Making Money with Audiobooks on Amazon: A Step-by-Step Guide
Audiobooks have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering a convenient way to consume literature while multitasking. Amazon’s Audible platform is arguably the largest and most popular audiobook marketplace in the world. As an author or publisher, you can capitalize on this popularity to earn royalties from your audiobooks. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make money with audiobooks on Amazon.
Step 1: Create an Account with ACX
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) is Amazon’s audiobook publishing platform that allows authors and publishers to create, distribute, and sell audiobooks on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. To get started, visit the ACX website and click on “Get Started.” You’ll be prompted to sign up using your Amazon account or create a new one if you don’t have one already.
Once logged in, you can start creating your audiobook project by filling out your author or publisher information and the book’s details (title, author, genre, etc.) If your book is already available as an eBook or print book on Amazon, you can link to it from ACX. However, if your book is not yet available on Amazon, you’ll need to publish it as an eBook or print book first.
Step 2: Choose a Narrator
One of the major benefits of ACX is that it connects authors and publishers with professional narrators. As a rights holder, you can either narrate your own book or hire a narrator from the platform. It’s important to choose a narrator that suits your book’s tone, style, and genre. ACX provides a search tool that allows you to filter narrators based on their experience and voice type.
When choosing a narrator, it’s crucial to review their portfolio, ratings, and reviews to ensure that they have the necessary skills and qualifications to produce a high-quality audiobook. The narration quality can significantly impact your ratings and sales on Audible and Amazon.
Step 3: Produce Your Audiobook
Once you’ve selected a narrator, you’ll need to work with them to produce the audiobook. ACX provides a suite of tools and resources to help you manage the production process, from script editing to reviewing the final product. It’s important to establish clear communication with your narrator to ensure that the audiobook meets your expectations in terms of tone, pronunciation, pacing, and other stylistic elements.
ACX requires that all audiobooks meet certain technical standards, such as bit rate, frequency response, and noise reduction. You can either produce your audiobook in-house or hire a professional studio to do it for you. Make sure to review ACX’s technical requirements before submitting your audiobook.
Step 4: Upload Your Audiobook
Once your audiobook is complete, you can upload it to ACX for review. ACX will check your audiobook for technical compliance and ensure that it meets their quality standards. If your audiobook passes the review, it will be listed on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes, where readers can purchase and download it.
Step 5: Set Your Price and Royalty Rate
As an author or publisher, you have control over the pricing and royalty rate of your audiobook. ACX offers two pricing models: royalty share and pay-for-production. In royalty share, you split the royalties with your narrator, while in pay-for-production, you pay the narrator upfront and keep 100% of the royalties.
ACX also allows you to choose between exclusive and non-exclusive distribution. In exclusive distribution, your audiobook is only available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes, and you earn a 40% royalty rate. In non-exclusive distribution, your audiobook is available on other platforms, and you earn a 25% royalty rate. It’s important to weigh the benefits of each option, depending on your goals and target market.
Step 6: Promote Your Audiobook
Once your audiobook is live on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes, you’ll need to promote it to attract readers and increase sales. ACX provides various marketing tools, such as promotional codes, free samples, and social media sharing links, that you can use to generate buzz around your audiobook.
You can also leverage your existing platform (website, social media, email list) to promote your audiobook and encourage readers to leave reviews and ratings. Positive reviews can significantly impact your sales and rankings on Audible and Amazon, so it’s important to encourage your readers to share their feedback.
Conclusion
Making money with audiobooks on Amazon requires time, effort, and dedication, but it can be a profitable and rewarding endeavor for authors and publishers. By following these simple steps and leveraging the power of ACX, you can create and distribute high-quality audiobooks that reach a wide audience and generate royalties for years to come.
