Listen to this episode of “Get Your Book Done with Christine Kloser” where I talk about how I use the power of audiobooks to help transformational authors tap into the fastest growing sector in publishing today(Podcast on Get Your Book Done with Christine Kloser, February, 2020)
When an entrepreneurial mindset meets a desire to empower authors by using their voice to share their message, you can reach a lot more people with your message. Listen in to see how Tina Dietz helps transformational authors create audiobooks to tap into the fastest growing sector in publishing today.
In this episode, Christine and Tina discuss:
The incredible rise in audiobook consumption and how to get your message in front of this growing audience.
The “intimacy factor” that only audiobooks can deliver to your listeners and why it has a huge impact.
The key differentiators between audiobook 1) production, 2) publishing and 3) distribution.
Understanding royalties across audiobook publishing platforms.
Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dale L. Roberts. We talked about how the audiobook publishing business can make you more money this year
Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dale L. Roberts, an accomplished indie author, self-publishing expert, and host of the very, VERY excellent Self-Publishing with Dale on YouTube. Seriously, his channel is a treasure trove of how-to, super timely and up-to-date info on everything a self-published author could possibly want to know.
In this interview, we talked about how the audiobook publishing business can make you more money this year. I invite you to check it out, and learn more about:
Emerging trends in the Audiobook Publishing Industry
Some of the best ways to market and advertise your audiobook
How to self-promote without feeling uncomfortable
Creating emotional safety for yourself when you’re putting your work out into the world
Common mistakes indie authors are making today
The importance of falling in love with your work over and over again
Dealing with the ‘shelf life’ of your books
What about podcasting: Is it something you should do? Is it worth it? Is it going to be hard?
Where to begin when you want to get into podcasting
Bonus gift for the “Self-Publishing with Dale on YouTube” viewers
How to Be a Guest On More Podcasts
Vocal Leadership Workout
Check out Dale’s and my interview
Interested in learning more about audiobooks and how audio contentcan help your business and career?
Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and influence marketing expert who has been featured on media outlets including ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post and Forbes. Tina’s first podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs.
In 2016, Tina was the recipient of the Evolutionary Business Council MORE award and in 2017 she received the award for Outstanding Audio Company from The Winner’s Circle. She is also a member of the EBC leadership body and a founding member of the Forbes Coaches Council. Tina was also the lead interviewer in the podcasting documentary “The Messengers” and featured in the film.
Tina splits her time between the US and Costa Rica where she’s part of the leadership team building a community of conscious leaders called Vista Mundo.
Time Stamped Show Notes:
How are you doing? [01:01]
What’s the latest with you? [01:52]
Is the StartSomething Show podcast in hiatus? [03:11]
Where is the best place to connect with you? [04:04]
On being a stem from an entrepreneurial family. [05:04]
Is David in the picture still? [07:13]
In closing, is there anything else you’d like to share with our amazing audience? [11:58]
Your voice is your livelihood. You spend a great deal of time and effort using it to communicate with the masses. It is vital to your success. But examining the self-care movement reveals that the topic of caring for your voice gets very little attention.
As a physical therapist with an extensive background treating patients who did not respond to other interventions, I learned that the fastest path to healing and optimizing function is in treating nerves.
Nerves control everything and sometimes they get pinched between bones, muscles, ligaments, and more. If you change the nerve input to the body, the pain and mobility immediately changes.
The nerve that I have found yields the most profound effects on the body is the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a major parasympathetic pathway that comes out of your brainstem. It is outside of your spinal cord. Ideally the vagus nerve has an optimal tone, or range in which it fires. The gold standard measurement is heart rate variability (HRV).
Everyone has an optimal HRV range based on their age. Someone who is anxious or stressed has a high HRV, exceeding the boundaries of this optimal range.
Trauma sometimes shuts down the vagus nerve to the point where we go into freeze mode.
Someone who is traumatized to the point of freeze or severely depressed may have a flattened HRV, not filling the optimal range.
The feeling of having a high HRV is easily identifiable. When you get stressed and get that lump in your throat, your heart races, your palms sweat, and you get constipated or have diarrhea, that all happens because your vagus nerve is suppressed.
This is the same as being in “fight or flight” mode. It can be induced by stress or trauma. Many people live constantly in an elevated state of fight or flight. In this state our sympathetic nervous system dominates, and the calming parasympathetic pathways don’t always recover to a point of balance.
Due to the size of the vagus nerve and far-reaching effects, removing mechanical trauma to give it more room to move has a seeming “magic wand” effect on a myriad of problems in the body.
I have very specific exercises that I teach to my clients based on my examination findings and their goals. Often where a patient is experiencing symptoms is not where the problem is. Keeping the vagus nerve free to move at all of its major choke points goes a long way toward preventing everything from hoarseness to back pain.
How does vagus nerve compression show up in your body? Here’s some general info and what can you do about it! These exercises do not have any known precautions or contraindications. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with your healthcare team before proceeding.
Side effects may include calming your pre-show jitters, making you sound smooth on the airwaves, improving your interview skills, prevention of voice disorders, normalized digestion, decreased pain and inflammation, resolution of trauma, healing of heart issues, reduced anxiety, and experiencing more pleasure.
Voice: Trauma and stress always shows up in the breath and the voice. The vagus nerve innervates muscles of speech and swallowing. One of the exciting developments in my profession has been the use of vocalization exercises for patients with incontinence. These patients are literally causing excess downward pressure causing them to pee on themselves because their voices are all bottled up, mechanically and spiritually. Keep your throat chakra open. Remedy: Chant. You can chant “Om”, vowels, Sanskrit, even curse words. Just chant.
Breath: Again, trauma always affects the voice and the breath. In the midst of stress and trauma, our diaphragms go from being a nice round dome, to a flattened one. Remedy: Exhale. The major exhalation muscle, the transversus thoracis, sits under the breast bone and is often tight, keeping us breathing shallowly. You can stretch it out by inhaling for a count of five, holding for a count of eight, and exhaling like you are blowing up a balloon for a count of thirteen. The voice exercise will help with this, too.
Heart: Our vagus nerve innervates our heart, and thus generates the electromagnetic fields of heart, which is what connects us to others. Some interesting research has found that our electromagnetic fields synchronize with the electromagnetic field of the earth, and that when space weather disrupts the earth’s field, it also shows up as a disruption in ours. The severity to which it disrupts appears to be dependent on the strength of our interpersonal connections. This connection is 360-degrees, yet most of us only pay attention to the 180 degrees in front of us. Remedy: Inhale in to the back side of your heart for five repetitions. Bonus: Amplify the benefit by using the 5-8-13 breathing pattern.
Head: When you have a forward head posture, you are pinching your vagus nerve at the base of your skull. Remedy: First, identify the tragus of your ear. It is the tab that you would use to cover the opening to your ear to dampen sound or otherwise avoid hearing. Gently grab the tragus of each ear between your thumb and index finger, and pull each one sideways, like your head is a piece of taffy and you are unwrapping it. Hold for one minute. Bonus: Do the 5-8-13 breathing while you are holding this stretch to amplify the benefits.
Pelvis: Most of us sit way too much. Our pelvic floor gets weak because of the convenience of chairs and seated toilets. Many people don’t get in and out of squatting positions often, taking their joints through a full range of motion and keeping the pelvic floor strong and flexible. Remedy: Guided imagery often works well with the pelvic floor. Bring your attention to your lower abdomen. If you are familiar with chakras, you can bring your attention to your second chakra. Imagine breathing in and out of your pelvic floor and gradually extending the breath up to the top of your head to clear a channel between your pelvic floor and the top of your head. Bonus: This activity addresses all five compression points!
Melanie Weller spent over 25 years in the field of physical health as an athletic trainer and Physical Therapist. she is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults, and a Certified Athletic Trainer.Though Melanie spent most of her career in an outpatient orthopedic setting, she also has worked in hospitals, schools, and home health. Melanie's practice and teachings now looks beyond basic bodywork to the imprint of culture, society, ancestry (and more) on our ability to understand and access our greater intelligence.
Melanie Weller– Physical Therapist, Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults
Did you know that you can reduce your stress immediately with simple vocal techniques? Here are two quick techniques you can try out today.
You’re in a state of tension, stress, fear, worry, or anxiety-and what happens? Your shoulders naturally raise to protect the vulnerable throat and neck.
In many cultural traditions, the throat represents the center of creativity, self-expression, and communication. It’s also the conduit between your body and your head/mind, representing the link between your thoughts and feelings, or the “Mind-Body Connection.”
When you create more freedom in your throat and neck, you open your ability to express yourself more effectively and generate a greater sense of confidence and well being.
The musculature of the throat is incredibly complex, and I think very beautiful with all its fine, interwoven connections that allow us such flexibility of movement. We often take for granted that freedom of movement until we spend too many hours at the computer, or experience high stress levels – then we sure do notice that tension in our throats, necks, and shoulders.
Since there’s no machine at the gym to exercise your neck and throat (I think I’m grateful for that), you can use your voice to release the tension in your throat and really, your entire body.
Here are couple of techniques you can try out today and feel free to let us know what you notice.
1. Sigh like my Italian Grandmother
My great-grandmother was a 4’5” marvel of efficiency and energy. In the afternoons when she allowed herself to rest in her chair for a while (usually while crocheting something), she would repeatedly release a deep sigh. At the time I wondered why, but now I know that she was releasing tension in her body.
Take a deep belly breath in through your nose and allow yourself to sigh it out. (Bonus points for allowing any sound to come out with the sigh.) The long exhale combined with the vibration of the “ah” sound triggers your parasympathetic nervous system and your body’s relaxation response.
If you’re trying to feel more relaxed before you work with a client, enter a meeting or wind down at the end of the day, this is one of my favorite exercises.
2. Try the “One Word Rant”
If you’ve read my e-book called “Solve Any Problem in 10 Minutes,” you’ve learned about the creative problem-solving technique I developed based on our very human tendency to worry and complain. Often, what is beneath our concern is something we are deeply committed to. Otherwise, we wouldn't get upset!
This technique allows you to quickly take solution-focused action, using what you're upset about as the access point. The result is feeling relieved, clear and more at peace due to the fact that you've given a voice to your concerns and addressed them in a powerful manner.
A shortcut version of this technique to simply release tension and clear your mind is called the One Word Rant. The word used in this technique is, “why.” Why? Because that's the question we're really asking ourselves at the heart of our stress and upset.
“Why is this happening?”
“Why are they doing/saying that?”
“Why can't I feel better?
When we allow ourselves to express our frustration in a safe, quick and healthy way, the brain and body respond with a cascade of hormones and neurotransmitters that feel good, such as epinephrine and testosterone (yep, even for women) and we feel clearer and more focused.
The technique is simple, but you'll want to be in a private or quiet place since this involves some vocalization. I've been known to do this in the car.
Ideally, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart or wider, and semi-squat like a sumo wrestler. Throw your hands in the air above your head, take a deep breath and loudly exclaim “Whyyy!” You don't want to say it so loud as to strain your voice or throat, but you definitely want to express your “why” loud and proud.
Yes, I’m serious. I’ve facilitated this in a group of 50 or so leaders and the results were amazing. The simplicity of the “why” allowed the group to bond without having to explain or share a lot of personal feelings that may have caused them to feel vulnerable. At the same time, that shared experience of making a loud noise together in unison elevated the energy in the entire room. The group collectively felt heard and acknowledged.
The chemical cascade of hormones and endorphins the One Word Rant releases is simply wonderful. Generally, this technique is more energizing than the Italian Grandma Sigh, so I tend to use it if I’m having a frustrating day or if I need to boost my energy before speaking or a meeting.
This is also a fabulous tool to show your kids to help them learn to shift their stress and state of mind quickly, without a lot of “talking about it” that may be difficult for them to articulate or stressful to share with a parent.
We lead busy lives and we need solutions quickly. Try one or both of these techniques this week to reduce your stress and keep yourself going and growing.
Podcasting is one of the fastest and easiest ways to establish authority – Let me show you how you can leverage it for thought leadership marketing.
It’s no longer only insider knowledge — podcasting is one of the fastest and easiest ways to establish authority. Whether you’re just starting to build a business or you and your company have long-established credentials, this online audio platform can catapult your influence beyond the capabilities of many other expert-building marketing platforms. Since there are now 65 million people in the U.S. listening to podcasts every month, thought leaders have an exciting opportunity before them to engage new audiences and build their brand.
Getting featured on TV or publishing a book still serve as gold standards for having achieved expert status, but podcasting has made it possible for even budding business owners to share their knowledge and expertise with a wide audience.
The advantage of this modern platform is that it’s open publicity — meaning the host has the freedom to generate the message and control the content. Podcasting also requires fewer resources and is more accessible because audio is available to consumers when text and video are not. The convenience of listening to downloadable audio files on smartphones or tablets has allowed for a new wave of attentive, on-the-go listeners.
The opportunity to reach your target market by using your personal voice offers an additional layer of communication to convey your company values and brand authenticity. Doing so deepens trust and develops loyalty. By using a conversational format, leaders have the freedom to articulate what makes their business unique, without using typical marketing jargon.
As you may have gathered, podcasting isn’t just for entrepreneurs. Bigger brands, industry leaders and corporations often miss a big opportunity by not taking advantage of this trend.
Below, we’ll focus on leaders who are looking to establish themselves as experts and develop their spheres of influence.
How Can You Get Started With Podcasting?
You don’t need to be a host yourself. One of the best ways to introduce yourself to a new market is as a guest. Hosts are hungry for content. They are searching for people like you to feature on their podcasts to keep their shows fresh and to provide value to their audience. Libsyn, one of the largest commercial podcast hosting companies, reports an increase from 16,000 hosted shows in 2013 to 22,000 shows in 2014 to 28,000 shows in 2015. These numbers are expected to continue to increase as more people become exposed to the platform.
The key is to connect with the hosts of shows most appropriate for your subject niche, and to do so in a way that’s personal — your chance of getting a response lowers dramatically if you have an assistant send an email.
Podcast hosts want a good fit on their show; if they decide to have you on as a guest, they will take the time to give you ideas on how you can most effectively reach their audience. One way to find podcasts that are looking for guests is to do a keyword search in iTunes or Google for shows with topics that appeal to your ideal clients or target market. iTunes is to podcasts as what Amazon is to books; it is the premier platform for broadcasting your audio message to an eager audience.
You don’t have to start with cold leads, however. The easiest opportunities for guest spots may exist under your nose, via your colleagues. Ask people you know who have been podcast guests to introduce you to the hosts of those shows. Referrals can go a long way in establishing credibility and building relationships.
If you have the resources, you can also use a booking service to acquire guest spots; there are several excellent companies that can take care of placing you on the perfect shows.
How To Leverage Podcast Interviews
Once you’ve secured a podcast spot, there are an extraordinary number of ways you can use, and re-use, this valuable material. You can now post audio clips on your website or blog; include audio clips in your media kit or feature them on your company profile page or LinkedIn page. You can share the audio across social media, or use the transcribed content for new articles or blog posts. A wealth of marketing assets is available at your fingertips when you have podcast content.
As thought leaders, experts and business owners, we’re always looking for ways to increase our exposure and to grow our communities of loyal followers. Podcasts are free to access, there are so many shows to choose from, and it takes virtually no technical know-how to get started as a guest. These characteristics make being featured on podcast interviews one of the best “New Expert Platforms” available today.
Want to learn more aboutpodcasting for your business?
You might be hurting your credibility as a leader every time you open your mouth, and it’s not what you’re saying. It’s your voice.
A study in affiliation with Duke University analyzed 792 male CEO voices and found that a deeper voice was advantageous in positions of leadership. Results indicated that CEOs with lower voices had longer tenure, led larger companies, and made more money — to the tune of $180K+ per year.
This research poses a bit of a conundrum. What if you don’t have a low voice? Does that mean you’re doomed not to rise in the ranks of leadership? Fortunately, there are a number of other factors in the vocal realm that contribute to your credibility as a leader, and these factors are far more controllable than how deep your voice is.
Another study conducted at Gonzaga University revealed that a variety of vocal factors influence whether a speaker is perceived as trustworthy — and therefore credible. Regardless of the pitch and tone of your natural voice, these important factors can be controlled and practiced:
Articulation (clear pronunciation of words). An articulated vocal performance reflects a thoughtful representation of the speaker’s inner conviction, and thus leads to the perception of a more educated and credible speaker. Articulation can be improved by repeating difficult words until one can say them correctly; slowing down your speech can also make articulation easier. Beware, however — over-articulation can produce a less than normal speaking tone and therefore reduce credibility.
Fluidity (flow of your message). The more fluidity with which one speaks — that is, the more you don’t have to reach for your words — the more expert and confident you are perceived, engendering trust. This takes us back to the dreaded “ums” and “ahs” we work to eliminate in public speaking scenarios, podcasting and audiobooks. Rather than filling the air in a conversation or meeting with such “thinking noises” or hedges (“sort of” or “kind of”), be intentional and transparent regarding your thinking process. If posed a question, pause and make eye contact with your listeners and take a moment to answer their question with, “let me think about that for a moment.” Doing so indicates that you’re taking their question seriously and giving it your full attention.
Tempo (speed at which you speak). This vocal cue is closely tied to gaining and maintaining the attention of the listener. No one likes to hear a boring, slow delivery; monotone presentations tend to put people to sleep or move them to distraction. Keep energy and interest alive in your voice when speaking and your listeners will remain more engaged.
On the other hand, speakers who speak too fast can end up slurring their words, affecting the articulation and clarity of their message. A speaker’s “normal” rate of delivery has been found to rank the highest in perception of credibility. In other words, it’s important to “be yourself” when communicating. Note that both tempo and fluidity can be improved by bringing increased attention to your breath. Make sure that you’re actually breathing as you speak, and not inadvertently holding your breath.
Sonority (pleasantness of one’s voice). Several factors can contribute to sonority, but one controllable, contemporary factor is known as “vocal fry” and refers to the low, vibratory sound occurring particularly in women at the end of spoken sentences. A study published in 2010 analyzed 800 male and female participants who spoke with vocal fry, or “creaky voice,” and found them to be less desirable job candidates compared with those speaking in a normal tone. Take note and eliminate this vocal trend before it spreads any further. Please.
Another common vocal pattern that deeply impacts credibility but is one of the simplest to identify and address is “uptalking” the end of sentences. Uptalk sounds like you’re making everything a question? As if you’re not sure what you’re saying? And that makes what you say hard to trust? Focus on making your statements more declarative.
Do all of these factors leave you feeling overwhelmed about perfecting your vocal delivery? Don’t sweat it if you can’t change them all — not everyone was born with a deep or pleasant voice. Of all of the aforementioned influencing factors, articulation was found to be the most important — so if you have a big impending speech, start by practicing using clear and careful pronunciation. Through external feedback, objective coaching, and diligent practice, you can become a better communicator and perhaps even a bigger earner.
