This is a chapter from Mini Book Money: How to Turn 10,000 Words Into $10,000+ which releases September 8th on Amazon.
Audio books turning your voice into a $10,000 audio opportunity. People read books, but they live inside audio. Text is skimmable. But audio is immersive. If you're not giving people a way to listen, you're leaving money on the table. An audio book turns passive readers into active buyers because hearing your voice builds trust in a way.
Text never can. It's the difference between someone flipping through pages and someone spending hours with you in their ears. If you don't have an audio book, you are invisible to 50% of your potential audience. While traditional book readership has slowed, audio books are gaining traction.
It is a $5 billion industry and demand continues to rise. People are busier than ever and audio allows them to consume content while driving, working out, or doing daily tasks. If you already have a manuscript recording, an audiobook adds an additional revenue stream. Audiobooks also enhance your credibility when customers see ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook options on your Amazon page.
They perceive you as a professional having an audiobook listed alongside your book signals to potential buyers that your content is well developed beyond credibility. Audiobooks JI meaningful revenue. Many authors overlook this opportunity, but those who capitalize on it are able to significantly increase their earnings.
How to record and package your audio book. You can record and distribute your audio book yourself or hire a narrator. Find a way Voices allows you to self-publish your audiobooks. Much like Amazon, KDP does for books, they distribute your audiobook to major platforms, including Audible, Spotify, apple Books, and other retailers.
As the author, your role is to produce and edit the audiobook while find a way handles distribution. Some platforms such as Audible through a CX requires exclusivity in exchange for higher royalties. However, non-exclusive distribution allows you to sell your audiobook on your own website, giving you more control over your pricing.
Options for recording. Recording your own audio book can create a stronger connection with listeners. If a customer hears your voice in an audio book and later interacts with you through coaching courses or live events, they feel like they already know you. This increases trust and makes them more likely to buy from you.
Again, DIY, recording, setup, microphone, sure. And Preamp or Road Wireless. Go two. That is what I'm using right now. This setup is about 150 to $400, depending on the mic you choose. Software Descrip $30 a month. Recording tips read slower than usual. Audio books sound better when paced naturally, and people can speed 'em up if they want.
If you make a mistake, pause and restart the line. The script will mark it as a retake. Simplifying editing. Turn off background noise like air conditioners or fans before recording. Use script's studio sound feature to enhance focal quality record one chapter at a time as separate files. This makes editing easier and prevents data loss.
Treat audio book recording as a final edit of your book. Fix any errors you find while reading aloud. Hiring a narrator. If you prefer not to record your audio book, you can hire a professional narrator. Narrators typically charge between 150 to $400 per finished hour because many books are shorter. Your total cost will range from about 150 to $600.
Find a way Voices has a built-in marketplace for professional narrators, making the process simple. Hiring a narrator is a good option if you want a polished recording. Without the time commitment of a DIY production. Using AI as a narrator, AI generated narration is becoming more common. Audible offers AI generated narration through KDP, but to me the quality is inconsistent.
If you choose ai, consider using 11 labs, which provides higher quality text to speech conversion. AI narration can be a cost-effective option, but it lacks the personal connection of a human voice. If you plan to use your audiobook as a relationship building tool, recording it yourself is probably the better choice.
Pricing strategies on Audible. Amazon's audio book service and the big boy of the industry. Authors cannot control pricing. I'm gonna say that again on Audible. Amazon's audio book service authors cannot control pricing, but we can sell it in other ways. Audible sets prices based on audio book length, which often results in your mini audio book price being.
Under $5. This makes it difficult to generate substantial revenue. Unless you have high sales volume outside of Audible, you have more flexibility. Selling audiobooks directly allows you to set a price that aligns with your revenue goals. For a niche nonfiction book, I found $20 is a sweet spot for an audio book.
It is inexpensive enough to be obtainable. But premium enough to be valued. Plus, it is desirable enough to get someone to pull the trigger so they can get the information quicker than reading. When you combine your audio book with your existing book, exciting things start to happen. The 10 K mini audio book Playbook.
When I launched the independent adjusters playbook, I earned $2,000 in the first week, largely because of the audio book. I used a simple sales funnel to increase the average order value. Here's how the funnel worked. One free plus shipping offer. I offered a free physical copy of the book at the customer's paid $7 for shipping, two audiobook upsell.
During checkout, I offered an audiobook and ebook bundle for $20. This gave buyers immediate access to the content while they waited for the physical book final upsell. After checkout, I introduced an additional product bundle priced at $40. This provided deeper resources related to the books topic. By the end of the first week, 100 customers had purchased through this funnel, and the average order value was $20.
If I continued running this system, I'd have easily surpassed $10,000 in audiobook sales within the year. This approach can be replicated if handling physical book shipping is a challenge. Focus on digital bundles. Instead, offer an ebook plus audiobook package for 20 to $30 on your website. Since Find A Way Voices allows non-exclusive distribution, you can sell audiobooks at a higher price outside of Audible volume.
Play the 10 K mini audiobook funnel if you want a step-by-step system for selling audiobooks at a higher price. Here's a proven approach, one. Offer a free chapter. Let the potential buyer listen to the first chapter of your audiobook for free. Two, sell the audiobook and ebook bundle. Price it at 20 to $30 on your website, and add an upsell.
Offer some kind of digital product download course for an additional 40 to a hundred dollars a checkout. You'll find out more about these product types in the rest of this book. This method increases the average order value while making the audio book. Part of your broader business offerings, high ticket play, $99 audiobook funnel.
Instead of just selling an audiobook, you could also sell access to you by bundling it with a one hour consultation call for $99. Here's why this works. They hear your voice twice in the audiobook and on the call building instant trust. You position yourself as an expert. Not just an author. The call delivers value while naturally leading to higher ticket coaching or services.
Set it up with a simple landing page. Deliver the audio book immediately and let them book the call through something like Calendly. If just 100 people buy, that's a $9,900 in revenue, plus the potential for long-term clients. At the end of your consultation, you offer them ongoing services for your coaching product or service with a simple call to action.
Would you like to keep working together to accomplish this? Because you've already proven you know your stuff, they know your thinking, and this call helps 'em decide if they like working with you. If your goal is to sell higher ticket services, start treating your audiobook like a front end sales tool.
Remember, think differently. Most authors just sell books, but revenue writers build businesses.
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