My nonfiction book in audio: Is it worth it?

By Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA

Turning your nonfiction book into an audiobook can be worthwhile — especially if your topic is engaging and well-suited to the audio format.
But how do you know if it’s right for your book?

It’s well-documented that audiobooks can increase your readership and sales.

Let’s get right to it. Here are four reasons why audiobooks can work exceptionally well with your nonfiction book:

1. Accessibility: Audiobooks allow readers who prefer listening to absorb information while doing other activities. So readers/listeners enjoy your book while engaging in activities like commuting, exercising, or completing chores. 

2. A wider audience: Nonfiction writers can tap into a new market of listeners who might not read a nonfiction book. Your readership can increase to include those with visual impairments, those who prefer audio because of dyslexia or learning differences, and those who simply like to hear words instead of see them.

3. Engaging narration: A skilled narrator can bring your content to life and make it more captivating. Oftentimes (unfortunately), a nonfiction book can be seen as “boring” or not as engaging to read. With a skilled narrator expressing the emotion of your words, tonal and rhythmic changes, and emotive emphasis, the reader often becomes interested in the text and stays with your book’s content more easily.

4. Potential for increased sales: Audiobooks can generate additional revenue from a single title. Different audiences visit hard-copy sales sites, author websites, and audiobook sites. When you’re on all three types of platforms for sales, the probability of more sales increases.

“But is my nonfiction book a good candidate for an audiobook recording?”

Though most nonfiction books transfer well from print to audio, here are four points to consider before turning your hard-copy nonfiction book into an audiobook.

Consider the amount of visual aids in your text. Translating your book to audio can be difficult if it relies heavily on charts, diagrams, or complex visual elements. However, an audiobook should work well if your text is “narrative” and written in a discussion, teaching, or story style.

Consider the complexity of your content. If your content matches your target audience — that is, if the text matches the listener’s reading level, the vocabulary is understandable for the audience, and the way you’ve laid out your text is complete, linear, and “missing nothing” (there are no gaps in content for the consumer’s age group and educational level) — then your text’s complexity should transfer to an audiobook with good reader understanding.

Consider your reader’s attention span. Again, this has to do with how well you’ve matched the content to your target audience’s level of understanding. However, attention span is also influenced by the number of fine details and descriptions you’ve added to your text. Some listeners may find it harder to focus on more detailed information in an audio format than with reading. 

Consider the length of your book and costs. Recording and editing an audiobook through a professional studio can be costly. And a longer book costs more to record. If your book fits the typical length of its book type and genre — and you choose a personal recording service over an expensive studio — then the costs of recording your nonfiction book to an audiobook can be more than manageable.

When is it best to put a nonfiction book into an audiobook?

Does your nonfiction have these three things? If so, then an audiobook might be perfect for your book.

• Storytelling focus: An excellent audio format can enhance the reader’s experience if your book features compelling narratives or personal anecdotes.
  
• Informative topics: Subjects like history, science, or biographies can be well-suited to audiobooks.
  
• Expert voice: If you have a strong voice or can find a skilled narrator who can effectively convey your expertise, your nonfiction book can sound great in audiobook form. 
  

Before deciding to move forward with turning your nonfiction book into an audiobook…

• Analyze your content
  Consider whether your book’s subject matter and structure lend themselves well to an audio format. Is your book light on visuals? Does your text’s complexity match your audience? Does your content length match the reader’s attention span? And if your book’s on the longer side, can you afford the cost of the audiobook recording?
  
  If you answered “yes,” your nonfiction book is likely an excellent fit for an audiobook recording.
  
  
• Research the market
  Check out similar audiobooks in your genre to see how they’re presented. Using keywords and placing your book title in the Amazon or Barnes and Noble search bar will turn up texts similar to your book. Use the “Look Inside the Book” feature to check the content reading and vocabulary levels and compare the work to your book.
  
  Finally, check if books similar to yours are on Audible (Amazon’s audiobook sales division). If similar books are selling in audio, it’s good to get your book into an audiobook, too.
  
  
• Choose a narrator
  A personal audiobook recording service can save money and time compared to larger, more expensive recording studios. Find someone who has been recording for a good number of years — a practiced communicator who’s experienced and has excellent verbal communication skills. Also, find a voice that aligns with your book’s tone and target audience, though good audiobook narrators can change their voice to match the type and style of your book. Ask if the narrator has worked with your kind of book before (experience in your genre/book type is always good).
  
  Once you’ve chosen your narrator, you’re on your way to completing your audiobook, making more sales, and getting your work into more readers’ hearts and minds.

About the Author
Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA, is the author of 20 books and has been a professional writer, creative director, global corporate communications and strategy lead, university communications professor at three universities, and an international speaker on genre storytelling, nonfiction writing, and communications. She has spoken to audiences and worked with audio recordings, commercials, radio interviews, and voice-over work for 30 years. Read more about Erin here.

Sources & Further Reading
Are Audiobooks Worth It For Authors? Insights from Forbes Books
Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say
Why Indie Authors Should Publish Audiobooks – and How To Do It
Why Writers Need to Get Involved with Audiobooks
Why Audiobooks Are Skyrocketing, and How Writers Can Take Advantage in 2022