- Audiobook Creation Exchange, also known as ACX,
is one of the most visible self-publishing platforms
for audiobook distribution.
I've mentioned ACX, and even have an unlisted playlist
on how to publish an audiobook through them.
But, I have yet to directly address the pros and cons
of Audiobook Creation Exchange.
That's why I'll give you deeper insights
on ACX in today's video.
Let's go.
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I'd love to know if you have published through ACX,
and, if you have, what are your thoughts on them?
Also, if haven't published through them, why not?
Leave your candid thoughts in the comments.
I've covered ACX ever so briefly in this channel
and for good reason.
It is a viable option in self-publishing,
but is it for everyone?
Well ...
As of August 8, 2017, ACX states this on their website:
We have 1,674 titles open for auditions,
49,271 producers to choose from,
and 90,962 audiobooks on sale at Audible,
Amazon, and iTunes.
Let's get this straight.
ACX has produced under 100,000 titles?
But, what about the millions of eBooks and paperbacks
on the market today?
Surely there must be some mistake!
ACX has limited availability since they only offer
distribution to self-publishers in the US and UK markets.
This leaves many other self-publishers outside those
markets with few options.
I know of a few publishers outside ACX's reach,
who have set up stateside accounts,
so they are able to use their services.
However, I'm not entirely sure if this is an
acceptable practice or endorsed by ACX or Amazon.
How exactly does ACX work anyway?
You have three options when producing an audiobook on ACX.
One, provide your own narrating.
I wouldn't recommend this option if you are not
a trained professional.
However, if narrating your own book is an interest,
ACX provides tons of resources to aid you
in getting the job done.
Two, provide your own content.
Let's say you already know a professional narrator,
and you have the job complete.
This is the step you could use.
Three, hire an ACX approved narrator.
This is the most popular option that breaks down
into three different types.
One is the 50/50 Royalty Split.
When a narrator accepts this option,
he willingly takes all the risks,
since he does a large amount of the work.
The 50/50 split was one of my preferred options.
The next option is the paid finish price per hour.
As you can imagine, producing quality audio work
is no simple task and requires a unique skillset.
To explain it in simple terms, you pay the narrator
based on the time of the complete audio file.
You may experience sticker shock when you first hear
a narrator's finished price per hour.
However, I assure you if you only knew how much time
it takes to complete a project,
then you would understand it's not as
sweet a deal as you think.
The last option in hiring an ACX approved narrator
is the combination of both the 50/50 royalty split
and a finished price per hour or a stipend of sorts.
Last thing to note about audiobooks on ACX.
Here's one of my favorite parts about ACX.
The Bounty Program.
If someone purchases your audiobook
and signs up for an Audible membership,
you get a $50 bonus known as a bounty.
Not only do you get the royalty for your audiobooks,
but you get a kickback for enticing a reader
to the Audible membership program.
Not bad.
I've known a fair amount of self-publishers who've made
an insane living off the Bounty Program alone.
Now that you have a brief overview of ACX,
let's talk about the pros and cons.
The pros of ACX include a simple upload
and publish interface that even the least
tech savvy people can figure out.
Some of the best narrators on the market
offering to take on the risk of producing your project
in exchange for 50% of all your royalties.
And, the killer ACX Bounty Program.
The cons of ACX include the meager 40% royalty.
Keep in mind if you do a royalty split with a narrator,
then you only get 20% of all purchases
and bounties on a title.
And if you don't agree to exclusivity through ACX,
then your total royalty rate drops to a mere 25%.
Cut that in half and you are merely fighting for scraps
with your narrator split.
The lack of availability to markets outside the US and UK.
Hey, I'm all for equal treatments, all regions,
so I'm not entirely sure why other markets are excluded.
In my opinion, ACX is a good option for anyone
in the US or UK.
I highly recommend looking into this option,
but before you launch your entire catalog on ACX,
you may want to weigh out other options.
In fact, Draft2Digital recently announced a newfound
partnership in the audiobook distribution platform
of Findaway Voices.
Check out my thoughts on it in a previous post.
That's all the time we have for today,
and, remember, if you liked what I shared with you,
then share it with someone you know who will enjoy it, too.
Til later, this has been Self-Publishing with Dale,
and I'll see you guys soon.