Creating & Profiting from the Perfect Amazon ACX Audiobook Project from David H. Lawrence XVII. Presented at Author Marketing Live! in Cleveland on Sept 8, 2014. http://www.authormarketinglive.com

1. CREATING AND PROFITING
FROM THE PERFECT
ACX AUDIOBOOK PROJECT
David H. Lawrence XVII

2. ABOUT DAVID
I am a number of things.

3. ABOUT DAVID
I am an on-camera TV and film actor.

4. ABOUT DAVID
I am a VO talent.

5. ABOUT DAVID
I am a teacher and mentor to storytellers.

6. ABOUT DAVID
I am an app developer and ‘net marketer.

7. ABOUT DAVID
I am often a creepy, evil villain.

8. ABOUT DAVID
I am often a goofball comedy player.

9. ABOUT DAVID
All I do as a performer is tell stories.

10. ABOUT DAVID
I am an audio book narrator.

11. ABOUT DAVID
A really, really good audio book narrator.

12. ABOUT DAVID
I am an Audible Approved Producer.

13. ABOUT DAVID
I’ve narrated over 100 audiobooks.

14. ABOUT DAVID
I train narrators to work with ACX.

15. ABOUT DAVID
I can help you find a great ACX narrator.

16. How ACX Works

17. How ACX Works
 You write a book.

18. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.

19. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.
 You claim your title on ACX.

20. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.
 You claim your title on ACX.
 Either you narrate and produce your own book…

21. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.
 You claim your title on ACX.
 Either you narrate and produce your own book...
 …or you hire someone like me to narrate and produce it for you.

22. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.
 You claim your title on ACX.
 Either you narrate and produce your own book...
 …or you hire someone like me to narrate and produce it for you.
 You and the narrator (which may be you) split the royalties…

23. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.
 You claim your title on ACX.
 Either you narrate and produce your own book...
 …or you hire someone like me to narrate and produce it for you.
 You and the narrator (which may be you) split the royalties…
 … or you pay the narrator money to narrate and produce it.

24. How ACX Works
 You write a book.
 You publish it in the Kindle Marketplace.
 You claim your title on ACX.
 Either you narrate and produce your own book...
 …or you hire someone like me to narrate and produce it for you.
 You and the narrator (which may be you) split the royalties…
 … or you pay the narrator money to narrate and produce it.
 ACX handles the audition, production and marketing of the book

25. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX

26. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.

27. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.

28. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.

29. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.
 Invite narrators of that description on ACX.

30. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.
 Invite narrators of that description on ACX.
 Review all of the auditions you receive.

31. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.
 Invite narrators of that description on ACX.
 Review all of the auditions you receive.
 When you find the one you like, make them an offer.

32. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.
 Invite narrators of that description on ACX.
 Review all of the auditions you receive.
 When you find the one you like, make them an offer.
 Stay in touch as the book is produced.

33. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.
 Invite narrators of that description on ACX.
 Review all of the auditions you receive.
 When you find the one you like, make them an offer.
 Stay in touch as the book is produced.
 Offer notes on errors, then approval of the project.

34. How To Find A Narrator on
ACX
 Have an idea of the type of voice you want.
 Decide if that’s you or not. If it is, go for it.
 If it isn’t, place your project up for audition on ACX.
 Invite narrators of that description on ACX.
 Review all of the auditions you receive.
 When you find the one you like, make them an offer.
 Stay in touch as the book is produced.
 Offer notes on errors, then approval of the project.
 ACX will then approve the quality of the project and release it.

35. That’s how to find ANY narrator.
But how do you find the RIGHT narrator?

36. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.

37. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.

38. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.

39. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.
 Research the sales of their work. They’re researching you.

40. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.
 Research the sales of their work. They’re researching you.
 See what their social media reach is (followers, friends etc)

41. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.
 Research the sales of their work. They’re researching you.
 See what their social media reach is (followers, friends etc)
 Offer union narrators at least $225 per finished hour.

42. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.
 Research the sales of their work. They’re researching you.
 See what their social media reach is (followers, friends etc)
 Offer union narrators at least $225 per finished hour.
 Be open to corrections to your text.

43. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.
 Research the sales of their work. They’re researching you.
 See what their social media reach is (followers, friends etc)
 Offer union narrators at least $225 per finished hour.
 Be open to corrections to your text.
 Be responsive to your narrator. Especially about pronunciation.

44. How To Find The Right
Narrator
 Know that good narrators are looking for good authors.
 Look for an Audible Approved Producer.
 Look for an ACX Master Class graduate. Call me.
 Research the sales of their work. They’re researching you.
 See what their social media reach is (followers, friends etc)
 Offer union narrators at least $225 per finished hour.
 Be open to corrections to your text.
 Be responsive to your narrator. Especially about pronunciation.
 Memorialize your communications via ACX messaging.

45. OK. I’ve found the right narrator.
How do I maximize that relationship?

46. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.

47. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.

48. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.
 Approve the first 15 minutes, or quickly ask for an adjusted read.

49. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.
 Approve the first 15 minutes, or quickly ask for an adjusted read.
 Be responsive in a timely manner to your narrator.

50. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.
 Approve the first 15 minutes, or quickly ask for an adjusted read.
 Be responsive in a timely manner to your narrator.
 Be open to corrections to your text.

51. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.
 Approve the first 15 minutes, or quickly ask for an adjusted read.
 Be responsive in a timely manner to your narrator.
 Be open to corrections to your text.
 Be loyal, and build an ongoing relationship.

52. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.
 Approve the first 15 minutes, or quickly ask for an adjusted read.
 Be responsive in a timely manner to your narrator.
 Be open to corrections to your text.
 Be loyal, and build an ongoing relationship.
 Plan (and pay your narrator) for release event appearances

53. How To Partner With A
Narrator
 Give them a reasonable offer, and a reasonable schedule.
 Be open to being surprised and delighted.
 Approve the first 15 minutes, or quickly ask for an adjusted read.
 Be responsive in a timely manner to your narrator.
 Be open to corrections to your text.
 Be loyal, and build an ongoing relationship.
 Plan (and pay your narrator) for release event appearances
 Memorialize your communications via ACX messaging.

54. That’s how to work with an ACX narrator.
But what if you are the narrator?

55. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.

56. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.

57. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.

58. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.
 Remember that this is not a staged reading. It’s an audiobook.

59. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.
 Remember that this is not a staged reading. It’s an audiobook.
 Be ruthless in quieting your recording space.

60. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.
 Remember that this is not a staged reading. It’s an audiobook.
 Be ruthless in quieting your recording space.
 Get training if you’ve never done this before. Call me.

61. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.
 Remember that this is not a staged reading. It’s an audiobook.
 Be ruthless in quieting your recording space.
 Get training if you’ve never done this before. Call me.
 Take your time. No, really. Take. Your. Time.

62. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.
 Remember that this is not a staged reading. It’s an audiobook.
 Be ruthless in quieting your recording space.
 Get training if you’ve never done this before. Call me.
 Take your time. No, really. Take. Your. Time.
 Produce your book to ACX’s technical standards.

63. How To Be An Author/Narrator
 Claim your title on ACX.
 Get the right equipment for you.
 Have a professional listen to your sample and coach you. Call me.
 Remember that this is not a staged reading. It’s an audiobook.
 Be ruthless in quieting your recording space.
 Get training if you’ve never done this before. Call me.
 Take your time. No, really. Take. Your. Time.
 Produce your book to ACX’s technical standards.
 Rinse and repeat.

64. OK. All that sounds great.
What about what NOT to do?

65. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.

66. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.

67. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.

68. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.
 Don’t expect not to have to interact with your narrator.

69. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.
 Don’t expect not to have to interact with your narrator.
 Don’t voice your own book if you’re not the right voice.

70. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.
 Don’t expect not to have to interact with your narrator.
 Don’t voice your own book if you’re not the right voice.
 Don’t leave the listener breathless by editing out all your breaths.

71. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.
 Don’t expect not to have to interact with your narrator.
 Don’t voice your own book if you’re not the right voice.
 Don’t leave the listener breathless by editing out all your breaths.
 Don’t rush – the listener is receiving fire-hose levels of words.

72. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.
 Don’t expect not to have to interact with your narrator.
 Don’t voice your own book if you’re not the right voice.
 Don’t leave the listener breathless by editing out all your breaths.
 Don’t rush – the listener is receiving fire-hose levels of words.
 Don’t ignore the tech requirements of ACX. Starting over sucks.

73. What Not To Do
 Don’t work outside the ACX framework.
 Don’t cheap out on equipment – no Blue Snowballs.
 Don’t hold a fan contest. Talent selection by popularity is death.
 Don’t expect not to have to interact with your narrator.
 Don’t voice your own book if you’re not the right voice.
 Don’t leave the listener breathless by editing out all your breaths.
 Don’t rush – the listener is receiving fire-hose levels of words.
 Don’t ignore the tech requirements of ACX. Starting over sucks.
 Don’t be a jerk about money.

74. QUESTIONS?
David H. Lawrence XVII
http://vo2gogo.com
davidlawrence@gmail.com
818-326-7700