key: Digital Books/Outlines

Are Audio Books Essential to Your

Digital Book Strategy?
Ive always wanted to create an audio component of my books, but never seem to find the time. I
know how I would do it, using Audacity, an open source audio recording and editing program;
but I guess Id rather spend my time working on new material, given that time is a valuable
commodity and there are only so many hours in a day.
For anyone who has ever considered creating an audiobook but lacks the technical expertise to
see the project through to fruition on your own, you essentially have two options hire a
professional or just dont bother. Most independent authors choose the latter, Im assuming due
to monetary limitations. And while it would be nice to have an audio version of your writing, its
probably not a practical use of time and money until you have the sales to justify the production
costs.
For the last 18 months, Ive seen noticeably more press about the rise in audiobooks and new
web-based platforms to make it easier than ever for DIY authors to create professional
audiobooks. Almost every article I read leads me to the Amazon, Audible love child called
the Audiobook Creation Exchange a.k.a. ACX.com.
ACX.com is like an Elance or Guru.com freelance marketplace specifically for audiobook
creation. If you dont know how to record or edit audio already, this is not some automated,
WYSIWYG platform where you speak into your computer s microphone and they do everything
else. No, ACX.com is about pairing you with an audio technician and/or narrator to negotiate a
price to create your audiobook. The book can then be upload for distribution to Audible,
Amazon, and iTunes.
If you want to narrate your own book for upload to ACX.com, you can do that, but your audio
files must comply with the ACX.com submission guidelines which you can review by clicking
the link below:
ACX.com Submission Guidelines

A mere glance at the submission guidelines will do nothing to ease your fear or concerns about
taking on the challenge yourself. If anything, it should scare you away from ever creating an
audiobook or help you to realize once and for all youre going to need some qualified assistance.
What ACX.com does offer is distribution, and thats a good thing. Although the audiobook
market has seen a resurgence in its business thanks to digital publishing, there are still far fewer
audiobooks available compared to digital books, which could represent an additional revenue
stream opportunity. Is it possible that readers may find your book more easily in an audio
format? I suppose anything is possible, but I dont believe audiobooks drive digital book sales.
That said, a fairly recent WSJ Online article suggests that some authors forgo digital book
publishing altogether in favor of an exclusive audiobook sales strategy.
Audio books are no longer viewed as just an ancillary product to print. Some audio publishers
are now attempting to rebrand narrated books as a distinct medium from print, labeling them as
audio entertainment. A handful of such publishers have started dabbling in original audio
content, hoping to demonstrate that recorded narratives can hold their own as original works of
art.
The real problem with audiobooks is costnot just in terms of creation, but for consumers as
well. Decades ago books on tape could cost consumers between $50-$100, depending upon the
length of the story narration. If books were extra long, consumers could save a few bucks and
purchase an abridged version of the story. And although prices are significantly lower, ranging
$1.99 (for a short story) to over $60 (for the Bible), the average cost for a downloadable
audiobook is roughly $20 compared to a digital book which is typically less than half the cost.
So when customers ask me if audiobooks are essential to their digital book strategy, I tell them
this: Given the average retail price as well as the time and cost to produce, audiobooks are great
additions to your overall digital book strategyonce youve created a market of interest based
on existing digital book sales. If you have a community of readers begging for an audio version
and the sales will cover the creation costs and then some, then Im all for it. On the other hand, if
no one is asking for it, dont worry about it yet.

1)

Are Audio Books Essential to Your

Digital Book Strategy?
I've for a long while been itching to make a sound segment of my books, however never appear
to discover the time. I know how I would do it, utilizing Audacity, an open source sound
recording and altering project; however I figure I'd rather invest my time chipping away at new
material, given that time is an important product and there are just such a variety of hours in a
day.

For any individual who has ever considered making an audiobook however fails to offer the
specialized skill to see the venture through to realization all alone, you basically have two
alternatives procure an expert or simply don't trouble. Most autonomous creators pick the
recent, I'm expecting because of fiscal restrictions. Keeping in mind it would be decent to have a
sound variant of your thinking of, its presumably not a down to earth utilization of time and cash
until you have the deals to advocate the creation costs.

Throughout the previous year and a half, I've seen perceptibly more press about the ascent in
audiobooks and new online stages to make it simpler than at any other time in recent memory for
DIY writers to make proficient audiobooks. Just about every article I read heads me to the
Amazon, Audible adoration youngster called the Audiobook Creation Exchange a.k.a. Acx.com.

Acx.com is similar to an Elance or Guru.com independent commercial center particularly for

audiobook creation. In the event that you don't know how to record or alter sound as of now, this
is not some robotized, WYSIWYG stage where you talk into your machine 's amplifier and they

do everything else. No, Acx.com is about matching you with a sound professional and/or
storyteller to arrange a cost to make your audiobook.

In the event that you need to portray your own particular book for transfer to Acx.com, you can
do that, however your sound records must consent to the Acx.com accommodation rules which
you can audit by clicking the connection underneath:

An insignificant look at the accommodation rules will do nothing to straightforwardness your

apprehension or worries about undertaking the test yourself. On the off chance that anything, it
ought to frighten you off from always making an audiobook or help you to acknowledge
unequivocally you're going to need some qualified aid.

What Acx.com does offer is circulation, and that is a decent thing. In spite of the fact that the
audiobook market has seen a resurgence in its business because of advanced distributed, there
are still far less audiobooks accessible contrasted with computerized books, which could speak to
an extra income stream opportunity. It is safe to say that it is conceivable that perusers may
discover your book all the more effortlessly in a sound arrangement? I assume anything is
conceivable, yet I don't accept audiobooks drive computerized book deals. That said, a
reasonably late WSJ Online article recommends that a few writers swear off computerized book
distributed through and through for a selective audiobook deals methodology.

Sound books are no more seen as simply an auxiliary item to print. Some sound distributers are
presently endeavoring to rebrand described books as an unique medium from print, marking
them as "sound excitement." A scoop of such distributers have begun dallying in unique sound
substance, wanting to show that recorded stories can stand their ground as unique gems.

The true issue with audiobooks is expense as far as creation, as well as for customers too.
Decades prior "books on tape" could cost customers between $50-$100, contingent on the length
of the story portrayal. On the off chance that books were additional long, purchasers could spare
a couple of bucks and buy a condensed adaptation of the story. Furthermore despite the fact that
costs are altogether lower, going $1.99 (for a short story) to over $60 (for the Bible), the normal
expense for a downloadable audiobook is generally $20 contrasted with an advanced book which
is normally short of what a large portion of the expense.

So when clients inquire as to whether audiobooks are vital to their computerized book method, I
let them know this: Given the normal retail cost and also the time and expense to create,
audiobooks are extraordinary increases to your general advanced book methodology once you've
made a business sector of investment focused around existing advanced book deals. In the event
that you have a group of perusers asking for a sound form and the deals will take care of the
creation expenses to say the least, then I'm just for it. Then again, if nobody is request it, don't
stress over it