Both the demand and market for audiobooks have grown so impressively over the last five years that an audiobook has transcended past being simply an “additional offering” and become an “absolute necessity.”
In 2021, over 1.6 billion dollars of audiobook sales took place in the United States. That number will only continue to grow as more print-friendly readers convert to audiobooks and more digital-friendly, younger readers begin aging up and making up a bigger portion of the market.
For every author’s book to have the best chance of success, it needs to be brought to life with an audiobook format. Here are five reasons why an audiobook is a must-have for your work.
You’ll reach more readers
There are many reasons that readers choose audiobooks over print books, but one of the most common is convenience. Being able to “read a book” while driving to work, going on a walk, or doing household chores allows story-lovers to make the best use of their busy schedules.
In other words, having an audiobook opens up the door to an entirely separate audience that would not read your book otherwise, while also appealing to a crossover audience that enjoys both print and audiobooks. The more ways you can reach readers, the more copies of your book you’ll sell.
The expectations are high
Yes, there are options to make an audiobook on your own. You’ll see articles that tell you that with a $50 USB mic and your best reading voice, you’ll be well on your way to bringing your audiobook to life.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case — at least, not anymore. While a few authors might have the voice talent to perform the audio version of their own book, the overall expectations of the quality of audio are sky-high.
This expectation closely resembles the growth of podcasting. While many popular podcasts were more at home, “closet productions” during the mid-2010s, big-budget studios have crept onto the scene over the last several years. Now all the top audio sounds professional, so when you’re fighting for ears and attention, yours has to sound the same way.
An expert narrator breathes new life into your story
The hardest part of turning your book into an audiobook is finding the right narrator for the job. You’ll want to work with nothing short of a professional voice actor en route to making an industry-leading quality audiobook, and that kind of person is hard to find.
On top of that, it can’t be just any voice actor – it needs to be one that connects to your story and understands it well enough to bring it to life the way you’ve envisioned. Much like any successful working relationship, the author and voice actor must be on the same page and working toward the same vision.
But once you find this person, you’re in a very good place. The right narrator breathes new life into a story, capturing its essence and dramatizing it with his or her performance.
High royalties following an upfront cost
From a strictly business sense, an audiobook is a great investment in your book’s success. It’s a new channel for sales, and if you get it professionally produced, it’s a one-time upfront cost that will generate a passive income string with every sale down the road.
Generating enough passive income is key to becoming a full-time writer, and this audiobook investment can spur you in that direction. You’ll typically earn high royalties, occasionally reaching upwards of 70%.
It’s a growing market
Finally, audiobooks are such a hot, growing market right now that every argument laid out above will be 5x more powerful in five years. The number of audiobook listeners doubled from 2010 to 2020, and it’s currently pacing to do the same from 2020 to 2030.
It’s a great audience to tap into as well. Most audiobook listeners are high-earners, with an average household income of at least $75,000. With more disposable income, these people are likely to buy your other books if, or when, you have them.
Are you ready to explore your options?
While the numbers clearly point to the value of an audiobook, the concept of putting a voice behind your print book is a bit elusive to some authors. It’s not a do-it-yourself project, and finding the right narrator for your book is a huge stumbling block in itself.
Thankfully, MindStir Media has an all-in-one audiobook package that will turn your work into a top-tier audiobook. Not only does the package include a professional narrator, mixing and mastering, but you’ll also get a unique ISBN number for your audiobook and an audiobook cover. Don’t trust your audiobook production to anybody less than the professionals. It’s too great of an opportunity to miss.