with my goal, which was to run an online platform my goals were a bit different than most.

We live firmly in the world of home, family, and schedules. For those of us who run businesses, we also live in a world of people we’ve never met, people who are dear friends, and we form many symbiotic relationships. In my online world I know many people, in fact, my Facebook feed can attest to this and there is a small fraction of my friends that I have met in real life. Yet, many of those friends and connections are real and basically in this age of technology a mouse click away.

How do we use our connections? That is the real question. Before we delve into this, I want to share what I call a “secret sauce” piece of information. I’m a cook can you tell? This information will make a difference in how others perceive you online. The secret is to be a friend before you begin asking for favors. I can not tell you all the times I receive emails from people who ask to be interviewed. Either the emails are from slick advertising companies representing these authors or product providers, or the person themselves.

I think, are we friends on Facebook. I look – no. Are we connected on LinkedIn? No. Twitter? No. Instagram? No again.

If I am not your friend on social media and you ask me something, even if you have the best product known to man out there, I’m frankly just not that interested. Interviewing takes time and work. I have to find out all about you, look at your books or service, understand a bit about your history or back story. I will in addition promote, promote, promote your interview once it is complete. Work. Lots of work.

Do you see why connections are important? I’ve had people begin sharing my posts, comment on my podcasts, or send me emails after receiving something from my mailing list. These are connections, they are people I may know or interact with. Sometimes, rarely someone sends me an email and it interests me so much I’ll ask for an interview, but that happens rarely. An interview is a favor.

Here are my top tips for making the right connections:

1. Be sure to connect on social media. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
2. Do they have a podcast? Be sure you listen, comment and share.
3. Do they have a blog? Comment.
4. Share, share, share. DO you see them posting on social media? Share it with your friends.
5. Give. Give. Give.

I love to read and in my spare time that is what I do! It is an escape and I try to read one spiritual book, one business book, and then one fun book. I followed my own advice and after reading a book that I received for free on Amazon Kindle, I followed the author and bought all the other books in the series. She invited in her books to subscribe to her email to get a free book, and I did. I found myself enjoying her short emails and then a request. Receive ARC (Advanced Reader Copies) to find typos etc. and in return comment on social media and where the books are sold – disclosing that I received a free copy. Since I liked the author I was in. Then, the author emailed me back (after I sent links to the reviews) surprised I wrote three different reviews. Seriously? Who would post the same review three places? Obviously, someone who doesn’t know about the importance of SEO (search engine optimization – a must for those of us who know what that means.). So, I thought why not ask, this lady seems really nice – I should interview her! And, she said yes. So, at some point, I’ll have her on this show.

Connections. They take time but they work. And, friends you will be surprised at how a seemingly benign and kind thing turns into something more!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode, connect with me on social media, and please follow this show, give me a star rating on your favorite podcast app, and share this episode with a friend!

Hope you plan on coming to the Ultimate Christian Communicator’s Conference so we can meet in real life! And, I hope to talk to you soon!

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Podcasting Tools

Episode #6

You may think that podcasting tools only means the microphones, the soundboards or what is the best computer program to use in creating a quality product. Well, while those things are important it is the “tools” you use beforehand that makes a significant difference. In this episode of Writing and Podcasting Advice, Felice tackles the tools of the trade and what she uses almost every time she prepares to create a new podcast.

Show Notes. Podcasting Tools

1. Ideas notebook – use technology – such as a smart phone – I also use a calendar and create ideas for upcoming podcasts in groups of 4 or more per month. You can use a word processing software or some people like Evernote.
2. Script: I outline each show – making sure to add information such as where to find the show notes, o to how get the pdf I might create for the show or even where to get more information, perhaps an extra audio or opt-in for a sample product. This is typically written in a word processing software. If you want to collaborate with someone you can use the Google Docs free software with a Gmail account.
3. Recording room. A friend used to record her songs in the bathroom because of the amazing acoustics in that small space. I use a room with carpeting and wall hangings that absorb the sound … you don’t want anything that causes reverberation or echoing that can cause a horrible sounding audio.
4. Interviewing: I use paid software like InstantTeleseminar (affiliate link here). What I like – you can use your cell phone to call in, interview one or multiple people at a time, and add an intro, and outro music or commercials – and download the finished product to your own computer! It is awesome. The downside, the audio sounds like a phone call.

Another alternative is to use Skype – some people prefer this. I don’t personally use Skype but I’ve been interviewed by people who do – You can look at your windows or mac computer for apps to record the conversation on your computer. You may need to combine tracks with your own audio editor.

5. You can record on your iPhone or Android phone. Recently one of my podcasters sent me an audio recorded on her iPhone and I was shocked at the great quality of the audio. She doesn’t have the most recent phone, either. It worked great. Look for recording apps in your app store. You may be surprised at the quality results. We’ve come a long way in the improvement of software.
6. Recording microphones. My two personal favorites are simple USB plug in microphones. The first is a Samson CO1U Studio condenser mic. I use this with a cover (to prevent the “popping” typical of saying an “p” word. This mic is awesome for interviews or presentations. It will pick up sounds across the room, so you will get audience background noise – laughter, clapping, etc. The second is the audio-Technica ATR2100-USB. You have to hold this microphone close to your mouth for good quality audios but the plus side, you can’t hear background noise. It is a very good quality.
7. Recording software. There are so many options I’m not sure where to start. You can use an online option like InstantTeleseminar however if you want to record on your computer two free software can not be beat! The first is audacity, the second is GarageBand standard on a Mac. I use both a PC and a Mac. The Mac quality for recording is wonderfully rich. I tend to use the Mac and save it to a mp3. You plug in your microphone and go! This software also allows you to edit. Visit youtube for videos on step-by-step solutions.
8. Album Cover Art. Here you need a graphic artist or someone that understands good quality cover art. iTunes standard at this time is 1600x 1600 dpi or 2400×2400 dpi. This has changed recently, in the not so distant past the dimensions were 1400×1400 – this is something we keep track of with all of our podcasters on this network and others I run.
9. ID3 Tagging. Each audio must be tagged. It is similar to adding a byline to a document so that you add your copyright information. I use ID3Tagger software but there are many out there.
10. Add or submitting your podcast to the iTunes store. One way to do this is going to be answered in storage. Are you storing your audio on your own website/server, or are you going to use a storage company such as Amazon S3, Libsyn, or Blubrry. These submissions to iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, TuneIn, etc. are very important and must be done correctly. Your correct feed submission is important as well. *we handle this for all our podcasters
11. Graphics – must use copyright free for any marketing or social media campaign. Also, we recommend to our podcasters that each episode should have a special graphic or picture. My favorites are Depositphotos,
12. Image editing online – Canva, PicMonkey, or install GIMP (which is like Photoshop). You can subscribe to Adobe online tools or Microsoft products. I have moved to a yearly subscription over purchasing the software since it is less expensive and keeps me up to date with the latest improvements. I use Microsoft publisher but there are a few steps I go through to get the finished product. It is a software I’m comfortable with having used it since 1992 – yes, that long, so it is second nature to me.
13. Email – many use MailChimp because it is easily integrated into WordPress websites, I use ActiveCampign.

Software links: Podcasting Tools

Subscriber software: here

How to publish podcasts using WordPress: more information here

More free podcasting tools here

Disclosure:

This post may include affiliate links where I may receive compensation via click-throughs, however I use other things that are often not affiliates as well.

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The Writing and Podcast Advice Show with Felice Gerwitz

Are you ready to launch that new book idea or your very own podcast? Look no further. On the Writing and Podcasting Advice Show you will learn the basics on how to get started with your very own project. Felice Gerwitz is your personal advisor and here to help you. Are  you ready? Let’s make this year your very best.

Sponsor Media Angels, Inc.

Interested in book to help you launch your writing career? The Information In A Nutshell Series:

Writing and Publishing or Business Tips and Taxes for Writers. Do you have a child who is a budding author? Try Reach For The Stars! All available on Amazon.

Show Notes: Writing and Podcasting Advice

I love helping entrepreneurs. Since 2002 I’ve worked with aspiring authors as an author-consultant and absolutely love helping people in the publishing process. I’ve advised a Catholic ministry on starting a publishing company and just finished our second mega-book project with nineteen different testimonies apiece. In the process of working on other people’s works as well as my own I’ve made my fair share of mistakes.

This podcast is to help you avoid them!

I am the author of nineteen books and the one that focuses on what I do here, is in the information in a Nutshell Series: Writing and Publishing – in this book I give you a nutshell version of what it takes to write and publish a book. It is very brief and like sitting with me for four hours where I share exactly what you should know to get your book published.

So, what is your project?

1. Do you have a book idea?
2. Do you want to publish a work that is already complete?
3. Are you interested in finding good ideas?
4. Do you have a great idea for a podcast? I am looking for talent!

There are many people out there more talented than I am in writing, publishing OR podcasting but the difference between many of them and myself? They are sitting around thinking about it and I DID IT!

So, let’s get going – you and me. Join me weekly on this broadcast and let’s get that project in front of the widest audience possible!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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