Why You Should Consider Turning Your Book into an Audiobook

• Apr 30, 2021
• 5 min read

The publishing market is changing dramatically. In the past, the eBook came along to revolutionise the publishing industry driven by the worldwide adoption of innovative mobile technology and tablets. The rise of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and independent publishers saw the market supply and demand explode for the publishing industry through electronic channels.

Today, we see something very similar happening; Audiobooks are the new kid on the block. Similar to how eBooks challenged traditional publishing, audio publishing is now challenging eBooks.

Just as editing and proofreading services are becoming a popular choice for independent authors to improve their book’s chances on the market. So too are audiobook production services.

The Statistics Show Growth

The audiobook market is growing, pushing the ePublishing industry to new, innovative areas. According to Grand View Research, the global audiobook market size was worth $2.67 billion US in 2019. From 2020 to 2027, it’s predicted the audiobook market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.4%. Welcome news for authors and publishers seeking to grow their audience.

As more and more people acquire access to devices capable of using audiobooks, the industry will continue to soar to new heights of popularity.

Besides purely statistics, there are many other reasons to look at turning your book into an audiobook.

Audiobooks Improve Accessibility

One of the most significant positive applications that audiobooks have is that they increase accessibility of eBook literature to disabled audiences across the globe.

According to the World Health Organization’s recent 2021 report on blindness and vision impairment, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have some visual impairment. These disabilities span from mild visual impairment to complete blindness. For people suffering from moderate, severe, or complete blindness, audiobooks are changing lives.

Could you imagine not being able to enjoy your favorite stories? For many people, this has been their reality. Before audiobooks, people with severe vision impairment needed to rely on brail versions of books, which many publishers didn’t supply.

Turning your book into an audiobook will open up your story or content to this keen group of readers.

Audiobooks Make Translation Easier

Increasing access does not end with disabled audiences, it also applies to foreign speaking audiences too. While English is first in the world for most overall speakers, it is only the third in the world for native speakers of a language. Spanish comes in second, and Mandarin Chinese comes in first. Hindi follows these three in the fourth position, and then Bengali in fifth.

While many people speak English as a second language, they may prefer to consume their media in their native language. They also may not have a strong enough grasp on English to enjoy books or audiobooks, to their fullest. To this end, it may be worthwhile translating your book into another language.

Audiobooks offer more translation options in comparison to regular eBooks or physical books.

Many people may have literacy issues or limitations that makes reading difficult. Translating audiobooks into the audience’s native language helps to bridge this gap. A prime example could be educational textbooks for all ages. Or learning resources for people with dyslexia.

Vigorous proofreading is valid in every sector of ePublishing, but I would argue even more so for translations. A native translation and proofreading specialist for a particular language is certainly something I would recommend if getting a translator is something that you plan to do.

Audiobooks Can Improve Storytelling

For the storytellers and fiction authors out there, an audiobook can capture the essence of your story in a way that no other medium can, with maybe the exception of TV and film. Unless you know a producer, getting your novel turned into a TV show or feature-length movie can be near impossible. However, getting an audiobook rendition? Not so much.

Telling your story via audiobook adds an extra sensory dimension that a typical book or eBook doesn’t have. The listener need not only imagine the story, the characters, and places in their mind’s eye, but they can hear sounds to accompany this imagery.

All this is revolutionary for the ePublishing marketplace. They can tell their story with sound effects, musical scores, and give their characters unique voices with talented voice actors. It is as close as one can get to a fully-fledged TV show without actually having one!

It allows you to tell your story differently, which can dramatically improve the listener experience. This has led to the popularity of fiction podcasts, and before podcasts, the radio drama format. The horror genre is an excellent example of how sound effects can amplify the story. If creepy music doesn’t get you into the mood to listen to a crime thriller, what would?

As a writer and author, I would argue that getting a professional audiobook made today is just as important as finding a good editing and proofreading specialist.

Where to get an audiobook made

So, how do I make one? Like authors outsourcing their editing and proofreading services to service providers, most authors elect to outsource the audiobook production process to companies or agencies. Another option is to find a freelancer to take care of the process for you. Still, a company or agency is usually the best way to get a professional audiobook made.

With the right voice actor, like the fine selection at Voquent, an audiobook can catapult your story to new heights and in ways that writing can sometimes fail to do.

Audiobooks add a compelling new frontier of sensation to your storytelling. Of course, you will need to invest in the narration, proofreading, and editing work, as it’s essential to buy the best you can afford, don’t go cheap. Audio publishing is a digital asset you can earn from for decades.

In Summary

Audiobooks are awesome. They are inventive, creative, and help to tell stories to share content uniquely. Not only can they improve the content of an eBook, but they can provide access to the literature you write for countless fringe audiences.

Transitioning your book into an audiobook gives unlimited opportunity for growth. If you have the means to fund one, getting an audiobook made can only improve your prospects and reach as a storyteller.

About The Author and Voquent

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.