Want to Know Why Many Busy Book Lovers Love Audiobooks?

Well, because they’re busy and they’re book lovers, they probably don’t have a lot of time to invest in what they love to do: Discover a different world in a book.

But with an audiobook, they may not have that problem anymore. They can listen to their favorite books during their daily commute to a public spot, while in the shower, amid the process of cleaning and organizing—anytime, anywhere, really.

Audiobooks are also beneficial beyond that. They enhance pronunciation, boost listening skills, improve focus, and more.

So, if you’re ready to take your book’s audiobook version to new heights and want to reach more listeners, look no further.

In this article, let’s discuss audiobook marketing strategies.

First, we’ll explore why you need audiobook marketing strategies. Then, we’ll get into 15 strategies categorized under digital marketing, community-building, influencer and partnership marketing, traditional promotion, and audiobook-specific approaches.

This way, you’ll learn everything you need to know about audiobook advertising.

Let’s begin.

Why Do You Need Audiobook Marketing Strategies?

Simple and straightforward answer: You want to promote your book and reach more listeners!

Going into the audiobook marketing industry can be challenging. It’s also not for the faint of heart.

But, in this day and age, almost every undertaking is. If you’re motivated and have a laser-sharp focus on your audiobook marketing strategies, there should be nothing that can stop you.

The feat is risky, that’s for sure. But is the possibility of reaching millions of additional listeners, not a risk worth taking?

After all, the audiobook industry is financially promising. It’s also changing the way we consume content.

With a 27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), it’s not surprising it’s headed up. By 2027, it’s projected to reach a whopping $19 billion!

Digital Marketing

In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people and businesses slowed down temporarily.

But once they adopted a digital-first approach, work continued. They tailored all their marketing efforts to be a dominant force on digital marketing platforms.

Below is a list of digital marketing strategies you may want to use:

1. Leverage Irresistible Content

Create value, provide information, and share relevance. Then, center it around your audiobook’s theme.

The idea is to produce irresistible content. With such a piece, what else can people do but check it out?

“Content is king” has been a phrase used for a long time now. Well, that’s because it’s true.

If you create—and keep creating—content that’s so good, it’s only a matter of time for people to notice your digital marketing approaches.

2. Use Email Marketing

Step one, build a high-quality email list. Step two, design hyper-personalized emails that revolve around your audiobook.

Making customized content? It captivates targeted audiences effectively, and not a lot of things can compare to its impact.

Then, make email your official audiobook distribution channel. It’s that easy!

The Return on Investment (ROI) of email marketing campaigns is proof of their lucrative nature. After all, for every $1 you spend, you get a reward of $36.

Pro tip: When your audiobook launch date is nearing, send audiobook promotional emails every day.

3. Run Paid Advertising Campaigns

Design high-converting audiobook advertising posters. Then, use services that allow you to run paid ads.

This will help you reach a targeted audience with high intent.

With paid advertising, reaching more people quickly is easy. Do it right, and you’ll see the other benefits. It’s cost-effective and gives you more control!

Community-Building

Interacting with a group of people isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially people who love books. But try it, and you’ll realize that interacting with them—with whom you share the same love of books—isn’t that bad.

Besides, there’s a high possibility these people will help push forward your audiobook promotion and marketing campaign. For all you know, they may be the supportive and encouraging people you want in your corner.

Below are strategies that can help you.

4. Host Author Q&A and Virtual Events

Organize events that allow you to interact directly with potential listeners. Let readers familiarize themselves with you, whether in person or on camera.

It doesn’t matter what kind of event you organize. What matters is that you strike up meaningful conversations with people who invested time reading your book. Then, let them know that the books have audiobook versions.

Talk to them about their opinions. You can also encourage them to share futuristic ideas about another audiobook.

5. Offer Exclusive Content

Reward readers who engage with you. Not only will this make them grateful for approaching you, but it will also motivate more readers to come forward.

Here’s a brilliant idea: Use the power of exclusivity.

Offer an additional chapter, a relevant souvenir, or an insider’s look at your audiobook.

6. Participate in Forums

Conduct social listening. This will help you understand your audience better. This’ll also give you a front-row seat to their interests, likes, dislikes, and other relevant information.

Additionally, find out where they hang out the most. Do they frequent popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit? Or do they crash different online forums often?

Either way, be in the know. Then, learn to vibe with them!

Influencer and Partnership Marketing

Collaborating with influencers and other professionals can be challenging at first. Unless you commit to understanding their style, value, and overall message, conflicts can arise.

But, hey, working with others is a genius idea. It lets you pull each other up and off to the top you go.

Just remember to be empathetic, patient, and understanding. Also, trust them enough to give them creative freedom.

Below are strategies you can use:

7. Partner With Influencers

Team up with “bookstagrammers” or influencers who can execute audiobook promotion strategies on your behalf. They have their audience, which can help you reach these people too.

A tiny catch: You need to perform due diligence.

True—influencer marketing is on the rise, and there are a growing number of influencers you can easily contact.

But, you have to closely look at your partner and chosen influencer. Ensure their content aligns with yours. It’s also up to you to see if they’re authoritative and respectable.

8. Cross-Promote With Fellow Authors

Work with fellow authors who are also marketing their audiobooks. Support them, and they’ll support you.

One of the biggest advantages of this approach? You can widen your audience and increase your exposure through recommendations.

9. Promote Book and Audiobook Bundles

Offer your products. Not only does this approach help you reach more listeners, but it also exposes more people to your work.

So, if you have a set of books and audiobooks, why not put them together and sell them as a package? A cool way to do this is to incorporate a theme.

Traditional Promotion

While modern reality is big on digital-first approaches, nobody can deny that old habits die hard (i.e., still work). They also promise less competition and feature a tangible appeal.

In addition to all that, is there an unbeatable aspect to using traditional promotion to promote your audiobook? You can effectively reach a targeted demographic or a more specific group.

Let’s say you want to reel in an older group of listeners. Or maybe those in local areas.

In this case, the ideal promotional tool is to use traditional approaches.

Below are useful strategies.

10. Organize Book Signings

Engage with people face to face. Many book lovers appreciate that; it’s a cool way to help you promote your audiobook.

The idea is to gather existing book readers and have them sign their books while you tell them all about your audiobook. If you want to sweeten the deal, why not give them a bonus (and short) version of your audiobook for free?

You can contact a bookstore and inform them of your agenda. Once they give you their “go-ahead,” tell people about it.

11. Perform Local Outreach

Set up shop in a local area and capitalize on local SEO. Then optimize your Google My Business profile.

That way, potential listeners will feel confident about you and your products.

The endgame: They’ll want to buy your audiobook.

You can also amplify your local presence. To do that, be sure to engage with local schools, libraries, and communities.

Did you know 72% of local searchers shop locally? This means that if your audiobook shows up at the top of the search results page, you can count on as many as 72% of new listeners.

12. Distribute Print Media

Design flyers and give them away—just like that. You can also place advertisements in newspapers, magazines, and other publications.

The goal is to generate interest in your audiobook. Then, captivate a broader audience while you’re at it.

Audiobook-Specific Approaches

Don’t you agree that a highly effective way of carrying out audiobook advertising campaigns is to target audiences already interested in audiobooks?

Because these people are already on the lookout for high-quality audiobooks, you can presume they will consider checking out your audiobook. If you think strategically from this point forward, you may be eyeing an increased number of listeners.

Below, you’ll find useful strategies.

13. Submit to Audiobook Review Blogs

Research credible audiobook review blogs and offer your audiobook for them to dissect. You’d want more positive reviews than negative ones.

But you also want genuine feedback. The potential listeners of your audiobook will greatly appreciate it.

14. Join Audiobook Podcasts

Accept invitations to be a guest on audiobook-related podcasts. Then, use it as a venue to shine as an author.

Align your words with those of the podcast hosts. But be sure to stand out and promote your audiobook.

15. Engage With Audiobook Enthusiasts

“Speak audiobook” and talk to audiobook enthusiasts. Of course, you’d want to promote your audiobook.

But, before anything else, establish rapport. Ask them what their favorite audiobook is and let them pour out their heart’s content to you.

Final Words

Marketing your audiobook can be tiresome. But isn’t the whole process of marketing truly tiresome?

Nothing comes easy, after all.

If you want to reach more listeners, you have to step up and hustle. To elevate your audiobook’s status, you need to work hard.

Apply the strategies above, be updated with the latest audiobook marketing trends, and be patient. Getting your audiobook out there for every book lover to appreciate takes time. So, you need to wait for things to happen in your favor.

If you followed the advice above (as well as the words of top marketers) and believe you marketed your audiobook well, you’ll get more listeners in no time!