Taking Readers on a Journey through Podcasting

As an author you know it's important to market your book to your target readers. But what does that really like before your book is published? Especially on a podcast?

That’s the question we’re answering today with my special guest, Billie Jauss. Billie is the author of several books including Baseball Family: Nine Core Qualities for Developing Healthy Relationships and is host of The Family Room podcast.

Billie is married to a professional baseball coach and has three adult sons also employed in the sport. Needless to say this girl knows a lot about baseball and family. 😉

This is Billie’s first time as a guest but you may be familiar with her name as I shared tips from her as a podcast host on episodes 124 and 100 because she is so generous and full of wisdom! 

Today we talk about how Billie identifies her target readers’ pain points and connection points and is able to answer those on her podcast. That way she's sharing from her book in a way that’s serving her readers not selling to them.

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The Birth of Billie's book, “A Baseball Family”

Billie's book, “A Baseball Family,” emerged from a deeply personal experience — a broken friendship that caught her off guard. Reflecting on how she navigated relationships in her long involvement with professional baseball life, Billie’s book encourages readers to cultivate healthy relationships. She emphasizes that understanding baseball isn't a prerequisite for enjoying or finding value in her book. Instead, it’s about fostering genuine connections wherever life places you.

Finding Your Target Audience

Billie's primary audience is anyone looking to build healthy relationships with the people around them. Through her book, she offers insights on managing various types of relationships, whether they be accidental acquaintances, social circle connections, kindred spirits, or forever family. Her experiences have taught her that offering value and building trust are key components of connecting with her audience—something all writers and podcasters can relate to.

Podcasting as a Marketing Tool

As a fellow podcast host, Billie details how podcasting has been instrumental in building her author platform and engaging with readers. She likens podcasting to having a personal conversation in her family room — warm, inviting, and genuine. Unlike the isolated nature of writing, podcasting allows an extrovert like Billie to interact meaningfully with her audience.

For introverts, Billie suggests solo podcasting as an excellent avenue to communicate their message comfortably. Podcasting offers a unique opportunity to share additional insights and connect on a deeper level, supplementing what readers get from the book.

Creating engaging content on your podcast

One effective strategy Billie employs is to discuss topics from her book on her podcast without merely reading the chapters. This ensures that listeners gain insights and are motivated to purchase her book for more in-depth knowledge.

She cites an example where her podcast episodes supplemented her book's launch by discussing the nine core qualities of developing healthy relationships and how they tie into the four types of relationships.

Marketing Before Your Book Releases

Reflecting on her nine years in the publishing world as an author, Billie offers a critical piece of advice: start marketing before your book is published. By sharing relevant content on podcasts, social media and in newsletters, authors can engage their audience early and gather valuable feedback to deepen and refine their work. When the book is finally released, the audience is primed and eager to dive in.

A recurring theme in our conversation was the concept of “service over selling.” Billie believes in serving her audience by providing valuable content and genuine interactions rather than just focusing on sales. She illustrates this with a story about her willingness to engage and pray with an Uber driver, which she later shared on social media, demonstrating authentic engagement and relational wisdom.

Encouraging Aspiring Podcasters

If you are considering starting a podcast, Billie offers straightforward advice:

just do it.

She encourages aspiring podcasters to:

1. Develop a clear plan with at least ten episodes outlined.

2. Decide on the format—solo or interview-based.

3. Focus on content quality over technical perfection.

4. Invest minimalistically to get started and upgrade gradually.

Billie's journey with podcasting started with a simple setup and free tools. Despite potential sound or production quality issues, the authenticity and relevance of the content mattered most to her audience. For her, podcasting is about creating a space for meaningful dialogue, not about achieving studio-level perfection.

Billie's Practical Advice for Book Marketing

For authors gearing up to market their books, Billie provides actionable advice:

– Engage with your followers early by sharing teasers and gathering feedback.

– Use stories and real-life examples to build a connection.

– Provide more value in exclusive spaces like email newsletters.

– Foster genuine interactions and inclusivity in your marketing efforts.

Conclusion

My conversation with Billie was filled with wisdom and practical tips for anyone looking to market their books effectively. By focusing on genuine relationships, serving over selling, and leveraging platforms like podcasting, you can create meaningful connections with your readers.

I love how Billie's focus is on making an impact with a heartfelt, service-driven approach to book marketing.

Thanks Billie for serving my listeners so well. 💛

Billie’s book
Billie’s website
Billie’s podcast

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