THE ULTIMATE GUIDE ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR AUDIOBOOK REACH A GLOBAL AUDIENCE

Blog Content:

1. Keys to Exploring Overseas Audiobook Markets with Ease
2. International Audiobook Marketing Strategy for Writers & Creators
3. How to Sell Through Audiobook Distributors
4. How to Price Your Audiobook for International Distribution
5. The Top 5 Platforms to Sell Your Audiobook

Audiobooks are the new ear candy, as far as consuming information and entertainment are concerned! There are many reasons for this:

- They offer a new way of experiencing stories.

- They are available at any time, and fit into most people’s busy schedules.

- They can be listened to when commuting in the car, on the train, at work, or even at home.

Audiobooks have become an important part of (content) publishing because they offer consumers something that cannot be replicated by any other medium. Though they have been around for a while, they are now becoming more mainstream with the help of digital platforms like Audible and Amazon.

For audiobook authors and creators, they are a great way to engage your audience and generate revenue.

International audiobook marketing is a challenge that every audiobook publisher faces. International audiobooks are not as popular as they are in the U.S. and there is no single solution to solve this issue. There are many ways to make your audiobook reach a global audience. One way is to translate your book into different languages.

This article will teach you how to make your audiobook reach a global audience by translating it into different languages and publishing it on other platforms besides Amazon and Audible, and what you need to know about it.

Keys to Exploring Overseas Audiobook Markets with Ease

The first thing to consider when exploring overseas audiobook markets is the language. Before you can even think about translating your book, you need to find out what languages are spoken in that country. The second thing to consider is how audiobooks are sold in that country - whether as digital books on a website or audiobooks on an app. The third thing to consider is how people consume audiobooks in that country, which will impact where and how you should distribute your book. For example, if people tend to listen to audio books while commuting or doing household chores like cooking or cleaning then it might make sense for you to distribute your book through an app like Audible or iTunes. . They have the potential to reach a large audience because they are downloaded through iOS or Android. If people tend to listen while commuting then they might not want an audiobook on an app that has advertisements, and would need something like the website Audible.com which provides content without interruptions or commercials.

International Audiobook Marketing Strategy for Writers & Creators

One way is to develop an international distribution plan includes setting up distribution agreements with distributors in different countries that will allow you to sell your book to their customers. Another way is by marketing your book internationally on social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also promote your book through audio-only ads on platforms like Google Adwords or Bing Ads.

The first step is to understand the differences between international markets and what they want in an audiobook experience. The second step is to identify who your target audience is and how you can reach them with your content. Finally, you need to understand what kind of content will resonate with them and identify which geographical markets work, and which ones don’t.

You can and should post to international marketplaces and stores to earn extra royalties. Countries such as Chile, Peru, Germany, Switzerland, India or the Philippines have the most rapidly-growing audiobook markets, while the best-performing markets are the UK and China.

Audiobook distributors can help sell your books

Alright, so you‘re ready to begin distributing your audiobook to the world. In other words, once your audiobook is published, in order for people to find it, you need it on the different platforms people use, like Amazon, Kobo, or OverDrive. This is done using a distributor who will take a cut of your profits in exchange for allowing you to sell your audiobooks on their website.

Here are some of the best audiobook distributors -

1. Audiobook Creative Exchange (ACX): Audible is a US based company owned by Amazon, and is a very popular audiobook distributor for authors and publishers.. They sell their digital audiobooks through Amazon, Amazon Prime, Audible and iTunes. The price of their books is decided depending on the length and may change as the result of specific promotions or other pricing methods. The distribution options include both exclusive and non-exclusive. You can get up to 40% of revenue when selling your products through Amazon, Audible, and iTunes if you opt for an exclusive contract. When you sell products on a non-exclusive basis, you can earn up to 25% of revenue from sites like their own and other distributors. You also have the choice to keep your goods exclusive or open them up for distribution elsewhere.
2. Findaway Voice allows you, as a publisher, to put your audio books on the Apple Books Store. Apple will give you a 5% royalty on sale price of each book sold. You will also get access to over 30 audiobook platforms to sell your books.
3. Google Play Books is not an archive, but a direct download service for eBooks supported by Google. It offers libraries, international bookstores, and also subscription services (such as Scribd).
4. Kobo Writing Life lets you sell your books directly to the people who enjoy reading them.
5. If you publish through OverDrive, then a library distributor, you'll get 50% of the price that you set.

Pricing Your Audiobook for International Distribution

Audiobook pricing has always been a difficult issue to deal with. With the introduction of ebooks, audiobooks have been devalued as people are purchasing them less often. It's also difficult to figure out the value of an audiobook in a different country due to exchange rates, taxes and other factors.

The price of your audiobook won't be something you can control regardless of whether you're exclusive or not. ACX allows retailers to price or discount your audiobook at their discretion. According to ACX, that price depends on your audiobook's length, and here is a ballpark breakdown of what you can expect. (At the time of writing this, 1 U.S Dollar equals 79.67 Indian Rupees)

• For one hour, you will pay under $7
• One - three hours: $7 - $10
• Three to five hours: $10 to $20
• Five to ten hours: $15 to $25
• For 10 - 20 hours, it will cost $20 - $30
• More than 20 hours: $25 - $35

There are two main factors affecting your revenue on audiobook sales: 1) the length of your audiobook; and 2) whether or not you are an ACX exclusive author.

The top five platforms to sell your audiobooks are:

1. Audible is by far the market leader in audiobook sales. The platform holds more than 41% of the audiobook market.

2. Avocado Audio allows you to upload your audiobooks on your own terms, at your preferred price.

3. Kobo is a Canadian company, a subsidiary of Japanese e-commerce group Rakuten. The company sells e-books, audiobooks, and e-readers. They have Kobo Writing Life (KWL) in which they allow free self-publishing so that authors can easily create ebooks and upload them to Kobo.

4. iTunes - This can only be done by one of the distributors working directly with Apple.

5. Google audiobooks can be purchased from the Google Play Store on Android devices.

Conclusion: Tips for Marketing Your Audiobook and Reaching a Global Audience

There are many ways to promote your audiobook but the most common one is to spend money on advertising. If you want people abroad to know about your audiobook, then it is important for them to see it or hear it somewhere in their own language! You'll need an audiobook podcast or website that features your book. A social media account, website, etc. - this is a great place to post about your book release and any other news. A blog that Google will translate into different languages - use your blog as a means of maintaining a following, marketing and posting about your book release.

To prepare to sell internationally, review the following to make sure you're on the right track: Decide if you want to translate or not. There are benefits as well as costs involved when it comes to translating your book. Since translations cost more, try distributing your book as-is. Note about your copyright for different countries and stores; make sure your work is legally distributed. Know how to manage taxes with different countries. Determine how you want to price your books in different markets.

Not being able to produce or distribute your own audiobook shouldn‘t stop you from reaching international audiences! Check out audiobook production services from Timbre Media. With more than a decade‘s expertise and their tie-up with more than 40 platforms, Timbre Media provides the most comprehensive distribution network across geographies, covering audiobook markets everywhere. So if you’re a writer, you really should get in touch with them about your producing and distributing your audiobook. Good luck!