5 Best Alternatives to Audible

Audiobooks are not a thing of the past. Instead, they are becoming increasingly mainstream, enabling users to find a comfortable ground to listen to books on the go. When it comes to audiobooks, Audible is a platform that has created a name for itself. It's accessible, extremely diverse, and hosts a plethora of novels and books that aren’t mainstream.

However, Audible isn’t a free service. So if you are considering shifting from a paid service to a free or more affordable one, some alternatives are worth the time.

This guide will review some of the best alternatives to Audible that we think are worth considering.

What are the Best Alternatives to Audible?

When looking at alternatives for Audible, we wanted to explore affordable (and free) options. But, we also wanted to curate a list that introduces promising audiobook platforms that offer access to various novels, short stories, and books.

Following are our top 5 picks:

1. Audiobooks.com

When looking for the best alternative to Audible, nothing beats Audiobooks.com. This is a subscription service hosting 350,000+ novels, titles, and books. Besides the extensive library, the accessibility and UI of this platform deserve special mention.

If you are on edge about using it, Audible has a generous free trial where you can download and listen to 3 audiobooks. The unique trait of this platform stems from its Audiobook club. Users can choose from the 8 clubs and avail of 30 days of unlimited listening.

The categories of audiobooks on the platform are quite promising too. If needed, you can also sign up for their 30-day free trial. The 3 free audiobooks can be selected from the Premium and VIP sections of the available titles.

Once the free trial is over, users must pay a recurring fee of $14.95 per month. However, it is a fairly good price, given the diversity of books available.

2. Chirp

Want to save up to 95% on your favorite audiobooks? If yes, Chirp is the platform you need to look into. With Chirp, users can avail of limited-time deals on some popular audiobooks without paying a hefty price.

Unlike Audible, where you have to pay a monthly fee to avail of the audiobooks, Chirp is perfect for the occasional audiobook listener. You can buy individual audiobooks at discounted prices and make the most of the purchase.

The platform also hosts new discounted deals daily to bring you various choices. In case you don’t like any of their audiobook or their quality, Chirp has a money-back guarantee you can look into.

Users also won’t have to get into waitlists. All you need is to find the audiobook you wish to buy, get it for a reduced price, and enjoy your day listening to it.

3. Libro.fm

It's not every day that you come across an audiobook platform that supports your local bookstore. With Libro.fm, you get to make that happen. Every purchase or membership gives back to the local bookstore, keeping them in business.

Libro’s primary objective is to take away from corporations' huge profits and share them equally with the local bookstores to keep their business afloat. Therefore, it is a social purpose corporation and a more ethical choice than Audible.

You will find a lot of exclusive perks and features with Libro. They have a sense of community on the platform where you can share your excitement and passion for books with others. There are bookseller-curated playlists on the platform as well.

The app version of Libro is available on both iOS and Android and for free. So you need an active membership to the platform, and you can get started with the audiobooks.

4. Libby

An app-based audiobook platform, Libby is developed by Overdrive and allows you to borrow audiobooks using your library card. The best part about Libby is that it's 100% free. You don’t have to pay a dime to download the audiobooks from your local libraries. The only thing you need is a library card.

The app hosts a variety of audiobooks, including the NY Times bestsellers and the classic novels we have read growing up. In addition, you can browse through the different categories of novels and magazines and listen to them on the go.

Also, the app is available on iOS and Android devices, so compatibility won’t be an issue. However, there are certain limitations regarding the availability, so that’s a downside. Also, if the novel you are trying to download is already borrowed, you might have to wait a bit.

Not just for smartphones, Libby is accessible on PCs, too, if that’s something that catches your attention.

5. Scribd

Scribd is another versatile platform that hosts audiobooks, e-books, and much more. Similar to Audible, even Scribd is a subscription-based platform. You pay a monthly recurring fee and get to enjoy unlimited audiobooks.

The platform is highly popular and caters to millions of users. The library is quite organized yet diverse at the same time. However, the best part about subscribing to Scribd is their affordable subscription fee of $9.99 per month.

Although they offer unlimited access to audiobooks, e-books, etc., some titles come with exclusive restrictions. What makes Scribd different from its competitors is the difference in formats. Not just audiobooks, you also have print, which is a bonus.

The users can start with a free account with a 30-day free trial. Once that’s over, you need to upgrade to their premium version to access the library of e-books and audiobooks.

Which is the Best?

Audible is no doubt one of the best audiobook platforms on the internet. It's popular, diverse, and has an affordable subscription too. However, these are some of our top picks if you want to branch out. A studio is an excellent place to set up your audiobook and listen to them online. All of these alternatives are diverse and unique in their way. Some of these alternatives also give back to the local bookstores, libraries, and the communities attached to them, which is always a positive and not something you’d get with Audible. 

Author Bio: Hi, my name is James Mann from Becomesingers.com, I’m a vocal coach. And I have been involved in singing all my life in performing on stage, joining live bands, as a backup singer for other studio singers and teaching others on how to improve their singing skills and voice based on their vocal circumstances.

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

Listen to some of our audiobook samples here to get started.

10 Step Video Checklist for Content Creators

Introduction

Ever had a thought that you could be a vlogger? Don’t say no because I know we have all had that thought at some point. Deep down I think that we all aspire to be content creators and showcase all the great and amazing moments of our lives! What if I told you that it’s not that hard as long as you follow these 10 simple steps for content creators!

1) Do Your Research

Get a good understanding of what your target audience is! Let’s say you’re a content creator that makes videos about skincare products and routines. You might already have followers that care about skincare, but it’s great to figure out what else they care about. Don’t assume that you know exactly what your audience wants to see and definitely don’t be afraid to ask them what they want! Having trouble figuring out what kind of content creator you want to be? Don’t stress, there are so many ever changing industries that can fit your interests! All you need to do is find one thing that you are passionate about and BOOM that’s your niche. Change in any industry happens fast, and ongoing education is important. That means not only do you have to create content that people love, you also have to read others’ content. The best content creators are curious and look for topics their target audience likely cares about. Learn from others and keep improving!

2) Prepare Some Notes

Make sure to plan ahead and prepare a couple notes in advance! Recording yourself can sometimes feel awkward or uncomfortable and screw ups are inevitable. Try to make your recording time more efficient by keeping a couple notes on the side so you know exactly what you’re going to be talking about in the video. Helpful tips when note taking is keeping things short and to the point! You don’t want to be reading through an entire paragraph of words when trying to look at the camera and record a video. Make sure to have them taped up somewhere close to your camera so you won’t be looking down at your notes while recording.

3) Find Your Voice

This ties in nicely with doing your research and what makes researching so important! You don’t want to be like every other Youtuber, blogger, content creator etc., you want to be unique and stand out! Don’t hesitate to let your personality come through and just overall be you! People will want to watch your content if you are as genuine as possible.

4) Set Everything Up

This is from checking your gear to setting up your camera to doing a test run. Checking your filming gear is vital to the set-up process especially in order to make sure you have everything you need to start filming – microphones, camera, batteries, spare memory cards, etc. This will also give you a chance to check out the lighting, audio, and fix any flaws that need fixing. You get the picture – this step is all about getting set up so that you won’t run into issues while filming.

5) Practice, Practice, Practice!

Practice truly makes perfect. If you think that your favorite content creator did all their content in one take, sorry to break it to you but there were probably hours and hours of work that went into creating that perfect shot. But at the end of the day, it’s totally worth it. Don’t over exhaust yourself, but make sure to rehearse a couple times before hitting that record button.

6) Keep Track of KPIs

A key performance indicator (aka KPI) is a technical phrase that’s basically a metric that you choose to measure how well your content is doing. Your KPIs could be based around an increase in followers or subscribers, number of likes or shares, amount of organic traffic, etc. KPIs are helpful for setting goals and measuring how well you’re doing at reaching those goals.

7) Stay relevant

Creating great content that really resonates with your target audience requires you to know what's going on in your industry. The best content creators stay on top of industry trends. Every. Single. Day. And it’s not enough just to browse — you need to devour content relevant to you and your target audience. Set up Google alerts for digital media to stay on top of niche trends. Network with industry leaders on social media. Read relevant trade publications. Do it all!

8) NetworK every chance you get

Successful content creators know their success is due not only to their passion, but also to those who taught them, inspired them, and pushed them to think in different ways. Get in the habit of networking by seizing the countless opportunities you have to do it. They aren't called social networks for nothing! Spend some time on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to check out who the thought leaders are in your industry and follow them!

9) Stay busy

As your own boss, you can’t wait for work to come to you, you need to go to it. If you’re serious about becoming a good content creator, you must create daily. Pick the time of day that works best for you. Shut down distractions. Start small. Doing even a couple tasks a day to create content adds up fast. Make sure to think from different perspectives, then crystallize your thoughts. Getting content ideas becomes easier. In turn, you build an audience that’s interested in what you have to say.

10) Above all, don’t give up!

When you feel like giving up, think about why you started in the first place — a chance to use your creativity to make a great living. And you don’t need to try to become a content creator on your own. Get to know great content creators and learn from their mistakes. Local and online groups are both excellent options. Celebrate all the smallest victories and stay motivated!

Conclusion

At the end of the day, becoming a top-notch content creator isn’t easy, but the process is extremely rewarding and enjoyable for anyone who is passionate! As a content creator, you’ll get to do something you enjoy while helping others improve their lives. Comment below a topic that you would make your content about. What are you waiting for? Start creating!

Your fans are waiting for you!

Written by: Rena Wu

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If you need help creating your own videos, we offer video production services that will help you grow your business!

We look forward to being a part of your success :)

10 Ways to Foster a Positive Hybrid Work Environment

Introduction 

Cultivating a positive work environment is the foundation to any successful business. If you have ever heard the quote “Happy Wife, Happy Life”, it’s pretty much the same idea except work version, like “Happy Employee, Good Productivit-ee?” or some variation of that. When people feel encouraged, accepted and happy, they become more motivated and perform better. A simple yet extremely effective formula to achieve in a workplace. Setting your team up for success, especially in hybrid settings, which let’s be honest, is the reality we live in these days, comes down to the emotional, intellectual, and physical ways you support them. Even the simplest things can create a good and enjoyable work environment, leaving employees feeling like more than just working dogs, but actual valued members of the company. 

Here are 10 tips to creating a positive work environment for your company:

1) Prioritize onboarding and training

There’s no such thing as starting too soon! Creating a positive work environment starts from the beginning when employees are first hired. Especially for those starting their new jobs remotely, onboarding can feel daunting, and if done poorly, can impact retention. Therefore, it is extremely important for managers to create opportunities for new employees to interact and be involved within the company culture. Strategies such as introducing an internal mentor/mentee system can help both junior and senior level employees get to know each other and find common interests. Additionally, implementing team socials, after hiring new employees, whether it be online or in-person, can allow for employees to interact with each other in a stress-free and casual environment which will ultimately lead to creating a positive team dynamic. 

2) Provide a suitable and comfortable work environment

Positive team dynamic is one thing, however, a good physical work environment is a whole other thing. Having a comfortable and adaptable work environment creates a positive work experience with many physical and cognitive benefits. A good work environment goes beyond providing regular breaks, a break room with vending machines, and an annual employee appreciation breakfast. Employees also need adequate support, training, resources and space to perform their job. Mood is also influenced by overall workplace conditions such as safety features, adequate lighting and comfortable temperatures throughout the building. For companies that have employees working from home remotely, it is even more crucial for companies to provide as much support as possible in creating an ideal workspace for their employees.

3) Trust your team members

An essential part of any successful team is transparency and honesty. This requires mutual trust and respect between employees and employers. In action terms, this means that when you delegate, really let go and let the individual own the task you gave them. You can also communicate trust by asking team members to make decisions on their own for their part of the project. At the end of the day, people act the way they are treated, so the best rule to stick by is to treat other people the way you want to be treated. As simple as that. 

Another effective way to generate trust is to see the people you are working from time to time in-person or even on zoom for a virtual coffee date. Having everyone turn their camera on can help everyone feel more connected and part of a team, and helps with clients as well.

To set yourself a part when working from home, upgrade your studio setup so you can look and sound your best in front of all your co workers and clients, allowing for better connection, which can lead to substantial business growth and employee confidence. We are experts at studio setup upgrades and can walk you through exactly what you need based on what you already have, and how to set it up properly (100% virtually) using our Digital Studio Setup package, contact us here to learn more!

4) Listen to EVERYONE'S ideas

Everyone on your team has great ideas, that’s one of the reasons you hired them! Take advantage of that individuality and diversity among your employees and listen to the ideas they bring to the table. Whether it be the newest hire or the longest employee, each brings different experiences and perspectives to the project that they are focussed on. Trust them and allow them to express themselves freely without judgment! Give the good ideas a try; you never know what might happen – other than the fact that the team becomes more invested in their work and the project outcome, for starters.

5) Conduct regular check-ins

It’s no surprise that people who enjoy what they are doing are more likely to do better work. Encourage that by checking in regularly with your employees whether it be work related, or even casual conversation. Having scheduled check-ins on a weekly or monthly basis allows for team members to feel included and involved in the work environment, it also gives managers a chance to review the work that has been done and provide feedback. In terms of remote workers, it’s no question that people get burnt out from time to time when they are sleeping, eating and working all under the same roof. Employees need to know they are being supported beyond the confines of regular 1:1 chats, especially if they’re used to being able to walk over to your desk and ask a quick question. 

6) Create opportunities for learning

Employees thrive on being stimulated and challenged from time to time and this wouldn’t be possible if there weren’t opportunities to learn new things. Providing either online or hands-on learning experiences increases work productivity and overall brain stimulation, which let’s be honest we all need at times. A company can save millions in lost productivity by making sure that employees have access to the information they need to do their jobs.

7) Show your appreciation

This ties in with having trust in your team members. People are often fuelled and motivated through receiving gratitude and appreciation from others. Employers need to make their workers feel like they matter in a way that gives their work a sense of purpose. Meaningful and honest appreciation can be done through creating a simple “shout out” group chat through the company's communication platform to acknowledge the hard work that employees have been putting into a certain project or task. This way, your employees can understand what they’re doing well, and do more of it. When people feel like they’re doing good work, they want to rise to the occasion even more. A simple “thank you” goes a long way. 

8) Protect employees physical and mental health

This is a two parter. Both working at home and working in the office can make people feel fatigued and burnt out at times, providing regularly scheduled breaks and opportunities for relaxation can go a long way. Companies can promote a more positive and relaxed workspace by encouraging employees to take periodic breaks, allowing them to customize their workspace, and organizing a staff outing, picnic or retreat. Additionally, if in-person activities are not a possibility, then sharing various resources with employees so they can utilize their breaks by participating in eye, breathing and stretching exercises to feel refreshed.

Companies should also work to create a culture that encourages employees to talk openly about how they feel, both with their coworkers and managers. Employee Assistance Programmes are a great way to address problems before they begin and create a work environment where employees are happy and healthy. Talking about mental health can also go a long way towards helping employees feel supported and happy at work. Poor mental health can often lead to sick leave, which negatively impacts your business and team. Don’t keep mental health in the closet. 

9) Promote diversity

An essential ingredient to a positive workplace is diversity. Not only does a diverse workforce make it easier to attract your industry’s best and brightest, but it also increases productivity and profits. Employees are naturally more comfortable, which opens the door for creative thinking and innovative ideas. Plus, when employees are happier with their work environment, they’re less likely to spend their time looking for another job. 

10) Be spontaneous and have fun!

Everyone wants to have fun at work — even though everyone defines “fun” a little differently. Fun happens when people feel well-connected with a team where there’s mutual respect, open communication, acceptance of who people are and everyone’s collaborating and working toward the same goal. When teams are working well together, it makes it easier to be spontaneous and have some fun – whether it’s a last-minute Happy Hour on Friday after a project launch, or a brief pause in the afternoon to tell stories and have a few laughs over topics that have nothing to do about work. Sometimes we all need a break from the seriousness of business.

Conclusion

Building high-performing teams hinges on the culture you cultivate, the hybrid work environment you create, and the relationships you build. Company work culture plays such a huge role in their employees lives, so it is crucial to any team that they create and maintain the best work environment they possibly can. And remember, whether you’re a team leader or team member, everyone plays a role in contributing to your work environment.

Written by: Rena Wu

We want to know your thoughts on how your companies have positively impacted your lifestyle, or maybe how they haven’t? Share with us in the comments below!

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Thanks for reading this blog! We hope it was helpful. We are a full service media production studio, and specialize in audio / video production and marketing. If you need help with anything media related we are here and happy to help!