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Earn a passive income at home!
Of all the side hustles that I have shared, how to become an audiobook narrator is the most popular.
Especially, how to make money with Audible, the #1 site for audiobooks.
Why?
Because it gives you the freedom to make your own schedule, and get paid to read books!
Once your audiobook is published, you can possibly earn royalties for 7 years!
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
It sounded good to me too which is why as soon as I found out about audiobook narration jobs, I immediately auditioned for an Audible audiobook.
And I got the job!
Not only did I get the job, but the author asked me to do a second book before the first one was done.
Fast forward two years, and now I’m on my fifth contract from that one audition!
You never know what can happen when you audition to narrate audiobooks.
But, enough about me.
In this post, I want to share with you some tips on what you need to get started in audiobook narration, including:
- Where to find audiobook narration jobs
- Equipment for audiobook narration
- Audiobook recording software
- Getting paid as a voice actor
- Tips to land your first narrator job
By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly how to get started so you can become an audiobook narrator and make money with Audible.
You will have reliable information instead of learning about this Audible side hustle in Reddit forums. (I’ve seen some terrible advice on there).
Where can I find audiobook narration jobs?
I landed my first audiobook narration job by joining ACX.
It is a free website, owned by Amazon, that matches voice actors with authors that want their books turned into audiobooks.
No experience is needed to get started in this field.
When I get my monthly royalty checks, they are paid by Amazon.
When an audiobook is published through ACX, it is listed on Audible (also owned by Amazon).
So, if you were wondering if ACX is legit, rest assured, it is.
Here are the steps to find audiobook narration jobs on ACX:
- Sign up for ACX.
- Complete your profile.
- Search for jobs.
It’s quite simple. But I have some tips that can improve your chances of becoming an audiobook narrator.
Note: When you become an audiobook narrator on ACX, be aware that you will be required to produce the audiobook. You will be responsible for meeting sound requirements, editing, and obtaining recording equipment.
RELATED: 20 SIDE HUSTLES FROM HOME YOU’LL WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT SOONER!
How should I complete my ACX profile?
The simplest way to complete your ACX profile is by logging in to your Amazon.com account.
Remember, ACX is owned by Amazon. So they easily connect.
In addition to entering your contact information, you will be asked to provide more information in your profile such as:
- SAG AFTRA ID
- An audio sample
- Bank account
- Tax information
Before you freak out, you should be aware that some information is not a requirement. The SAG AFTRA ID, and audio sample are optional.
SAG AFTRA is an actors union. If you aren’t a member, just skip that part.
I’m often asked, “Do I have to upload a sample in my ACX profile?”
No, you don’t.
I still don’t have an audio sample in my profile.
With that said, you should also be aware that if you don’t have a sample in your producer profile, you will not be searchable by authors in ACX.
It will be your responsibility to find books to audition for.
So, to give yourself the best chance to become an audiobook narrator, I suggest you upload a sample so authors can find you.
What do I need for my ACX audio sample?
First, it’s important to understand why you need a sample in your ACX profile. Think about this: Would you buy a car from me without test-driving it?
Probably not.
The audio sample will give authors an idea of what they’re getting. The narrator is a first-hand representation of the author’s book. If the audio or performance is terrible, it will likely tank the possibility of a successful audiobook.
A bad recording could cost both of you your reputation and money. Even the time put into it is money wasted.
Time is money, honey!
Now, when it comes to recording the sample, you want to show that you would be a good narrator. Therefore, you should be reading a short sample from a book.
If you have done audiobook narration before, you can take a sample from one of your previous works. But, chances are, you are new to audiobook narration. So, you grab a book from your shelf and read a sample from that.
Just know that if you are reading a sample from another author’s work, and the author finds out and enters a copyright claim to ACX, then ACX may remove your sample. But that’s very rare.
We’ll get into the details of auditioning and producing an audiobook later.
Do I have to provide my bank and tax information to ACX?
As mentioned above, ACX will ask for your bank account and tax information. Do you have to give them that info?
If you want to make money with Audible, yes, you have to provide your tax and payment information.
Remember, ACX is owned by Amazon. So ACX is a legit company. Therefore, they will report the money they pay you to the IRS. If you don’t provide your tax info, they won’t pay you.
They will also need your bank account information. Why?
Because they need to pay you.
I get my audiobook royalties direct deposited into my bank account monthly, with no issues.
So, if you want your money, you’ll want to be sure to provide your bank info to ACX.
Do ACX narrators really make money with Audible?
How much ACX narrators make will depend upon which type of contract they have. So let’s break it down.
There are three payment structures for ACX contracts. In a nutshell, they are:
- Flat rate: An agreed amount is paid, per finished hour (PFH)
- Exclusive Royalty: The author and producer each get 20% of the audiobook sales.
- Royalty Share Plus: Get the Exclusive Royalty + an additional flat rate.
To clarify, if you get paid per finished hour (PFH), this is not the actual hours you worked. As a beginner, expect it to take several hours of invested time to make a finished hour.
Finished hour rates range from $50-$1,000!
When you have an Exclusive Royalty or Royalty Share Plus contract, royalties are paid for seven years.
That’s right, once you have a published audiobook under a royalty contract, it’s a passive income.
In my opinion, I would rather get a royalty share, or a royalty share plus deal. That way, once that book is done, you get paid for seven years. And if you and the author advertise that book well, you can get many sales.
The downside of royalty deals is that if your audiobook gets no sales, you get no money. So, keep that in mind.
My best tips on how to make more audiobook sales are included in the Audiobook Blueprint course.
More sales=more money.
So, be sure to join the course if you want the scoop!
When you become an audiobook narrator on ACX, you can also earn more money with bounties. These are bonuses up to $75 that can be earned when your audiobook is a first listen for a new Audible user.
Once your audiobook is published, ACX will provide you with website links potential buyers can use so you can earn bounties. Share those links!
To sum it up, how much audiobook narrators make will depend on the contract.
And if it’s a royalty contract, how much money the narrator makes will depend upon how well the book sells.
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How to audition for audiobooks.
To audition on ACX, you can upload a voice sample and wait for the authors to find you. But the best approach is to look for jobs yourself. Here’s how:
- While logged in, go to “search,” in the upper right-hand corner.
- Select the dropdown, “Titles accepting auditions.”
- Filter for the book that you want to audition for.
I detail the process of becoming an audiobook narrator in
To help you save time and frustration from learning to audition, produce, master, and sell audiobooks, I have created the Audiobook Blueprint course.
It includes one-on-one coaching to give you help based on YOUR needs.
The course condenses what took me 2 years to learn as a new audiobook narrator.
. You can filter jobs by:
- Gender
- Age
- Accent
- Compensation type
- And more.
You want to remember that when you record an audiobook, you are acting, so your actual demographic does not matter.
If you can sound like a child, go for a book that needs a child’s voice. If you have a great English accent, but you’re American, go for it!
Audition to become an audiobook narrator by going to the “audition script” tab. In there, you’ll find the script, which is usually a brief portion of the book.
PRACTICE reading that script. Then, record and upload the audition.
I quickly realized that sometimes books seemed like they were a fit for me, but after reading the audition script, I didn’t like the book.
The last thing you want to do is take a job that doesn’t interest you. You want a book that will resonate with you. Not put you to sleep!
What can I expect if I’m selected to narrate an audiobook?
After submitting your audition to become an audiobook narrator, you will either be accepted or rejected. If you are accepted, a contract will be sent to you. You sign it right there on the ACX website.
Read your terms carefully. The contract will specify your pay, your due dates, and other specifics you want to pay attention to.
After you accept your contract, your next step will be to provide a 15-minute sample for the author. This is the first 15 minutes of the book. They want to know what it sounds like before you continue producing the rest of the book.
No one wants hours of work to be done, only to find out words were mispronounced, or the sound wasn’t good.
After that 15-minute sample is provided, the author will approve it (if it’s up to par). From there, you can continue producing the rest of the book. Then submit it for approval.
What kind of recording equipment should I use?
Unless you are SURE you want to stick with voice narration, don’t splurge on equipment. You want quality sound, but you don’t want to put yourself in a financial hole when you aren’t even sure you’re going to stick with being a voice actor.
The main things you will need are:
- A microphone
- Foam acoustic box or panels (to limit echoes)
- A pop filter
There are many audiobook recording bundles available on Amazon. Or you can choose to get your equipment individually as I did.
Below is a list of my equipment. I show my audiobook narration equipment set up, and detail the settings and how I use them in the Audiobook Blueprint Course.
My Audiobook Equipment:
Shure MV51 Microphone
This is a high-quality microphone that is great for recording audiobooks and podcasts. I also use it for recording voiceovers on my YouTube channel.
I also have an adjustable stand for my microphone. I use it when I want to raise it higher. It fits a variety of microphones and is very sturdy.
I highly suggest it.
If the Shure MV51 is outside of your budget, I suggest you still use the link and see what other microphones Amazon suggests for you. Just be sure to read the reviews of whatever microphone you get.
The microphone is your most important piece of equipment if you want to become an audiobook narrator. So, choose carefully.
PYLE Foam Acoustic Box
The Pyle Foam Acoustic Box minimizes the echo in the room. This will help you get a better quality sound so you don’t sound like you recorded in a cave.
Having room echoes throughout your recordings can absolutely destroy your chances of becoming an audiobook narrator. So, consider getting this box or another echo-reducing product.
Click here for more great options to soundproof your space.
Philips SHP9600 Headphones
To hear my audio clearly during recording, I use Philips SHP9600 Headphones. They are comfortable, and they have top-notch sound.
Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter
I use the Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter to filter out harsh sounds like those hard “p” sounds, and annoying hissing sounds. It’s adjustable and can be connected to a table, or many other surfaces.
If you need more options, check these out.
Tripod Stand
I use this tripod stand to go under the Pyle box and give it a lift. It is listed as a laptop stand and DJ equipment holder, but it has many uses. Trust me, after hours of leaning into the box, you’ll wish you had this stand.
How to edit audiobooks.
ACX requirements for audiobooks are VERY STRICT. The decibels must be between a specific range for ACX to accept the upload.
Plus, you must have approximately 3 seconds of room noise (the sound of a quiet room) at the beginning and end of each chapter. Not dead silence.
If the system detects dead silence, your upload will be rejected. You can find more on the specific requirements here.
If you don’t have experience editing audio, I highly suggest you sign up for my Audiobook Blueprint course where I guide you and give you my “secret sauce” so your audio isn’t rejected by ACX. It will save you much time and frustration during the production process.
Most narrators use Audacity to edit their projects. Not only is this a free program, but there is also a plugin, ACX Check, that can be added to the program. This plugin checks your audio to ensure it meets ACX requirements.
If you try to upload an ACX project that doesn’t meet the requirements, it will instantly be rejected. So, be sure to get that ACX Check plugin.
As a YouTuber, I’m so used to Final Cut Pro X for editing my sound and videos, that I used it to record my first audiobook. I then uploaded it to Audacity to be checked for compliance.
For my second audiobook, I used Audacity throughout the process. It definitely streamlined the process and the sound was better. So, I do suggest you just use Audacity.
READ: 10 WEEKEND SIDE HUSTLES…THAT PAY WELL!
Now you know how to become an audiobook narrator…
Audiobook narration is a great way to earn a passive income. Everyone should have several avenues to make money.
Especially if you are someone that wants to work from home.
I have learned so much about ACX since landing my audiobook narration contracts and how to earn a passive income reading books.
Ready for a deeper dive into audiobook narration?
I can help you save time and frustration from learning to audition, produce, master, and sell audiobooks, in the all-encompassing Audiobook Blueprint course.
It includes one-on-one coaching to give you help based on YOUR needs.
The course condenses what took me 2 years to learn as a new audiobook narrator.
And if you want a real look at my experience and get more tips for becoming an audiobook narrator, check out these youtube videos:
My completed audiobooks include:
Anything for the Family: Good Girl Gone Bad
Anything for the Family : Good Girl Gone Bad Series Part 2
Billion Dollar Baddie 2: Pimpin Ain’t Easy (Pimpin Ain’t Easy Series)
Lil’ Red Ryder: An Urban Fairytale
Billion Dollar Baddie: Pimpin Ain’t Easy (Pimpin Ain’t Easy Series Book 1)
Click here for a free trial to Audible so you can listen to audiobooks for free!
I produced these audiobooks with no prior voice-acting experience. So, I’m here to tell you that you too can become an audiobook narrator!
Want coaching?
I offer it in the Audiobook Blueprint course for my secrets to nail your auditions, edit and produce recordings, and make more money!
