Okay, so you’ve written your book. It has been published, and you are busy promoting it via social media and through other means. That’s all you can do, right?
Not so fast! Consider turning your published work into an audiobook! It is a rapidly growing market, according to the most recent figures available.
The global audiobooks market size was estimated at $2.67 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $3.26 billion in 2020. The global audiobooks market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 24.4% from 2020 to 2027, reaching nearly $15 billion by 2027.[1]
As an author, you can not afford to miss out on this vast and rapidly expanding market.
Thousands of people enjoy listening to audiobooks during their commutes to and from work, or while getting in their work out, running in the park, bicycling, or working out in the gym. Audiobooks are also a great companion on long road trips.
Several years ago, my wife and I drove from our Phoenix, Arizona, home to visit her son and his family in Austin, Texas. The 17-hour drive seemed a lot shorter as we enjoyed an audiobook based on a Tom Clancy bestseller. The miles melted away as we got engrossed in the story and the exploits of Jack Ryan.
There are several approaches you can take to convert your book into an audiobook. The first is to voice the manuscript yourself and hire a professional to do the editing and technical conversions required by Audible and other audiobook distributors. Many authors believe they will save money by voicing the manuscript themselves, but that is not the case. The extra work involved by a producer having to edit another voice adds time to the project, which is reflected in the cost. In the long run, you really don’t save any money. Additionally, to produce a professional recording, you will need:
· A decent external microphone
· A quiet place to record (preferably a room with some soundproofing)
· Software to record into your computer.
· Time each day to record (mornings are best when the voice is its strongest)
· To mark your script where errors occur that need fixing by your producer
The second and most popular approach is to hire a professional to both narrate and produce your audiobook. Why? They already have the necessary equipment, software, expertise, and a soundproof studio to ensure your audiobook meets the technical standards required by audiobook distributors. Because they have done it before, they know the time commitment needed, and when their voice is at its best. I personally prefer early mornings, before the noise of the day intrudes upon the silence. Most professionals realize they can only manage one to two hours a day to narrate before their voice gives out. Plus, each hour of narration translates to an additional three to four hours of production.
What does it cost to turn your book into an audiobook? Prices vary depending on the size of the manuscript and whom you hire. However, the industry average is about $30 per 1,000 words. So, your 50,000-word book should cost you about $1,500. That price will also vary depending upon the urgency of your project. Faster turn-around time will cost you more.
It is also essential to hire a professional with a track record of narrating and producing audiobooks. On Amazon, you can search audiobooks not only by the author but also by the audiobook narrator and hear samples of that narrator’s voice. You can shop around to find that “perfect” voice for your book. You will find large companies that specialize only in audiobooks and businesses such as mine that offer audiobook narration and production among their other services.
A good audiobook narrator brings your story to life to an entirely different audience than a printed or e-book. In an ever-growing market, you need to turn your book into an audiobook to reach this population segment.
Questions? Please reach out to me at daveficere.com.
Dave Ficere is an Author, Editor, and Ghostwriter with over 30 years of experience in broadcasting and writing. When Dave is not writing and editing manuscripts for clients, you can typically find him narrating and producing audiobooks.
To learn more about Dave, visit him on LinkedIn.
“Bringing Your Story to Life” is more than just a tagline at Ficere Writing Solutions. We provide clients with top-notch writing, editing, and audiobook services to get your book or audiobook ready to publish. Our services portfolio includes: Ghostwriting books, editing book manuscripts, and the narration and production of audiobooks.
To learn more about how Ficere Writing Solutions can help you and your business, click HERE.