The same is not true of all audio book distributors. AudioBooks.com (via Author’s republic) for example will create an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and publish your audio book regardless of whether the book has been published in any other version e.g. eBook. With a faster time to market and lower cost you may be able to use your audio book sales, to finance the publication of your eBook or printed copy versions. Worth considering!
If you are looking to list your audio book for sale on iTunes or Audible, or to those distributors through an aggregate distributor such as Authors Republic, you will need an Amazon Sales Inventory Number (ASIN). In effect you need to have published your book or eBook to iTunes or Amazon, BEFORE you can publish your audio book. The ASIN is like a grouping code for all the different versions of a publication like print; eBook; audio version; etc. Audible use the ASIN to ‘match make’ your audio book with other existing versions of your book.
All publishers want an exclusive. True? In part yes it is true and you will be rewarded with a higher royalty for an exclusive arrangement. On the other hand you could ensure greater exposure for your audio book, over a larger number of online retailers by sacrificing a percentage of your royalty . So be creative!
There are two big factors to consider before you choose your audio book sales channels, exclusivity and barriers to entry.
Listings with multiple outlets has never been easier, and the increasingly hungry appetites for audio would seem to guarantee a shortage of audio book product. Besides it makes good business sense to distribute widely, and author’s are likely to gain from the upward pressure on royalty percentages, as supply pressure increases for the large retailers
How on earth can you hope to get you audio book distributed across all the major and boutique outlets? Well, I’m glad you asked me! Online retailing has made it much easier for distributors to distribute for other distributors. Have a look at the Authors Republic and Findaway Voices websites. See if you can spot the absence of any publisher or on line retailer.
The best ‘gets’ for social media come from keeping it short sharp and snappy, using a combination of audio; video; images and text
How does the industry work? Author’s stories are converted to audio books in studios or at home, where they are recorded using professional narrators or the author’s voice. Publishers make audio books available to online retailers and libraries, for purchase or loan directly or via distributors and/or aggregators. Audio book consumers can borrow and/or purchase, from subscription based web outlets that usually require a ‘bespoke’ audio book reader. Authors benefit from royalties paid as a result of sales to libraries, or consumer purchases from online retailers or subscription services.
Mobile multitasking could explain the rising popularity of audio books.