5 Tips For Narrating Audiobooks

Have a book you want to turn into an audiobook? If not, then you should seriously consider looking into it as audiobooks are becoming very popular with book lovers!

If so, then consider writing your book, from the very start to sound appealing, rather than visually. This is definitely a change in one’s mindset especially if you’ve been a writer for a while now, but if you’re choosing to go into the audiobook market, then you’ll need to cater to its audience.

Keep on reading for tips and tricks on how to be a better narrator for your audiobook and keep your listeners engaged and interested as your story unravels.

1. Clear Audio Writing

The typical audiobook listener will have their focus split between the audio and whatever it is they’ve decided to do that day: driving, walking, and doing the dishes. Even if they were to give it the full attention, they only have that one chance to hear what you’re saying as the story continues with its flow, making it very different from physically reading the book as you can always backtrack and reread what it is you didn’t quite understand.

How to keep the reader engaged and still know what you’re saying is to include connecting words such as finally, therefore, then, while, and so as it draws attention to the contrast in what you’re saying. And don’t forget, repetition such as names is important as well.

So keep these in mind when recording that your words need to be clear and easy to understand. 

2. Audiobooks Are Performance Scripts

Write your story as a performance script from the beginning to make it easier to narrate for the audiobook. This way you can easily connect with your audience as the tones, rhythm, pace and any other audio signals throughout your story would’ve already been thought about - leaving you with little editing.

3. Repetition and Rhythm

Writing an audiobook based on how it sounds is similar to that of oral storytelling and slam poetry. Each writing performance has its own structures to it, but one aspect to note in particular is that of repetition and rhythm, and to land the nouns. So that even if your words aren’t super clear, the listener will still be able to understand what is going on. Basically, place more emphasis on nouns as opposed to other words.

However, make sure to change up your rhythm every now and then as it can get repetitive and boring and you don’t want to lose a reader.

4. Long Sentences and Breathing

Watch out for any long and wordy sentences in your story. Not only will it make it harder for the listener to understand what you’re saying, but you may run out of breath by the end of the sentence and ruin the quality of your work.

Read your sentences out loud more than once at any and each stage you progress on with.

5. Listeners Need Attunement Time

Hearing an unfamiliar voice can be a bit strange to people, especially to new audiobook listeners, so they’ll need time to adjust. 

Just as with any radio show host, they’ll have an opening line to ease the listener into their segment, as the words can get lost starting off, so avoid using any keywords in the first sentence. Try starting off the section with its main orientation words and then later on including important plot points of the story.

BONUS: Whispersync

Whispersync is a feature created by Audible as a means to synchronize your audiobooks with Kindle’s ebooks in case you or any of its many users decide to switch audiobook platforms and that way your progress in the story doesn’t get lost. In fact, it’ll start you right where you left at.

Be wary that not all audiobooks are compatible with this feature, but for those who use Amazon as their main platform will have easily granted access to it (except for books with images, that’s where it gets a bit tricky and you may as well not bother). 

CONCLUSION

Narrating your audiobook isn’t as easy as speaking into a microphone. You’ll need to be able to speak clearly, write your story as a script, make use of repetition and rhythm, watch out for long sentences and breath, and allow for listeners to adjust to your voice. Do you have any other tips on how to better narrate your audiobook? Let us know!

Written by Tina Phong

If you need help turning your book into an audiobook, we offer audiobook production services that will help you reach a wider audience and increase your book sales. 

Learn more here and listen to some of our audiobook samples.

The Top 32 Business Books of All Time

If you want to improve your business and grow look into some of these amazing entrepreneurial books listed below (in no particular order). Each page is packed with information, advice and real-life experiences from business leaders who have ‘made it’, which you can directly apply to your journey as well.

1. All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin

Godin speaks to how marketers actually think and how they go about creating stores - or rather lies - impacting the lives of many without thinking of the consequences. While he exposes marketers, he also includes useful tips on how to build your brand and tell a story, to better market your business.

2. Beating the Odds by Eddie Brown

Brown takes you on a journey on how he created Brown Capital Management through many economical crises’ such as 9/11 and the financial recession in 2008. How a young boy who lost his mother at a young age, went through difficult struggles to pave his own path growing up, and becoming the CEO of his now billion-dollar company.

3. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Based on the 2008 financial crisis, a young woman speaks to her immigrant experience. A story more relevant than ever in our present political climate as she goes on about what it is to be an immigrant in the USA and the courage she shows. 

4. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuck

Vaynerchuck shows you just how to build up your own web presence and turn it into a brand, creating your own business while making sales through the internet. After all, he grew his family’s business into a $4-million dollar company to a $60-million one by working the internet.

5. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell dives into how we as humans, think about the challenges that life has to offer while giving insight on what it means to face discrimination, suffer from a loss of a parent - or anything really that has to do with having to struggle. Reading this will teach you about things you didn’t think you needed to know like: avoiding any ‘elite colleges’ like Harvard.

6. Female Innovators at Work by Danielle Newnham

This book is meant for women who own their own businesses, including case studies and interviews from other successful women CEOs from different areas across the vast and diverse market talking about their journeys and the challenges, successes and lessons learned along the way to where they stand now.

Also check out 18 Podcasts by Women Entrepreneurs.

7. Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury

Despite it being 30 years since its first publication, this book has continued to be circulated among business owners, teaching each individual how to go about negotiating and resolving any conflicts on any levels based on Harvard’s Negotiation Project. 

8. Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba

Leyba gives you a look into what it is like not only being a female entrepreneur but also dealing with other female entrepreneurs as well, and how hard and difficult it can be - however, it shows the positivity of when women are there to support one another and the great outcome of it. Leyba helps you build confidence, empower women, connect with yourself, what you do and why you do it particularly with business. She also aids in how to deal with jealousy, burnout, self-care and truly find out what being successful means to you.

9. Good to Great by Jim Collins

Collins does the research for you, gaining intel and any relevant information that tells you exactly how big companies such as Coca-Cola and Intel took the huge leap towards their success, becoming big-name companies. Him and his team of 21 researchers did extensive research,  analyzing thousands of articles, transcripts of up to 2000 pages and stored 384MBs of data and compiled all of that information into this book to share with anyone interested in how to compete against their business rivals. 

10. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Duckworth’s book goes about teaching business owners to create more grit in themselves and the environment around them. Being resilient, strong, passionate and persistent are just some of the things that are the key to being successful. Keeping in mind that those who do “make it” don’t necessarily come from a wealthy background or come up with the best ideas, and they’re the ones who typically work hard and put in the effort to improve every single day.

11. Hooked by Nir Eyal

Eyal goes into the step-by-step process on how to build and sell whatever product it is that you have to offer by explaining to you consumer habits. 

12. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The book is as the name suggests as Carnegie teaches you new people skills that will lead to how people can make their business and personal lives successful. An essential to the ongoing competitive market. 

13. In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney

Like Newnham’s book, Bonney includes stories of successful women entrepreneurs of different fields, backgrounds, races and places giving inspiring life advice on how visibility is what makes a successful female leader to this day. 

14. Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy

Written by one of the co-founders of Ogilvy & Mather is simply a classic for any entrepreneur out there looking for a read on how to go about their business endeavours. 

15. Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Another Godin book on marketing, mentioning how people built their businesses in the past and played it safe while doing so. Instead, he says to focus on one key aspect: be remarkable. Stop advertising and trying to get the word out there, rather start creating and building your product to make it stand out from the rest.

16. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

The co-authors wrote what you can call a playbook for dreamers who want to start their own successful business while calling you out on any excuses you have that prevent you from truly starting your own startup, telling you and showing you a technique that ‘simple-is-better’.

17. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Kiyosaki tells his own story of how he grew up with two dads: his biological one and his dad’s best friend otherwise known as the ‘rich dad’ and how they influenced his decisions and thoughts on money and investing. He also tells you how you can have money work for you rather than having to work for money your whole life - that you don’t necessarily need to be rich to start earning a high income.

18. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Gives you an insight into the minds of business owners, how they think, act and communicate, leading them to having their business be a complete success and become leaders who inspire those in the business world.

Check out how to find a mentor. 

19. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Everyone knows the name ‘Steve Jobs’, the founder of Apple and Issacson took it upon himself to write a biography about him as a means to inspire you to go out and venture on a startup yourself, building up your own business with your own creations that you have to offer the world, while also giving you a business plan to truly be successful.

20. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

You’ll learn how to live a life of The New Rich as you get out of your boring 9 to 5 job and do something you’re actually passionate about. Ferriss gives you tips and tricks on how to live life like a millionaire without actually being one.

21. The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki

Kawasaki was one of the first marketers for the big tech company, Apple and shares how he made his ideas into reality. From creating the right team, building a brand for the name, getting consumers interested and invested in the product (or namely the brand). Kawasaki teaches you how to start a business. 

22. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

Horowitz can be a rather familiar name within the business as he is one of two very prominent businessmen in Silicon Valley. In this book, Horowitz offers crucial advice while also telling you the hard truth about what it really is like to start and run your own business.

23. The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

Is an autobiography written by Haddish herself, an actress-comedian about her rags-to-riches story in how she made it from the bottom, with absolutely nothing, to someone who followed their dreams and is now a successful woman who made it.

24. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Ries offers different strategies for any new business to test, adjust and adapt their new products regardless of the size of it to truly achieve their goal. Basically, rather than having to come up with your own plan, Ries gives you one to show you whether or not your new innovative product or service is truly profitable.

25. The Power of Broke by Daymond John

Daymond John discusses how being broke and having a limited budget can drive one to success as he tells the story of his own experience, being broke and starting his own business as well as becoming a voice for those with little to no money who want to set out on their entrepreneurial journey.

26. The Power of Visual Storytelling by Ekaterina Walter and Jessica Gioglio

In this book, it gives you a guide on how to create marketing programs based on visual storytelling, using video marketing, infographics, photos, presentations and any other form of a visual to further boost your business. 

27. The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf

Just like any manual, this one is a how-to-guide on how you can run your very own startup business. Giving you all the tips and tricks, with visual aids and statistics on how to truly build a successful company.

28. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell himself explains the theory of “the tipping point phenomenon” and how it has impacted people all over the world when it comes to selling products or simply by sharing ideas with others. It basically talks about how any small change can lead to bigger and better things.

29. The Virgin Way by Richard Branson

A biography about Richard Branson himself, in how he made it as a successful businessman. The book talks about leadership, family while having fun and being passionate about what you do, as well as listening - all key attributes to creating an international brand such as the Virgin Group.

30. Trust Me, I’m Lying by Ryan Holiday

Holiday teaches you the outs and ins of how media really works. Showing you how he does it himself through blog manipulation, and distorting information in any way that he can that still makes it believable.

31. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Some of you may have heard of the name Shonda Rhimes, a producer in Hollywood known for her works Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. She wrote her own book on how she went from being this shy introvert who never took any opportunities handed to her, to someone who said ‘yes’ to everything that came her way. This particular book is targeted towards those who simply need a push to break out of their shell and shake the world.

32. Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Last but not least, Thiel’s book offers insight into how to go from nothing to being something. Filled with positivity, actionable tips and an outlook on the future of the thriving tech industry, he tells you how to be more innovative and open up your mind to new and unexpected opportunities.

CONCLUSION

Each book has its own thing to offer, and these are just some of many other amazing reads when it comes to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Some will teach you how to make it as a woman, people skills, strategies, marketing and so much more - everything required to start and run your business with little to no hitches. Have you read any of them? Or are you interested in reading any of the ones listed above? Let us know your thoughts and comments!

Written by Tina Phong

If you need help turning your book into an audiobook, we offer audiobook production services that will help you reach a wider audience and increase your book sales. 

Learn more here and listen to some of our audiobook samples.

8 Beginner Tips for Making Professional Looking Videos

Most, if not all consumable content is through - you guessed it - video. 

It’s the easiest and more preferred form of content people bother to pay any attention to nowadays due to the simple fact that not everyone wants to read a bunch of words but rather watch and listen to whatever it is you have to say about anything. 

So how do you go about creating a well-thought-out professional-looking video? Follow these 8 easy tips for beginners to start:

1. Plan it out

Regardless of the quality of your video, it’s the content that truly matters. So think:

• What are your goals? Do you want to raise engagement? Gain more followers? Make them laugh?

• Who is your audience? Children? Adults? Youth? People who like shoes? It could be anyone and anything so long as you know who you’re targeting.

• What do you want to make them feel? Joy? Laughter? Happiness? Sadness?

• Most importantly: what’s the message?

Ask yourself a few of those questions and write them down on a piece of paper so that you’ll remember what it is that you’re trying to achieve.

2. Background - Real vs. Fake

No one’s to say one’s better than the other, they’re just useful in different ways - depending on what it is that you want to achieve in your video’s overall look and get the message you want to be delivered. 

Real Backgrounds, where you’re physically in the actual location. Whether it’s an office setting, the woods or a mall. Remember framing matters, and to make sure that there’s nothing that shouldn’t be in the video showing. 

Fake Backgrounds typically consist of what you put over a green screen or curtain to give the illusion of reality. However, these can be tricky to set up and actually learn the technology for it, especially for beginners but who’s to say you can’t do it?

Regardless of which one you decide to use, make sure the colours match well with the foreground. 

3. Use Natural Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of filming a video and as a beginner, you won’t necessarily have the equipment for it but fear not - natural lighting is free and is actually one of the best types of lighting.

Here are some ways you can use natural lighting to get the best results:

• Outdoors on a cloudy day

• Golden hour

• A room with large/multiple windows

• Other light sources (lamps, ceiling lights)

Regardless of the weather or time, shooting with natural lighting will get your video looking like it was made by a professional.

4. Learn Composition

Composition rules in photography are just as important when it comes to videography as it helps you frame the subject in an effective and appealing way.

One of the easiest and most promising ways is the rule of thirds. You divide your frame into a three-by-three grid and where the lines intersect is where you would place your subject as the audience’s eyes are naturally drawn to it. 

Basically, don’t place your subject in the middle and make sure everything that’s supposed to be in the frame is in it!

5. No Need For Expensive Equipment

Not everyone has the budget to buy an expensive, top-of-the-line camera to film a quick video to promote their brand, and with technology nowadays you can easily film something in high quality with your everyday device: your phone. 

6. Don’t Use Your Camera Microphone

While the quality of the camera doesn’t need to be superb, the sound quality definitely does (no one’s really going to listen to a video where they can’t hear anything properly). 

The best way to get clear and crisp audio is through an external microphone.

7. Film In Segments

Now that it’s finally time for you to start filming, start by doing them in short intervals. This will save you time and energy when it comes to going through your footage, choosing whether or not to reshoot and editing it.

8. Promote Your Video

And finally, all that’s left to do is to get your video out there. You can easily promote it on Facebook, YouTube, or even Instagram as an ad, attract an audience, increase engagement, and gain a following. This way, your brand becomes more well-known.

If you’re looking to sell videos, it’s best to create your own website and launch an OTT (over-the-top) app, similar to Netflix where people pay and subscribe to view your video content.

Conclusion

The possibilities for creating videos are endless and are super easy to get started. You simply start by planning it out, choose what your background is, and remember to use natural lighting, and composition rules. Keep in mind that there’s no need for expensive equipment, but do look into purchasing an external microphone. And to make things easier, film your video in short segments and finally, share your work with others! Follow these steps to create professional-looking videos even though you’re a beginner. Let us know if you’re a beginner and started creating your videos! What did you make? What tips did you follow? We’d love to hear from you!

Written by Tina Phong

If you need further help creating your own marketing videos, we offer video production services that will help you elevate your brand!

We look forward to being a part of your success. Contact us here to get started.