Yes, it is possible to make money with Amazon Audible, a popular platform for audiobooks and spoken-word content. There are several ways to generate income through Audible, whether you are a content creator, an affiliate marketer, or someone looking to sell audiobooks.
How To Make Money with Amazon Audible
Here are some key ways to make money with Amazon Audible:
1. Creating and Selling Audiobooks
- Self-Publishing: Authors can turn their written books into audiobooks and sell them on Audible. This involves recording the audiobook and distributing it through Audible’s ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) platform.
- Profit Potential: Authors earn royalties from sales, typically around 25% to 40% of the audiobook’s sale price. For example, if an audiobook sells for $20, the author could earn $5 to $8 per sale.
- Narration Options: Authors can narrate their own books or hire professional narrators through ACX. High-quality narrations can lead to better sales and increased royalties.
2. Joining the Audible Affiliate Program
- Affiliate Marketing: By joining the Audible Affiliate Program, individuals can promote Audible memberships or audiobooks and earn commissions on sales generated through their referral links.
- Commission Rates: Affiliates can earn a flat rate for each new Audible membership sign-up (typically around $15 to $25) and a percentage for audiobook sales, which can vary based on the promotion.
- Promotional Strategies: Affiliates can promote Audible through blogs, social media, email marketing, or YouTube by reviewing audiobooks or sharing their experiences with the platform.
3. Creating and Selling Courses
- Online Courses: If you have expertise in a particular subject, you can create online courses and include related audiobooks or recommend Audible titles as supplementary material. This can add value to your course and potentially increase sales.
- Affiliate Links: Incorporate Audible affiliate links in your course materials, earning commissions when students sign up for Audible or purchase audiobooks.
4. Narration Services
- Freelance Narration: If you have a good voice and narration skills, you can offer your services as an audiobook narrator. You can find gigs on platforms like ACX, Fiverr, or Voices.com, where authors or publishers seek narrators for their audiobooks.
- Income Potential: Audiobook narrators can earn anywhere from $50 to $300 per finished hour of audio, depending on experience and the complexity of the project.
5. Creating Audio Content
- Podcasting: If you create a podcast, you can recommend Audible titles in your episodes and include affiliate links in your show notes. This can generate additional income through Audible’s affiliate program.
- Unique Content Creation: Consider creating unique audio content related to your niche, which can attract listeners and promote relevant Audible titles.
6. Publishing Serialized Audiobooks
- Serialized Content: If you have a story or content that can be broken into episodes or segments, you can publish serialized audiobooks on Audible. This format can attract a loyal audience willing to purchase each installment.
- Subscription Models: Consider offering subscription options for serialized content, providing ongoing income as listeners subscribe for new episodes.
Potential Earnings
The income potential of making money with Amazon Audible can vary significantly based on the chosen method, effort, and market demand. Here’s an overview of the potential earnings for each method:
1. Creating and Selling Audiobooks
- Royalties: Authors typically earn 25% to 40% of the sale price of their audiobooks on Audible.
- Example Calculation:
- If an audiobook sells for $20, the earnings could range from $5 to $8 per sale.
- If an author sells 1,000 copies, their income would be: 1,000×5 (low end)=$5,000 to 1,000×8 (high end)=$8,0001,000 \times 5 \text{ (low end)} = \$5,000 \text{ to } 1,000 \times 8 \text{ (high end)} = \$8,0001,000×5 (low end)=$5,000 to 1,000×8 (high end)=$8,000
2. Joining the Audible Affiliate Program
- Affiliate Earnings: Affiliates earn a commission for each new Audible membership sign-up (typically $15 to $25) and a percentage for audiobook sales.
- Example Calculation:
- If an affiliate refers 10 new members per month, they could earn: 10×20 (average commission)=$200 monthly or $2,400 annually10 \times 20 \text{ (average commission)} = \$200 \text{ monthly or } \$2,400 \text{ annually}10×20 (average commission)=$200 monthly or $2,400 annually
- If they also earn 10% on audiobook sales averaging $15 each and refer 50 sales a month: 50×15×0.10=$75 monthly or $900 annually50 \times 15 \times 0.10 = \$75 \text{ monthly or } \$900 \text{ annually}50×15×0.10=$75 monthly or $900 annually
- Total Potential Earnings: 200+75=$275 monthly or $3,300 annually200 + 75 = \$275 \text{ monthly or } \$3,300 \text{ annually}200+75=$275 monthly or $3,300 annually
3. Creating and Selling Courses
- Income Potential: The earnings from courses can vary widely, but if you create an online course priced at $100 and sell it to 100 students, that’s: 100×100=$10,000100 \times 100 = \$10,000100×100=$10,000
- Affiliate Links: If you promote Audible within your course and earn an additional $2,000 in affiliate commissions, the total potential income could be: 10,000+2,000=$12,00010,000 + 2,000 = \$12,00010,000+2,000=$12,000
4. Narration Services
- Freelance Narration: Audiobook narrators can earn between $50 and $300 per finished hour of audio, depending on experience and the project.
- Example Calculation:
- If a narrator completes 10 hours of finished audio for a project at $150 per hour, their income would be: 10×150=$1,50010 \times 150 = \$1,50010×150=$1,500
5. Creating Audio Content (Podcasting)
- Podcast Affiliate Earnings: If you recommend Audible titles in your podcast and refer 50 new memberships a month at an average of $20 per referral: 50×20=$1,000 monthly or $12,000 annually50 \times 20 = \$1,000 \text{ monthly or } \$12,000 \text{ annually}50×20=$1,000 monthly or $12,000 annually
- Sponsorships and Ads: If your podcast gains traction, you could also earn through sponsorships. Sponsorship rates can range from $20 to $100 per 1,000 downloads, providing additional income.
6. Publishing Serialized Audiobooks
- Earnings from Serialized Content: If you publish a serialized audiobook priced at $10 and sell 500 episodes across a year: 500×10=$5,000500 \times 10 = \$5,000500×10=$5,000
Summary
The income potential with Amazon Audible can vary greatly depending on the method used and individual effort:
- Creating and Selling Audiobooks: $5,000 to $8,000 per title sold (1,000 copies).
- Audible Affiliate Program: Up to $3,300 annually for active affiliates.
- Creating and Selling Courses: Potentially $12,000 or more annually.
- Narration Services: $1,500 per project (10 hours).
- Podcasting: Up to $12,000 annually or more through affiliate links and sponsorships.
- Serialized Audiobooks: $5,000 annually from selling episodes.
Overall, the total income potential can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars annually, depending on the strategies employed and the effort invested in marketing and content creation.