How to Build Digital Audio Products: Tips & Best Practices
Digital audio products have become extremely popular in recent years. From the advent of audio streaming to the increase in active podcasts, audiobooks, and other digital audio products available, the evolution of technology has helped position audio products front and center.
Creating digital audio products can be a dynamic means to make money online and create lasting revenue streams. This post will help educate you on what types of digital products you can make money from and what you’ll need to get started in creating them.
Let’s get started.
What are digital audio products?
Digital audio products are audio files that exist in digital form and deliver value to people who buy or use them. Digital products are usually software-based products or services and lack a physical form.
Digital audio products typically fall into one of several classifications listed below. This is a crude list as categories overlap; some can exist in others, and some can cut across categories. The point is that the files are purely audio. No visual component exists.
- Audiobooks
- Podcasts
- Music tracks
- Audio clips
- Language lessons
- Background noise
- Relaxation sounds
- Nature sounds
- Sound effects
Most audio files are distributed via the following file formats. Some are lossless, and others lossy. Those terms refer to sound quality, with lossless being the best quality, which also translates into larger file sizes.
- WAV
- MP3
- AAC
- Ogg Vorbis
- WMA
- FLAC
Are digital audio products worth creating?
If you’re considering selling a product or service online, audio may be your best option. There are many reasons for selecting to sell digital audio products.
Launching a digital audio product allows you to reach millions of users. The number of people showing interest in audio content is growing exponentially. This positive shift in people’s time spent listening entices digital creators to create digital audio products.
The most recent audio stats say that 73% of the 12+ population of the USA listen to audio content every month, and the number has reached 209 million. According to Statista, the number of podcast listeners alone has more than doubled in the last 7 years.
The process of creating digital audio is more straightforward compared to a video. Producers can efficiently distribute digital audio and make it more accessible to a broader audience.
The cost associated with the process of producing digital audio is minimal. Digital audio products are created once and sold to multiple consumers. If your product is evergreen, you may only need to generate the product one time, and you can sell this product again and again.
Passive income can be achieved through the creation of digital audio products. Let’s find out the most logical audio products creators can leverage to produce these income streams.
Types of Digital Audio Products
There are various types of digital audio products a creator can produce with relative ease, each with its unique features and benefits. Here is a closer look at some of the most popular types of digital audio products.
Language Lessons
Language lessons are online lessons where people learn a second/foreign language.
There are 1.2 billion people around the globe who are learning a second language. 70% of students from the U.K. and 20% from the USA are interested in learning a foreign language.
In contrast, the percentage among European students is surprisingly high at 92%. The online language learning market is expected to be worth $31.81 billion by 2029. Keep in mind, however. This is not an easy market to enter. There are many competitors, and the cost to enter is steep.
Relaxing Background Noises
Relaxation and stress reduction are two lucrative markets globally. Therefore, it is easy to see why the creation of audio products dealing with relaxation is a booming business.
Relaxing background noises can help you focus and relax. They can also help you block out other noises and distractions, improving your concentration and productivity.
Whether it is nature sounds, white noise, background music, muzak, or another form of background noise, there is a growing market for selling this type of audio production.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are recordings of books, stories, or other written works narrated and recorded for listening rather than reading. They are a popular alternative to traditional books, as they allow listeners to enjoy literary works while doing other activities, such as exercising, cooking, or commuting.
According to Grand View Research, the audiobook market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.3% from 2023 to 2030 and reach over $35 billion by 2030.
Podcasts
Podcasts are digital audio files that are typically available for download or streaming and cover a wide range of topics and interests, from news and politics to entertainment, sports, and more.
Podcasts are similar to radio shows but are often produced independently and are available on demand to listeners. Many podcasts feature interviews, discussions, or storytelling and can range in length from just a few minutes to several hours.
There are expected to be over 100 million podcast listeners in the United States in 2024, up from 75.9 million in 2020.
Music Tracks
Music tracks are individual recordings of a single song or piece of music. They are typically stored as digital audio files and can be downloaded, streamed, or played on various devices, such as smartphones, computers, and music players.
Music tracks may be grouped together to form an album, but they can also be sold and distributed individually. In the digital age, music tracks have become a dominant form of music consumption, with platforms such as Spotify and iTunes providing access to millions of tracks from a vast range of artists and genres.
Music tracks can be purchased individually or through a subscription service, making it easier than ever to access and enjoy your favorite music. The streaming industry alone makes up over 80% of the music industry’s revenue, with physical audio products like CDs, records, etc., making up 11%.
Sound effects
Surprisingly, the sound effects industry can be lucrative but requires a lot of energy to build upon success, study trends, and stay on top of what the large sound effects libraries focus on.
Sound effects can be a fun hobby regardless, but they can also help your website monetize in other ways, meaning you don’t have to sell the sound effects to make them valuable. You can provide them for free, which will likely earn some decent backlinks, and then you can monetize the traffic the links bring you.
Tips for Producing High-Quality Digital Products
Digital audio products are more convenient, affordable, and versatile than traditional audio products. Here are some tips to help you produce high-quality digital audio products.
1) Invest in quality equipment
Investing in the best equipment can make a big difference in the quality of your recordings.
Having high-quality equipment doesn’t just mean buying the most expensive gear. It means finding gear that is well-suited for the specific task at hand.
For example, if you are recording vocals, you’ll need a microphone designed for that purpose. The same goes for recording instruments. Using the right equipment for the job will help you get the best possible results.
Investing in the best equipment can be expensive, but it is worth it if you are serious about recording high-quality audio. If you are starting, you may not need to invest in the absolute best gear. But as you become more experienced, you’ll likely want to upgrade to better equipment.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when we are choosing recording equipment. But researching and investing in quality gear will help you get the best possible results.
2) Wear headphones while recording
One of the most critical aspects of producing high-quality digital audio is ensuring that all tracks are correctly recorded and free from any unwanted noise. One way to help achieve this is by wearing headphones while recording.
Headphones allow the audio engineer or producer to hear the audio being recorded directly without external interference. This can be extremely helpful in identifying any potential problems with the recording and ensuring that everything sounds just the way it should.
Wearing headphones while recording can also help to create a better overall sound. Because it can help to isolate the audio being recorded, making it easier to capture a clean and clear recording.
Wearing headphones also allows you to hear any background noise that might be present in the room, which can be useful for identifying and eliminating unwanted noise.
Headphones also help to isolate your ears from the loud noise of the recording equipment, which can prevent hearing damage. And if you’re recording multiple tracks at once, wearing headphones ensures that each channel is isolated from the others, preventing bleed-through and ensuring a better recording.
If you’re looking to produce high-quality digital audio, wearing headphones while recording is critical. This simple tip can go a long way in helping to ensure that your tracks are clean and free from unwanted noise.
3) Eliminate background noise
Background noise can be distracting and make it difficult for listeners to focus on the audio. Background noise can mask important audio sounds and create echoes and other artifacts that can degrade the audio quality.
Noise in audio recordings can come from external and internal sources. External noise sources include wind, traffic, construction, and animals. Internal noise sources include electronic hiss, fan noise, and handling noise.
The best way to deal with it is to try to avoid it in the first place. If you’re recording outdoors, try to find a location that’s sheltered from the wind. If you’re recording indoors, try to find a room that’s as quiet as possible.
If you can’t avoid background noise, you can minimize it by using a directional microphone. Directional microphones are designed to pick up sound from one direction while rejecting sound from other directions. There are also new software programs available that can help remove background noise.
Another way to deal with background noise is to use noise reduction techniques. A noise gate is an audio processing device that attenuates or removes background noise. Another method is to use a noise filter. A noise filter is an audio processing device that removes unwanted frequencies from an audio signal.
4) Invest in editing software
Why should you invest in editing software before recording an audio product? There are many valid reasons for investing in editing software. Editing software can help you clean up your audio, add effects, and even improve the recording quality.
If you want to add some extra flair to your recording, editing software can help. You can add effects like echo and reverb to make your recording sound more interesting.
Editing software also helps in removing background noise. This can help you create a cleaner, more professional-sounding recording.
Best Practices For Creating Digital Audio Products
Digital audio products offer many advantages in terms of flexibility and convenience, but they also present some challenges regarding quality and consistency.
There are a few best practices to follow when creating digital audio products to create a high-quality, professional product.
Do your research
Creating digital audio products can be daunting, especially if you’re starting from scratch. But with a bit of research, you can make the process easier. Here are some quick tips to get you started.
First, decide what kind of product you want to create. Do you want to make an audiobook? A podcast? A compilation of sound effects? Once you’ve decided on the type of product you want to create, you can start the research.
Research the competition. What other digital audio products are out there? What do they sound like? How can you make your product stand out? Spend some time listening to other products and taking notes on what you like and don’t like. This will help you refine your own ideas.
Understand your audience
As a digital audio creator, it’s essential to understand your audience. Why? Because your audience will ultimately dictate the success of your product.
If you’re creating a product for a general audience, you’ll need to ensure it’s accessible and easy to use. On the other hand, if you’re creating a product for a specific audience, you can be more creative and innovative with your design.
First, consider who your target audience is. Are you creating content for young adults, middle-aged adults, or seniors? Each group has different needs and wants.
Next, think about what your audience is looking for. What do they want to get out of your content? What are their pain points? What are their interests?
Finally, consider how you can reach your audience. What platforms are they using? What type of content do they consume?
By taking the time to understand your audience, you’ll be able to create digital audio products that they’ll love.
Rehearse with a script before you record
It is important to rehearse audio with a script before hitting the record button. This helps to ensure that the audio is clear and concise and that the overall message is communicated effectively.
By rehearsing beforehand, you can avoid awkward pauses or stumbles in your recording and ensure you hit all of the critical points you want to cover. Additionally, rehearsing will help you gauge the overall length of the recording to ensure that it is not too long.
Promote your products
As more and more people consume media digitally, having a digital presence for your audio products is vital. By promoting digital audio products, you can reach a wider audience and significantly impact your product’s sales.
There are several ways to promote digital audio products. One way is to create a website or blog specifically for your products. You can also use social media to reach a wider audience. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are great ways to connect with potential customers and promote your products.
Another way to promote digital audio products is through online advertising. You can use Google AdWords or other online advertising platforms to reach potential customers searching for audio products. You can also use retargeting to reach people who have visited your website or social media pages.
If you have a music track, make sure your music is available on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. This will make it easier for people to find and listen to your music.
You can also promote your music on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Be sure to use hashtags and share your music with your followers.
Following these tips can promote your digital audio products and get more people to listen to your digital audio.
Have a plan for selling your product
When selling digital audio products, it’s crucial to have a plan in place. This plan should include how you will promote and sell your products, what price point you will sell them at, and how you will deliver them to your customers.
To get started, you’ll first need to determine what platform you will sell your products on. Several options are available, including online stores such as iTunes and Amazon and direct-to-consumer outlets such as Bandcamp and CD Baby. There are also numerous creator platforms for selling digital products, like Kartra, Sellfy, Gumroad, Payhip, etc.
Once you’ve decided on an outlet, you must create your product listings. Be sure to include high-quality images and detailed descriptions of each product.
When pricing your products, it’s essential to strike a balance between what your products are worth and what your customers are willing to pay. It’s also important to remember that you may need to offer discounts or promotions to entice customers to purchase your products.
Finally, you’ll need to determine how you’ll deliver your products to your customers. For digital products, this is typically done via email or a file-sharing service such as Dropbox. Using one of the platforms mentioned will eliminate the delivery as they will handle that aspect of the sale.
Read Next: 10 Top Content Types in 2023
Final Thoughts on Digital Audio Products
Creating digital audio products can be a great way to reach a broad audience and share your message with the world. However, it’s essential to research and understand your audience before you start.
There is no alternative to being prepared and producing high-quality products. Making money can take time, so ensuring you are passionate about what you are creating and have a reason for its creation outside of monetary gain can help you stick with it long enough to see some revenue.