As Audiobook Sales Grow 16%, BookBub Offers Audio Marketing Guide

The audiobook market is one of the fastest-growing segments of the publishing industry. According to the Audio Publishers Association, it grew an estimated 16% from 2018 to 2019. And Findaway Voices recently shared that the growth they’ve seen from self-published authors and small publishers has outpaced the broader industry. To capitalize on this opportunity, authors and publishers have been using a wide variety of tactics to promote their audiobooks and reach new listeners.

“To provide you with inspiration, we compiled more than 50 real-world examples of authors and publishers marketing their audiobooks. While not all the examples will be directly applicable to you, we think this collection is a great starting point for anybody developing an audiobook marketing plan,” says a BookBub spokesman. Download the guide here.

What Authors Should Know about Audiobooks, Fresh from FWA Talk

Mark Mathes: Scott Ellis presented a helpful talk, The Ins and Outs of Audiobook Production at Florida Writers Association in Oct. in Orlando. He starts with how to choose a platform. Then, whether to set up an exclusive or non-exclusive availability with Amazon’s ACX, Spotify’s Findaway Voices or AMPlify Audiobooks. His company is Scott Ellis Reads. I’ve included a link to his one-sheet here.

Findaway Voices by Spotify has added audiobooks to the Premium subscription in the US.  Findawayvoices.

Project Gutenberg produced 5,000 AI audiobooks, but how do they sound? BookRiot.

15 literary podcasts to make you laugh, learn and join conversations about books. The Conversation.

How Audiobooks Lead Readers to Reconnect with Books

The first time someone suggested an audiobook to me, I'd dismissed it, loudly tutted and given a ridiculous speech about the beauty of holding a book. Now, a year later, I have finished 44 books on multiple apps, turned into an enlightened convert, and pretty shamelessly been pushing others to 'try these audiobooks most urgently'. There appears to be an idea that those who take up audiobooks leave the physical ones behind, like discarding the old for the new. Not true, if you hear what many listeners, readers, writers, publishers, and persons with disabilities tell me about it. Commentary in the News Minute.

In expanding audiobook market, AMPlify platform puts authors first. Forbes.

Kindle Direct Publishing will beta test virtual voice–narrated audiobooks. Publishers' Weekly.

A writer asks: Do I sound Asian? Do I sound gay? Curtis Chin on finding his voice while narrating his memoir. Lit Hub.

On the difficulty of narrating the audiobook for your personal memoir. Lit Hub.

Sarasota Experience Turns PBS Cameras on Community

 “The Sarasota Experience,” the WEDU documentary directed and produced by Shaun Greenspan, is literally the talk of the town. “Come look at me in this movie,” said one disheveled traveler to a commuter while the two were sitting on a bench at the downtown transfer station for the Sarasota County bus. “I’m on YouTube.”

Lots of documentaries win fans among history enthusiasts, cultural elites, subject matter experts and the like. But if anecdotal evidence is any indication, “The Sarasota Experience” has captured the hearts of people who don’t typically embrace the genre such as young audiences and those on the fringes of society. Sarasota Observer story by Monica Roman Gagnier.

When the documentary was screened at the Sarasota Opera House on April 13, WEDU CEO and President Paul Grove said he had never seen so many young people at the venue. One obvious reason for the wide appeal of “The Sarasota Experience” is the filmmaker himself. At 44, he is relatively young and spent his formative years here, having moved to Sarasota from Connecticut when he was 12. He is at home in the city and among its different cultural subsets.

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story by Miami Herald Reporter Julie Brown

Recent guest is author and Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie Brown. Brown's book "Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story" helped bring some measure of accountability to Palm Beach resident Jeffrey Epstein following his years' long, worldwide sex trafficking ring which saw him rape dozens of underage girls. Brown continues to report on the case and ongoing legal proceedings for the Herald. Find her writing and insights on Twitter at @jkbjournalist. 43:0 minutes. Book excerpt.

Another recent guest is Andrew Ross who's followed up his 1999 book about Celebration, Florida, "The Celebration Chronicles: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property Value in Disney's New Town," with a look at central Florida's homelessness crisis, "Sunbelt Blues: Failure of American Housing." 49:0.

This episode begins with more reasons to support the removal of Kirkpatrick Dam and a return to a free-flowing Ocklawaha River.

This episode begins with Craig taking listeners to South Florida where Ron DeSantis has contradicted himself on the subject of Everglades restoration.

Guest is Jennifer Carr, president of Florida Defenders of the Environment, and granddaughter of Marjorie Harris Carr and Archie Carr, two of Florida's greatest conservationists. Marjorie stopped the Cross Florida Barge Canal while Archie was a powerful advocate for sea turtles. 40:0.

Jennifer joins them to discuss the movement to remove the Kirkpatrick Dam and free the Ocklawaha River, an effort her grandmother led for many years. Now is a critical time in this quest as the St. John's River Water Management District which controls the dam has opened a brief public comment period through October 22, 2021, where citizens can voice their opinion in support of removing the dam and freeing the river.

The Free the Ocklawaha coalition has put together this simple, step-by-step set of instructions which allows you to tell the state to remove the dam and free the river.

“We also want to welcome our newest sponsor, Visit Sarasota, to the podcast. Whether you're looking for outdoor recreation like camping at Myakka River State Park, arts and culture at the Ringling Museum or Sarasota Art Museum, beach life at Longboat and Siesta Key, dining, shopping or education at Mote Marine Lab and Marie Selby Gardens, Sarasota offers an experience for everyone.” Learn more at VisitSarasota.com.