Publishing Your Audiobook

Among the upward trends in the publishing industry is the rise of audiobooks. In fact, the global audiobook market was valued at $4.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $39 billion in the next ten years (Let that sink in for a minute). Audiobooks are the fastest-growing digital publishing format! What does that mean for authors? The answer is simple: If you want to reach more readers, create an audiobook version of your book.

But how?

With BookReady, we take care of all the technical details to turn your manuscript into ready-to-upload audio files. We understand the intricacies of audiobook production, including file types, encoding, bit & sample rate, and more. Likewise, we work with professional narrators to get the character’s tone and delivery just right. Once you receive and approve your sample files, we send you the final files that are ready for distribution. The whole process only takes 4-6 weeks, so your book will be in more readers’ hands (or ears!) sooner, allowing you to maximize your sales.

One important thing for authors to know about our services is that while we produce professional audio files, we do not upload audiobooks to different platforms. The reason for this is that authors have different plans for their audiobooks, and choosing where to sell your book is a personal choice.

So, once you receive your final files from us, how do you get your audiobook to readers? Let’s take a look at three of the most popular audiobook platforms.

Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX)

Owned and operated by Amazon, ACX is the most common audiobook platform for many reasons, including ease of use and appealing royalty options. Like its eBook royalty structure, Amazon offers authors higher royalties for distributing exclusively through its platform. This means that your audiobook would only be available to listeners through Audible, Amazon, and iTunes (the three leading digital retailers). Still, you would receive a 40% royalty rather than the 25% for non-exclusive distribution.

Once you set up your account, the process is a breeze. Simply choose your distribution preferences, then upload the audiobook chapter by chapter (BookReady provides everything you need!).

Most audiobook distributors set their own retail prices, and ACX follows this general guideline for audiobooks sold on its platform:

• under 1 hour: under $7
• 1 – 3 hours: $7 – $10
• 3 – 5 hours: $10 – $20
• 5 – 10 hours: $15 – $25
• 10 – 20 hours: $20 – $30
• over 20 hours: $25 – 35

Learn more about distributing your audiobook through ACX here.

Author’s Republic

A distributor like Author’s Republic may be a good option if you want to reach more listeners through more channels. Fully independent, it doesn’t limit your distribution through exclusivity clauses. Your audiobook will be available on over fifty channels in a matter of days after uploading—giving the company the title of the world’s widest audiobook distribution network. Royalties through Author’s Republic are 70% across all channels.

Again, setting up your audiobook is simple. Just upload your audio files, and you’re ready to go! Regarding pricing, authors are allowed to enter an MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price), but there’s no guarantee that channels will take that into account and may set their own price.

Learn more about Author’s Republic and check out frequently asked questions here.

Findaway Voices

Like Author’s Republic, Findaway Voices prides itself on being a “wide” distributor, offering authors 40+ channel options. Use this handy comparison to see the pros and cons of exclusive vs. non-exclusive distribution. The choice is up to each author, but the good news is that you can always switch to try both. It may be tempting to go exclusive with ACX since it holds the lion’s share of readers, but that also means you may miss out on sales from other platforms.

Another plus of this distributor is that an author can control and set their price. You’ll be free to test different sales strategies and promotions at your own will. Additionally, authors on this platform earn 80% royalties on every sale.

Learn more about Findaway Voices here.

You’ve chosen your audiobook platform and uploaded your files. Now what?

Regardless of which distributor you choose, they will review the files to ensure they meet the platform’s requirements regarding file type, size, noise, and more. Audio files must be high-quality and professionally recorded, or they risk being rejected. The good news is that BookReady takes care of all that for you, so you can rest assured your finished files won’t encounter any issues upon upload.

Once approved, the audiobook platform sends your audiobook out to your designated retailers–easy peasy! Sales tracking and royalty statements will soon follow, so you’ll finally see profits from your hard work.

Ready to get started? We are! Take the first step in your audiobook production today.