How to Make Money on Audible: Narrate, Publish or Promote Audiobooks
Audiobooks are more popular than ever, and Audible has become a household name in that category. It’s also become a solid way to earn some extra income. Whether you’re a voice actor, a writer or have a following you can share links to, there are several legit ways to earn money from Audible. We’ll dive into how to make money on Audible with these four proven ways.
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What Is Audible?
Audible is an online audiobook service where book lovers can purchase their favorite published works in audio form. The service launched in 1995 and today offers its vast library to individuals either a la carte or via a variable subscription model. Audible has also expanded into the world of podcasts.
For those who subscribe to Audible, the service offers multiple subscription tiers, each providing you with a specific number of credits. The credits either replenish monthly or annually and can be exchanged for audiobooks.
Listeners can then enjoy their selected spoken word entertainment via Audible apps on smartphones and other smart devices.
Can You Really Make Money on Audible?
You can — Audible pays creators, narrators and marketers through various programs. You also don’t have to be a pro to break into one of these areas. Just pick the best approach for your skills and see where it leads. Some of the opportunities are one-time payouts, but others can lead to recurring royalties.
4 Ways To Get Paid With Audible
While not always the first thought of those looking to pick up a side gig, Audible can be a lucrative offering for those willing to put in the work. Whether you want to dig into your creative side, write and narrate a book, or become an Audible affiliate, we’ll showcase a few ways to increase your bank balance with the service.
1. Promote Audible With Affiliate Marketing
One of the easiest ways to earn money with the Audible platform is to engage in affiliate marketing using the company’s tools. Your favorite podcasters and YouTubers have done it, and now you can, too, with some work. Affiliate marketing is a perfect option for influencers, content creators and bloggers looking to monetize their reach on social media.
To get started, all you need to do is become a member of the Audible Creator Program (Audible Affiliate Program). Once signed up, you’ll be able to promote a custom URL to others in hopes that they sign up for an Audible 30-day free trial. Not only will your listeners get a free trial to Audible with a free audiobook, but you’ll receive a $15 commission for each trial you generate.
If you’re already a member of the Amazon Associate Program, you can choose to promote Audible within your existing agreement with Amazon. For an Audible free trial sign-up, you’ll earn $5, while a Gold Digital Membership will net you $10. You can also earn money for a la carte purchases, with each audiobook worth 50 cents.
2. Publish Your Own Audiobook on Audible
Ready to get your creative juices flowing? Consider creating your own audiobook for Audible. If you’ve got a story that you’ve been working on or even a book that you’ve already independently created, you may want to sell audio versions of it. You can either outsource the narration or voice it yourself. Turning your written word into an audiobook is easier than you think, thanks to the ACX platform. Brought to you by Audible and Amazon, ACX, also known as the Audiobook Creation Exchange, is a marketplace that enables professional narrators, authors and publishers to work together to create audiobooks. Pick your niche, such as fiction, how-to or personal finance, and get to writing. Because you have the opportunity to earn royalties, you can keep the income rolling in by promoting it as well.
If you already have an audio version of your book (audio files), ACX helps you easily upload your content to multiple retail channels, including Audible, Amazon and iTunes. ACX offers numerous production earnings and cost models, so you can select what fits you best.
3. Get Paid to Narrate Audiobooks Through ACX
Do you have the golden voice? Then you should consider narrating audiobooks to make some extra income on the side. All you need to get started with your audiobook narrator side gig is a good-quality microphone, a working computer and a quiet place to record. There are plenty of places where you can get started with voice work, one being the ACX platform. In addition to offering a way for writers and publishers to have their written works turned into audiobooks, ACX provides a platform for voice artists to further their careers. Narrators can audition for audiobook projects and have the opportunity to earn money through royalties. Pay rates vary and depend on the type of production. ACX provides more information here.
4. Use Audible Referrals and Bonuses to Earn Extra Cash
You can earn even more money through the Bounty Referral program on ACX. After you publish or produce content through ACX, you get personalized links that allow you to earn extra income from new Audible members you refer. You can earn anywhere from $25 to $75 per referral, depending on certain circumstances.
Conclusion: Is Audible a Smart Way to Make Side Income?
Audible gives creators multiple ways to earn — from narrating and writing to simple promotions. If you have a good voice, strong writing skills or a decent online following, you can tap into the fast-growing audiobook market. You will have to put in some initial work for it to become passive income, but the long-term earning potential is real — especially with royalties or repeat referrals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, you can make money using the Audible platform. There are four primary methods: becoming an affiliate, producing your audiobook, narrating audiobooks via the ACX platform and referrals.
Not all Audible narrators get paid the same. If you are starting out, you may make only about $10 an hour for your time. However, a more experienced narrator may drive hundreds of dollars per hour.
Suppose you’re looking at how to make money on Audible. In that case, we suggest you either begin by signing up for the Audible Creator Program, in which you can earn commissions on 30-day trial sign-ups, or using the Audible ACX platform to make money narrating titles.
We recommend that you start with the ACX platform. Designed by Audible and Amazon, ACX enables voice narrators (such as yourself) to connect with authors and publishers. You can try out for audiobook auditions and, if selected, earn money reading books for the platform.
Michael Archambault is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
