Audio Books

Where to Find Audiobooks – Free, Borrowed, or to Purchase

 

Audiobooks which let you multitask, are a great way to listen to books while driving long distances, walking the dog, or laying on the beach.  And certainly, a wonderful way for blind people to easily enjoy books.

Audiobooks can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone/SmartPhone or MP3 player, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook or your laptop.   If you have never tried an audiobook, give it a go.  You may be pleasantly surprised!  Or maybe get addicted.  Here is where you can find audiobooks – free, purchased, or borrowed:

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Libraries

Let’s start with free audiobooks at your local library.  Having a library card allows you to borrow an audiobook for free, but also via the Overdrive and Hoopla apps (both are library suppliers).  These digital files are on loan from the library, and you eventually have to return them, so someone else can check them out.

To get started, borrow an audiobook that’s available in the OverDrive Listen format or Hoopla Digital from your library. Due to the distribution rights of publishers, libraries have a finite number of digital audiobook files they can lend to their users at any one time.
https://help.overdrive.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1529341
https://www.hoopladigital.com/


This is one of the downsides of using a free library service – if one of the titles you want to listen to is currently being used by another patron, you end up on the waiting list. You have to order them again or you may want to invest in a paid subscription.

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Kobo Audiobooks

$9.99 USD/month, £6.99 or CAD12.99 after a 30 day trial period – including a FREE audiobook. You can cancel anytime. Get one credit per month after trial, good for an audiobook of your choice regardless of price – choose from well over 100,000 titles. Keep all your audiobooks forever, even if you cancel

Currently, audiobooks in English and French are available to Kobo customers living in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Audiobooks from Kobo are in MP3 or MP4 format.

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobooks

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Apple Books

They have a large selection, especially of popular audiobooks.  Apple Books has about as many titles and popular books as Audible.  However, you do have to purchase them.  There isn’t a membership program.  Everything you need is in the Apple Books app.  You can search for, download, and sync audiobooks.  Be aware that their online pricing might change from day to day.

To browse audiobooks, open the Apple Books app and tap the Audiobooks, tab at the bottom of the screen.  Explore new, featured, and trending audiobooks, or tap the Browse button at the top of the screen to see all genres and book store sections.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT208929

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NOOK Audiobooks

Everyone can listen with the free NOOK Audiobooks app.  One of the most popular apps, it’s free to install and use on most phones and tablets.  Get it for your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone or tablet.  And don’t miss the “Daily Find”.
https://www.nookaudiobooks.com/

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Hibooks
A library of more than 100.000 Audiobooks.  Listen to over 5,000 titles – unlimited. Use coins to unlock additional titles.  Try for free for three days.
https://www.hibooks.com/

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Chapters-Indigo Canada

Find bestselling audiobooks from such authors as John Grisham, Michelle Obama, David Baldacci, Stuart Mclean, Bob Woodward, or James Patterson at their website or in one of their many stores all over Canada.

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/audiobooks/

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Audiobooks

More than 125,000 incredible audiobooks will take you anywhere you want to go.  Get your first audiobook for free!  Once you’ve finished your free trial, you’ll enjoy one audiobook every month for $14.95 (USD).  If one book just isn’t enough, you can buy additional credits at any time.  Download or stream audiobooks on your smartphone or tablet with their free apps for iOS and Android.

https://www.audiobooks.com/

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Audio Books Now

Choose one bestseller premium audiobook for free with activation of the Club Pricing Plan 30 day free trial.  Club Pricing is a great way to save money on all your audiobook purchases.  With their monthly Club Plan, you’ll get the first audiobook you purchase each month at 50% off, then you will receive the normal Club Price (35-40% off).  And, if you do not use your 50% discount, it automatically rolls over to the next month.  You can cancel your monthly Club Plan at any time.

https://www.audiobooksnow.com/

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Scribd

You get more media options for less money (only $8.99) than with Audible – the membership also includes access to eBooks, magazines, sheet music, and documents.  Read free for 30 days.

After you spend your credits for the month, you can’t make additional purchases on the site.  It’s a good option for listeners who don’t get through more than one audiobook a month.

https://www.scribd.com/

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Playster

Playster’s monthly membership includes unlimited streaming and digital downloads, making it the best option if you listen to more than one book each month.  Similar to the Netflix model, you get access to a library of eBooks, games, music, movies, and audiobooks, and you can use everything as much as you want, but you also lose access to it all when you cancel your membership.

https://www.playster.com/

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Audiobookstore

Add your first audiobook to the cart by choosing the $7.95 FlexPass Price. .This covers the cost of your first audiobook AND your first month of FlexPass™ membership.  Once enrolled, enjoy instant FlexPass™ savings on every audiobook you purchase (90% are priced at or below $12.95).  Buy as many audiobooks as you desire, as often as you like.  Head to the Apple App Store or Google Play and download our app, or listen on your computer.

https://audiobookstore.com/

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Libro.fm

Why Choose Libro.fm?  It is the first audiobook company to make it possible for you to buy audiobooks directly through your local bookstore.  Over 100,000 audiobooks to choose from.  The first month is free!

$14.99 (USD) monthly fee (one audiobook per month)

30% off additional audiobooks and gifted audiobooks.

Get a free iOS and Android App.  Your membership credits never expire.

Every purchase supports independent bookstores

Their audiobooks are DRM-Free (listen on multiple devices) Get recommendations from independent booksellers. Libro pays a fair rate to publishers and authors

https://libro.fm/

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Audible
Audible is a good choice if you listen to your favorite audiobooks over and over. This popular audiobook membership (with more than 300,000 titles) costs $14.95 per month.  The first book is free. It’s the best subscription service for its price, as long as you don’t listen to more than one or two audiobooks a month. Audible also has a plan that comes with two credits a month for only $11.48 per credit. While other audiobook subscription sites only allow you to borrow books, the ones you download on Audible are yours to keep. Even if you cancel your membership, you can still access your books on the app. And if you don’t like a book – just swap it for free!

https://www.audible.com


Audible Silver Plan
While you can buy audiobooks from Audible outright, the service also offers a subscription that costs $15/month.  With it, you get one credit for a free book each month.  If you listen to a lot of audiobooks, that might be a good deal.  However, if you can stretch a single audiobook out over more than a month, then you can save a bit of money.  Audible has a hidden Silver plan that costs $15 every two months, instead of every month.  You still only get one free credit every time your subscription renews, but if six books a year is enough for you, then it’s a no-brainer.

The catch is, Audible doesn’t advertise the Silver plan.  You can’t even sign up for it without asking for it. If you want Audible Silver, head to this support link.  In the first section, select My Account. In the second section choose “Change or cancel my membership” for the first drop-down, then “Upgrade/downgrade my membership” from the second drop-down.  This will help make sure you reach the right person.  You can then contact Audible by chat, phone, or email.

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Conclusion:

Audiobook services with memberships, such as Audible, Kobo, and Playster are valuable for avid audiobook readers, but Barnes & Noble’s Nook audiobooks might be the cheapest retail alternative for infrequent listeners.  Last but not least: make sure that whatever platform you choose is compatible with your computer, smartphone, or tablet’s operating system.

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How to Find Free Audio Books

Audible Free Trial Details

Get an audiobook of your choice, free with a 30-day trial. After the trial, your paid membership will begin at $14.95 per month. With your membership, you will receive one credit every month, good for any audiobook on Audible. Choose from more than 150,000 titles and exchange any book you don’t like – no questions asked.

Cancel anytime, effective the next monthly billing cycle.  Cancel before your trial ends and you will not be charged.  Check out the full terms and policies that apply to Audible membership.  Even if you opt-out of the trial, you still get to keep the Audible free audiobook.  Or keep going, it’s all up to you.  To get started click here:
http://www.audible.com/

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OpenCulture Free Audiobooks

Download hundreds of free audiobooks, mostly classics, to your MP3 player or computer.  Below, you’ll find great works of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, by such authors as Twain, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Orwell, Vonnegut, Nietzsche, Austen, Shakespeare, Asimov, HG Wells & more.

http://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks

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LibriVox

Do you like to listen to audiobooks while driving or jogging?  LibriVox offers thousands of free public-domain audiobooks, even classics or out-of-print books.
https://librivox.org/

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Internet Archive

If you need access to historical and academic books, the Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library is a great source.  17,737 audiobooks are available in different languages and formats. 

https://archive.org/details/audio

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Loyal Books

Loyal Books shares free audiobooks from titles in the public domain. Enjoy these free audiobooks and use the share button on LoyalBooks.com to tell your friends about all these great public domain audiobooks.

http://www.loyalbooks.com/

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Open Culture
At Open Culture you will not only find the open domain classics, but also stories by James Baldwin, Ray Bradbury, and Virginia Woolf.  Or poetry by Maya Angelou and Charles Bukowski.
What’s more?  Get 1,300 free online courses from the world’s leading universities —  Stanford, Yale, MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, Oxford, and more.  You can download these audio & video courses (often from iTunes, YouTube, or university websites) straight to your computer or mp3 player.

http://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks

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Audiobook Rentals

First car rentals, then movie rentals, now digital audiobook rentals!

  • Save up to 70% off retail pricing
  • Get 30-60 days to complete an audiobook
  • Free up space on your device
  • Choose from thousands of titles and listen on your mobile device.

https://www.downpour.com/rentals/

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I hope this extensive list of audiobook suppliers – free, rented, or as a subscription model – gives you lots of incentives to listen to audiobooks.  Enjoy!

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Audiobooks for Success

Valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

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To the TOP

Smart Free Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed

ebook: https://books2read.com/u/mqv8Z1

print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664381

ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08957T6XN/

.

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos
How to Plan, Create, Upload, and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

.

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing –
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

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111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY

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111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY/

.

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload, and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHWX6X2/

.

Book Marketing on a Shoestring
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664225

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Hello Friends, visit my Author Page here for new book releases:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

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Where to Sell Your Audiobooks Part 2

 

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In the previous blog, we listed already distribution platforms for audiobooks and how to sell your work from your own website.  In order to avoid placing “all your eggs into one basket”,  here are more retailers and distributors to sell your audiobooks. 

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Audiobook Library Distributors

Think twice if you choose ACX to let your audiobook create – and being forced to sign an exclusivity contract for seven years.  This eradicates all your chances to sell your audiobook to libraries.  The following distributors are helping you to get your audiobook into libraries.

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Findaway Voices

However, if you invested in your audiobook – and stayed clear of any narrator revenue-sharing contracts – you are better off.  Choose any of the many library distributors or sign up with Findaway Voices, who distribute audiobooks to the libraries in Europa and North America, maybe one day even worldwide.  Motto: “There’s a big world of potential listeners out there. You will reach them all with Findaway Voices.”


Using Findaway Voices as the main distributor makes it somewhat easier to get into the library market.  They work not only with Overdrive, but also with Hoopla, Wheelers, PermaBound, 3Leaf Group, Odilo, MLOL, EBSCO, Baker&Taylor, and Follett in order to distribute to libraries in Europe and North America.

https://findawayvoices.com/selling-audiobooks/#distributor-list

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Author’s Republic

Another great library distributor (and audiobook creator) is Author’s Republic: Sell your audiobook through over 30 major retailers, library providers, such as Overdrive, Hoopla, PermaBound, 3Leaf Group, Odilo, MLOL, EBSCO, and Follett, with new channels added monthly.
https://www.authorsrepublic.com/

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SpokenRealms

A worldwide audiobook distributor to libraries and online retailers that also offers audiobook narrations and free promo codes.  Authors reserve the right to sell both physical and digital copies of your audiobook anywhere in addition to their global U+ Distribution package which includes currently:

24symbols, 3Leaf Group, Apple (iTunes/Apple Books), Amazon, Audible, Audiobooks.com, Audiobooks.net, AudiobooksNZ, Audiobookstore.com, AudioEngine, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble/Nook Audiobooks, Beek, Bibliotheca, Books-A-Million, Chirp, Costco, Deezer, Downpour, EBSCO , eMusic, eStories, Findaway, Follett, Google Play, Hastings, Hibooks, Hoopla, Hummingbird, Instaread, Kobo/Rakuten, LeapFrog, Libro.FM, Mackin, MLOL , Nextory, Odilo, otto Radio, OverDrive, Perma-Bound, Playster, Reado.com, Scribd, Storytel , TuneIn, Walmart, and Wheelers.

https://www.spokenrealms.com/distribution/

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Odilo

Ingram Library Services, a leading provider of comprehensive services to public libraries.  It includes access to over 16.5M titles, has teamed up with ODILO, an internationally recognized leader and provider of technology and digital content for US libraries.  This new offering provides access to an additional 1.4M+ multilingual eBooks and audiobooks with 60 Spanish magazines and 35 Spanish newspapers to be added in the upcoming months.  This robust catalog of titles in 240 languages including Spanish, Arabic, English, Chinese and more will be easily accessible by library patrons.  In a few simple steps your content will be available for libraries and public and private organizations:

https://www.odilo.us/marketplace-providers/

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EBSCO eBooks & Audiobooks

Make your e-book and audiobook content available to thousands of academic, public, and special libraries worldwide. EBSCO allows libraries and institutions to build their own collections from a growing selection of best-selling and award-winning titles across a wide range of subject matter and genres.

https://www.ebsco.com/publishers-partnerships

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OverDrive

They are distributing ebooks and audiobooks to libraries.  In the US alone, there are tens of thousands of libraries.  It means that distribution with OverDrive could get your books worldwide into more than 40,000 partners/libraries and into the hands of countless potential readers.  The main caveat is that OverDrive is very selective of the authors it chooses to include in its platform.  Most of the books in OverDrive were placed by traditional publishing companies.

If you have over a dozen audiobooks available, you are more likely to get accepted into OverDrive’s catalog than if you have only one. However, there’s no guarantee that OverDrive will select you. If you have a non-exclusive contract with Audible, then there’s no harm in applying to OverDrive, just make sure that you don’t get your hopes up.
https://company.overdrive.com/publishers/

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Libraries Are Lamenting…

Major ebook publishers are charging unfair prices.  Some of those publishers also have even more restrictions: For example, each copy of a Macmillan ebook expires after only 52 circulations or two years, whichever comes first.  Audible – the company that owns the rights to many digital audiobooks – is declining to share audiobooks at all. Maybe your chance to get your audiobook via distributors into the library market?

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

To the TOP

Smart Free Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed

ebook: https://books2read.com/u/mqv8Z1

print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664381

ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08957T6XN/


Audiobooks for Success

Valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z


111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos

How to Plan, Create, Upload, and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

 

111 Tips To Make (More) Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing –
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

 

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY

 

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY/

 

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload, and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHWX6X2/

 

Book Marketing on a Shoestring
How Authors Can Promote their Books

Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664225

 

Hello Friends, visit my Author Page here:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

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Where to Sell Your Audiobooks? Part 1

Self-Publishing

Reading Audio Books for Success You might have found already quite a few tips.  Here are more distribution platforms for audiobooks available.  ACX and its sales platform Audible are still the leaders in self-published audiobooks.  However, there are some instances in which you might want to consider going a different route.  While ACX recently opened its doors to British self-published authors, there are still many parts of the world in which ACX is not available.

ACX is (2019) only open to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland who have a mailing address, valid local Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and banking details for one of these countries.
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Library Sales
If you are interested in getting your books on non-Amazon platforms – and most important: into libraries – then you may want to consider selecting the non-exclusive contract and better distribute your audiobook (additionally to Audible) on a variety of platforms.


Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Here are a few options you might consider if you want to get your audiobook elsewhere.  By far the best distributors with the widest outreach are Findaway Voices and Author’s Republic.  Both are creators, distributors, and online retailers for audiobooks.

They are working currently with over thirty retailers and library distributors.  Your best choice to reach audiobook listeners worldwide!  And so much easier to work with them — than to contact all these retailers separately — often only to learn that they are not dealing directly with author-publishers.  Libraries definitely don’t!

Self-Distribution can be a tricky path.  Some retailers have self-service portals that are difficult to use, some require varying formats of audio files, metadata, and images that you may or may not have before they will accept your work.  You also would have to deal in foreign currencies, you often would have to pay high banking fees, do the accounting, and controlling yourself. And in the worst-case, run after your money – in a foreign country.

The benefit of working with only one worldwide distributor outweighs the 20% commission from your net revenue. See the example calculation of a $10 audiobook on their website:
https://findawayvoices.com/selling-audiobooks/#distributor-list

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Author’s Republic

Sell your books through retailers, distributors, and library providers.  Restrictions can make things tough for authors outside of North America.  They accept submissions from rights holders all over the globe. You’ll receive 70% of what your audiobook earns across over 30 channels, including major distributors such as Audible, Audiobooks.com, and iTunes.  Forget about managing over a dozen different accounts. We display all your sales on a handy dashboard and cut you one monthly paycheck, too.

https://www.authorsrepublic.com/

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If You Want to Work Directly With Retailers:

Audiobooks.com and Downpour

They are the number two and number three audiobook-only subscription services in the USA.  With the rapid growth of the audiobook industry, it might be smart to try to get your self-published audiobooks on these two platforms.

It is likely that you’ll need to negotiate individually with both Audiobooks.com and Downpour if you hope to get your books on those platforms.
http://www.audiobooks.com/

Downpour’s audiobook service has been around since 2012.  They are a company that developed one of the best audiobook subscriptions on the market.
https://www.downpour.com/

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CD Baby
This platform is best known for its distribution of indie music.  By giving up a small portion of their royalties, indie musicians are able to post their albums to Amazon, iTunes, and other platforms.  Since CD Baby doesn’t usually handle audiobooks, it places the books into Amazon’s spoken word category.

By circumventing Audible, the CD Baby method also keeps your books from being accessible through the convenient Audible app.  If you plan on only selling your book directly to your fans, and you don’t want to deal with a file-sharing service, CD Baby may be a viable option for you.
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eBookIt
Want to be on ACX/Audible but you are in a country that doesn’t allow for it (worldwide web doesn’t exist for them…).  eBookIt is an ebook and audiobook aggregation service that lets you submit your book to get it on ACX no matter what country you reside in.

Audible is expanding as fast as the audiobook industry itself.  Since eBookIt takes a fee for every sale, it may be worth waiting until Audible opens up in your country.  If you can’t wait, and you want your book on Audible now, then eBookIt is a good way to make it happen.
https://www.ebookit.com/

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AudiobookStore
Good, if you are an existing content partner of AudiobookSTORE.com, or if you have content you would like to see your title added to AudiobookSTORE.com.   This includes audiobook authors and publishers, as well as blog content and the like.   Please email content@audiobookstore.com.  Their representative will reply back to you within 48 hours.

https://audiobookstore.com/business-inquiries.aspx

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Scribd Audiobooks
This is the second of two imprints named by the company.
“If you are an independent author or publisher with only a handful of titles, please sign up with one of the following publishing service providers/distributors. Scribd has signed distribution agreements with them and will make books distributed through their platforms available in our membership program.”
https://www.scribd.com/publishers

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Awesound
A retailer that lets you sell your audiobook, securely, on your terms.  Upload your audiobook and start selling within one hour. Listeners can stream online on any device, or download within a mobile app. Simply direct listeners to your sales page on Awesound.  Listeners around the world can pay with almost any debit/credit card, or quickly with Google Pay or Apple Pay.
With every purchase, you’ll receive an instant email notification and an immediate transfer of funds to your Stripe balance.  View, search or download your accumulated earnings in your payments dashboard. Your payments table shows every payment.  Funds are transferred to your bank account on the 1st of each month.
You get access to each listener’s information (e.g., name and email) just like you would if you sold any other product directly from your own website. This is very important, as it lets you see which members of your mailing list have already bought your audiobook, and which customers are new fans.
You set your own selling price (which you’re free to change at any time).  This is the fastest way to get started.
https://awesound.com/sell
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Sellfy
For starters, with Sellfy, you can embed your store and products on social media and on your website so everyone can see and buy your audiobooks!  To market your audiobooks, take advantage of our built-in email marketing features that allow you to keep in touch with your customers.  Send updates, newsletters, and information when you launch a new product or start a sale.

Sellfy’s other features like unlimited storage, products, and bandwidth as well as optimized downloads and intuitive platform will give you everything you need to see success in your online store.  No need to sweat over anything other than creating your audiobook.  Create promotional discounts and coupons to hype up your product with Sellfy’s discount feature.  They don’t make you wait for your money on Sellfy. When you use PayPal or Stripe, you get instant access to your money whenever you make a sale.  Sellfy offers unlimited bandwidth and storage for all of your files.
1. Sign up for a Sellfy account.
2. Upload your audiobooks and write descriptions.
3. Add more information to get paid.
4. Start sharing your audiobooks on your social media accounts and website.
https://sellfy.com/sell/audiobooks/

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Selling From Your Own Website

In a former blog post and in my book marketing guide “Successful Book Selling – the Non-Traditional Way” I explained that authors could sell books from their own website. What are your benefits:

  • You will receive higher Revenues.  Directly selling means you earn around 85% of your retail price
  • You get paid faster.  You get paid before your customers download your audiobooks. Unlike with online retailers, you don’t have to wait until you receive a statement months after your book was sold. The money for your books is right away in your account.
  • You will know your listeners.  Selling your audiobook solely at online retailers, you will never know who orders and listens to your books no matter how many are sold. These are not your customers anymore, but the retailers’ and they won’t let you know any details about your customers.

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How to Set up an Online Audiobook Store

There are dozens of ready-to-go online stores available, called “e-commerce” which can be installed on your existing website or blog – relatively easy and quick. You have to have your own (hosted) website or blog – the paid versions – not a free website.

The e-commerce shops take a small fee every month. Some like Ecwid, for example, are free if you have less than 10 books to offer.  E-Junkie provides a shopping cart and buy-now buttons to let you sell book downloads.  They offer one-week trials and their fees start with $5/month for less than 10 downloads. They also offer lots of features, such as tax and shipping calculators, discount management, affiliate management, etc.   Almost all e-commerce shops work with PayPal systems for secure and easy payments.


Check these e-commerce platforms out:

https://www.ecwid.com/pricing

https://www.e-junkie.com/

https://www.shopify.ca/sell/ebooks

https://squareup.com/ca/en/ecommerce

https://hummingbirddm.com/

 

This is just a small list of online retailers where authors can offer their audiobooks.  No matter how incredible your audiobook is, it’s tough to sell if people aren’t aware of it. Spreading the word and expanding your potential audience is key.  With the right tools and a little bit of effort, you can ensure your work reaches as many people as possible—increasing your fan base and your sales.

If your audiobook is also available in eBook or print, your marketing strategies should generally try to encompass all formats.  Sales of one format will drive sales of another, so a well-designed marketing plan will efficiently and effectively help grow sales across all channels.

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

To the TOP

Smart Free Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed

ebook: https://books2read.com/u/mqv8Z1

print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664381

ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08957T6XN/


Audiobooks for Success

Valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z


111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos

How to Plan, Create, Upload, and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

 

111 Tips To Make (More) Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing –
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

 

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY

 

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY/

 

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload, and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHWX6X2/

 

Book Marketing on a Shoestring
How Authors Can Promote their Books

Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664225

 

Hello Friends, visit my Author Page here:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

 

How to Market Your Audiobook

Are you planning to turn your manuscript, ebooks, or print titles into a new version that readers can listen to?  Audiobooks are an extremely fast-growing segment of the publishing market.  Promoting your audio product – long before it launches – is crucial.

Start to market your audiobook before it is produced.  Let your future listeners participate in every step of your audio adventure via your blog articles, website, newsletter, and social media.

Create Your Blog Story

  • Write about your search for the production company – or if you narrate it yourself about the training sessions, the equipment purchase – including what you pay for each piece or the software you have to buy.
  • If you go with a professional narrator, let your readers know about the search, and add links to voice samples.  Offer them a survey (with your future audiobook as a prize for a randomly picked winner) for the most popular narrator.
  • Write about the sign-up process with the narrator/production company. Don’t be shy to mention the quoted price to let your listeners know about the investment you make with your audiobook. Post, link, and tweet frequently about the blog articles you wrote about the audiobook creation process.
  • Once the recording is finished, write another article about the mastering and editing process. And finally, a blog post to announce the book launch and where your audiobook is available for sale.

Announce Your Audiobook in Your Newsletter
Inform your newsletter mailing list about your audiobook release and add a link to your podcast with a short excerpt of your audiobook. Give away or create a draw from the audiobooks of your most recent release. It will be a surprise to your newsletter list.  Send newsletter subscribers an audiobook sample.  Just like you would include a one-chapter excerpt of a novel in a newsletter, you can also include an audiobook sample!  It is a great way to get potential listeners hooked.


Giveaway Codes
Giveaway your ACX, Findaway, Authors Republic, etc. codes to interested listeners.  Let your newsletter subscribers also know about a discount.  You might turn some loyal readers into loyal audiobook listeners!  Get them hooked on your audiobooks so they’ll tell others.  Word of mouth – or word of mouse?  Check out this inexpensive service:

https://audiobookboom.com/authors


Find Audiobook Reviewers
Ask all your readers, listeners, and giveaway recipients to write an honest review for your title.  There is also a whole chapter where you can find audiobook reviewers in my ebook “111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:  Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews” including all the links to audiobook reviewers.

https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY/

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Important: List Your Audiobook Everywhere
List your audiobook on your blog and website and ask your followers to re-post it on their own website too.  For sure, you are a Goodreads member, so list your new audiobook there too – and on Shelfari and LibraryThing, two popular book lover websites.


Join Audiobook Groups
Join all the audiobook groups you can find on Goodreads, Facebook, also follow and join Karin Commins’ member list of audiobook lovers and reviewers.

 

Improve Your Platform:

  • Include a link to your (audio)books on your email signature.
  • Post in forums to show your expertise
  • Write articles that can be reprinted in e-zines
  • Offer to speak at a library event about the audiobook creation process.
  • Set up an e-commerce page on your website and sell your audiobooks there (unless you are exclusive with ACX)
  • Add audiobook retailer links to your website.  An author website can be a useful sales tool.
  • SoundCloud is the world’s biggest open audio platform, letting anyone upload their own music or audio.  This isn’t just a platform for musicians! You can also use SoundCloud to host excerpts of your audiobooks and link to the retailer page where listeners can buy the full book.

Contact AudioBookRadio

This is a free internet radio station broadcasting a varied and compelling range of spoken word content 24/7 The company has now expanded.  So that it can produce, acquire, and broadcast a greater and more current depth of material.

http://audiobookradio.net/

Interviews
Host your narrator on your blog for an interview.  If your narrator has a blog, ask if they will interview you.  Create a podcast during these interviews.

 

How to Get Your Audiobook Into a Talk Show
Getting on talk shows to chat about and/or promote your book is an absolute dream come true, think of all the free promotion!  But as you can imagine, it is not easy to land radio and TV interviews.  How can you achieve this?

When you are pitching to a national television show, your job is to add value, not to sell your book or be the star – while also delivering a stellar on-air performance – can take you a very long way.  Let your sense of humor shine through.

Given editors’ attention spans, the length of your pitch definitely matters.  Shorter is better, try to hook with 3-4 sentences.  And: Follow up, often multiple times, by email and phone.

Your initial point of contact at a TV show is typically the booking department. Approach them first, but remember also to pitch the show’s producer(s). The more points of contact you have, the better your chances of getting “on air”.

Before you write your pitch, you “need to know the audience, the people watching the show you’re pitching.”  If you are pitching a morning show, for instance, your story should appeal to stay-at-home moms and seniors, who are most likely to be home during the day.

To truly stand out from the masses, start by building relationships with hosts and producers of the shows you’re interested in.  Fostering relationships first is an essential part of the pitch.  Being a LinkedIn member (with lots of TV show producers, editors, radio show hosts, etc on your follower list) and also to join HARO (Help a Reporter Out) are essential.

The shows you are pitching want to offer their viewers fresh stories, so listing all the other shows you have been on previously can be “a real turn off”.

Rejection: A “no” can mean “not right now” or “not for this show.”  It’s just a matter of how it’s pitched and if the content you’ve written is the right content for their particular outlet.

Timing is everything: Never pitch at the end of summer when shows are starting up.  You will end up in an email list of a thousand and get lost or forgotten.  The holidays, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, are also dangerous times to pitch.

In visual media, visual matters.  In daytime television particularly, your looks are important.  People have to really be presentable and articulate in a compelling and attractive way.  While we can’t all look like a top model, we can always put our best face, hair, and wardrobe forward.  Be a good listener and remember that you are having a conversation.

If you don’t have quality tape, either online or as a DVD, don’t bother contacting major shows.  Unless you can show them a video of previous on-camera experience, they might not be interested.

Don’t expect the interviewer to have listened to your book before the show.  Be able to explain what’s the readers benefit from listening to your book in one or two sentences.

Prepare, prepare, and prepare even more:  Write down and practice your talking points ahead of time so that you don’t freeze when the cameras are on.  Remember, your goal is to have a natural dialogue with the host and not sound robotic. Rehearse your talking points to reflect a natural back-and-forth conversation.

Not only on TV but also on a radio show, be enthusiastic.  Even though the audience can’t see you on the radio, they can hear and feel your energy.  It’s perfectly acceptable to provide your own list of questions for the host.  Also, identify all the questions you possibly could be asked.  Keep all your answers brief and to-the-point.

Remember that the show is not about you. You are not the star of the show.  The host is and most of all: the audience is.  You are there to keep them interested in the topic – your audiobook.  Refer listeners subtly back to your book.  This is the art of the soft-sell.

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

“To the TOP”
With Smart Free Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed
It answers the question: “How can I promote my start-up with little effort or a very small marketing budget?”  Compete with other brands in the industry, learn the tactics of influencer and social media marketing
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08957T6XN/
At B&N, Apple, Kobo & dozens of other retailers via the universal link:  https://books2read.com/u/mqv8Z1
.

Audiobooks for Success

Valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

.
111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

.
111 Tips To Make (More) Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing –
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

.

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY

.
111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY/

.
111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHWX6X2/

.

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664225

.
Hello Friends, visit my Author Page here:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

.

 

DIY Narrating and Audiobook Production

 

 

Narrating


With modern software, it’s easy to record your own audiobooks. So, going it alone is an option.  However, excellent post-production is needed – as well as an aggregator to distribute it to online retailers, bookstores, and libraries.

Don’t underestimate the amount of time it will take you to produce an audiobook.  Your listeners want you to narrate the story with complete conviction – just like a good actor, you should completely immerse yourself in the story.
.

Vocal Coach Training
You don’t need to spend a lot on equipment or have any prior experience to get started – but taking classes and/or working with a vocal coach is advised if you want to create a professional narrated book and to improve your skills over time.

ACX, the Audiobook Creation Exchange gives tons of good advice on how to narrate your own audiobook or what to look for when outsourcing.  I was positively surprised by how well they explain in detail the whole process for authors on their website, including case studies, how much you will earn, contract samples, and how to promote your audiobook. Check it out before you start your project!
.

Rework Your Manuscript for Narration
No matter if you work with a narrator or if you create the audiobook yourself: You will need to rework your book manuscript as a marked-up script where you add natural pauses and emphasize certain words.  You may also have to rework clunky or long sentences.  It’s called Scripting.
.

Practice, Practice, and Practice Even More
You cannot practice your script enough if you are going to read your own work.  Using Garage Band or audio software record yourself and then critique and re-work pieces if necessary.  
Employing some voice-over techniques is a must for you and your voice.  Here are some voice-over technique tips:

  • Say it with a smile
  • Emphasize the product
  • Stop reading the script – make it conversational
  • Chat with a child
  • Pace yourself – slow down
  • Be expressive and believable
  • Play with characters
  • Mysterious like Casey Kasem

Read the details and more tips here:

https://www.suchavoice.com/2018/06/28/top-ten-voice-over-technique-tips/


Your Recording Studio

Where, in a typical home would you install a recording studio?  In a room or den that’s small, contained, preferably has a carpeted floor – best in a walk-in-closet.  The clothes hanging around serve to absorb the sound and it’s the closest thing if the typical private residence has to mimic an isolation booth.
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Audiobook Narrator Tools

Narrating

 

Avoid All Sources of Noise
To get a high-quality professional sound, make sure there are no sources of noise in the vicinity, such as an air conditioner, refrigerator, an open window, or even a water fountain running in your garden.  A good method to improve the quality of your recording is to place clothes rack behind you, covered with blankets or thick clothes.  This will dissipate the sound and reduce any echo. What’s coming from behind you is the most important, but if possible also put blankets or foam panels at the sides and rear of the mic to further restrain the sound.
.

Recording
If you have your recording environment set up properly, it’s time to narrate your audiobook.  Do a test recording first to see if everything sounds okay and if your file meets ACX requirements.  So just record a few paragraphs or a chapter and master the file.  Then check whether it meets the requirements.
.

Don’t record your entire book – only to find out later
that
the files aren’t within ACX guidelines!

 

If you are recording a non-fiction book you can just read the book out loud in a conversational style.  For fiction, it can be a little harder to find the right style of narration.  Record some paragraphs and get feedback from friends and family to see whether you are on the right track.

Make sure you record in mono at 44.1 kHz. Record each chapter individually, but if you want you can also record the audiobook as one file and then later break that down in separate files for every chapter.
.

Mastering
If you are publishing your audiobook through ACX, it’s essential that you know and adheres to all their submission requirements.  When you are done recording, there are two more things you need to do: mastering and editing.

When you master the file first, it will amplify all sorts of mouth and background noises, which you will then have to go back and edit out again.  So, mastering your file first will save you a lot of time.  By applying different effects to your sound file, you can ensure that it meets all ACX submission requirements.  Follow the mastering steps using Audacity to get a professional quality recording that meets all requirements.
.

Noise Reduction
Highlight a few seconds of room noise.  Then in Audacity go to Effects > Noise Reduction, and click “get noise profile”.  Then, select the entire track, choose a noise reduction of between 12-24db, and click OK to apply noise reduction to your file.

Use a high pass filter to get rid of low frequency sounds like low rumblings, cars passing by, etc. Select the entire track. Then go to Effect > High Pass Filter.  Set the frequency at 80 Hz and Roloff at 12 db.

Use compression by selecting the entire recording and going to Effect > Compressor in Audacity.  Use the following settings: Threshold: -25 dB, Noise Floor: -40dB, Ratio 2:1, Attack Time 0.20 secs, Release time: 1 sec. Click OK.

Select the entire recording and go to Effect > Normalize.  Check “Remove DC offset”. Then check “Normalize maximum amplitude to” and input a value of -3.0 dB.

To check whether your files meet ACX’s requirements of an RMS between -23 dB and -18 dB, select the entire track and then go to Analyze > Contrast.  Then click on Measure selection.
.

Editing
Now it’s time to edit your file. Edit out all mistakes, coughs, background noises, etc. Editing is time-consuming and not the most exciting part of recording an audiobook, but it has to be done to get a good quality audiobook.
.

Export to MP3
The final step is to export your file to MP3. In order for Audacity to export, you first need to download an MP3 encoder.  Then go to File > Export Audio and select save as MP3 at 192 kbps and Constant Bit Rate Mode.  You can now upload your MP3 files to ACX.
.

This was a short excerpt from Audiobooks for Success
A valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.
https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

 

Audiobooks
.

 

How to Manage Your Audiobook Distribution 

Headset

 

ACX and its sales platform Audible are still the leaders in self-published audiobooks. However, there are some instances in which you might want to consider going a different route. While ACX recently opened its doors to British self-published authors, there are still many parts of the world in which ACX is not available.

ACX is (2019) only open to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland who have a mailing address, valid local Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and banking details for one of these countries.

If you are interested in getting your books on non-Amazon platforms – and most important: into libraries – then you may want to consider selecting the non-exclusive contract and better distribute your audiobook (additionally to Audible) on a variety of platforms.


Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Here are a few options you might consider if you want to get your audiobook elsewhere. By far the best distributors with the widest outreach are Findaway Voices and Author’s Republic. Both are creators, distributors and online retailers for audiobooks.

They are working currently with over thirty retailers and library distributors. Your best choice to reach audiobook listeners worldwide! And so much easier to work with than to contact all these retailers separately, often only to learn that they are not dealing with author-publishers. Libraries definitely don’t!

Distribution can be a tricky path. Some retailers have self-service portals that are difficult to use, some require varying formats of audio files, metadata, and images that you may or may not have before they will accept your work.
You also would have to deal in foreign currencies, you often would have to pay high banking fees, do the accounting and controlling yourself, and in the worst-case run after your money – in a foreign country.

The benefit of working with only one worldwide distributor outweighs the 20% commission from your net revenue. See the example calculation of a $10 audiobook on their website:
https://findawayvoices.com/selling-audiobooks/#distributor-list

.
Author’s Republic

Sell your books through retailers, distributors and library providers. Restrictions can make things tough for authors outside of North America. We accept submissions from rights holders all over the globe. You will receive 70 percent of what your audiobook earns across over 30 channels, including major distributors such as Audible, Audiobooks.com, and iTunes.

Forget about managing over a dozen different accounts. We display all your sales on a handy dashboard and cut you one monthly paycheck, too.

https://www.authorsrepublic.com/

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If You Want to Work Directly With Retailers:

Audiobooks.com and Downpour

They are the number two and number three audiobook only subscription services in the USA. With the rapid growth of the audiobook industry, it might be smart trying to get your self-published audiobooks on these two platforms.

It is likely that you’ll need to negotiate individually with both Audiobooks.com and Downpour if you hope to get your books on those platforms.
http://www.audiobooks.com/

Downpour’s audiobook service has been around since 2012. They are a company that developed one of the best audiobook subscriptions on the market.
https://www.downpour.com/

.

CD Baby

This platform is best known for its distribution of indie music. By giving up a small portion of their royalties, indie musicians are able to post their albums to Amazon, iTunes, and other platforms. Since CD Baby doesn’t usually handle audiobooks, it places the books into Amazon’s spoken word category.

By circumventing Audible, the CD Baby method also keeps your books from being accessible through the convenient Audible app. If you plan on only selling your book directly to your fans, and you don’t want to deal with a file-sharing service, CD Baby may be a viable option for you.
.

eBookIt

Want to be on ACX/Audible but you are in a country that doesn’t allow for it (worldwide web doesn’t exist for them…).  eBookIt is an ebook and audiobook aggregation service that lets you submit your book to get it on ACX no matter what country you reside in.

Audible is expanding as fast as the audiobook industry itself. Since eBookIt takes a fee for every sale, it may be worth waiting until Audible opens up in your country. If you can’t wait, and you want your book on Audible now, then eBookIt is a good way to make it happen.
https://www.ebookit.com/

.
AudiobookStore

If you are an existing content partner of AudiobookSTORE.com, or if you have content you would like to see your title added to AudiobookSTORE.com This includes audiobook authors and publishers, as well as blog content and the like. please email to content@audiobookstore.com. Their representative will reply back to you within 48 hours.

https://audiobookstore.com/business-inquiries.aspx

This is just a shortlist of online retailers where authors can offer their audiobooks. For more opportunities check websites for “authors”, “publishers”, “business inquiries” or just “contact”.

.

Selling From Your Own Website

In a former blog post and in my book marketing guides  “Successful Book Selling – the Non-Traditional Way” I explained that authors could sell books from their own website. What are your benefits:

1. You will have higher Revenues – Directly selling means you earn around 85% from your retail price

2. You get paid faster – You get paid before your customers download your audiobooks. Unlike working with online retailers, you don’t have to wait until you receive a statement months after your book was sold. The money for your books is right away in your account.

3. You will know your listeners – Selling your audiobook solely at online retailers, you will never know who orders and listens to your books no matter how many are sold. These are not your customers anymore, but the retailers’ and they won’t let you know any details about your customers.
.

How to Set up an Online Audiobook Store

There are dozens of ready-to-go online stores available, called “e-commerce” which can be installed in your existing website or blog – relatively easy and quick. You have to have your own (hosted) website or blog – the paid versions – not a free website.

The e-commerce shops take a small fee every month. Some like Ecwid, for example, is free if you have less than 10 books to offer. E-Junkie provides a shopping cart and “buy-now” buttons to let you sell book downloads. They offer one week trials and their fees start with $5/month for less than 10 downloads. They also offer lots of features, such as tax and shipping calculators, discount management, affiliate management, etc.  Almost all e-commerce shops work with PayPal systems for secure and easy payments.


Check these e-Commerce providers out:

https://www.ecwid.com/pricing

https://www.e-junkie.com/

https://www.shopify.ca/sell/ebooks

https://squareup.com/ca/en/ecommerce

https://hummingbirddm.com/

.

<><><><><>

.

 

Audio Books for Success

.

How to Create, Publish, and Market Your Audiobooks

Audiobooks


Discover every aspect of audiobooks with this comprehensive guide for audiobook publishers, narrators, voiceover artists, and audiobook listeners.

Get step-by-step instructions on how to plan, narrate, record, edit, master, proof, and sell your audiobook, plus countless tips on finding the best audiobooks and apps and writing an audiobook review.

Learn the following and more:

  • Why investing in an audiobook is worthwhile
  • How to choose an audiobook studio or production company in the USA, the UK, and Canada, and most important: to find the right narrator for your title
  • How to set up your own DIY recording spot and which equipment to use for quality recording
  • Where to take narration training and learn voiceover techniques or build a career out of your voice
  • How to make words on a page come alive for the audience and create a visual image for the listener
  • How to find reviewers (including direct links) and how to market and distribute your audiobook
  • Where to find info about audiobook sellers and apps, and even where to find free audiobooks on the internet
  • All about audiobook industry associations and their awardshttps://books.apple.com/us/book/id1475989056

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

Print Edition & Electronic Book Edition 2019

 

Chapters:

Why Audiobooks?

Audiobooks Long History

How Popular Are Audiobooks?

Benefits for Authors

How to Plan Your Audiobook

How to Find the Right Narrator

US Audiobook Production Companies

Audiobook Studios in the UK

Canadian Audiobook Studios

Production Cost for Audiobooks

Audio Books with ACX – Pro’s and Con’s

DIY Narrating and Audiobook Production

How to Become an Audiobook Narrator

Equipment for Narrators

Audiobook Narration Training

How to Market Your Audiobook

Audiobook Reviewers

Audiobook Distribution

Selling Audiobooks From Your Own Website

Audiobook Library Distributors

Listening to Audiobooks

How to Find Free Audio Books

The Audiobook Industry

Links and Bibliography

 

Why Audiobooks?

Audiobooks allow you to be more productive by doing other things while you listen. Narrators make a story come alive and allow you to enjoy books in a whole new way.

Do you remember my blog “Split Your Book Apart”? What else could you do with your manuscript and your copyright?

One of the suggestions was audio. In other words: Re-purpose your manuscript and make more out of it than just the print version and an ebook. Why not additionally create an audiobook from your novel or even from non-fiction? Audiobooks are becoming more and more popular!

Audiobooks which let you multitask, are a great way to listen to books while driving long distance, walking the dog, or laying on the beach. And certainly, a wonderful way for blind people to easily enjoy books. Audiobooks can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone/SmartPhone or MP3 player, on your laptop, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook. If you’ve never tried an audiobook, give it a go. You may be pleasantly surprised! Or maybe get addicted.

Bestseller Author Mike Wells sums up the benefits:

Taking a bath or sunbathing, when the light isn’t conducive to reading, you want to lay back and relax, or you simply don’t want to risk getting your book or eReader or tablet wet.

Experiencing a story in a group setting (with family or friends while on a road trip, for example). 

Learning English (or the language in which the book is narrated) – hearing the tone and pronunciation of words can help learners become more natural speakers.

Increasing your “reading” time – in general, audiobooks allow you to consume new material at times you otherwise could not.

Your readers can listen to your audiobooks, which can easily double their book consumption because they are using the time that previously was not available and turning it into valuable “reading” time.

They can listen in the car, bus, train, plane – while exercising, walking or hiking, on the beach or while doing tasks around the house or yard.

Special needs readers, such as blind ones will have access to your written words in the form of an audiobook.

Audiobooks can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone/SmartPhone or other MP3 players, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook.

A membership, for example, at Kobo Audiobooks, at Scribd or at Audible is a good deal for your readers. They can choose from various plans, and easily download digital audiobooks to their preferred device. Or they can go to their local public library to get audiobooks for free.

There are three ways of producing an audiobook:

You do it all yourself. If you are on a very tight budget you can make audios with some relatively inexpensive equipment.

You use a narrator who is specialized in audiobooks and who gets a percentage of revenue after production of your audiobook (for which they charge too).

You organize a professional production and keep all your revenue for yourself – which also means that you can sell your book everywhere you want: to online retailers, bookstores, libraries and on your own website.


Audiobooks Long History

Alison Thoet wrote for PBS: “More than 67 million Americans now listen to audiobooks annually, according to the Audio Publisher’s Association.”

“Audiobooks first emerged in 1932 with the establishment of a recording studio by The American Foundation for the Blind, which created recordings of books on vinyl records. Each side held about 15 minutes of speech. The following year, Congress passed an amendment that allowed the Library of Congress to begin producing audiobooks.”

“In the Uk, on 7th November 1935, the RNIB delivered the first talking books to blind and partially sighted people. Their first recordings were Agatha Christie’s “The murder of Roger Ackroyd” and “Typhoon” by Joseph Conrad, and were recorded on LP records which were 25 minutes per side – most of the books would take up 10 or so discs each and would be played on a gramophone.”

“Initial recordings included William Shakespeare plays, The Constitution and the novel “As the Earth Turns” by Gladys Hasty Carroll. More recording companies slowly emerged, mostly to assist the blind. In 1955, the Listening Library became a major distributor for recorded books.”

“New technology spurred audiobook growth with cassette tapes in the 1960s and compact discs in the 1980s. Waldenbooks installed “audio centers” in their bookstores and the publishing houses Random House, Warner Publishing and Simon & Schuster opened audio publishing divisions.”

“Digital audiobooks were a significant new milestone as they allowed listeners freedom from physical media such as cassettes and CD-ROMs which required transportation through the mail, allowing instead instant download access from online libraries of unlimited size, and portability using comparatively small and lightweight devices. Audible.com was the first to establish a website, in 1998, from which digital audiobooks could be purchased.”

Audiobooks transitioned from vinyl to cassette, to CD, to MP3 CD, and these days finally to digital download. In 2018, approximately 50,000 audiobooks were recorded in the United States with a sales growth so far of 20 percent or more – year over year.

How Popular Are Audio Books?

At the very least, the boom in audiobooks — sales of which increased tremendously in a time during which sales of hardback books slumped and e-books stagnated — shows a rare bit of good news for the publishing world. “It’s definitely the fastest-growing part of the publishing industry these days,” said Annie Coreno, review editor for Publishers Weekly.

Perhaps the biggest indicator of the format’s future growth may be the APA’s demographic data showing that audiobook listeners today are young, listening through multiple apps, on multiple devices, and are listening in new ways.

A study released by Rakuten OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries worldwide, reveals that technology has helped Americans find more opportunities to consume books. The shift towards digital content has allowed readers to continue to enjoy books anytime, anywhere on any device – even despite constant demands for attention from the outside world. The study found that over the past year, 34 percent of respondents have listened to audiobooks – and 87 percent of those respondents are consuming audiobooks while doing other activities.

Audiobooks are an immersive format that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday activities. The study also shows that millennials (ages 23-38) and adult members of Gen Z (ages 18-22) are driving the audiobook market with 48 percent selecting an audiobook while 24 percent of the Gen Xers and Baby Boomers utilize this digital technology to read.

Steve Potash, founder, and CEO of OverDrive said: “Within North American libraries alone, audiobook checkouts have more than doubled since 2013, growing at least 24 percent each year. Looking at this continuous growth, it’s apparent that technology hasn’t hindered a good story, only enhanced it. As more individuals are introduced to the power of audiobooks, we’ll continue to see digital reading grow in a variety of formats for years to come.”

University of Memphis professor Arthur Graesser, who studies learning and cognition points out: “We are more likely to stick with a book that we are listening to – than the one we are reading – which would also improve our chances of retaining what’s in it.”

Improving technology is also driving growth, especially the rise of smart speakers. In the last two years, the number of those listening to audiobooks through services like Google Home, or Amazon’s Alexa has been on the rise—and the survey shows that listeners are increasingly listening to audiobooks at home, to relax. Traditionally, audio has been more popular among multi-taskers and commuters.

 

Audio-Book-Tips

 

Experience the Many Benefits of AudioBooks

Audiobooks which let you multitask, are a great way to listen to books while driving long distance, walking the dog, or laying on the beach. And certainly, a wonderful way for blind people to easily enjoy books. Audiobooks can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone/SmartPhone or MP3 player, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook. If you’ve never tried an audiobook, give it a go. You may be pleasantly surprised! Or maybe get addicted.

Scott Sigler: “Listen during your workout and watch those treadmill miles fly by. Or for your commute, and you might find yourself looking forward to heavy traffic that will keep you in the car just a bit longer. Or, just for enjoyment.”

Audiobook sales are the fastest-growing sector of publishing by far. Audio companies have driven not only innovation but also spending, bidding aggressively on unsold rights (i.e., those not retained by print publishers). One big agent says that Audible paid twice as much for one of his client’s audio rights as a print publisher paid for the rest.

Bestseller Author Goes Audio Book

Bob Mayer, a very successful author of more than 50 books, explains: “Initially, as I learned how to use ACX, (Amazons Audio Book Company) I moved slowly, with only one other title going live that month.  Since then, though, as I saw sales accelerate, I began putting multiple titles into production. Just recently, my 27th title went live.”

Benefits for Authors

Selling eBooks these days is virtually automated. At the very least, it’s become a great deal easier than it was even five years ago. Now it’s time to set our sights on a new frontier: Audiobooks

Why would you consider publishing audiobooks as an indie author? Are they worth the effort and costs involved?

Yes, if you create an audio version of your book, you can make CDs, stream it on your website, offer it as an MP3 download, or serialize it in podcast format. Here are more benefits:

More Credibility as a Self-Publisher

Anyone these days can create and publish an ebook, which is why Amazon is so saturated with self-published authors. But the same isn’t true for audiobooks. Only a small percentage of indie authors are choosing to capitalize on the audiobook route, and this can give you another advantage in a competitive marketplace: extra credibility.

A Less Saturated Market

Audiobooks are by not yet as popular as standard books or ebooks – which means less competition and your audiobook can be more easily discovered. With audiobooks, your books have a greater chance of being discovered, especially if you’re writing in a particular niche or sub-genre.

Increase Your Revenue

Similar to freelance writers who need a range of clients to balance out their income, authors do well to have diverse income streams. The cost of producing an audiobook (the cost of hiring a narrator) can seem a little high, but it really is a great investment in your future. The best thing about audiobooks is that the content is already available – it just has to be transformed into audio!

New Range of Readers

By expanding your reach into the audiobook market, you’ll be exposing your books to a whole new range of readers who might never have discovered you otherwise. Convenience and necessity aren’t the only reasons audiobooks are popular. Some people simply prefer the format overall, and love the experience of being ‘read to’. This hugely growing market is reason enough for indie authors to tap into the trend.

Audiobook Narrator Tools

 

New Life to Your Book

Apart from adding some fresh ideas into your promotion and marketing strategy, what can you do to breathe new life into your existing book story? Connect with readers in a brand-new way – transform it into an audiobook, of course!

The conversion of a novel into audiobook works well, and if you want your book to become successful, it’s wise to offer your book in as many versions as possible

With the enormous increase of devoted audiobook listeners and press coverage about the audiobook industry, can you afford to not produce audiobooks of your titles?

Why Your Book Should Be in Audio Too

If you sell your publishing rights to a commercial publisher, hold onto your audiobook rights when negotiating traditional book deals. Separating rights allows authors to leverage the promotional might of a publisher for print/ebook while being able to negotiate better revenue rates for the audiobook.

Use Your Manuscript in Several Ways:

Re-purpose your manuscript and make more out of it than just paperback and an ebook. Why not additionally create an audiobook from your novel or even from your non-fiction? Audiobooks are becoming more and more popular!

Your readers can listen to your audiobooks, which can easily double their book consumption because they are using the time that previously was not available and turning it into valuable “reading” time.

They can listen in the car, bus, train, plane or while exercising, walking or hiking, on the beach or while doing mundane tasks around the house or yard. Special needs readers, such as the legally blind will have access to your written words in the form of an audiobook.

More libraries were lending ebooks and audiobooks last fall than the year before (76% vs 67% previously), and it won’t take long until all libraries will offer audiobooks to their patrons.

Which Genres Are Successful in Audiobook Form?

Individual results vary, but typically these book genres sell well:

Self-help/spirituality
History/biography
Mystery/thriller
Science fiction/fantasy
Health and fitness
Romance
Business

 

Visit my Author Page too:

https://www.books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann


Choose the Best Audiobook Listening Experience

 

HeadSet-iPhone


Audiobooks which let you multitask, are a great way to listen to books while driving long distance, walking the dog, or laying on the beach. And certainly, a wonderful way for blind people to easily enjoy books.

Audiobooks can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone/SmartPhone or MP3 player, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook or your laptop.  If you’ve never tried an audiobook, give it a go. You may be pleasantly surprised!  Or maybe get addicted. Here is where you can find audiobooks:

Libraries

Let’s start with free audiobooks at your local library.  Having a library card allows you to borrow an audiobook for free, but also via the Overdrive and Hoopla apps (both are library suppliers).  These digital files are on loan from the library, and you eventually have to return them, so someone else can check them out.

To get started, borrow an audiobook that’s available in the “OverDrive Listen” format from your library.  Then, click or tap the Listen (in your browser) button on your Checkouts page (under your Account) to begin listening to it immediately using OverDrive Listen.

Due to the distribution rights of publishers, libraries have a finite number of digital audiobook files they can lend to their users at any one time.  This is one of the downsides of using a free library service – if one of the titles you want to listen to is currently being used by another patron, you end up on the waiting list. You have to order them again or you may want to invest in a paid subscription.
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Kobo Audiobooks
$9.99 USD/month, £6.99 or CAD12.99 after a 30 day trial period – including a FREE audiobook.  You can cancel anytime.  Get one credit per month after trial, good for an audiobook of your choice regardless of price – choose from well over 100,000 titles.  Keep all your audiobooks forever, even if you cancel
Currently, audiobooks in English and French are available to Kobo customers living in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Audiobooks from Kobo are in MP3 or MP4 format.
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobooks

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Apple Books

They have a large selection, especially of popular audiobooks.  Apple Books has about as many titles and popular books as Audible.  However, you do have to purchase them.  There isn’t a membership program. Everything you need is in the Apple Books app.  You can search for, download, and sync audiobooks.  Be aware that their online pricing might change from day to day.
To browse audiobooks, open the Apple Books app and tap the Audiobooks, tab at the bottom of the screen.  Explore new, featured, and trending audiobooks, or tap the Browse button at the top of the screen to see all genres and book store sections.
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT208929

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NOOK Audiobooks
Everyone can listen with the free NOOK Audiobooks app.  One of the most popular apps, it’s free to install and use on most phones and tablets.  Get it for your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone or tablet.  And don’t miss the “Daily Find”. https://www.nookaudiobooks.com/
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Hibooks

A library of more than 100.000 Audiobooks.  Listen to over 5,000 titles – unlimited. Use coins to unlock additional titles.  Try free for three days. https://www.hibooks.com/

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Chapters-Indigo Canada
Find bestselling audiobooks from such authors as John Grisham, Michelle Obama, David Baldacci, Stuart Mclean, Bob Woodward or James Patterson at their website or in one of their many stores all over Canada.
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/audiobooks/

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Audiobooks
More than 125,000 incredible audiobooks which will take you anywhere you want to go.  Get your first audiobook for free!  Once you’ve finished your free trial, you’ll enjoy one audiobook every month for $14.95 (USD).  If one book just isn’t enough, you can buy additional credits at any time.  
Download or stream audiobooks on your smartphone or tablet with their free apps for iOS and Android.
https://www.audiobooks.com/

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Audio Books Now
Choose one bestseller premium audiobook for free with activation of the Club Pricing Plan 30 day free trial.  Club Pricing is a great way to save money on all your audiobook purchases.
With their monthly Club Plan, you’ll get the first audiobook you purchase each month at 50% Off, then you will receive the normal Club Price (35-40% off). And, if you do not use your 50% discount, it automatically rolls over to the next month.  You can cancel your monthly Club Plan at any time.
https://www.audiobooksnow.com/

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Scribd
You get more media options for less money (only $8.99) than with Audible – the membership also includes access to eBooks, magazines, sheet music, and documents.  Read free for 30 days.
After you spend your credits for the month, you can’t make additional purchases on the site.  It’s a good option for listeners who don’t get through more than one audiobook a month.
https://www.scribd.com/

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Playster
Playster’s monthly membership includes unlimited streaming and digital downloads, making it the best option if you listen to more than one book each month. Similar to the Netflix model, you get access to a library of eBooks, games, music, movies, and audiobooks, and you can use everything as much as you want, but you also lose access to it all when you cancel your membership.
https://www.playster.com/

Audible
Audible is a good choice if you listen to your favorite audiobooks over and over. This popular audiobook membership (with more than 300,000 titles) costs $14.95 per month.  The first book is free. It’s the best subscription service for its price, as long as you don’t listen to more than one or two audiobooks a month. Audible also has a plan that comes with two credits a month for only $11.48 per credit.  While other audiobook subscription sites only allow you to borrow books, the ones you download on Audible are yours to keep.  Even if you cancel your membership, you can still access your books on the app.  And if you don’t like a book – just swap it for free!
https://www.audible.com

Conclusion:
Audiobook services with memberships, such as Audible, Kobo, and Playster are valuable for avid audiobook readers, but Barnes & Noble’s Nook audiobooks might be the cheapest retail alternative for infrequent listeners.  Last but not least: make sure that whatever platform you choose is compatible with your computer, smartphone or tablet’s operating system.

 

This is a small excerpt from our latest title – aiming at readers, writers, narrators, and audiobook publishers:

Audio Books for Success
How to Create, Publish, and Market Your Audiobooks and Podcasts.

Available as eBook and in print:

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1475989056

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/audio-books-for-success

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/audio-books-for-success-doris-maria-heilmann/1132883497
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Looking for Audiobook Reviewers?

Audiobook-Listening

Did you receive already reviews for your audio-book?  The trick getting sales of a good book to go viral is to get good reviews from trusted sources who have top exposure.  It seems there are more and more readers who are posting audio-book reviews.

The best way to get reviews is to build long-term relationships with audiobook listeners.  Follow their blogs and join their social media sites.  Retweet and repost their reviews and publications.

If the listener/reviewer did not like the narration, they might give only two or three stars, not rating the quality of the story separately.  Read earlier reviews to get an idea of how this audiobook consumer was rating similar audiobooks in the past. Remember: narration preference is like music preference.  However, professional audiobook reviewers should always separate the book’s story from the narration and their personal voice preference and state this in the review of an audiobook.

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Start with these Audiobook Reviewers:

https://audiobookreviewer.com/review-user-submission-policy/

http://audiothing.blogspot.com/p/review-request.html

https://perrymartinbookreviews.wordpress.com/about/

http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/about/

http://audiothing.blogspot.com.au/p/review-request-policy_29.html

http://iam-indeed.com/submit-for-review-2/

http://www.alwaysreading.net/p/requesting.html

http://theaudiobookguy.com/

http://www.theusreview.com/USRsubmit.html

https://www.booklistreader.com/contact-us/

http://audiothing.blogspot.com.ar/p/review-request.html

http://www.audiobookjukebox.com/

https://twitter.com/KarenCommins/lists/audiobook-blogs-reviews

https://onlinebookclub.org/review-requests/

http://dog-eared-reviews.com/contact.html

http://indiewritersupport.com/page/audible-audiobook-reviewers

https://www.audiogals.net/gal-guide/review-policy-and-ratings/

https://theaudiobookworm.com/policies/

https://www.booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com/

http://www.fortheloveofwords.net/review-policy/

https://dabofdarkness.com/about/

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/get_rev.htm

https://theaudiobookblog.com/contact/

https://audioaudits.com/audiobook-review-request/

https://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookreviews/review-request/

https://booksofmyheart.net/review-policies/

Don’t Forget:
Promotional material should accompany each audiobook, noting publication date, the number of hours, whether abridged/unabridged, narrator, category, ISBN, and price.  Please specify whether an MP3-CD and/or digital downloadable edition is available.

This is a short excerpt from the upcoming book:  AUDIOBOOKS for SUCCESS 

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos 
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer 
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success 
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews 
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links 
https://books2read.com/u/bzarl2
(worldwide from Apple, B&N, Kobo, Tolino) or here:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M2Y3E5W/

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos 
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp
.

 

How Popular Are Audio Books Really?

Audiobooks


Perhaps the biggest indicator of the format’s future growth may be the APA’s demographic data showing that audiobook listeners today are young, listening through multiple apps, on multiple devices, and are listening in new ways.

A study released by Rakuten OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries worldwide, reveals that technology has helped Americans find more opportunities to consume books.

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Shift Toward Digital Content
The shift towards digital content has allowed readers to continue to enjoy books anytime, anywhere on any device – even despite constant demands for attention from the outside world.  The study found that over the past year, 34 percent of respondents have listened to audiobooks – and 87 percent of those respondents are consuming audiobooks while doing other activities.

Audiobooks are an immersive format.  It can be seamlessly integrated into everyday activities.  The study also shows that millennials (ages 23-38) and adult members of Gen Z (ages 18-22) are driving the audiobook market with 48 percent selecting an audiobook while 24 percent of the Gen Xers and Baby Boomers utilize this digital technology to read.

Audiobook Library Checkouts Doubled in the Last 6 Years
Steve Potash, founder, and CEO of OverDrive said: “Within North American libraries alone, audiobook checkouts have more than doubled since 2013, growing at least 24 percent each year.  Looking at this continuous growth, it’s apparent that technology hasn’t hindered a good story, only enhanced it.  As more individuals are introduced to the power of audiobooks, we’ll continue to see digital reading grow in a variety of formats for years to come.”

University of Memphis professor Arthur Graesser, who studies learning and cognition points out: “We are more likely to stick with a book that we are listening to – than the one we are reading – which would also improve our chances of retaining what’s in it.”

Improving technology is also driving growth, especially the rise of smart speakers. In the last two years, the number of those listening to audiobooks through services like Google Home, or Amazon’s Alexa has been on the rise—and the survey shows that listeners are increasingly listening to audiobooks at home, to relax.  Traditionally, audio has been more popular among multi-taskers and commuters.

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Experience the Many Benefits of Audio-Books
Audiobooks which let you multitask, are a great way to listen to books while driving long distance, walking the dog, or laying on the beach. And certainly, a wonderful way for blind people to easily enjoy books. Audio-books can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone/SmartPhone or MP3 player, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook. If you’ve never tried an audiobook, give it a go. You may be pleasantly surprised! Or maybe get addicted.

.

Fastest Growing Sector in Publishing
Audiobook sales are the fastest-growing sector of publishing by far. Audio companies have driven not only innovation but also spending, bidding aggressively on unsold rights (i.e., those not retained by print publishers). One big agent says Audible paid twice as much for one of his client’s audio rights as a print publisher paid for the rest.

 .

Bestseller Author Goes Audio Book
Bob Mayer, a very successful author of more than 50 books, explains: “Initially, as I learned how to use ACX, (Amazons Audio Book Company) I moved slowly, with only one other title going live that month.  Since then, though, as I saw sales accelerate, I began putting multiple titles into production. Just recently, my 27th title went live.”  Read more about his audio book publishing on the ACX blog.

http://blog.acx.com/2012/09/21/bob-mayer-on-the-power-of-acx/

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This was an excerpt from our upcoming publishing guide:
Audio Books for Success – 
How to Create, Publish, and Market Your Audiobooks and Podcasts

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

All these books are certainly available at Amazon worldwide, visit my Author Page too:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

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