The Real ROI of Podcasting (One Week Post-Pub)

Why podcasting is one of the most powerful tools for any career

Hey Besties,

Last Wednesday was my pub date! 🎉 Girl Gone Wild is officially out in the world!

And because I can’t help myself, I’ve been treating this whole launch like a live case study.

The biggest takeaway so far?

Platform and community are everything… in a very measurable, what-actually-moved-the-needle way. In fact, my publisher said my preorder numbers were better than any other book they’ve produced. And podcasting has been one of the most powerful parts of this launch—both hosting my own shows and guesting on others.

A few early observations from the trenches:

• The people who already knew me (through my podcasts, newsletters, classes) showed up first and fastest

• Daily social media content keeps you top of mind, but it’s not as effective as more intimate content

• Long-form conversations build interest and trust in a way almost nothing else can

• Thank god for my warm relationships—they really pulled through

• You can’t control who says yes; it’s been important to focus on what I can control

• Local & niche audiences are hugely underrated

• Podcasting is as crucial for networking as it is for audience-building

• Community isn’t just nice to have, it’s the whole ballgame

For folks planning a book, podcast, or any kind of launch, I’m going to share more about what I’ve learned in the coming weeks—what’s been worth my energy and what’s not.

I’m also finishing production on my audiobook right now—self-narrated, self-produced—and I’ll be breaking that down soon, because there are definitely some lessons there too.

But right now, I’m just really feeling how much podcasting—and the community around it—saved me from spiraling during this milestone. What a wonderful medium. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s “worth it” to start a podcast or keep going with yours: it is.

I’ve been using my other podcasts to drip out book-related conversations.

It’s Pub Day 🎉 Inside the Making of Girl Gone Wild

If you’re curious about the book or just want to support, you can order Girl Gone Wild on Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes & Noble. I’ve also learned it’s surprisingly easy to request books from your local bookstores and libraries. 💛

More soon. THANK YOU for being part of this community!

XO,
Courtney

So… ROLL CALL! 🗣

What actually moved the needle for you the last time you launched something?