← Back Published on

Different Types of Audiobook Services Explained

After months or even years of dedication, your manuscript is finally complete. You hold the physical copy in your hands, feeling the smooth cover and smelling the freshly printed pages. A wave of accomplishment and excitement washes over you. But now what? How do you get this labor of love into the hands of readers? How do you spread the word and build an audience for your book?

The truth is, writing the book was just the beginning. Now, the real work begins. Partnering with a professional Book Marketing Company like Book Publishing Pros can make all the difference. Our comprehensive Audiobook Services, including strategies for promoting your Audiobook Online, will help you effectively reach your target audience. As one of the leading Audiobook Publishers, we utilize the Best Audiobook Service to ensure your book achieves the success it deserves.

What Is an Audiobook?

It’s an audio version of a book that someone reads out loud, so you can enjoy the narration without having to hold and flip through the book.

Multiple Audiobook Online platforms, such as Book Publishing Pros or free sites like LibriVox, offer all types of audiobooks you can enjoy.

What Are the Different Types of Audiobooks?

Now that you have a clear understanding of audiobooks, let’s take a look at the different types of Audiobook Services available to the public:

  • Unabridged audiobooks
  • Abridged audiobooks
  • Full-cast audiobooks
  • Narrated by the author
  • Educational audiobooks
  • Audio dramas
  • Podcast-style audiobooks
  • Guided meditations and mindfulness audiobooks

1. Unabridged Audiobooks

These are the most commonly available audiobooks offering complete, word-for-word narrations of the original book. They maintain the full content, preserving the author's original intent.

2. Abridged Audiobooks

Abridged versions condense the content, often by omitting some parts to create a shorter listening experience. This can be useful for those seeking a quicker rundown of a book.

3. Full-Cast Audiobooks

These productions feature actors voicing different characters, accompanied by sound effects and music. They create an immersive, theatrical experience.

4. Narrated by the Author

Authors sometimes narrate their books, lending a personal touch to the narration.

5. Educational Audiobooks

These are non-fiction audiobooks, like self-help or educational content, offering valuable insights and knowledge to the listeners.

6. Audio Dramas

As the name suggests, these audiobooks feature fictional stories brought to life through acting, sound effects, and music. They create a captivating narrative experience for the listener.

7. Podcast-style Audiobooks

Some audiobooks mimic podcasts, with episodes that cover parts of the book. They are ideal for shorter listening sessions.

8. Guided Meditations and Mindfulness Audiobooks

These audiobooks aim to help you relax, meditate, and practice mindfulness. They often have soothing narration and calming background music.

The Evolution of Audiobooks

The history of audiobooks goes way back to 1933 when anthropologist J.P. Harrington pioneered recording oral histories on aluminum discs. Fast-forward to the 21st century, the world of audiobooks has undergone a remarkable transformation, largely driven by the rise of Amazon Audiobook and various other tools.

The consistent growth of Audiobook Services is a testament to the fact that audiobooks have brought on a cultural shift rather than being a fad. The present digital audience is gradually changing their literature consumption habits from reading to listening, keeping up with their modern lifestyles of convenience and immersion.

The audiobook market's worth has soared, signifying an industry with excellent growth potential.

Here are some audiobook statistics to prove just that:

  • In 2020, audiobook sales in the U.S. reached $1.3 billion, showing steady growth since 2018.
  • Over the last decade, the number of audiobook titles published increased tenfold, indicating rising demand.
  • The percentage of U.S. adults who listened to an audiobook last year nearly doubled since 2011.
  • The average number of audiobooks consumed annually significantly increased between 2019 and 2020, partly due to COVID-19.
  • Over 45% of American adults have listened to an audiobook, with this figure expected to grow as reading habits evolve.
  • The audiobook industry is expected to hit U.S. $39.1 billion in 2032 because of the increasing use of technology.

5 Reasons You Should Create an Audiobook

Now, let’s go over five reasons why you must capitalize on this growth and Create Audiobook:

Expand Your Audience

Create Audiobook allows you to connect with a vast, untapped audience. As more and more people listen to audiobooks from one of the best Audiobook Services while commuting, working out, etc., you have a wider net to cast for marketing your work.

It will enable even those who might not have heard about your print eBook versions to access your work. The accessibility of an audiobook will also help you cater to people with visual impairments, learning disabilities, or linguistic challenges.

Never Run Out of Stock

Since an audiobook has a digital format, it never goes out of stock like a physical book. So, you don’t have to worry about a potential reader being unable to find your book. Your audiobook will always be available on the platform of your choice.

Audiobooks also don’t have an inventory cost. It’s a front-loaded expense that you can sell hundreds and thousands of times without incurring additional expenses.

Enhance Emotional Connections

The human voice has the remarkable ability to evoke powerful emotions. You have the unique opportunity to narrate your audiobook to preserve the intended writing style and tone. Alternatively, you can have a talented audiobook narrator read your work to the world.

Regardless of your route, audiobooks enable you to foster a deep emotional connection with the reader as they connect to the narrator’s voice. It’s an immersive experience that also results in trust building.

Invigorate Your Story with Talented Narration

If you choose to go with a talented narrator, you can ensure your story gets the justice it deserves. A professional narrator will understand the impact of inflections, emphasis, pauses, subtext, and the subtle nuances of your text and bring its beauty to life through their voice.

They can embody your characters and create a vivid listening experience for your audiobook listeners. Partnering with such a narrator will certainly help elevate your work and popularity. A good narration will also breathe new life into your story.

Boost Your Reputation as an Author

Your standing as an author can also benefit from transforming your book into an audiobook. Your readers will acknowledge and appreciate your adaptability in how you share your story with your audience and your willingness to cater to the changing demands of your readers.

Becoming a well-known author is often about how accessible your offerings are and how well you can market your work. With an audiobook, you offer your target audience an uber-convenient way to consume your work, boosting your following.

Create an Audiobook Version of Your Book

Creating your audiobook is now well within your reach. Many authors recognize its potential and convert their ebooks into audiobooks.

The process of recording your audiobook and finding a suitable platform to host it has become surprisingly accessible. With the surge in interest around audiobook production, various recording platforms, like ACX and Auphonic, now offer user-friendly tools to help you craft and refine your audio content. Once your audiobook is polished and ready, the next step involves self-publishing it through a distribution network.

Although the process needs hard work, the world of audiobook creation is rich with possibilities, making this an ideal time to invest in an audiobook version of your book.

Best Audiobook Service

Let’s explore the Best Audiobook Service you can use to publish your audiobook:

1. Book Publishing Pros

Audible is arguably the best audiobook app you can choose to launch your audiobook. It’s the world’s largest producer and seller of audiobooks. Amazon Audiobook enables users to connect their accounts to their Audible accounts to buy and manage audiobooks.

Amazon also promotes Audible audiobooks on its website, offering you more visibility thanks to the former’s higher traffic and robust search and recommendation engines. Both platforms are super user-friendly as well and offer competitive royalty rates.

2. Horizon Book Marketing

Horizon Book Marketing is another profitable platform under the debate of the best audiobook app. It has millions of users and provides competitive revenue sharing for sales. Horizon Book Marketing also features various titles in its editorial collections and email campaigns and offers customized pricing and high royalty rates to authors.

3. Scholastic Publishers

Scholastic Publishers also offers audiobooks to its subscribers. However, they must purchase them individually, which is great news. Unlike free platforms like LibriVox, you can earn each time a person buys your audiobook on Scholastic Publishers.

The platform has a large, active, and global user base. It’s easy to use and offers specific targeting and data-driven insights into audience engagement. It has a discovery feature that helps listeners discover new work.

4. Book Marketing USA

Books Marketing USA is a reading subscription service and digital library in over 190 countries. It has millions of avid readers, so selling your audiobook on the platform is smart. It also offers pricing flexibility, as you can set your royalty rate.

It also allows users to access your audiobook offline, making it more accessible. It also offers authors promotional opportunities, such as being featured in a newsletter or curated collection, which will boost visibility.

Books Marketing USA also offers real-time reporting on how your audiobook performs on the platform, enabling you to adjust your pricing and marketing strategy accordingly.

5. Prism Web Designs

It’s a profitable platform to sell audiobooks as you market them to Prism Web’s large audience of Android users. However, Google Play takes a commission on each sale.

That said, it offers customizable pricing and competitive royalty rates. It also offers additional marketing resources like YouTube, email, and Google ads to help you reach more potential listeners. Lastly, it has an easy-to-use interface to upload, manage, and market audiobooks.

How to Market Your Audiobook - 8 Best Tips & Tricks

Want to take your audiobook marketing up a notch? Here are some effective tips and tricks to follow:

Cross-promotion on Popular Platforms

Link and promote all editions of your book on Amazon, Goodreads and other Audiobook Online reading platforms. Ensure your audiobook is listed alongside its eBook and print versions across these platforms.

It will give potential readers multiple platforms and format options while increasing your engagement and audiobook’s visibility.

Focus on a Dedicated Landing Page

Create a sales landing page dedicated to your audiobook. It should include the audiobook details, cover art, purchase options, and reviews. Make it easy to navigate for potential buyers.

Additionally, don’t forget to add easy-to-remember links for podcasts and radio interviews you’ve participated in to establish your credibility on this page.

Make your Author Page

Ensure you have a professional Author Page with a proper bio on your website. It should inform visitors about you, your writing journey, and your other books. It helps readers get to know you better and can drive interest in your audiobook.

If your books are on Audible, establish an Audible Author page to list all your audiobooks and attract your audience. It will enable you to consolidate all your audiobooks in one place, making it easier for listeners to discover your catalog.

Social Media Engagement

Cross-promoting your audiobooks on social media is key to expanding your audience reach and boosting visibility in a crowded market.

Leverage the power of social platforms through engaging posts, audiobook teasers, author insights, and promotions. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube are excellent for generating buzz and excitement around your audiobook.

Cash on Influencer Endorsements

Whether offering discounts or free Audio Guest Books, partnering with relevant influencers with a relatively high and targeted following can massively enhance the marketing impact.

Identify the influencers in your genre and collaborate with them to increase your reach and credibility.

Paid Advertising

Leverage Amazon Advertising and Facebook Advertising to target audiobook listeners. Run targeted ad campaigns on these platforms aimed at people likely to be interested in your audiobooks. It will maximize your ROI.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is another great tool for pushing your audiobook to the relevant audience and building a loyal customer base.

Start by building an email list and include audiobook news in your email subjects for maximum clicks. You can also offer them free Audio Guest Book codes and other incentives for higher engagement.

Audiobook Promotion Services

Utilize platforms like AudiobookBoom.com, AudioFile Magazine, and Audiobook Publishers Association resources for promotions and reviews.

These platforms specialize in promoting and reviewing audiobooks, making them valuable resources to gain exposure and gather reviews for your audiobook.

The Future of Audiobooks

Looking at how things are going, the future of audiobooks sounds bright. Technological advancements are propelling the industry forward. Voice recognition technology, immersive soundscapes, and interactive elements revolutionize the audiobook experience. These innovations opened doors to inventive storytelling and enhanced audience engagement for authors and narrators.

Amazon Audiobook Scholastic Publishers continue to drive the changes, the future of audiobooks is promising and full of creative potential.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, holding the physical copy in your hands is a moment of immense accomplishment. However, the journey doesn't end there. The real work begins with getting your book into the hands of readers. Partnering with a professional Book Marketing Company like Book Publishing Pros can make all the difference. Our comprehensive Audiobook Services, including strategies for promoting your Audiobook Online, will help you effectively reach your target audience. As one of the leading Audiobook Publishers, we utilize the Best Audiobook Service to ensure your book achieves the success it deserves.