Want to broaden your book’s readership base? Consider converting your print title to an audiobook. In our busy multi-tasking society, audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular. Many people today don’t make time to sit down and read, but more and more individuals are “listening” to good books as they go about their day.

For instance, take the average commute time. The time it takes a person to drive to and from work each day has been increasing over the past decade and is currently at an average of 50 minutes per day. The willingness to trade time on the road for a good deal on a home appears to be driving this trend. However, individuals with long commutes are trading their free time (part of which may have been used to read) for commute time. Hence, audiobooks have become increasingly popular with commuters who do not want to “waste” their driving time.

Between busy lifestyles and younger generations becoming increasingly aliterate (able to read, but not interested in reading) fewer people are reading print books. Thus audiobooks provide publishers a means to increase sales through broadening their marketing reach.

Audiobooks have come a long way from the days of books on tape. Features today include music, sound effects, and multiple readers. Increasingly, technology is pushing the audiobook trend toward direct downloads to iPods and other portable audio devices from the internet; although CD’s will remain popular as long as people have CD players in their cars. Download sales of audiobooks at sites such as www.audible.com and www.simplyaudiobooks.com are exploding.

The audiobook market is worth $832 million and growing. The Audio Publishers Association (www.audiopub.org) was created in 1987 to create public awareness of the audio publishing industry as well as provide industry professionals with educational opportunities to develop their businesses. They have declared March as Audiobook month to increase awareness of audiobooks and they hold an annual audiobook conference in conjunction with BEA. APA also hosts The Audies®; awards to honor the best titles in audio publishing.

As a publisher, consider making your book available in both print and audio format. Doing this can broaden your readership and increase your sales. Audiobook production is becoming increasingly affordable and consolidated. Many audiobook production companies provide all the necessary components of manufacturing under one roof: voice talent, studio, engineer, duplication, and distribution.

If you are interested in creating an audiobook for your title and don’t know where to start, here are a few audiobook producers and the services they offer:

· Audio Book Solutions

· Audio Evolution

· Literal Audio

Audiobooks are no longer just for individuals with sight problems. Today’s fast-paced lifestyle leaves little room for reading. Audiobooks provide a way for busy people to enjoy a good book. For publishers and authors, making print books available in audio format broadens your book’s readership base and can increase sales.

Sarah Bolme is the owner of Crest Publications and the director of Christian Small Publishers Association. You can contact Sarah at cspa@christianpublishers.net. Sarah’s newest book, Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace, can be found at www.marketingchristianbooks.com.

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