How To Sell Audiobooks Online: The Complete 2023 Guide for Beginners

The audiobook industry continues to experience impressive growth, with no signs of slowing down. In 2022 alone, audiobook sales increased by 20% to $1.59 billion, and are projected to top $3 billion by 2027 according to findings from Deloitte.

As we move into 2023 and beyond, there has never been a better time to capitalize on this boom by creating and selling your very own audiobooks. I‘m going to walk you through everything you need to know, from obtaining rights to books, recording or outsourcing production, setting up an online store, distributing to major retailers like Audible, and effectively marketing your titles.

Getting Started: Understanding Audiobook Sales Potential

Let‘s kick things off by taking a closer look at some up-to-date stats on the state of the audiobook industry that demonstrate why selling your own audiobook can be so lucrative:

Audiobook listeners now account for 29% of all adults, up from just 20% in 2018 showing the format‘s mainstream appeal.
63% of audiobook listeners consume 4 or more titles per year, and 22% consume 10+ per year showing a highly engaged audience.
The average audiobook sells for $21 meaning solid profit margins compared to print books that sell for as little as $5-$10.

In summary, there is a large and growing audience of avid audiobook consumers continually looking for fresh content. By positioning yourself early as an independent audiobook producer, you stand to earn a sizable passive income stream over time as your catalog expands.

Choosing the Right Book for Audiobook Production

Your first big decision is selecting the right book to produce an audiobook from. You essentially have 3 options:

Use public domain books: Any book published prior to 1927 is in the public domain, meaning the copyright has expired and you can produce an audiobook version royalty-free. Public domain books like The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain popular over a century later showing they can still find an audience. The downside is increased competition from other producers also using public domain works.
Obtain a private label rights (PLR) eBook: PLR content licenses allow you to repurpose an existing eBook into an audiobook that you can sell and keep 100% of profits from. PLR stores like BestPLRcontent.com offer a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction eBooks on trending topics that translate well into audiobooks. Just be sure to closely review the license terms before purchase.
Negotiate rights with authors/publishers: Platforms like ACX connect audiobook producers with authors and publishers to negotiate audio rights contacts and split future audiobook royalties (usually 50/50 or 40/60). The author handles writing duties while you tackle recording, editing, distribution and marketing. This collaborative approach takes more legwork but unlocks bigger profit potential.

Carefully weigh the pros and cons of each route to determine what makes the most strategic sense for producing your debut audiobook title and getting it to market.

Recording Your Audiobook

With rights secured, we shift focus to the recording process which you can either tackle yourself or outsource to a professional voiceover artist. Let‘s explore both options:

Hiring a Narrator

Seeking out an experienced audiobook narrator to handle recording duties in exchange for an upfront fee and/or ongoing royalty cut is advisable for first-timers. Estimated narrator rates typically fall between $200 – $500 per finished recording hour.

I recommend posting your audition request on platforms like:

ACX: As mentioned, they connect rights holders with narrators and facilitate royalty contracts. Over 5,000 titles across genres are available to audition for.
Bodalgo: Database of 100,000+ English voice over artists to browse through specialized portfolios and negotiate rates for custom projects.
Fiverr: Freelance services marketplace home to voiceover pros with experience specifically recording audiobooks available for as little as $5 per finished minute. Sort by reviews and ratings.

When reviewing auditions, listen closely for clear enunciation, character differentiation, appropriate pacing and general audio quality. As narration directly impacts listener satisfaction and retention, this is an area not to cut corners on.

Recording Yourself

Alternatively, with some practice, free software like Audacity and investment into basic recording gear, you can tackle narration on your own. The benefit is keeping 100% of profits but achieving professional grade sound quality presents a steep learning curve.

Here is recommended home recording equipment for under $300:

Condenser Microphone: The Blue Yeti ($129) is an industry standard home microphone well suited for voice work. Ensure proper positioning 6-12 inches from mouth.
Pop Filter: Add a pop filter ($12) onto the Blue Yeti to eliminate distracting bursts of air and audio pops during narration.
Headphones: Invest in a quality over ear monitoring headphone like the Sony MDR7506 ($99) to accurately hear your voice pickup and audio playback.
Microphone Stand: Elevate the Blue Yeti off your desk with an adjustable stand ($12) allowing for optimal microphone positioning.
Shock Mount: Reduces background vibration and handling noise pickup with Blue Yeti compatible shock mounts ($15).

Factor the cost of this entry-level home recording bundle into your audiobook production budget if tackling narration solo.

Audiobook Editing and Mastering

With all narration recorded, we enter the editing and clean up phase. Using either premium software like Adobe Audition or free tools like Audacity, complete the following:

Remove unwanted background noise – Use noise reduction filters to eliminate ambient interference from AC units, computer fans, etc.
Amplify quiet sections – Normalize all audio clips to even out any volume inconsistencies using the volume envelope tool.
Eliminate breathing/mouth sounds – Carefully delete any heavy breathing, lip smacks or pops that detract from the listenability.
Add intro/outro – Record a short, high energy intro and closing credits tagging you as the producer to bookend the experience.
Export final files – Break narration into chapters saved out as individual M4A files at optimal 256kbps bitrate for distribution.

Audiobook post production requires patience but these subtle audio edits separate amateur recordings from polished, professional grade results ready for commercial release.

Sell Your Audiobook Online

With editing wrapped, our complete audiobook is ready for upload to online retail platforms. You have two sales avenues to tap into: your own ecommerce site and major retailers like Audible and Amazon. Let‘s break both down:

Sell From Your Own Website

Building your own audiobook ecommerce website enables selling direct to consumers without any revenue sharing. I recommend software like:

Gumroad: Simple to launch digital downloads storefront with built in payment processing and mailing list management. 8.5% transaction fee applies.
Selz: Features rich stores tailored towards marketing creative works like audiobooks. Plans from free up to $20 monthly for enhanced functionality.

Start by securing your own custom domain name for branding purposes then leverage the intuitive site builders these platforms offer to easily add and beautifully showcase your titles. List at a compelling price point, ideally 2-3x times more than the typical $20 audiobook to increase profit margins.

Driving customers to your site relies primarily on search engine optimization around keywords like "buy audiobooks online" and off site marketing tactics covered later this guide. Expect website sales to account for 20-30% of total revenue as major retailer reach overshadows DIY sites.

Upload to Audiobook Marketplaces

While managing your own audiobook site offers independence, you simply can‘t match the exposure major retailers like Amazon and Audible supply. These platforms account for over 90% of all audiobook downloads industry wide.

Uploading to them does mean splitting sales revenue in exchange for expanded distribution but can exponentially grow your listener base.

Here are the top audiobook marketplaces to list your titles on:

Amazon/Audible: Combined audio book behemoth accounting for lion‘s share of downloads. Must enroll in ACX to publish for 40-60% royalties. Also unlocks Audible Originals sponsorship opportunities for funded, high visibility co-productions.
Apple Books: Major iOS distribution channel. Again requires using third party service like Findaway Voices for access to Apple Books in exchange for 50% cut of proceeds.
Google Play Books: Upload directly for 55% royalty share. Added Android user exposure.
Downpour: Specialized audiobook retailer with very author friendly terms at 80% royalties. Lower reach than Amazon but highly engaged genre specific audience pools like sci-fi and fantasy.
Libro.fm: Indie bookstore focused audiobook platform supporting independents. 30-40% royalties and added exposure to print book buyers.

Listing your titles across this range of digital platforms makes them readily available to the widest possible global audience of audiobook enthusiasts. Expect marketplace downloads to drive 70-80% of total units moved.

Promoting Your Audiobooks

With production, sales pages and wide distribution in place across channels, the final piece of the puzzle is marketing your audiobooks to drive visibility and downloads.

Use this omni-channel promotion blueprint covering a range of online and offline tactics:

Online Marketing

Email marketing: Collect customer emails on your site to build a subscriber list for sending new title announcements, exclusive discounts and engaging content to nurture engagement.
Advertise on social media: Craft eye catching audiobook ads for platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok then target relevant interests like books, podcasts and storytelling to find receptive audiences. Expect to invest at least $10 per day into testing various creative approaches and user targeting parameters.
Leverage influencers: Send free advance copies to bookstagrammers and booktube reviewers. Pitch yourself as a champion for up and coming independents. Even microinfluencers with just a few thousand engaged followers can steer impressive traffic.
Build an email list: Use lead magnets like offering the first book free in exchange for subscribing. Email is the most cost effective way to directly notify fans of all future releases.
Write guest posts for book blogs: Secure contributor placements on reputable book review sites interlinking to your audiobook site bolstering SEO rankings for sales-driving keywords.

Offline Outreach

Attend local book fairs and conventions: Set up vendor booths at literary events offering sample listening stations. Consumers discovering your titles through live interactions convert exceptionally well.
Reach out to libraries: Many local library systems now carry audiobook collections supporting independent authors. Simply emailing the acquisitions department with review copies can clinch catalog additions.
Run local advertisements: Book the community calendar section of neighborhood papers and magazines. Highly targeted promotions convert exceptionally well.

Launch Marketing

Offer pre-orders: Allow fans to order upcoming titles months in advance across all sales channels. This helps gauge market demand and build genuine buzz by the launch date.
Host live online events: Stage virtual author Q&As on social media to create excitement and personalized connection around new releases.
Gather reviews: Supply advance review copies through sites like Audiobook Boom for credible third party endorsements. Feature marquee blurbs prominently on sales pages.

This multi-prong strategy combining digital marketing, offline networking and launch event hype provides the type of exposure essential to cutting through the audiobook clutter.

Consistency remains key as the more titles you release using this framework, the stronger your author brand authority becomes over time. Use reader feedback to refine plots and performance on future productions.

Over an 18 month period, a viable goal is building a catalog of least 3-5 audiobooks amassing at least 50+ 5 star reviews and 1,000+ unit sales. This serves as empirical proof of concept for your independant publishing endeavor.

Final Thoughts on Selling Your Audiobooks

Producing professional grade audiobooks requires upfront legwork securing rights and distribution but technology now makes recording, editing and publishing easier than ever before. A multi-channel sales and marketing strategy maximizes exposure and royalty earning potential. Consistency breeds loyal fans.

I hope this complete walk through from book selection to online retail empowers you to profit from the boom by launching your own standalone audiobook business. Let me know if you have any other questions arise on your publishing journey!