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Should I do an audiobook?




Recently I shared with you that I have provided my book as an audio product. This seems like a great opportunity for authors to provide more opportunities for their readers. 

 Having multiple book formats gives you, the author, more flexibility and sources of potential income. Audiobooks seem to be a very good way to meet a growing market demand as well as provide a revenue source for authors.

 Before I began my audible journey, I was very reluctant. I wasn't really sure anyone wanted to listen to boring security books. I figured that they wanted hardcover and paperback products. So, for many years I published most of my books in print only.

 Here's where I talk about what I learned at a recent conference again. Yep, it was there they convinced me to put my books out on Amazon Kindle. I decided to put them to the test. It was tough formatting my books for Kindle, but I stuck with it and for the last few months I have put my books into Kindle, rewrote book descriptions, updated covers and created ads for each book on Amazon. So, the results were many, many more sales.  Proving my original publishing theory wrong; thus losing some years of potential book sales loss.

 So I reflected on this as I pondered the question, "should I put out an audio book?"

 So, I dug in and did more research (I do need a break from all of it one day). Once convinced that it could work, I decided to launch my newest security book "Insider's Guide to Security Clearances" as an audiobook. I figured, if this type of book could sell, then maybe I'll do it for my other books.

 So, two days into the first promotion, I have six sales. That's a pretty good return so far as I usually only sell about six print and kindle copies in a month. So, logic tells me to continue with other books.

 A few details. there are many paths to audio, but I chose to use AudibleACX since they work closely with Amazon. I had two decisions to make initially:

 Narrate the book myself
Request narrators through their audition channel
I chose to audition narrators. 

 Then I had another decision to make:

 Pay a flat fee of $90 - $120 per hour ($350 total for my book)
Share royalties with the narrator for many years
I like to have control over my book, so I chose the flat fee option.

 After that, I submitted my complete manuscript (same one I sent for Kindle) and waited and waited. 

 Finally the book was complete and ready as an audiobook on Amazon, and you know the rest.

 One more thing. Now I am working on my second audiobook for the exciting, page turning, heart pounding book, How to Win Government Contracts and Perform on Classified Work. This time I am choosing to narrate it myself. Someone said they like to hear the author narrate, so I'm going to give it a try. I'd really prefer to pay a professional to do it, but here I go. 

 Whether or not I actually use my own voice, I am learning a new benefit from this exercise. Reading my book out loud helps me with the final edit. So, even though I thought my book was ready, narrating the story helps me with better re-write.

 If you'd like to see my book as it appears as an audiobook, please click the Link below. 

https://www.audible.com/pd/B08CM1J836/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-205102&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_205102_rh_us

I hope this has been helpful to you and wish you the best of success in your writing and publishing.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is the owner of Red Bike Publishing. Jeff is an accomplished writer of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals. He also owns Red bike Publishing. Published books include: "Get Rich in a Niche-Insider's Guide to Self Publishing in a Specialized Industry" and "Commitment-A Novel". Jeff is an expert in security and has written many security books including: "Insider's Guide to Security Clearances" and "DoD Security Clearances and Contracts Guidebook".
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