How to Choose the Right Audiobook Length for Your Audience
In today’s world, audiobooks have become a popular medium for readers on the go. From commuters to gym-goers and night owls, audiobooks are allowing people to immerse themselves in stories or learn new things while juggling other aspects of their daily lives. But as an author or publisher, have you ever wondered how the length of your audiobook impacts its success?
Choosing the ideal audiobook length is more than just a matter of deciding how long your book should be. It’s about striking the perfect balance between keeping your audience engaged, offering value, and ensuring your audiobook is both consumable and memorable. In this guide, we’ll explore how to choose the right audiobook length for your target audience, and share strategies to optimise listener engagement.
Choosing the ideal audiobook length isn't a one-size-fits-all process, but with a little research and thought into your audience’s preferences and habits, you can make informed decisions that optimise both engagement and sales.
Why Audiobook Length Matters
When it comes to audiobooks, the right length can make all the difference in terms of listener engagement and overall success. Too long, and listeners may struggle to stay focused or lose interest. Too short, and they may feel like they’re not getting enough value from their purchase.
The ideal audiobook length depends on various factors, including genre, target audience, and the complexity of the material. Understanding these elements will help you fine-tune your audiobook’s runtime to keep listeners hooked from start to finish.
Understanding Your Audience’s Listening Habits
Before diving into the specifics of audiobook length, it’s important to consider your audience’s listening habits. Different demographics have different preferences, and understanding these nuances can help you create an audiobook that appeals to your listeners.
Commuters: People who listen during their daily commute often prefer shorter audiobooks, typically between 4 to 6 hours. This fits neatly into their travel time, whether it’s on the train, bus, or in the car.
Fitness Enthusiasts: Listeners who enjoy audiobooks during their workouts may favour shorter listens, typically between 1 to 2 hours, as these easily fit into their exercise routines.
Leisure Listeners: Those who enjoy audiobooks for relaxation, such as before bed or during house chores, may be more willing to listen to longer audiobooks (8 hours or more) since they’re not constrained by specific time windows.
Knowing your audience’s routines and habits can help you choose an ideal audiobook length that fits seamlessly into their lives.
Ideal Audiobook Length by Genre
Different genres have different expectations when it comes to length. While there are no hard and fast rules, here’s a general guide to help you determine what might work best for your genre.
Fiction: Novels tend to be on the longer side, with many ranging from 8 to 20 hours in length. However, shorter fiction works, such as novellas, can fall in the 4 to 6-hour range. For fiction audiobooks, pacing and engagement are key, so it’s important to ensure your narrative flows well to maintain listener interest.
Non-Fiction: Non-fiction audiobooks often range from 6 to 12 hours, but again, it depends on the complexity of the material. If your non-fiction work is a deep dive into a subject, a longer length may be appropriate, as long as you can keep the content engaging. For more general, self-help, or educational books, a 6-hour audiobook is often ideal for the average listener.
Children’s Books: For younger audiences, shorter audiobooks (1-4 hours) are often preferred. These works tend to be more concise, with simpler narratives and content that is easy for children to follow.
Audiobook Series: If you’re releasing an audiobook series, be mindful of your audience’s ability to digest longer works. While an individual audiobook in a series might be long, splitting up the material into multiple parts can keep listeners engaged while ensuring they don’t get overwhelmed by an extremely long runtime.
How to Find the Right Audiobook Runtime for Engagement
The right audiobook length should take into account your listener’s ability to stay engaged. You want to avoid a situation where the listener gets distracted, loses interest, or feels like the book is dragging on. Here are a few strategies to help ensure your audiobook engages your audience, no matter its length:
1. Pace the Story Well
For longer audiobooks, pacing is crucial. Break up the content into digestible segments, and use cliffhangers, natural breaks, or chapter divisions to encourage listeners to keep going. If your audiobook is too slow or repetitive, even the most devoted listener may stop listening.
2. Include a Hook Early On
The first few minutes of your audiobook are vital. If you don’t capture the listener’s attention early, they may tune out before the audiobook truly begins. Whether it’s an intriguing storyline, a gripping argument, or a relatable anecdote, ensure that the beginning of your audiobook draws listeners in.
3. Optimise for the Platform
Different platforms may favour different lengths. Audiobook platforms like Audible typically offer a range of lengths, but shorter books tend to do better with listeners who have less time to commit. If your book is longer, you may want to offer it in parts or chapters, allowing listeners to break it up into more manageable segments. For more tips on audiobook production and best practices, check out the ACX Blog.
4. Understand Listening Habits
For many listeners, audiobook sessions are broken into segments. This means the runtime doesn’t have to be a perfect fit for one long sitting. Instead, aim for a length that provides a satisfying listening experience over multiple sessions. A good rule of thumb is to keep most chapters between 15-30 minutes long to ensure they’re digestible in one sitting.
