Why miss out? Self-published authors should not overlook audiobooks.

Why is it that so many new self-published authors don’t look to audiobooks to increase readers and revenue? A while ago I attended a workshop about self-publishing for authors. As interesting as it was I was shocked at the lack of time that those attending, and those running the workshop, gave to audiobook creation. Ok, it’s a subject that needs its own workshop or series of workshops, but there was little more than a cursory nod towards the subject. I believe any author, self-published or otherwise, should consider the benefits of creating and publishing an audio version of their work. It is crazy to miss out on the potential income and extra publicity that comes from having an audio version of your work. I have heard some authors say things like “I love books, the smell of the pages. This is how I want my work to appear”. Although I understand the love of the physical when it comes to a book, it is also true that I love readers, the consumers of my books. If those readers are seeking alternatives to the printed book, be that an ebook or an audio version, I’m am more than happy to oblige. When you look at the stats, the growth in audiobook consumption, is astounding. According to the most recent projections from auditors Deloitte, the global audiobook market will grow by 25% this year (2020). With revenues reaching around $3.5 Billion. The US market alone is expected to account for $1.5 Billion up from $1 billion. The UK is expected to be more than $90 million this year. According to the UK’s Publishers Association, the trade body representing publishers, audiobook growth has been in the region of 43%. These are huge figures. Publishers have stated that one in ten books is an audiobook, libraries are lending audiobooks, they are everywhere. They are the fastest-growing book publishing format. When one considers this, it would be a little crazy not to put your book out there as a print, ebook and audiobook. Why is it that many new and established authors, especially those that use print-on-demand and other self-publishing services, don’t consider audio as a viable addition? Perhaps it is too much of a challenge, perhaps it takes too much time, perhaps, it is seen as too costly? During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, my wife, an actor and audiobook narrator, could not take part in the West End of London theatre show she was booked for. Nor were the audiobook studios she regularly worked in recording any audiobooks. But, the need for narrators was still there. We created a simple studio in her bedroom and as a result, she was able to get book narration jobs and record to the necessary standard. It is possible and quite cheap to set up at home. We spent about $40 on some acoustic foam and board. A decent mic cost about $80 and the rest about another $60. It’s a relatively small investment. For newbies, there are many videos that explain how to set up and record. Getting the work online and for sale is no more difficult than uploading your work to Amazon. As can be seen from the statistics above, it would be a great shame to miss out on another revenue stream for your hard work.