{"id":3260,"date":"2023-02-19T23:48:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-19T23:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booksandpublishing.com.au\/independentpublishing\/?p=3260"},"modified":"2023-02-20T01:53:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T01:53:13","slug":"is-an-audiobook-the-right-option-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booksandpublishing.com.au\/independentpublishing\/articles\/2023\/02\/19\/3260\/is-an-audiobook-the-right-option-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Are audiobooks the right option for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Stokes, founder of Author2Audio, answers some common questions from authors interested in turning their title into an audiobook.<\/em><\/p>\n

When on \u2018discovery calls\u2019 with prospective authors, I invariably ask my routine question: \u2018Why do you want an audiobook?\u2019<\/p>\n

This is often followed by an uncomfortable pause on the other end of the line … \u00a0maybe the silence is explained by the fact that I have trumped the author\u2019s question? Whatever the reason, 90% of the time the author\u2019s responses are the same: \u2018My readers have asked me when the audio version of my book is going to be available.\u2019<\/p>\n

Now, doesn\u2019t every author want to hear that? Listening to the needs of your target audience is the crucial behaviour for successful independent publication. Successful audiobook authors are no different to other thriving authors. In my opinion, the combination of great quality content, an engaged community and astute use of media (traditional and social), will help all your book formats flourish.<\/p>\n

\u2018If my readers want an audiobook, should I make one for them?\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I often answer: <\/strong>\u2018Yes, and but \u2026\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Audiobook sales growth has been substantially outstripping print and ebooks for a number of years now, but you\u2019ll probably need three to five years to recoup your audiobook investment. Beyond that, it\u2019s pure perpetual profit<\/li>\n
  2. Offering another format can give your readers a new and unique experience of your writing, but audiobook sales are still \u2018small scale\u2019 compared to print and ebook volumes<\/li>\n
  3. You are likely to find brand new audiences. Anecdotally, 70% of the rapid demand growth for audio, identify as male (who would have NEVER bought your paperback), but they may be a little more challenging to find and market to, particularly on social media<\/li>\n
  4. Being able to listen to audio, whilst walking, cycling and gardening in a time poor world is clearly an advantage<\/li>\n
  5. By age, by design or by accident, our vision (or hearing) may make reading more challenging\u2014audiobooks can be a great substitute, but the latest digital delivery technologies are not necessarily easy for those listeners to master.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u2018All of these are great suggestions and motivations Dave, but how do I decide on the “voice” of my audiobook?\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    This decision for authors seems to depend on two related factors:<\/p>\n