While Spotify users face yet another price hike, book lovers have some exciting developments to look forward to that could help cushion the blow.
Spotify announced several updates for its audiobook business on Thursday, notably its expansion into physical books. Users in the U.S. and the UK will soon be able to purchase physical copies of their favorite audiobooks directly through the app, marking a significant pivot for the once digital-only platform.
The company also introduced two features designed to make the audiobook experience smoother and more flexible, including a new tool called “Page Match” that lets users scan a page from a physical book to instantly transition to that spot in the audiobook.
Additionally, “Audiobook Recaps”—a previously iOS-only feature—is coming to Android devices in the spring. This feature provides bite-sized recaps tailored to the last section users stopped listening to.
Image Credits:Spotify
Spotify’s decision to sell physical books through its app positions it as a competitor to major booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The company also recognizes that many readers still value physical books, and by offering both print and digital formats, Spotify is trying to turn itself into a one-stop shop for book lovers.
Spotify has partnered with Bookshop.org on the new offering, an online marketplace that supports local, independent bookstores. This partnership is great news for indie booksellers, as every purchase made via Spotify will directly benefit local book communities.
The ability to purchase physical books will roll out this spring and appear on audiobook pages in the app as a button labeled “Add to your bookshelf at home.” Clicking it takes users to Bookshop’s website, which handles the pricing, inventory, and shipping.
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Image Credits:Spotify
To bridge the gap between formats, Spotify is also launching a feature called Page Match, which is currently available to premium subscribers and will roll out to all audiobook users by late February. The feature was initially spotted by Android Authority last month.
Spotify’s new Page Match feature lets users scan a page from a physical or e-book using their phone camera. The tool analyzes the page content and directs users to the exact spot in the audiobook. It’s powered by a combination of Spotify’s in-house and third-party computer vision and image scanning technologies.
When users want to switch to the audiobook, they can select the “Scan to Listen” button and click the “Scan to Read” button to return to the physical book, making it easy for users to pick up where they left off, whether they’re reading at home or switching to audio while on the go.
Page Match is currently available for most English-language titles, with plans for future expansion. There are now more than 500,000 titles on the platform.
In the two years since Spotify first introduced audiobooks, the platform has experienced significant growth. The company reported in October that the number of users listening to audiobooks rose 36% over the past year, and listening hours increased 37%. Plus, more than half of Spotify’s 281 million premium subscribers have engaged with an audiobook.
Spotify is expected to release its fourth-quarter earnings results February 10.
Have a hankering for some audiobooks? Audible is holding one heck of a sale right now, giving users three months of access for $3. That’s a dollar per month. This is something of a winter tradition for the Amazon-owned platform and the promotion ends on January 21.
An Audible subscription grants one audiobook per month to keep. This can be selected from a massive catalog of new releases and bestsellers. The collection here has just about everything.
Amazon
However, it’s easy to plow through a single book in a month. Users also get streaming access to thousands of curated titles. Think of it like Netflix for audiobooks. The catalog is limited, but it gets the job done in a pinch. Subscribers do get access to all Audible original content and they will receive discounts on purchasing audiobooks outright.
In other words, it’s a neat little service and well worth a buck. The regular price is $15, so make sure to cancel at the end of that three months if you aren’t enjoying the platform.
Readers spent a lot of time at D.C.’s public libraries in 2025, and checked out a lot of books eBooks, audiobooks and streaming videos.
Readers spent a lot of time at D.C.’s public libraries in 2025, and checked out a lot of books, eBooks, audiobooks and streaming videos.
In a news release, the library system said people walked trough the library doors 3.2 million times in 2025, and library items were borrowed more than 6.2 million times.
“More than 1.1 million physical items left for a first checkout,” according to the library system.
So what are people reading, listening to and streaming the most?
Young readers checked out nine different Dav Pilkey illustrated titles, while teens and young adults moved through Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy series and returned repeatedly to Suzanne Collins.
Adults borrowed Emily Henry’s novels, Michelle Zauner’s “Crying in H Mart” memoir and David Grann’s historical narrative. Of the top books, digital borrowers listened to “Braiding Sweetgrass” and “Pride and Prejudice,” and read “The Covenant of Water” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The book “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore, a mystery about a summer camp in the Adirondacks, topped the list of most checked out adult fiction in print form. “Assistant to the Villain” by Hannah Nicole Maehrer was the top adult fiction audiobook.
There was also a lot of community built at libraries last year. Meeting rooms and study rooms were booked 78,247 times.
The library system said public computers hosted 623,906 sessions, totaling 574,623 hours.
Online, people took courses in Spanish, French and German through Mango Languages, or they worked on Excel and Python tutorials and took classes in crochet, watercolor and sewing.
A new season calls for a change of pace in our monthly Sweet Listens column! We’re so ready for the weather to cool and for us to be able to cozy up with a new book or audiobook.
This month’s book releases have given us both contemporary fiction and dark fantasies, so be sure to check out THP’s new book reviews. In the meantime, we’ll give you our top three September audiobook recommendations!
Content warning: The Honey POP encourages mindful listening and checking the author’s website for any additional content warnings.
Gita Desai Is Not Here To Shut Up By Sonia Patel
Image Source: Penguin Random House
For our first September audiobook, we recommend Sonia Patel’s Gita Desai is Not Here to Shut Up! This contemporary YA novel tells the story of Gita Desai, a South Asian first-year college student who plans to ace her way through undergrad and later med school. But the more Gita branches out, meeting new people and hooking up with strangers, the more she’s reminded of dark secrets from her childhood. Touching on topics of sexual assault and complex PTSD from childhood sexual abuse, this audiobook is a powerful and necessary addition to the YA space.
If you’re anything like us, then you like to celebrate the spooky season as early as possible. And we don’t know a better way to start the fall festivities than with a spooky September audiobook like The Thirteenth Child! Erin A. Craig‘s latest fantasy novel follows Hazel Trépas, a healer with the gift of finding the exact cure her patients need. But she’s also cursed with the responsibility to end the lives of the people who can’t be cured of an illness, even if it’s the king. Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ “Godfather Death,” The Thirteenth Childis a wonderfully Gothic audiobook that’ll have you racing to the end.
Our last September audiobook recommendation is Alicia Jasinska’s new novel, This Fatal Kiss! Inspired by Slavic folklore, this YA fantasy features a queer, polyamorous relationship between a water nymph named Gisela, a grumpy exorcist named Kazik, and a handsome young man named Aleksey. Gisela has her sights set on Aleksey and needs Kazik’s help to set them up. She wants to return to her human life and needs a kiss from a mortal to do that. But things get complicated when Kazik falls for Aleksey (and Gisela too). Not to mention Aleksey’s possible connection to Gisela’s past.
What do you think of this month’s Sweet Listens? Which of these September audiobooks are you most interested in? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Welcome back to a new Sweet Listens column! Summer’s starting to wind down, and we at THP aren’t ready to let it go yet! But on the bright side, at least we have a few new audiobooks to share with you.
The book releases this month have given us mysteries and summer romances, any of which could be your next read. Here are three of our top August audiobook recommendations!
Content warning: The Honey POP encourages mindful listening and checking the author’s website for any additional content warnings.
Love Requires Chocolate By Ravynn K. Stringfield
Image Source: Penguin Random House
Our first August audiobook recommendation is a short and sweet debut by Ravynn K. Stringfield called Love Requires Chocolate! This novel follows Whitney Curry, an enthusiastic theater nerd who studies abroad in Paris for a semester. She has a bucket list of things to do in Paris. But most importantly, she needs to research the life of Josephine Baker and write a one-woman show for her senior thesis. What she doesn’t plan for is her budding romance with her handsome, grumpy French tutor Thierry Magnon.
The next August audiobook you should read is Julian Winter’s Prince of the Palisades. Think Red, White, and Royal Blue plus Young Royals! This new queer romance follows Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie and his attempts to clean up his image after his public break-up goes viral. Jadon needs to prove to his parents and his country that he is more than his mistakes. But as he falls in love with a nonroyal American classmate and figures out his identity, he realizes there’s more than one way to lead.
Now, let’s switch gears from romance to thrillers as we prepare for the imminent fall weather and spooky season. Even though The Champions by Kara Thomas is the follow-up to The Cheerleaders, it’s also a standalone novel/audiobook. Eleven years after the deaths of five cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, the town may see history repeat itself when the all-star football players become the next target. And Hadley, the new girl in town, is determined to dig up the past and find the suspect before anyone else gets hurt or killed.
What do you think of this month’s Sweet Listens? Which of these August audiobooks are you most interested in? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Do you love to read?
Do you wish you had more time to do so?
Do you fashion yourself a multitasker?
Or are you the type or person who enjoys
learning new things, but has very little time to commit?
If you answered yes to any or all of these
questions… audible books may just be what the doctor ordered.
I mean, seriously… pretty much everything
Amazon touches turns to gold.
Sure, there are other audiobook sites and apps
out there… but few with the same level of customer service or content Amazon
can offer.
In this article, I’ll touch on what sets
Amazon Audible apart.
We will cover:
The main features of the program
How to find Audible books
The different platforms it’s available on
Pros and cons of the program
“Who” is it for
Final thoughts
So let’s get started, shall we?
Want a Free Audiobook from Audible?
Get one audiobook for free when you sign up for a 30-day Audible Free Trial. Here are some of the best audiobooks from S.J. Scott:
What is Amazon Audible?
Simply put, Amazon Audible is an audiobook
subscription membership program, offering nearly 200,000 titles… many of
which are classics or bestsellers.
There is also a wide selection of Audible
Original titles.
Audible currently offers a 30-day free trial,
which includes 1 audiobook download (referred to as one credit) and 2 Audible
Originals from a rotating selection.
Note:
you can’t just choose any Original audiobook. Amazon provides approved choices
for free downloading every month.
Existing Prime members are entitled to two
audiobook downloads (or credits), plus 2 Audible Originals… rather than one
credit for non-members.
After the trial period ends, membership
includes access to 1 audiobook download and 2 Audible Originals per month.
You can cancel at any time, no questions
asked… similar to Amazon’s general return policy. I’ve always found returns
simple with Amazon, be it with Prime products or Video.
Your credit card is only charged if you fail
to cancel within the free trial period.
Once you’ve logged in, you are able to browse from a plethora of titles.
You can search by:
Category (26 categories in total)
Lists & Collections (such as Best Sellers, New Releases, Coming Soon, Best of)
Featured (Audible Theatre, Audible Escape, Harry Potter, Reese’s Book Club, Audible Latino, Audio Shows, Blogs)
From a laptop or desktop, you can use a mouse
to scroll over titles and view a pop-up summary.
Otherwise, simply tap or click on the book title you find interesting to be brought to a summary page.
There you will be given information regarding
the book’s length, release date, narrator’s name and language.
You will also have access to:
The publisher’s summary
Critic Reviews
Member Reviews
Additional Audiobook Suggestions from the same Author and/or Narrator
Should you decide to go ahead and select the
title, you’ll be shown a membership price.
Typically, the free credit earned each month
covers the cost of one title… so you wouldn’t be charged anything additional
for one audiobook.
When you select a title, it is placed in your
cart and any available credits will be used.
Should you decide the book isn’t worth the
read, you can simply exchange it for another at no additional cost.
Think of it as a money back, no risk, reading
guarantee.
Amazon Audible also boasts a unique feature called Whispersync. Whispersync for Voice-ready allows you to move between audiobook and Kindle book seamlessly from one device to the next.
Since it is available in a corresponding
audiobook version, Audible offers the chance to purchase it for a discounted
price (or one credit).
By electing to purchase the audio version, I
am now able to read the book on my tablet before bed… and pick up where I left
off via audiobook while out for my morning jog.
How cool is that?
And for a busy working mom to four small kids…
this feature is worth its weight in gold.
Or, in this case, the modest membership fee.
In addition to the best sellers, Audible
Originals really set the service apart from the competition.
What competition, you ask?
Among the most popular are:
Audiobooks
Serial Box
Google Play Books
Bookmobile
Chirp
Still, none of these have yet to truly
threaten what Amazon Audible is doing.
The business models vary, for starters.
Primarily, while many of these services come
by way of free app, there is typically a “pay per title” fee… which can really
add up.
Conversely, the ones that charge monthly
membership fees offer a fraction of the title selection that Audible does.
And getting back to that…
You can easily browse Audible Originals by category and recommendations.
Audible Originals are exclusive audio titles created by celebrated storytellers from worlds as diverse as theater, journalism, literature and more… all produced in the Audible studios.
Similar to the best sellers, you are able to
browse Audible Originals by category and recommendations just for you.
“Quick Listens for the Commute” appealed to me… especially when I got a glimpse of one of my favorite comedians, Nick Offerman, on the summary page. This, however, was not one of my free Original choices (remember, you get 2 per month).
So instead, I selected to download “You Can Thank me Later”, a novella by
Kelly Harms. It’s free for the month of November.
A wide array of podcasts are also included
with Amazon Audible. And there is no denying the rising popularity of podcasts
these days.
I believe NBC even had a series about a
corporate exec-turned-podcaster.
Access to Audible Daily Deals, with audiobooks available for as little as $2.95
30% off any additional titles you purchase as a member
Keep your library of titles forever, even if you cancel membership
The Audible app keeps your place, even when you switch devices
Access Audible across all your devices including Alexa-enabled devices,
Amazon Kindle, audio players, and any Bluetooth speaker.
Always ad-free!
I’m Sold! So, How Do I Find My Next Audiobook?
Searching for your next listen is easy with
the Amazon Audible taskbar.
You can search two ways:
Utilize the Browse Feature, which is broken into categories
Type a title or topic into the search bar
Once you type something into the search bar,
you are brought to a suggestions page, based on the matching keyword. These
suggestions are in all categories.
You can sort by:
Newest arrivals
Best Selling
Title
Running Time
Average Customer Review
You can also filter your search by:
Category
Packages (escape for example, is a special Romance category)
New Releases (30 day, 90 day, Coming Soon)
Audiobook Length (from less than 1 hr to more than 20 hours)
Language
Program Type
Program Format
Whispersync availability
Depending on how specific you want to be, the
search will be drastically cut down to a manageable list.
And, voila! You’re set to select.
Whatever audiobooks you choose are placed in
your library.
Once a book is in your library, you can access
and manage it at any time via the “Library” tab.
That is also where you actually download the
title to your device. You can also submit a review from here.
Where to Enjoy Amazon Audible
Once you’ve selected your listens, downloading the Audible App is required in order to be able to enjoy audiobooks.
The app is free and available for the
following, making listening on your smartphone a snap:
You can also enjoy Amazon Audible on these
supported devices:
Sonos Speakers
Alexa-enabled Devices
FireTV
Kindle
Kindle Oasis
Fire Tablet
Android, IOS and Windows Tablets
Computer & mp3 (via the Audible Cloud Player and iTunes)
The Pros and Cons of Amazon
Audible
Let’s face it… life can’t be all sunshine and roses.
But Amazon Audible comes close in its efforts to make top quality reads accessible to anyone with the ability and willingness to listen.
So let’s start with the pros:
Largest audiobook selection among its competitors
Large selection of original titles
All books purchased are yours to keep forever, even if you cancel the membership
Whispersync for Voice
Audible app syncs with other audible apps and purchases (including iTunes and Google Reads)
Seamless bookmarking (your current spot, whether audio or visual, is always saved and synced)
Impressive selection of free content
Amazon Prime membership-affiliated free content
Amazon Household Library, which allows you to share your audiobooks across devices with another member of your family
Bluetooth speaker connectivity
Well-known narrators, actors and actresses
Member discount to purchase additional books
Abbreviated versions of many audiobooks, offered at a lower price
Ability to change the listening speed (speed it up or slow it down)
Ad-free listening
Two Tiers of Membership (Gold or Platinum), offered monthly or annually
Roll over credits available for unused purchases (5-12 rollovers depending on membership type)
Refunds available within 1 year of purchasing a book
Ability to put your membership on Hold for a set period of time
Amazon’s award winning customer service and support
There is no contract, so you can unsubscribe and resubscribe at any time if you find yourself not reading as often as you’d like
And now the cons:
Unused membership credits expire after one year
Unused credits disappear if you cancel the membership before using them
Audiobooks can be more expensive than the hard copy or eBook.
Amazon Audible titles are occasionally more expensive than amazon.com or competitor book sites
If you read more than the allotted amount of credits each month, the cost per book can add up
iPhone users are currently unable to purchase books directly through the Audible app due to contract restrictions, so you must download via a computer.
Books cannot be streamed, so downloading to your mobile device will use up storage.
As you can see, rather clearly, the pros
seriously outweigh the cons here.
But don’t take my word for it… see for
yourself with the 30-day free trial.
And if you have any more questions or
reservations, be sure to visit and FAQ page.
Is Amazon Audible Right for Me?
Amazon Audible is for people who will listen to at least one book per month.
You may be wondering what type of person
benefits most from Amazon Audible?
Well, that answer is three-fold.
First,
it’s for busy people who don’t typically have as much time to read as they’d
like.
If you work long hours… commute to work by
bus or train… have a busy social calendar… a heavy college course load… or
have kids… chances are, you don’t have a lot of down time.
You’re lucky if you get your daily workout in
– or get to eat dinner at a normal speed once in a while.
But read a book?
Now that’s just unheard of.
Or at least it was… before Amazon Audible.
Thanks to its groundbreaking and intuitive
interface, you are able to take your books from the sofa, to the gym, to your
kid’s dance lessons, to the office.
Audible goes wherever you go and makes reading
for pleasure accessible again.
It’s also great if you want to get out of your
comfort zone and learn about something new.
Don’t have time to listen to the news?
You can for free with Audible.
Need to recenter yourself? Audible meditations
cost nothing more than the time you’re willing to invest in them.
Second,
Amazon audible is for people that will commit to listening to at least one book
per month.
As with most everything that is worthwhile,
the audible membership is not free. That being said, the monthly fee covers 1
audiobook credit and 2 Audible Original reads.
These credits, however, vary their worth based
on the book’s list price.
The monthly fee, which gives you 1 or 2
credits per month based on your membership plan, essentially is the most you’ll
pay for one book.
That being said, depending on what you opt to
read… books valued at say, $40 USD, are a huge savings for members paying a
fraction of that monthly.
Alternately, if a book you are interested in
purchasing is on sale or retailing for less than $10, you may be best served to
purchase the book and save the credit for a more expensive title later…
especially considering you are able to roll over a certain number of credits.
Finally,
Amazon audible is for the audiobook junkie.
Nobody does it better than Amazon.
If you can’t live without your audiobooks, the
service offers the best selection there is.
Hands down.
More than 150,000 hands… to be exact.
There is no real competition.
And although other sites may cost less on
paper, or offer unlimited titles, the selection suffers because of it.
Plus, as an Audible member, you’re given
access to:
Daily Deals
30% off all titles
Flash sales on membership
Audible Originals
Lifetime access to all purchased audiobooks
If you think about it, the typical person will
purchase the hardcopy of a book and put it down without finishing. Perhaps,
never finishing it.
Why?
Because life happens!
But if the book is accessible 24/7, on
multiple platforms… you’re much more
likely to make it to the end.
Plus, if you keep your eyes open for those
“member only” deals, you might find yourself purchasing multiple books for the
price of one.
Amazon audible is for the audiobook junkie.
So… is Amazon Audible Worth It?
If you’re still with me, you don’t need to be
a psychic to guess what I’m about to say.
If you want to “read” more… Amazon Audible is
for you!
If you can commit to listening to at least one
or two titles per month… Amazon Audible is for you!
If you are an audiobook fanatic… Amazon
Audible is for you.
Yes, it costs money.
But in my humble opinion, it’s a drop in the
bucket compared to the other stuff we spend money on.
Lattes.
Lunches.
A pair of shoes we don’t really need.
Not only are the Audible book titles and
narrators in a class unto themselves… but if you seek, you shall find deals.
And more deals.
Couple that with award winning customer
service and no-hassle cancellation and return policies… and Audible is the
clear cut winner in the category.
The cons are hardly worth a second thought –
and really only come into play if you don’t take full advantage of what Audible
offers.
Hey, I’m not trying to sell you on audiobooks.
You like them or you don’t.
You want to read more, or you don’t.
But if you do, start your free trial today.
I promise you will be kicking yourself for not
doing it sooner.
And if you’re on the lookout for more books to read, be sure to read these articles:
Nicole Krause has been writing both personally and professionally for over 20 years. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Film Studies. Her work has appeared in some of the country’s top publications, major news outlets, online publications, and blogs. As a happily married (and extremely busy) mother of four… her articles primarily focus on parenting, marriage, family, finance, organization, and product reviews.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
What was the last book or novel you read? Was it full of action and adventure? A steamy, slow-burning romance? Maybe it was the tale of a successful business owner or entrepreneur. Or was it the tell-all from a famous entertainment icon?
More importantly, What formatwas that story in? The traditional way of reading a story these days has drifted from the standard paperback or hardcover physical book to that of eBooks, audiobooks and even videos.
Translation?
The way we read has changed. And that change is not in just how we access the reading material. I’m going to explain 3 of the most insane trends happening in the world of publishing that will change the way you read in 2024.
In 2020, 191 million eBooks were purchased. This shouldn’t be a surprise, considering that the world was in the midst of a global pandemic. But this statistic has actually been growing steadily since about 2019.
The popularity of Amazon’s Kindle helped to drive that, with 84% of people reading those purchased eBooks on the device. Additionally, 23% of the $26 billion publishing industry in 2020 came from eBook purchases.
While the pandemic helped boost eBooks even higher, the impact of digital reading will only grow into 2024. Why? There are several reasons:
Convenience – readers can start reading immediately after purchase, without the need to leave the office or home.
Accessibility – to add to convenience, accessibility is also what’s helped to make eBooks a popular choice. eBooks come in various formats – PDF, ePUB and MOBI – and many are designed to handle and use assistive technology for those with disabilities.
Portability – the portable nature of eBooks means you can take an entire library anywhere you go. The Kindle is a popular device. However, thanks to its mobile app, anyone with a smartphone can access their library on whatever device – Mac, PC, iPhone, or Android – they prefer.
Customization – perfect for students at all levels, eBooks can mark up passages for quick reference, notes, annotations and even website links.
The convenience and portability of eBooks make them the perfect companion while on vacation or for a relaxing evening. But what if you don’t have time to sit and relax with a good book? Our hectic daily lives, both in and outside of work, can often make enjoying leisurely activities difficult to come by. So, while you may want to read, you probably don’t have the time or energy to settle down with a good book.
Audiobooks might seem like a new invention thanks to the growth in technology, but they’ve had a long life, starting in 1932. Actually, the American Foundation for the Blind established a recording studio, creating recordings of books on vinyl records.
This continued into the early 1990s when the term ‘audiobook’ became a standard to explain these recordings — the year 1995 introduced the debut of the soon-to-be audiobook giant Audible. Started by Donald Katz and Tim Mott, the two took the initial idea of the audiobook and began to develop it for the growing internet.
Two years later, the company released a mobile player, allowing people to listen while on the go. It wasn’t as popular or cheap as the emerging iPod, but it was a glimpse at what could be. Two years after that, Amazon became the strategic partner for Audible and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since then, searches for ‘audible’ have risen over the last 15 years by 167%, with revenue growing 14.3% year over year. While holding most of the eBook market, Amazon also hosts about 200,000 audiobooks through Audible.
In combination, the explosion of both eBooks and audiobooks will ultimately continue – especially as more publishers develop their works to accommodate the technology.
The introduction of ChatGPT, the natural language processing tool driven by AI technology, continues to be all the rage with human-like conversations and more with, essentially, a chatbot. ChatGPT, like Bard and Bing, can do more than just answer simple questions; it can compose essays, describe various objects in detail, create AI art prompts and even code for you.
Regarding publishing, writers and publishers alike have flocked to AI software to produce written content. This can be beneficial to writers in coming up with ideas or helping to create outlines. While ChatGPT is great at providing helpful answers after giving specific prompts, there are limits to what the software can do (currently). Remember, this is still a piece of software that uses machine language; even ChatGPT will admit that it has limits on what it can do.
Among those limits include plagiarism and sometimes giving incorrect answers to questions asked. This has given rise to AI detectors from various businesses and corporations, including Amazon and even Google. There are also privacy concerns due to how OpenAI was able to train the software.
The convergence of publishing and technology
These are just three trends that publishing companies and authors are experiencing as we head into 2024.
As technology advances, the abilities afforded to us to use only grows. Still, like other business areas, the devices and software we use are just tools to further our knowledge and abilities, not replacements.
Audiobooks, ebooks and AI are incredible for the opportunities provided and our wider availability to reach others. Storytelling is universal, and the more stories we can tell each other, the more connected we become.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
By 2023, it is predicted that there will be 465 million active podcast listeners across the globe. That is a lot of attention for business owners of all shapes and entrepreneurs to tap into. With more and more people busy and on the go, it’s no surprise that people are opting for audio-only listening — whether in the car, on a walk, on a plane or while cooking dinner. Podcasts are here to stay, and they’re only just getting started.
When it comes to business, one of the most critical factors in your growth is the number of people you know, like and trust. Podcasts will help you tick all three of those boxes. If you’re not leveraging them as a part of your marketing, let today be the day that changes.
You will get more reach and exposure as a direct result of the podcasts, and you can leverage the video content from the episode across your social media channels. One recorded podcast episode can produce a month worth of short-form video content for you. Boost Media Agency specializes in PR and podcast bookings, and here I share the exact strategy that we use to book our clients on podcasts and how you can do the same to get yourself on at least one podcast per week.
When it comes to getting booked on podcasts, the best place to start is getting clear on the types of shows where you feel you can first reach the right people and, secondly, add the most value. Ensuring each podcast is aligned with your work will simplify the process. It goes without saying, but if you’re in the hair and beauty space, a finance podcast isn’t going to interview you.
If you’ve never done podcasts before, start small. Trying to get onto Joe Rogan or Tony Robbins podcast if you’re just starting might dampen your spirits. Try to find podcasts that have between 500-5000 listeners per episode, as these will be your best shot, and build a list of at least 20 podcasts.
It goes without saying, but podcast hosts get pitched — a lot. If you want to skyrocket the chances of a host booking you, the best place to start is to connect with them on social media. Doing so starts the relationship by giving, which is far more likely to end with the host reciprocating.
So, take the time to listen to an episode, drop them a friend request or follow, and send them a message telling them that you love their show and that a particular message resonated with you.
3. Create your pitch
Crafting a pitch can seem like a daunting task. The best place to start is your talking points. What are 2-3 things that, from your experience, you know better than anyone else? Try to get a little more creative than”Scaling to 6-figures,” — as you’ll sound like everyone else. Lean into your uniqueness and story here, as that will sell the host on having you on their show. Remember to keep your pitch short. Here is a basic framework: Compliment, Story, Value and Call To Action.
Compliment: Who doesn’t love a compliment? Start with this to ensure the host knows it’s personalized and not a mass pitch. E.g., “Loved your episode with John Smith. The message about growing from within really resonated with me.“
Story: Your story is what will sell them. Share the unique parts of you and your story in 1-3 sentences.
Value: Podcast hosts want to hear the value you have to provide. Share your 2-3 unique talking points with them in bullet format.
Call to action (CTA): You’ll never know if you don’t ask. Ask them if they’d like to have you as a guest. For example: “I’d love to share these insights with your audience. If you think this would be valuable for them, would you be open to scheduling a time?”
So you’ve got your list, your pitch, so here comes the exciting part. Pressing send! Whether pitching the media, or a podcast, in this case, sending emails can be time-consuming, particularly the follow-up. That being said, there are some great email tools that you can leverage, such as Lemlist or Omni.us, where you can create custom email campaigns with automated follow-up sequences.
We all know that not every email gets replied to, and often the host won’t reply until the second or third email — and trust me, persistence pays off. Make sure to keep the follow-ups around 3-4 days apart, as no one likes to be bombarded daily. We all get enough emails as it is.
There’s no doubt that podcasts are a great way to build authority, reach new audiences, and ultimately, grow your brand and bottom line. This 4-step process is all you need to book yourself onto great podcasts regularly.
Spotify came out swinging against Apple today, detailing all the ways it says Apple forces Spotify to deliver a bad user experience unless the company pays Apple a 30% App Store commission on all sales.
“We want to deliver a super awesome and easy user experience,” Spotify says on a new Time to Play Fair website. “But once again, Apple is standing in the way— this time, in addition to consumers being hurt, authors and publishers are also being punished.”
At issue is Apple’s stance on purchases made in an app, which Apple wants to be made via its built-in iOS purchasing system — not an app’s or brand’s own e-commerce capability. For that service, Apple wants a 30% share. This is, of course, the same problem Apple faced with Epic, makers of the incredibly popular Fortnite game that is no longer available on the App Store after being banned for allowing purchases that side-stepped Apple purchasing policies.
Spotify doesn’t want to pay the 30% fee, which would make the audiobook business much less profitable, and so it’s currently forced to adopt a convoluted, difficult process for audiobook purchases. In fact, it’s tried three times to redesign the process, the company says, but Apple has rejected the app for breaking App Store guidelines.
Spotify says Apple won’t allow it to do eight things. According to Apple guidelines, Spotify says it:
Can’t sell audiobooks in the Spotify app without using Apple’s in-app purchase methodology
Can’t explain why they can’t sell audiobooks in their app
Can’t explain where or how people can buy the audiobook from Spotify elsewhere
Can’t share a link to send customers to a website to buy the audiobook
Can’t send people an email with purchase information outside of the App Store
Can’t answer questions about an audiobook via an email
Can’t tell customers the cost of the audiobook either in their app or in an email
Can’t give people tips on how to navigate a non-Apple purchase process
That’s a lot of blockages. The most egregious, perhaps, is not allowing Spotify to send an email via its own mail servers to its own customers, a process that doesn’t touch Apple at all. (Apple’s claim here, of course, will be that Spotify acquired their customers’ email address via their iOS app.)
So far, Apple’s been forced to open up to non-in-app-purchase flows in at least two countries, Korea and the Netherlands. However, the process Apple enabled is much more onerous and still costs developers 27% of the purchase price in the Netherlands, and 26% in South Korea, leaving regulators unsatisfied with Apple’s compliance with local regulations.
“Basically, Apple rules mandate a cumbersome Audiobooks purchasing process that makes it harder for you to find your next favorite author or book,” Spotify says.
The reality is that sooner or later, competition authorities will likely force Apple to open up in-app purchases. In Europe, that’s likely via the new Digital Markets Act, which will likely require significant changes in both the App Store and Google Play:
As I’ve written elsewhere, that probably, but not certainly means changes like this:
People would be able to delete pre-installed apps
People would be able to side-load apps, or install them just like you might install an app from the internet on a desktop computer
Businesses would be able create independent app stores
Apps would be able to use third-party payment processing
Apps would be able to interoperate with core services around messaging
Apps would be able to use hardware features that platforms might have reserved for themselves
People would be able to switch AI assistants
The question is: will Apple and Google do this willingly, and thereby maintain some level of public appreciation and developer support, or will they do it slowly, reluctantly, and only as forced by law?
“Apple doesn’t just make the rules,” Spotify says. “They also arbitrarily change them to favor their own services and punish app developers who choose not to implement in-app purchases (IAP). And in this case that means audiobook listeners as well as authors and publishers bear the brunt, too.”
I’ve asked Apple for a comment, and will update this story if the company responds.
