The ultimate guide to selling an audiobook

So, you’ve completed your audiobook and want to publish it. The audiobook market is vast, ensuring numerous opportunities to make a profit. However, it’s not always simple to get good results when converting a text book into an audiobook.

Below, we provide a step-by-step guide on creating and selling an audiobook that your readers, or listeners, will surely enjoy.

The tips for selling an audiobook

Use the following tips to make the most of your audiobook project.

Understand how audiobook publishing works

Before you publish your audiobook, you first need to understand the associated costs.

Back in the day, recording audiobooks usually had significant upfront costs (more than $1,000) since you had to buy extra microphones and other equipment. Nowadays, the price is much lower because you already have the necessary tools on your phone.

For a basic self-made recording, you need only download a recording app from App Store or Google Play and use the built-in features to record your audiobook.

Furthermore, your audiobook sales depend on many factors, including the genre. Here are some of the most popular genres:

• Mystery and crime
• Thrillers
• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Comedy
• Non-fiction books (e.g., self-help and memoirs)

Get (and pay for) a good audiobook narrator

The next step in the production of your audio file is to find a high-quality narrator. You need to consider several details when making this decision.

First, check if they have experience reading your genre. Their style needs to match the content of your audiobook to ensure an immersive experience.

Second, try to find a famous narrator, at least in their niche. People with large audiences are more likely to attract listeners, resulting in easier audiobook distribution.

Third, their tone needs to match that of your protagonist. For instance, if you choose a female as your main character, you should find a female narrator. Having more protagonists might mean you will need to hire multiple narrators and pile on costs.

Choose the right platform for your audiobook

When creating an audiobook for new customers and subscribers, you don’t need to print books or worry about other aspects associated with traditional publishing. However, you do need to find a suitable publishing platform.

There are many options to choose from:

Findaway Voices

This platform lets you list prices of your audiobook and earn about 45% of the royalties based on the price. In addition, it gives you access to more than 30 platforms where you can sell your titles. The list includes Google and Scribd.

Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX)

This Amazon-owned platform sells books on iTunes, Audible, and Amazon. Exclusive ACX contracts generate approximately 40% of the revenue from the sales, whereas non-exclusive agreements give you around 25%.

Kobo Writing Life

You need to know how to make money as an audiobook publisher and choose the most profitable platforms. Kobo Writing Life is one of them. It allows you to earn about 50% of your listed price, whether you’re a traditional or indie author.

Speechify Audiobooks

If you’re looking for a platform that combines ease of use and access to wide audiences, Speechify Audiobooks is your best option. It lets you effortlessly publish your audiobooks with its advanced algorithms and broad social media reach.

Commission a talented artist for the book’s cover

The cover of your audiobook can make or break your marketing. Many authors replicate the design of their e-books, but this might not be the right strategy for you. This is because audiobook covers are square, have rearranged letters, and include the author’s and narrator’s names.

If you’re not good at designing covers, consider commissioning a talented artist for the job. You’ll be able to complete the project faster and set an earlier release date.

Leverage multiple marketing channels to promote your audiobook

Whether your audiobook is abridged or unabridged, you can sell more copies by devising an effective marketing strategy. You can combine a number of tactics:

• Sharing free audiobook copies
• Promoting the audiobook using great resources and platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram
• Up-selling your title by discounting the e-book version
• Building an email list

Choose the right pricing

The pricing of your audiobook depends on your retailer. Some offer flat-rate models, whereas others set the price according to the word count.

If you’re the one making the call on your rate, compare your audiobook to those on Audible.com. In most cases, the most expensive Audible audiobooks are the longest titles.

Request reviews from critics to build the book’s reputation

Requesting reviews for your book is a great way to obtain more exposure to the target audience. The people reading the reviews are typically the ones who purchase and listen to them.

You can reach out to critics on popular podcasts and ask them to review your audiobook on their platform. Alternatively, websites like Author’s Republic can analyze your content to increase the chances of successful publishing.

Choose Speechify Audiobooks as your publishing platform

Speechify Audiobooks is the go-to publishing platform for thousands of authors. You can become one of them with just a few clicks or taps.

Setting up an account is simple, and adding your audiobook is even easier, whether you’re an experienced or first-time user. Speechify users can listen to your titles without a subscription, resulting in more engagement.

Give Speechify Audiobooks a try today.

FAQ

How much can you make selling an audiobook?

Audiobook creators who use effective e-commerce tactics can easily make $30,000 per year.

Is selling an audiobook profitable?

Yes. Selling an audiobook is highly profitable, especially if you choose the right platform. Speechify is a perfect publishing platform both for bestsellers and beginners due to its vast array of convenient features.

What are the advantages of self-publishing an audiobook?

When publishing traditional books on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or similar platforms, you don’t get to hold onto all your royalties. By contrast, being a self-publisher usually means all earnings go straight to you.

What equipment do I need to sell an audiobook?

You need a computer or smartphone, microphone, headphones, audio recording software, and a publishing platform to sell audiobooks. However, you can forego the recording equipment if you pay for a narration service.

What is the best way to promote my audiobook?

The best way to promote your audiobook is to use multiple marketing channels, like email lists and social media.

How do I know how many words are in an audiobook?

Many audiobook platforms offer word counters to show you the exact number of words in your book.

What is the difference between a traditional publisher and an audiobook publisher?

Unlike audiobook publishers, traditional publishers need to print their books. The cover design is also different.