Audible Audiobooks / Share Stories and Entertain with Your Voice

Audible review quick take: Starting a side hustle with audiobooks on Audible is a great opportunity to share stories and entertain listeners while earning passive income.

What are Audiobooks?

Audiobooks are audio recordings of written texts, such as novels, non-fiction books, or educational materials, that voice actors or authors narrate.

What is Audible?

Audible is a leading platform for audiobook distribution and consumption. It offers a wide selection of audiobooks for purchase and download. Amazon owns the platform.

How Audible Works for Audiobooks

Authors and narrators can earn royalties from audiobook sales on Audible based on sales volume and subscription downloads. Royalty rates vary depending on factors such as distribution rights, pricing, and exclusivity agreements.

Who is Audible Best For

Audible is ideal for authors, voice actors, or anyone with a passion for storytelling and narration. It’s also an option for those looking to generate passive income or supplement their income streams through creative work.

Audible Audiobooks as a Side Hustle

Creating audiobooks for Audible offers several benefits:

• Passive income: Once published, audiobooks can generate passive income over time as they continue to sell to a global audience.
• Expanded audience reach: Audiobooks allow authors to reach a broader audience, including commuters, busy professionals, and individuals with visual impairments who prefer listening to books.
• Flexibility and convenience: Creating audiobooks can be done remotely and on a flexible schedule, making it a good side hustle for individuals with other commitments.

Types of Audio Content to Create

• Narration of books: Narrate existing books, either your own or those in the public domain.
  Original content: Create original audio content, such as short stories, podcasts, or guided meditations, specifically for audiobook distribution.

Average Earnings for Audible Creators

You can create and publish audiobooks that resonate with audiences and make money using your talent for storytelling.

The amount of money that can be made from audiobook sales on Audible varies depending on book popularity, pricing, and audience demand. Royalty rates typically range from 25% to 40% of the audiobook’s sale price, with higher rates available for exclusive distribution agreements and higher-priced audiobooks.

Steps to Begin an Audible Side Hustle

How can you start creating audiobooks that make you money? Read the following steps.

Step 1: Choose Your Content

Select the books or content you want to narrate or create for audiobook production. Consider factors such as public domain status, copyright permissions, and audience demand.

Step 2: Set Up a Recording Space

Create a quiet and acoustically treated recording space in your home, or invest in a quality microphone and recording setup to ensure clear and professional audio quality.

• Popular microphone options include the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR2100.
• Check out a microphone isolation shield to reduce noise.

Step 3: Record and Edit Audio

Record your narration or audio content using recording software and edit the audio files to remove mistakes, background noise, or distractions. Ensure high-quality audio production to meet Audible’s standards.

Step 4: Format and Master Audio

Format your audio files according to Audible’s specifications and master the audio to optimize sound quality and ensure consistency across chapters or sections.

Step 5: Create an ACX Account

Sign up for an account with the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), Audible’s audiobook production and distribution platform, to publish your audiobooks on Audible.

Learn about starting an ACX voiceover side hustle.

Step 6: Upload and Publish

Upload your completed audiobook files to ACX and submit them for review. Once approved, your audiobook will be published and available for sale on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.

Tools You’ll Need

Microphone

Invest in a quality microphone suitable for recording narration or voiceover work, such as a condenser microphone or USB microphone.

• Popular microphone options include the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR2100.

Recording Software

Use recording software like Audacity, Adobe Audition, or GarageBand to record and edit audio files for audiobook production.

Acoustic Treatment

Set up a recording space with acoustic treatment, such as soundproofing panels or blankets, to minimize background noise and echo during recording.

• Check out a microphone isolation shield to reduce noise.

Computer and Headphones

Use a reliable computer and comfortable headphones for recording, editing, and reviewing audio files during production.