Fix the storefront first

Most audiobook sales happen where the listener already shops: Audible, Apple Books, Spotify, Google Play, Kobo. The cover, the sample, the description and the categories must all be correct before any outside traffic is sent.

The sample is the real advertisement. It should start at the story's promise, not at the title page or the dedication.

Free channels that work

Review copies to audiobook reviewers and book bloggers in your genre. Newsletter swaps with authors whose readers already listen. A mailing list announcement with an embedded player, not just a link.

Short, professionally made audio or video spots posted where their format is native. The Proclamation commissions these as finished commercial deliverables.

Paid reach, honestly framed

Paid advertising is reach, not sales. It puts the book in front of listeners; the cover, sample and reviews must then convert them. Start small, measure cost per click and cost per sample play, and only expand what pays for itself.

The house offers the Herald program for authors who want a managed campaign cut from their own book: social clips, audio placements and a launch runway, priced as a flat fee rather than a percentage of sales.

What not to do

Do not buy reviews. Do not promise rankings. Do not run ads before the storefront is clean. Do not stop after launch week — most audiobooks find their listeners on the long tail, not the first day.

Asked and answered

Do I need a book trailer to market an audiobook?

No, but a short captioned clip can stop a scroll. The Proclamation offers finished 30, 60 and 90-second commercial spots.

How long should I keep marketing an audiobook?

At least three months after release, with one small action every week. After that, a light touch every few weeks keeps the title alive.

What does the Herald program include?

Three tiers: Kindling (30-day social campaign), Wildfire (90 days across social and audio with radio placement), and Conquest (six months across every channel). All are flat-fee campaigns, not percentage-of-royalty arrangements.