Julie Broad argues that Speechify is useful for readers but shouldn't replace authors making real audiobooks. Audiobooks generate revenue, boost discoverability and rankings, and strengthen an author's platform in ways a text-to-speech tool cannot.
Today I want to get into why Speechify is a fantastic reader tool, but a terrible audiobook strategy for authors. Now, if you aren't familiar with what Speechify actually is, it's a consumer tool designed to help readers listen to content. I have no issues with Speechify. The issue I have is when authors begin thinking, why create an audiobook? My readers can just use Speechify. Because when you think that, you've just stopped thinking like the owner of intellectual property. And you've started thinking like a consumer, and those are not the same thing. You've put a lot of time, effort, energy, probably money into producing a great book, and your audiobook is a product. It's intellectual property. All the formats serve different readers— ebook, hardcover, audiobook, print book— and they create additional revenue opportunities. And they're part of your author ecosystem, which expands your reach, your impact, and your income. So if you think, well, if someone wants to listen to my book, they can just use Speechify, you're actually thinking don't create one of the products your intellectual property could be generating. Now here's why I think you want an audiobook. Because when someone buys your audiobook, you get paid, you gain rankings, your visibility goes up, your discoverability improves, You gain reviews and your author platform strengthens. If someone uses Speechify, Speechify gets paid. You don't.
Should You Skip Amazon When You Publish Your Book? #digitalmarketing #amazonauthor
