Gone are the days when putting audio on your website consisted of subjecting your visitors to gaudy musical fanfares and various cliched sound effects. Fortunately, audio has now become a lot more sophisticated and new techniques that allow audio to be streamed have made it possible to use your own voice as a highly effective marketing tool.
Most visitors to your website will have computers with audio capabilities. Using your own voice, you can deepen the impact of your sales message and develop a stronger connection with your visitors. Many websites using streaming audio to promote and sell services claim that audio increases their conversion by as much as 300%!
Why is audio such an effective marketing tool? It's simple really. It's a well-known fact in consumer psychology that the more senses you engage, the easier it is to communicate a message and motivate a sale. Senses evoke emotion and emotions are memorable. When it comes to surfing the Internet, the sense of hearing is far more powerful than the sense of sight. Internet surfers remember only 20% of what they read, but remember an amazing 70% of what they hear. Visitors respond to your voice in way that cannot be achieved with words alone, no matter how great your copy is. Audio's power comes from its ability to reinforce your message by engaging your visitor's most powerful senses.
Listed below are some of the most powerful ways to use streaming audio on your website:
Introductions: Use streaming audio to introduce yourself, your website and some of your key products or services to your visitors. Doing this removes some of the anonymity of the web experience and helps develop trust between your and your prospect.
Testimonials: It's a proven fact that testimonials that include a photograph appear more credible to visitors that those with text only. Testimonials that include text, a photo AND an audio note are the next best thing to having satisfied customers call your visitors and tell them personally how great your products are!
Assurances: Placing audio notes at important points in your website, such as order forms, or payment links, is an excellent way to reassure visitors about common concerns. Streaming audio can be use to explain the payment process, security issues, merchant account details and any other concerns visitors may have relating to your website.
Instructions: Streaming audio buttons allow you to quickly provide instructions to visitors. A great example of this can be found at http://www.ezinearticles.com. An audio note that explains exactly what you must do to make a successful submission supports each step of the article submission process!
Tips: Over 80% of web surfers will click on link offering a tip? Why? Because they know a tip is a short piece of useful information. Reading a tip is not like reading an instruction manual. It's a chance to gain some information quickly. Provide an audio tip on your site each day and you'll find people just can't get enough of pressing that play button!
Teleconferences and Seminars : Streaming audio is a great way to provide your visitors with playback on seminars and teleconferences.
Thanks You's: Create a streaming audio message to send in emails every time a client or prospect buys your product or service. Acknowledging a purchase personally is a fantastic way to build up customer loyalty and boost repeat sales.
Finally, a brief word of caution! Audio is an effective tool when used responsibly. Don't hit your visitors with audio as soon as they arrive at your site. You never know where people are accessing from or what other sound may be running on their computers. I've read about visitors being really annoyed by audio that played without invitation because they were listening to CD's or were sitting in their workplace. It's important that visitors have control over the audio. A simple invitation to click is all it takes. You'll be surprised at how many people are driven by curiosity and will feel compelled to click the play button. Also take time to prepare your message well. Try to animate your voice and inject some personality into your message by being conversational rather than formal. Most important of all, be confident and be yourself!
This article may be reproduced in its entirety only if unaltered and the resource box is included.
Tracey Meagher is the founder of QuickandEasyAudio.com, a website that reviews all the latest resources and tools available for adding audio to your website. Visit http://www.quickandeasyaudio.com to receive free audio resources that will help you add audio to your website in less than 60 minutes!
Eight Reasons Why You Must Add Audio to Your Website
NUMBER 1 : INTERNET USERS REMEMBER WHAT THEY HEAR
Did you know that Internet users remember only 20% of what they read while remembering an amazing 70% of what they hear? Audio on your website will help your message stay with fresh your visitors for longer.
NUMBER 2 : AUDIO INCREASES SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Using audio to convey a personal message to entice visitors to subscribe to your newsletter will result in up to 400% more subscribers than using traditional subscription marketing methods.
NUMBER 3 : AUDIO WILL KEEP VISITORS ON YOUR SITE FOR LONGER
Using audio on your website helps to keep visitors on your site for longer. The longer visitors stay the more informed they are about your product and services and the more likely they are to buy your product or service.
NUMBER 4 : AUDIO ADDS CREDIBILITY TO YOUR WEBSITE
Adding your own voice to your website helps prospects identify with you personally, warming them to your products and services in a way that cannot be achieved by any other existing marketing technique and converting more prospects to buyers.
NUMBER 5 : AUDIO PUTS YOU MILES AHEAD OF YOUR COMPETITORS
While your competitors still hang around in the dark ages of Internet marketing, placing audio on your website gives you an enormous competitive advantage. Visitors will trust you more than your competitors and trust is the number one vital ingredient for making visitors part with plastic.
NUMBER 6 : AUDIO EHANCES EMAIL AND NEWSLETTER COMMUNICATIONS
Used in emails and ezines, audio allows you to communicate personally with your clients and subscribers, creating rapport and warming your market in a way not possible with text and graphics.
NUMBER 7 : AUDIO IS CHEAP
Basic streaming audio buttons can be put on your website for as little as $19.95. Even the most advanced solutions cost around the $97 mark! Considering the uumph these little audio buttons give your site, a once off payment of 97 bucks is not a lot to part with!
NUMBER 8 : AUDIO IS SIMPLE TO USE
You don't have to be a techie geek to put audio on your website. Most of the solutions out there require no html or flash know how at all. They are designed to be user friendly so even the technophobe should have no problem getting the job done quickly and easily!
What are you waiting for ... go add audio now!
Tracey Meagher is the founder of QuickandEasy Audio, a website that reviews all the latest resources and tools available for adding audio to your website. Visit http://www.quickandeasyaudio.com to receive free audio resources that will get audio on your website in less than 60 minutes! [Copyright 2005 QuickandEasyAudio ]
Did you know that Internet users remember only 20% of what they read while remembering an amazing 70% of what they hear? Audio on your website will help your message stay with fresh your visitors for longer.
NUMBER 2 : AUDIO INCREASES SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Using audio to convey a personal message to entice visitors to subscribe to your newsletter will result in up to 400% more subscribers than using traditional subscription marketing methods.
NUMBER 3 : AUDIO WILL KEEP VISITORS ON YOUR SITE FOR LONGER
Using audio on your website helps to keep visitors on your site for longer. The longer visitors stay the more informed they are about your product and services and the more likely they are to buy your product or service.
NUMBER 4 : AUDIO ADDS CREDIBILITY TO YOUR WEBSITE
Adding your own voice to your website helps prospects identify with you personally, warming them to your products and services in a way that cannot be achieved by any other existing marketing technique and converting more prospects to buyers.
NUMBER 5 : AUDIO PUTS YOU MILES AHEAD OF YOUR COMPETITORS
While your competitors still hang around in the dark ages of Internet marketing, placing audio on your website gives you an enormous competitive advantage. Visitors will trust you more than your competitors and trust is the number one vital ingredient for making visitors part with plastic.
NUMBER 6 : AUDIO EHANCES EMAIL AND NEWSLETTER COMMUNICATIONS
Used in emails and ezines, audio allows you to communicate personally with your clients and subscribers, creating rapport and warming your market in a way not possible with text and graphics.
NUMBER 7 : AUDIO IS CHEAP
Basic streaming audio buttons can be put on your website for as little as $19.95. Even the most advanced solutions cost around the $97 mark! Considering the uumph these little audio buttons give your site, a once off payment of 97 bucks is not a lot to part with!
NUMBER 8 : AUDIO IS SIMPLE TO USE
You don't have to be a techie geek to put audio on your website. Most of the solutions out there require no html or flash know how at all. They are designed to be user friendly so even the technophobe should have no problem getting the job done quickly and easily!
What are you waiting for ... go add audio now!
Tracey Meagher is the founder of QuickandEasy Audio, a website that reviews all the latest resources and tools available for adding audio to your website. Visit http://www.quickandeasyaudio.com to receive free audio resources that will get audio on your website in less than 60 minutes! [Copyright 2005 QuickandEasyAudio ]
Why Arent You Using Audio?
As use of the Internet continues to grow geometrically, we see an increased demand for information to be provided by a variety of media. Viewing options can range from simple text to PDF documents to video clips. Unfortunately, each option requires more and more resources and technological know-how. As convergence moves inexorably forward, we have to ask ourselves if there is a practical way to combine the best of this technology and still provide the user with a satisfying Internet experience.
The answer, at this stage of Internet evolution, is audio.
Voice, by itself, provides the means to enhance a user's enjoyment of the Internet. Voice conveys many of the intangibles underlying the written word. A voice can touch the human spirit and deliver a message on its' own merits. Audio can build community and maintain relationships.
Audio is the most mature of the streaming technologies and doesn't have the bandwidth requirements associated with video. Any Internet user connecting at 28.8k or better can enjoy FM quality sound without experiencing buffering and other annoyances that can affect video at lower bit rates.
It is common knowledge that people only retain 20% of what they read, but they do remember 70% of what they see and hear. That fact in itself increases the value of an audio message delivered from a website for the typical user. And, the implications of how audio can increase Internet enjoyment for the handicapped are overwhelming.
Streaming audio provides Internet businesses with unlimited opportunities to reach their audience and to simplify their interactions. Streaming audio broadens a product's appeal and helps to stimulate sales. People are comfortable with audio and have few qualms about using it in their day-to-day lives.
Retailers can integrate audio into their operations in several ways. Use it to enhance product descriptions and deliver product information in ways far more persuasive than plain text. Booksellers can have "special events" that offer audio excerpts from selected titles. Art dealers can use voice to give value added information on an artist or a period of history depicted by an artist's work. (Think of those audio tours that museums offer.)
Organizations that specialize in selling educational tools can use audio clips for potential clients to preview and evaluate the material being offered. The ability to sample the product is a potent and practical selling aid.
Business-to-Business sites and corporate Intranets can also harness the power of audio. The need to provide up-to-the-minute information for employees and customers can be well served with streaming audio and the telephone. Integrating audio into the corporate communications mix is a tool that is easy to use and addresses the need to communicate with a distributed work force.
In both the retail and business-to-business marketplace, audio can and should be used to maintain those all important customer relationships. Voice messages add a personal touch that intrigues the listener and encourages them to remain on the site.
Employee training is greatly enhanced with audio. Use it to orient new employees and keep the information archived on the site for easy reference. Sales training can also be archived and quickly retrieved when needed. The ability to offer customized audio training materials on a 24/7 basis makes streaming audio a very versatile and efficient learning tool.
Some words of caution are also necessary. Audio, just like any other value-added technology, has to be used judiciously. It should be employed for a specific purpose and to enhance the text based message being delivered. Think of your audience and how you'd like them to interact with your website. Keep in mind that your visitor may be coming to your site while they're at their place of business and plan accordingly.
The future of streaming audio is bright and filled with promise. More and more Internet users have become familiar with streaming audio and use it everyday. Internet radio broadcasts are extremely popular and are now being employed as effective advertising vehicles. Audio e-mail messaging is becoming widely available and is being positioned as a practical business tool. Consumers are attaching audio messages to greeting cards and experimenting with Internet telephony. Streaming audio will allow the average Internet user the ability to create content that conveys the power of voice and the emotions that it conveys.
So?why aren't you using audio?
Ronni Rhodes is the owner of WBC Imaging, an Internet company that specializes in web site enhancement utilizing streaming media technology. With her husband, Don, a digital media engineer, they work with companies to incorporate streaming as part of successful and meaningful sales and marketing programs.
Please direct all questions and comments to:Ronni@wbcimaging.com520-742-5780http://www.wbcimaging.com
The answer, at this stage of Internet evolution, is audio.
Voice, by itself, provides the means to enhance a user's enjoyment of the Internet. Voice conveys many of the intangibles underlying the written word. A voice can touch the human spirit and deliver a message on its' own merits. Audio can build community and maintain relationships.
Audio is the most mature of the streaming technologies and doesn't have the bandwidth requirements associated with video. Any Internet user connecting at 28.8k or better can enjoy FM quality sound without experiencing buffering and other annoyances that can affect video at lower bit rates.
It is common knowledge that people only retain 20% of what they read, but they do remember 70% of what they see and hear. That fact in itself increases the value of an audio message delivered from a website for the typical user. And, the implications of how audio can increase Internet enjoyment for the handicapped are overwhelming.
Streaming audio provides Internet businesses with unlimited opportunities to reach their audience and to simplify their interactions. Streaming audio broadens a product's appeal and helps to stimulate sales. People are comfortable with audio and have few qualms about using it in their day-to-day lives.
Retailers can integrate audio into their operations in several ways. Use it to enhance product descriptions and deliver product information in ways far more persuasive than plain text. Booksellers can have "special events" that offer audio excerpts from selected titles. Art dealers can use voice to give value added information on an artist or a period of history depicted by an artist's work. (Think of those audio tours that museums offer.)
Organizations that specialize in selling educational tools can use audio clips for potential clients to preview and evaluate the material being offered. The ability to sample the product is a potent and practical selling aid.
Business-to-Business sites and corporate Intranets can also harness the power of audio. The need to provide up-to-the-minute information for employees and customers can be well served with streaming audio and the telephone. Integrating audio into the corporate communications mix is a tool that is easy to use and addresses the need to communicate with a distributed work force.
In both the retail and business-to-business marketplace, audio can and should be used to maintain those all important customer relationships. Voice messages add a personal touch that intrigues the listener and encourages them to remain on the site.
Employee training is greatly enhanced with audio. Use it to orient new employees and keep the information archived on the site for easy reference. Sales training can also be archived and quickly retrieved when needed. The ability to offer customized audio training materials on a 24/7 basis makes streaming audio a very versatile and efficient learning tool.
Some words of caution are also necessary. Audio, just like any other value-added technology, has to be used judiciously. It should be employed for a specific purpose and to enhance the text based message being delivered. Think of your audience and how you'd like them to interact with your website. Keep in mind that your visitor may be coming to your site while they're at their place of business and plan accordingly.
The future of streaming audio is bright and filled with promise. More and more Internet users have become familiar with streaming audio and use it everyday. Internet radio broadcasts are extremely popular and are now being employed as effective advertising vehicles. Audio e-mail messaging is becoming widely available and is being positioned as a practical business tool. Consumers are attaching audio messages to greeting cards and experimenting with Internet telephony. Streaming audio will allow the average Internet user the ability to create content that conveys the power of voice and the emotions that it conveys.
So?why aren't you using audio?
Ronni Rhodes is the owner of WBC Imaging, an Internet company that specializes in web site enhancement utilizing streaming media technology. With her husband, Don, a digital media engineer, they work with companies to incorporate streaming as part of successful and meaningful sales and marketing programs.
Please direct all questions and comments to:Ronni@wbcimaging.com520-742-5780http://www.wbcimaging.com
Add Audio to Your Web Site and Increase Your Sales up to 35%!
Ok, you've got your site built, you have traffic coming to it, agood product at a reasonable price.... hmmm... what else do youneed?
What else could increase your conversion rate?
Audio!
All right I know what you're thinking... "Why should I go to allof the trouble of adding audio to my web site?"
Because it can increase your sales by up to 35%!! That's why.
Adding streaming audio it isn't as hard as you have been led tobelieve and you don't even have to pay a monthly fee either. Youcan start with sound recorder (Pre-installed on every Windowscomputer) and the free microphone that came with your computer.
Some of the things you can do with audio to enhance your siteare:
* Create audio greetings
* Create audio testimonials
* Narrate tutorials
* Create audio ezines
* Add audio files for your visitors to download
* Create audio articles
* Add your band's music clips as tempting teasers to get buyers
* Read children's stories
* Tell Jokes
* Sing...
* Add music as a background to your web site (Tastefully - please!)
This list goes on and on.
Let's quickly cover a couple of the items on the list and seewhat the advantages are.
Create Audio Greetings:
Well, I think this one is fun. Don't you often wonder what that"Guru" sounds like? Or even what a web master who has createdyour favorite web tool or ebook?
Adding an audio greeting is actually about the easiest thing todo if you want to improve your sales. For most web sites, whendone tastefully, the sales can jump up to 35%! People just trustyou more and feel like they know you a little better if they hearyour voice.
Also, excitement is contagious. If you are excited about yourproduct, ezine or membership site you can hear it in your voicewhen you talk about it. SO CAN YOUR CUSTOMERS! And moreimportantly, your potential customers.
Audio Testimonials:
What can I say about this compelling reason, but this... whatwould be more believable to you - a web site with a bunch ofwritten testimonials or a web site where you can hear the actualvoices of current / previous purchasers explaining what benefitsthey got from the product? How do you even know for sure thewritten testimonials are real?
It's hands down the one with the audio.
All you need is Audacity (Which is free at http://audacity.com)to edit down too long testimonials - actually, is there such athing as too-long testimonial? Maybe not - and the ability tohave customers send you .wav files and a small picture ofthemselves.
NOTE: You can get a free script from Will Bontrager athttp://willmaster.com that will allow you to accept files fromyour customers OR you can set up a seperate ftp account atyour server for customer uploads. See other articles in thisseries to learn how to implement this.
Piece of cake!
There are a couple of other steps to adding the audio to yoursite, but I will get to that in other parts of this articleseries.
Create Audio Ezines:
Have you ever heard Jim Edwards "I Gotta Tell You" ezine?(http://igottatellyou.com) Or watched the multi-media ebook andezine how-to tutorials in Epublishing Express?(http://epublishing-express.com)
It is so much more compelling to hear someone explain exactlywhat to do than read a dry ezine (No offense to all the otherthousands of ezine writers out there) or ebook (Ditto to youebook writers) and you learn much faster.
Did you know that you only retain about 10-15% of what you readonce? But that retention goes up to 60% if you hear it at thesame time and flies up to 80% for a multi-media presentation.
How many fewer customer service calls and emails would you get ifyou customers were retaining 80% of what you were teaching them?I can tell you... a lot!
Think of all the extra time you would have to promote yourbusiness, create new products (Audio and multimedia products ofcourse!) Heck, even spend more time with your family and hobbies.
How much happier would your customers be if they were able toduplicate your success and complete your tutorials, assignments,or follow your direction?
Again - a lot! How many more of your customers would buy otherproducts from you if you were successful in teaching them orhelping them with your first product? I think you can see where Iam going with this...
So, know that you know how important audio is how do you getstarted? The first thing you can do is go tohttp://easy-web-site-audio.com and sign up for the free AudioTips Ecourse and get a new tip every three days on creative audiouses.
That's a good start :)
Remember those audio testimonials?
Here are some other free resources for all of you ebook and ezinewriters to get you started: (Some long links may wrap)
Microsoft: http://microsoft.com (Free)
Additionally you can access lots of free content add-ons, tools,and tutorials when you go straight to the media section on theMicrosoft web site.
Find it at Media Player v.9:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.aspx(Free) Here you can upgrade to Media Player 9 (To store all ofyour audio files you have made in the easy access audio library)which is free.
Media Player 9 is the preferred media player for listening tostreaming audio along with Real Player which is also free.
There are a lot of add-ons for the program, especially you wantto get the one that converts your MP3s into smaller WMA files andsave space on your computer. (It is a free teaser, they willprobably try to get you to buy the full Plus! collection, but youdon't have to!).
Visit http://www.microsoft.com/plus for more information on thePLUS! product if you think in addition to converting audio youmight want to let the kids play around with Media Player too. :)
Remember all that extra family time you are going to have sinceyou won't have hardly any customer service issues?
Real: http://real.com (Free)
Get the Real Audio player basic program which allows you to playReal Audio formatted files. A lot of online content is in thisformat.
Don't forget if you are adding Real Audio to your web site to getthe free "Producer" which converts other types of audio files (>wav and .MP3 for example) into Real Audio files for uploading,streaming, etc.
Producer Basic (Free):http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/basic.html
If you want to stream from your computer or server (Warningadvanced topic!) you can use the free Helix Server Basic. HelixServer Basic (Free):http://forms.real.com/rnforms/products/servers/eval/mbps.html
Also use the free PresenterOne to add audio and video to yourPowerPoint presentations and stream them from your web site!http://www.realnetworks.com/products/presenterone/index.html(main page) and the free version is at:
http://forms.real.com/rnforms/products/tools/presenteronebasic/index.html (Approx. 20mb) since it requires Producer (Real Audioproduct with a free version see above) it includes it in theinstallation.
So if you are thinking of enhancing your PowerPoint slides andare going to download this, you don't need to download Producerseparately.
Shoutcast: http://shoutcast.com (Free)
Start your own radio station for free. And obviously link to itfrom your web site and broadcast tutorial and educational contenton your niche topic. Free to record and free to broadcast.
Live365: http://www.live365.com (Fee)
You can also start your own radio station starting at only$7/month.
Pirate Radio: http://pirateradio.com (Fee)
Purchase software for $29 one-time fee that will having youbroadcasting in about 1/2 hour.
Keep your eyes peeled for more audio/video/multi-media relatedarticles in this series. We will be talking about different typesof audio files, conducting interviews, recording tutorials,adding audio testimonials to your web site, and more. :)
By the time we're done you will be an audio / video master!
"Techie" Teri Mramer is the busy web master at TreeFree Publishing, The Editor of Epublishing Express- The only ezinethat teaches ebook and ezine publishing with screenshots andvideos! http://Epublishing-Express.com Also author of "Easy Web Site Audio!" The Easy Web Site Audiotutorial! e-Manual comes with 15 how-to videos. Add audio to yourweb site in about an hour! http://Easy-Web-Site-Audio.com
What else could increase your conversion rate?
Audio!
All right I know what you're thinking... "Why should I go to allof the trouble of adding audio to my web site?"
Because it can increase your sales by up to 35%!! That's why.
Adding streaming audio it isn't as hard as you have been led tobelieve and you don't even have to pay a monthly fee either. Youcan start with sound recorder (Pre-installed on every Windowscomputer) and the free microphone that came with your computer.
Some of the things you can do with audio to enhance your siteare:
* Create audio greetings
* Create audio testimonials
* Narrate tutorials
* Create audio ezines
* Add audio files for your visitors to download
* Create audio articles
* Add your band's music clips as tempting teasers to get buyers
* Read children's stories
* Tell Jokes
* Sing...
* Add music as a background to your web site (Tastefully - please!)
This list goes on and on.
Let's quickly cover a couple of the items on the list and seewhat the advantages are.
Create Audio Greetings:
Well, I think this one is fun. Don't you often wonder what that"Guru" sounds like? Or even what a web master who has createdyour favorite web tool or ebook?
Adding an audio greeting is actually about the easiest thing todo if you want to improve your sales. For most web sites, whendone tastefully, the sales can jump up to 35%! People just trustyou more and feel like they know you a little better if they hearyour voice.
Also, excitement is contagious. If you are excited about yourproduct, ezine or membership site you can hear it in your voicewhen you talk about it. SO CAN YOUR CUSTOMERS! And moreimportantly, your potential customers.
Audio Testimonials:
What can I say about this compelling reason, but this... whatwould be more believable to you - a web site with a bunch ofwritten testimonials or a web site where you can hear the actualvoices of current / previous purchasers explaining what benefitsthey got from the product? How do you even know for sure thewritten testimonials are real?
It's hands down the one with the audio.
All you need is Audacity (Which is free at http://audacity.com)to edit down too long testimonials - actually, is there such athing as too-long testimonial? Maybe not - and the ability tohave customers send you .wav files and a small picture ofthemselves.
NOTE: You can get a free script from Will Bontrager athttp://willmaster.com that will allow you to accept files fromyour customers OR you can set up a seperate ftp account atyour server for customer uploads. See other articles in thisseries to learn how to implement this.
Piece of cake!
There are a couple of other steps to adding the audio to yoursite, but I will get to that in other parts of this articleseries.
Create Audio Ezines:
Have you ever heard Jim Edwards "I Gotta Tell You" ezine?(http://igottatellyou.com) Or watched the multi-media ebook andezine how-to tutorials in Epublishing Express?(http://epublishing-express.com)
It is so much more compelling to hear someone explain exactlywhat to do than read a dry ezine (No offense to all the otherthousands of ezine writers out there) or ebook (Ditto to youebook writers) and you learn much faster.
Did you know that you only retain about 10-15% of what you readonce? But that retention goes up to 60% if you hear it at thesame time and flies up to 80% for a multi-media presentation.
How many fewer customer service calls and emails would you get ifyou customers were retaining 80% of what you were teaching them?I can tell you... a lot!
Think of all the extra time you would have to promote yourbusiness, create new products (Audio and multimedia products ofcourse!) Heck, even spend more time with your family and hobbies.
How much happier would your customers be if they were able toduplicate your success and complete your tutorials, assignments,or follow your direction?
Again - a lot! How many more of your customers would buy otherproducts from you if you were successful in teaching them orhelping them with your first product? I think you can see where Iam going with this...
So, know that you know how important audio is how do you getstarted? The first thing you can do is go tohttp://easy-web-site-audio.com and sign up for the free AudioTips Ecourse and get a new tip every three days on creative audiouses.
That's a good start :)
Remember those audio testimonials?
Here are some other free resources for all of you ebook and ezinewriters to get you started: (Some long links may wrap)
Microsoft: http://microsoft.com (Free)
Additionally you can access lots of free content add-ons, tools,and tutorials when you go straight to the media section on theMicrosoft web site.
Find it at Media Player v.9:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.aspx(Free) Here you can upgrade to Media Player 9 (To store all ofyour audio files you have made in the easy access audio library)which is free.
Media Player 9 is the preferred media player for listening tostreaming audio along with Real Player which is also free.
There are a lot of add-ons for the program, especially you wantto get the one that converts your MP3s into smaller WMA files andsave space on your computer. (It is a free teaser, they willprobably try to get you to buy the full Plus! collection, but youdon't have to!).
Visit http://www.microsoft.com/plus for more information on thePLUS! product if you think in addition to converting audio youmight want to let the kids play around with Media Player too. :)
Remember all that extra family time you are going to have sinceyou won't have hardly any customer service issues?
Real: http://real.com (Free)
Get the Real Audio player basic program which allows you to playReal Audio formatted files. A lot of online content is in thisformat.
Don't forget if you are adding Real Audio to your web site to getthe free "Producer" which converts other types of audio files (>wav and .MP3 for example) into Real Audio files for uploading,streaming, etc.
Producer Basic (Free):http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/basic.html
If you want to stream from your computer or server (Warningadvanced topic!) you can use the free Helix Server Basic. HelixServer Basic (Free):http://forms.real.com/rnforms/products/servers/eval/mbps.html
Also use the free PresenterOne to add audio and video to yourPowerPoint presentations and stream them from your web site!http://www.realnetworks.com/products/presenterone/index.html(main page) and the free version is at:
http://forms.real.com/rnforms/products/tools/presenteronebasic/index.html (Approx. 20mb) since it requires Producer (Real Audioproduct with a free version see above) it includes it in theinstallation.
So if you are thinking of enhancing your PowerPoint slides andare going to download this, you don't need to download Producerseparately.
Shoutcast: http://shoutcast.com (Free)
Start your own radio station for free. And obviously link to itfrom your web site and broadcast tutorial and educational contenton your niche topic. Free to record and free to broadcast.
Live365: http://www.live365.com (Fee)
You can also start your own radio station starting at only$7/month.
Pirate Radio: http://pirateradio.com (Fee)
Purchase software for $29 one-time fee that will having youbroadcasting in about 1/2 hour.
Keep your eyes peeled for more audio/video/multi-media relatedarticles in this series. We will be talking about different typesof audio files, conducting interviews, recording tutorials,adding audio testimonials to your web site, and more. :)
By the time we're done you will be an audio / video master!
"Techie" Teri Mramer is the busy web master at TreeFree Publishing, The Editor of Epublishing Express- The only ezinethat teaches ebook and ezine publishing with screenshots andvideos! http://Epublishing-Express.com Also author of "Easy Web Site Audio!" The Easy Web Site Audiotutorial! e-Manual comes with 15 how-to videos. Add audio to yourweb site in about an hour! http://Easy-Web-Site-Audio.com
DVD Audio: An Introduction
DVD Audio is a music format that is designed to offer improved audio performance over CD. The new audio format can be used to provide listeners with Advanced Resolution stereo and/or multi-channel (up to a maximum of six channels) music. In order to play back DVD Audio discs, players have to be specially designed to support the format. So far, consumer electronics manufacturers have announced a range of DVD Audio players, including home decks, portable players and devices for cars.
DVD Audio has a sampling rate of up to 192kHz compared to a maximum of 44.1kHz for CD. It also supports resolutions of up to 24 bits, compared to 16bits on CD.
The idea behind DVD Audio is that it allows producers to give listeners a playback experience that is much more faithful to the original master recording that has been possible previously.
DVD Audio discs have a much higher capacity than CDs. This extra space can be used to provide audio at the highest possible quality or for longer recordings, or to provide additional material, such as information on the artist, photos and even video, all of which can be displayed on a television screen. Alternatively, DVD Audio discs currently on the market from the likes of the Warner group of labels have the audio content in both DVD Audio format and as Dolby Digital surround so that they can be played back on regular DVD players.
DVD Audio discs are navigable in the same way as DVD Video when played back on a player connected to a TV set. Users can select the required track from an on-screen menu and with an internet connection, can click on links to go to websites.
These dual format discs are a good way to kick-start the market while DVD Audio players are still relatively rare. The market will also be helped by combined DVD Video and Audio players.
Robert Armstrong is a contributor to The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the content and the issues related to HDTV.
DVD Audio has a sampling rate of up to 192kHz compared to a maximum of 44.1kHz for CD. It also supports resolutions of up to 24 bits, compared to 16bits on CD.
The idea behind DVD Audio is that it allows producers to give listeners a playback experience that is much more faithful to the original master recording that has been possible previously.
DVD Audio discs have a much higher capacity than CDs. This extra space can be used to provide audio at the highest possible quality or for longer recordings, or to provide additional material, such as information on the artist, photos and even video, all of which can be displayed on a television screen. Alternatively, DVD Audio discs currently on the market from the likes of the Warner group of labels have the audio content in both DVD Audio format and as Dolby Digital surround so that they can be played back on regular DVD players.
DVD Audio discs are navigable in the same way as DVD Video when played back on a player connected to a TV set. Users can select the required track from an on-screen menu and with an internet connection, can click on links to go to websites.
These dual format discs are a good way to kick-start the market while DVD Audio players are still relatively rare. The market will also be helped by combined DVD Video and Audio players.
Robert Armstrong is a contributor to The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the content and the issues related to HDTV.
Adding Sound To Your Web Site - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Many webmasters like the idea of adding background music to their web sites but most shy away from doing it worrying about slow loading pages and large file sizes. There are many different ways to add background music to your site and some of them don't require large files to achieve professional results. Let's examine all the different ways to add background music to your site and rate them to find the best solution for you.
1) MIDI Files
MIDI files are very small because they actually use your sound card's built-in instruments to create the sounds. The problem is that most sound cards don't have any decent sounds to start with, plus no two sound cards sound alike and therefore the results are very unpredictable. MIDI files usually sound like they're coming from one of those cheap Casio keyboards. Using MIDI for background music is very likely to make your site seem amateurish. Want to know how to do it anyway? Just add the line to your site. (Replace xyz with the name of the MIDI file you want to use!) The Autostart command will play the file automatically when the page is loaded.
PROS; Very small file size, easy to implement
CONS: Unpredictable results, amateurish sounds
2) WAV Files
Using the WAV file format allows you to add professional sounding recordings to your site but the problem is that even if you use a low quality setting like 11k/8bit, the file sizes are still very large and it will take a long time for your music to load. And slow loading pages are the worst thing that can happen to a site. Implementing a WAV file on a web page is easy. Just add the line to your page's HTML code. There's an additional command to loop the WAV file but WAV files do not loop cleanly with the embed command.
PROS: Many Quality Levels, Easy to implement
CONS: Large File Sizes, WAV Files do not loop
3) MP3 Files
MP3 files are highly compressed and don't take that long to load but the problem is that MP3s need to bring up an external player program and which in some cases takes your visitors away from your site altogether. Also, MP3 files don't loop cleanly.
PROS: Smaller File Sizes, Good Quality Possible
CONS: Needs external player software, not loopable
4) Flash
If you own a program that can create Flash files, you will have lots of flexibility in adding sound to your site. Flash lets you import WAV as well as MP3 Files and then creates quite small files from these sounds that will load automatically on your site. You can set the quality level and therefore decide how large you want the Flash file to be. Flash also allows you to loop short pieces of sound to create 'continuous' background music files that can be quite small. But please note that only imported WAV files can be looped in Flash, MP3 files will not loop cleanly.
PROS: Great Flexibility, Small File Sizes, expecially when looping sounds
CONS: You need to buy expensive Flash software to create Flash Files
5) Pre-Made Flash Loops
The newest thing on the market are pre-built Flash Music Loops. These files are professionally recorded, loop almost indefinitely and most of these Flash Music Loops are only about 20k in size so they load almost instantly. Flash Music Loops are available at http://www.flashmusictracks.com and currently there are three different loop packages available in all kinds of music styles from classical to techno. Using these pre-built Flash files is easy. Simply upload the "xyz.swf" Flash file to your server and add a few lines from the corresponding "xyz.html" file to your web page and presto...instant professional sounding background music.
PROS: Extremely small file size, professional quality music
CONS: None
As you can see there are many different ways to add background music to your web pages and you don't have to worry about slow loading pages if you choose the right file format.
(c)2004 Alan Steward
About The Author
Article by Alan Steward, a professional recording engineer and producer who worked with many Grammy award winning groups and musicians.
(c)2004 Alan Steward - http://www.musicleads.net
1) MIDI Files
MIDI files are very small because they actually use your sound card's built-in instruments to create the sounds. The problem is that most sound cards don't have any decent sounds to start with, plus no two sound cards sound alike and therefore the results are very unpredictable. MIDI files usually sound like they're coming from one of those cheap Casio keyboards. Using MIDI for background music is very likely to make your site seem amateurish. Want to know how to do it anyway? Just add the line to your site. (Replace xyz with the name of the MIDI file you want to use!) The Autostart command will play the file automatically when the page is loaded.
PROS; Very small file size, easy to implement
CONS: Unpredictable results, amateurish sounds
2) WAV Files
Using the WAV file format allows you to add professional sounding recordings to your site but the problem is that even if you use a low quality setting like 11k/8bit, the file sizes are still very large and it will take a long time for your music to load. And slow loading pages are the worst thing that can happen to a site. Implementing a WAV file on a web page is easy. Just add the line to your page's HTML code. There's an additional command to loop the WAV file but WAV files do not loop cleanly with the embed command.
PROS: Many Quality Levels, Easy to implement
CONS: Large File Sizes, WAV Files do not loop
3) MP3 Files
MP3 files are highly compressed and don't take that long to load but the problem is that MP3s need to bring up an external player program and which in some cases takes your visitors away from your site altogether. Also, MP3 files don't loop cleanly.
PROS: Smaller File Sizes, Good Quality Possible
CONS: Needs external player software, not loopable
4) Flash
If you own a program that can create Flash files, you will have lots of flexibility in adding sound to your site. Flash lets you import WAV as well as MP3 Files and then creates quite small files from these sounds that will load automatically on your site. You can set the quality level and therefore decide how large you want the Flash file to be. Flash also allows you to loop short pieces of sound to create 'continuous' background music files that can be quite small. But please note that only imported WAV files can be looped in Flash, MP3 files will not loop cleanly.
PROS: Great Flexibility, Small File Sizes, expecially when looping sounds
CONS: You need to buy expensive Flash software to create Flash Files
5) Pre-Made Flash Loops
The newest thing on the market are pre-built Flash Music Loops. These files are professionally recorded, loop almost indefinitely and most of these Flash Music Loops are only about 20k in size so they load almost instantly. Flash Music Loops are available at http://www.flashmusictracks.com and currently there are three different loop packages available in all kinds of music styles from classical to techno. Using these pre-built Flash files is easy. Simply upload the "xyz.swf" Flash file to your server and add a few lines from the corresponding "xyz.html" file to your web page and presto...instant professional sounding background music.
PROS: Extremely small file size, professional quality music
CONS: None
As you can see there are many different ways to add background music to your web pages and you don't have to worry about slow loading pages if you choose the right file format.
(c)2004 Alan Steward
About The Author
Article by Alan Steward, a professional recording engineer and producer who worked with many Grammy award winning groups and musicians.
(c)2004 Alan Steward - http://www.musicleads.net
CD/DVD Master Preparation Tips
Janet Jackson Discipline DVD Preview
"CD/DVD Master" is the disc you provide to your CD/DVD vendor for replication or duplication of that media. Here are some helpful tips for creating a high quality master:
- Always use high quality media. All media is not the same. Do your research and choose a brand that will produce a high quality disc consistently.
- Avoid burning from a network source. If your source files are on a network drive, copy the files to your local hard drive before burning a disc. If you cannot move the files to your local drive, please use the "Copy To Hard Drive First" feature. Your burning software will create a temporary image file during the burning process. When the burn is complete, the temporary file is deleted.
- Avoid burning on a laptop computer running on battery power. Fluctuations in available power may yield poor results.
- Always "Finalize" your disc. If you use the drag and drop interface that is built into some operating systems (Windows XP), be sure to select "finalize disc". This will increase the "read" compatibility in other CD-ROM drives.
- Don't use packet-writing method to burn master disc. This method is most common with burner drives that have "re-write" capabilities. It is similar to the "drag-and-drop" method described above. This burn method produces discs that cannot be read on many CD-ROM drives. We cannot accept a master that is burned to a ReWritable (CD-/+RW or DVD+RW) disc.
- Avoid impact or movement of the drive during burn. This can cause the laser to skip or jump a track, which will produce errors or a bad disc.
- Use "burn-proof" feature if available. This feature allows the drive to slow down the burn speed in the event the computer cannot supply data fast enough. This can increase the total burn time, but the quality of the disc will be greater.
- Avoid having multiple applications open when burning, especially those that access the internet or network. This can hinder your computer's ability to "feed" data to the burner drive at the proper rate. Poor quality discs and burn rejects could be the result.
There are exceptions and variables to all the statements above. If you have any questions regarding how to burn your master, feel free to contact the author of this article.
Adam Platzer
Spinergy
CD/DVD Replication, Duplication, and Screen Printing
Phone: 800-333-1328
http://www.spinergymedia.com
adam.platzer@spinergymedia.com
Five Tips to Become a Soundbite Genius
1. Speak in soundbites to everyone.
Getting key phrases for concepts and ideas across clearly is central to all communication. As a fun practice try to shave off any extraneous details during conversation in your everyday life. In Errol Morris' film *Fog of War* former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara said, *Never answer the question that is asked. Answer the question you wish were asked.* Begin to train yourself to speak only what you want others to hear. In this way you'll be shaping other's perception of you-which is the essence of good media.
2. Answer the first interview question with your sermonette.
In a 1989 interview on the NPR show Fresh Air veteran TV journalist David Brinkley said, *Everyone of them [his guests] will arrive in the studio with some little sermonette in mind, and determined to deliver it. So one thing I do is first ask them a dull, boring question like, what do you think about this. And let them deliver their little sermonette. And then we get to the hard core of what we're there to talk about.* Your first and last points have the most impact so plan and deliver your sermonettes no matter what you're asked.
3. Frame your ideas for your audience.
Jennifer O'Neil, a film producer and director, explained that when shooting background footage (b-roll) she uses a technique called *grounding.* To *ground* the camera must end definitively on an object or scene that signals the viewer that that segment is over. I suggested to her that she probably also used the opening footage to *ground* or shape the beginning of how she wanted a viewer to perceive the scene. In this way you orient your audience to the scene or the material you want them to focus on.
You can apply the same concept to soundbites. Your opening words set the stage for what you want to convey, your final words signify the close, how you want your audience to remember what you've told them. Use your opening and closing statements to anchor your audience to the information you want them to grasp. That way you shape the way they think about your product, service or cause.
4. Tell people what to do.
I love mystery, but this isn't the place for it. Don't leave your audience guessing. Be forthright about the action you want them to take by letting them know why your product or service is necessary for them to have a complete and happy life now. What gap does what you have to offer fill? Be direct in pointing this out so there is no doubt.
5. Live your words.
Get to the point with clarity and insight. The Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer said of composer Astor Piazzolla's music, *I don't think it's [the music] always about embellishment. I don't think it all can be expressed rightly just gliding on the surface of convenient rhythms. This music can't be in fact performed, it has to be lived. And I always can distinguish if someone is flirting with Piazzolla as a convenient item of our commercial industry or if someone really lives the life or the heartbeat of the music of this great composer.*
It's the same with you and your soundbites. Are you living the heartbeat of what you're saying, what you're representing? If not, we hear your false notes, your commercial intent. If so, we know in an instant when your music is true.
Learn how to use any interview, any time, on any topic, to get your business, book, product or cause the publicity-and fame you long for in this soundbite teleclass. http://www.prsecrets.com/
Copyright(c) 2004 Susan Harrow. All rights reserved.
You have permission to publish this article in its entirety electronically, in print, in your ebook, or on your web site, free of charge as long as no changes to the content are made and you include my byline, copyright, and resource box. Please notify me of publication by sending an email with a copy of your publication to: mailto:newslettereditor@prsecrets.com. Thanks!
About The Author
Copyright(c) 2004 Susan Harrow. All rights reserved.
Susan Harrow is a top media coach, marketing strategist and author of *Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul* (HarperCollins), *The Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah*, and *How You Can Get a 6-Figure Book Advance.* Her clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, millionaires, best-selling authors and successful entrepreneurs who have appeared on Oprah,60 Minutes,NPR, and in TIME,USA Today,Parade, People,O,NY Times,Wall Street Journal,Inc.
prsecrets@publicist.com
Getting key phrases for concepts and ideas across clearly is central to all communication. As a fun practice try to shave off any extraneous details during conversation in your everyday life. In Errol Morris' film *Fog of War* former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara said, *Never answer the question that is asked. Answer the question you wish were asked.* Begin to train yourself to speak only what you want others to hear. In this way you'll be shaping other's perception of you-which is the essence of good media.
2. Answer the first interview question with your sermonette.
In a 1989 interview on the NPR show Fresh Air veteran TV journalist David Brinkley said, *Everyone of them [his guests] will arrive in the studio with some little sermonette in mind, and determined to deliver it. So one thing I do is first ask them a dull, boring question like, what do you think about this. And let them deliver their little sermonette. And then we get to the hard core of what we're there to talk about.* Your first and last points have the most impact so plan and deliver your sermonettes no matter what you're asked.
3. Frame your ideas for your audience.
Jennifer O'Neil, a film producer and director, explained that when shooting background footage (b-roll) she uses a technique called *grounding.* To *ground* the camera must end definitively on an object or scene that signals the viewer that that segment is over. I suggested to her that she probably also used the opening footage to *ground* or shape the beginning of how she wanted a viewer to perceive the scene. In this way you orient your audience to the scene or the material you want them to focus on.
You can apply the same concept to soundbites. Your opening words set the stage for what you want to convey, your final words signify the close, how you want your audience to remember what you've told them. Use your opening and closing statements to anchor your audience to the information you want them to grasp. That way you shape the way they think about your product, service or cause.
4. Tell people what to do.
I love mystery, but this isn't the place for it. Don't leave your audience guessing. Be forthright about the action you want them to take by letting them know why your product or service is necessary for them to have a complete and happy life now. What gap does what you have to offer fill? Be direct in pointing this out so there is no doubt.
5. Live your words.
Get to the point with clarity and insight. The Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer said of composer Astor Piazzolla's music, *I don't think it's [the music] always about embellishment. I don't think it all can be expressed rightly just gliding on the surface of convenient rhythms. This music can't be in fact performed, it has to be lived. And I always can distinguish if someone is flirting with Piazzolla as a convenient item of our commercial industry or if someone really lives the life or the heartbeat of the music of this great composer.*
It's the same with you and your soundbites. Are you living the heartbeat of what you're saying, what you're representing? If not, we hear your false notes, your commercial intent. If so, we know in an instant when your music is true.
Learn how to use any interview, any time, on any topic, to get your business, book, product or cause the publicity-and fame you long for in this soundbite teleclass. http://www.prsecrets.com/
Copyright(c) 2004 Susan Harrow. All rights reserved.
You have permission to publish this article in its entirety electronically, in print, in your ebook, or on your web site, free of charge as long as no changes to the content are made and you include my byline, copyright, and resource box. Please notify me of publication by sending an email with a copy of your publication to: mailto:newslettereditor@prsecrets.com. Thanks!
About The Author
Copyright(c) 2004 Susan Harrow. All rights reserved.
Susan Harrow is a top media coach, marketing strategist and author of *Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul* (HarperCollins), *The Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah*, and *How You Can Get a 6-Figure Book Advance.* Her clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, millionaires, best-selling authors and successful entrepreneurs who have appeared on Oprah,60 Minutes,NPR, and in TIME,USA Today,Parade, People,O,NY Times,Wall Street Journal,Inc.
prsecrets@publicist.com
Heres Exactly What Makes Web Audio So Powerful
Have you ever tried to communicate with another person using just actions and sign language? It gets pretty frustrating, doesn't it? Especially when you know that if you could just SAY a few words, they'd get the picture, almost instantly.
Well, imagine if the website you've put up on show... could "speak". If it could sparkle with the spoken word. What do you think the effect could be?
You see, what the smart website marketers have realised, is that they need to move beyond just written words and striking graphics. They're looking to giving their website? a 'personality'.
BUT? in the cold hearted, faceless world of the internet, being able to reach the audience you want, with sincerity, warmth and with a 'face', doesn't come easily to most.
That is unless you happen to have the skilful knack of knowing what to write, when to write it and are able to string words together to help paint a strong emotional picture in readers minds for your product, service or idea.
Getting all the help we can via other means is crucial in giving us that slight edge.
There's possibly nothing more intimate, more convincing, more realistic for the reader, than to hear a 'voice' behind the website. What it adds, is satisfying helpings of?
LIFE and? CREDIBILITY!
Imagine being able to connect at regular intervals with your customers and clients! How do you think they'll feel when you're able to inform them that there's an exciting offer about to happen and you make sure the message reaches both their eyes, and their ears!
What about using this simple technology to help create a stampede of sales, an abundance of new subscribers, a fleet of qualified prospects, a herd of new referrals!
What about being able to tell your customers that you messed up on the last bit of information you gave them and that you're really sorry. Won't you be able to convey this message better using real live words, than by using written text?
Won't your sincerity, conviction and heartfelt emotion, reach them INSTANTLY, where it matters most? THEIR HEARTS!
Copyright 2004 Nick James
About The Author
Nick James is a UK based direct marketer and product developer. During the last 3 years Nick has sold in excess of ￡1 Million of products and sevices. Subscribe to his Free Tip Of The Week at: www.Nick-James.com New Product: www.FlashAudioWizard.com.
Well, imagine if the website you've put up on show... could "speak". If it could sparkle with the spoken word. What do you think the effect could be?
You see, what the smart website marketers have realised, is that they need to move beyond just written words and striking graphics. They're looking to giving their website? a 'personality'.
BUT? in the cold hearted, faceless world of the internet, being able to reach the audience you want, with sincerity, warmth and with a 'face', doesn't come easily to most.
That is unless you happen to have the skilful knack of knowing what to write, when to write it and are able to string words together to help paint a strong emotional picture in readers minds for your product, service or idea.
Getting all the help we can via other means is crucial in giving us that slight edge.
There's possibly nothing more intimate, more convincing, more realistic for the reader, than to hear a 'voice' behind the website. What it adds, is satisfying helpings of?
LIFE and? CREDIBILITY!
Imagine being able to connect at regular intervals with your customers and clients! How do you think they'll feel when you're able to inform them that there's an exciting offer about to happen and you make sure the message reaches both their eyes, and their ears!
What about using this simple technology to help create a stampede of sales, an abundance of new subscribers, a fleet of qualified prospects, a herd of new referrals!
What about being able to tell your customers that you messed up on the last bit of information you gave them and that you're really sorry. Won't you be able to convey this message better using real live words, than by using written text?
Won't your sincerity, conviction and heartfelt emotion, reach them INSTANTLY, where it matters most? THEIR HEARTS!
Copyright 2004 Nick James
About The Author
Nick James is a UK based direct marketer and product developer. During the last 3 years Nick has sold in excess of ￡1 Million of products and sevices. Subscribe to his Free Tip Of The Week at: www.Nick-James.com New Product: www.FlashAudioWizard.com.
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