Vic June 30th, 2007
This article is actually part of an internet marketing course that Cody Moya publishes. I thought you guys might find it interesting, I know I did.
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Hot New Trends in Audio Books
by Cody Moya
For a number of years now, audio books have been growing in popularity, and many web based and brick and mortar entrepreneurs have been able to make a very good living creating, renting and selling audio books to legions of willing consumers. For those already into this exciting marketplace, or for those hoping to get started selling audio books, it is important to always keep abreast of the latest trends in the industry.
One of the most significant trends in the world of audio books involves the format of the books themselves. While books on tape will likely always be with us, these original books on tape have become much less common than when they first hit the market over 20 years ago.
Books on tape were first replaced by CDs, and now they are increasingly being replaced by downloadable formats like MP3. As the popularity of the iPod and other portable listening devices continues to grow, so to will the demand for audio books that can be directly downloaded to these devices and to PCs.
No marketer or creator of audio books can afford to ignore the ever changing world of audio formats. Anyone in the business of creating, selling and marketing audio books should keep up with the latest technology in order to stay ahead of the competition.
May successful audio book sellers find that offering customers a wide range of choices when buying audio books provides the best results. Offering audio book buyers the choice of receiving their books on tape, CD, MP3 format or even streaming audio is one of the best ways to retain and capture market share.
Sellers of audio books should also be aware of the growing number of audio book rental services on the market. The rental market for audio books is similar to the rental market for DVDs, and many audio book customers have found that renting audio books makes a lot of sense for them.
Those in the business of creating and selling audio books may want to take a look at the growing rental market and decide how they can best exploit it. The rental trend will be most appropriate for downloadable audio books and books on CD, but there is likely to be a strong rental market for audio books on tape as well.
Another important trend for creators, sellers, and marketers of audio books to be aware of is the trend toward prepackaged audio books. Many smart web site owners are using the power of prepackaged audio books to increase their sales and their earnings, and these great audio books are a great way for ordinary people to make money on the web.
Finally, creators, sellers and marketers of audio books would do well to recognize the global nature of the market for these books on tape, CD and MP3. While the market for audio books may still be dominated by consumers in the United States, audio books have been making strong inroads in the European marketplace as well.
In addition, there are strong markets for audio books all around the world, so sellers of audio books, whether downloadable audio books, books on tape or books on CD, should be sure they have a secure way to accept payments from around the world, as well as a good delivery method for those audio books.
Of course it is easier to distribute electronic copies of audio books around the world than it is to distribute the hard goods. When working with downloadable audio books in MP3 format, for instance, it is easy to set up a secure method to download the books your customers have paid for.
When it comes to selling those same audio books on CD or tape, there is the shipping cost to consider, and this can increase both your cost and the cost to your customers. It is important to be aware of these considerations when marketing your audio books.
Keeping on top of the latest trends in the industry is important no matter what business you are in. When you are in the audio book market, it is important to know the latest trends, and to know how to use them to your best advantage.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cody Moya writes about “How To Profit From Audio Books” in his Free Courses on Internet Marketing. You can sign up for his Free Courses and get additional information at his website: http://FreeInternetMarketingCourses.com
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Tags: audio book rental services, Audio Book Reviews, audio books, Audio Books, audio business books, audio formats, audiobooks, books on CD, books on tape, Downloadable Audio Books, iPod, MP3, prepackaged audio books, streaming audio
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Since 1996 The Audio Publishers Association has hosted “The Audies®” honoring excellence in audiobook publishing. The Audies® is the only awards program in the U.S. entirely devoted to recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.