For me, books are reasonably priced, $12.99 per burnable Windows Media Player format download or MP3 CD. MP3 CD box sets reduce the price to $11.00 or less per book/CD.

Maybe I am being too on the nose in assuming that people who like free audio books in podcast form, might also like audio books from some authors that will not post them for free, and audio books in CD form, and even books. However, my thought is that you have people listening to genres and authors that they like, so, you could have much more targeted advertisement, if you wanted. I realize that this is a bit of work. But, if done correctly, the ads might seem reasonably intrusive, and you might even see better conversion rates.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that “nobody else” uses the site as you and Jason, but you are trying to put a square peg in a round hole. These are serialized versions of audiobooks, so you are going to hear repetitive content at the front and back of every episode. We’re not out to re-make the audiobook landscape, nor do we have the hubris to suggest that all audiobooks should be enjoyed “our way”. No, you didn’t say that — I’m just reinforcing my position.

To get to your specific comment — the idea of a “traditional” version of the stories has been brought up in the past. It’s not off the table, though it does present its own unique set of challenges. Thanks for your comments.

While I have to admit that I’m still new to this site and, by now, I have only listened to two and a half stories, I assume most authors start each episode with a small intro. Add the ad and the podiobooks extro and you’ll get something between one and two minutes of more or less repetitive audio content. Sure, you can skip it, but if you prefer listening to podiobooks as if they were audiobooks this might become mildly annoying after a while (in particular when stories consist of many relatively short episodes). My suggestion would be to offer “plain” versions without the advertisement, without the intro and without the extro, available to those who chose to donate a certain amount of money, either as a goody or even as an incentive for donations. Of course, this would be rather useless if nobody else is using podiobooks the way Jason and I do.

Also, to back up what Jason was mentioning, some presence of the product on the site wouldn’t be bad - perhaps a simple link, below “Products mentioned in our books…” I have heard the iFrogs add countless times (although 20-30 times could be close), I have no idea what URL to go to when I’m sitting at my computer.

- Doug

The difference is in when I listen to the files. It might be next week, it might be five years from now.

But I do subscribe to the feed for this blog, so I know when books start or finish, and any other interesting things you may be talking about. Duplicating the ads here might be a good idea.

But you have given me an interesting idea to play with.

I’ve been an audiobook devotee for years. I’m unlikely to listen to a book until it’s finished, and even then I merge it into a single file and it drops into the audiobook queue.

I can only guess as to what you are talking about, BUT I have been in the market for a new iPod case, and I’d love to support this site. Was the ad run on the site anywhere? Did you call it out on this blog? Either of these are more likely to get my attention.