Audio Streaming

Audio Streaming Tips

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:53:00 +0000

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How a Good Audio Product Can Make You Rich

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:25:00 +0000

By Menno Spijkstra

In every product creation, thorough research is very important for you to be able to hit the right target. Knowing what your prospective customers want or need will help you come up with the appropriate product that will surely sell to these people. You cannot simply produce a product without knowing the needs of your target market. With the recent developments in technology, internet marketers are no longer confined in making the common information products like electronic books. These days you can create your own audio product to sell. An audio product belongs to the list of possible information products that you can actually sell on the net and make lots of money out of.

Many internet marketers actually consider this as one of the most salable products since many internet users want education on the go. The latter refers to information that can be easily accessed any where and any time. Thus, the audio product that you can produce can be listened to through a computer or an MP3. Many people these days listen to portable MP3s while they are on the move and having a good material to listen to is such a welcoming thought. So, definitely there is a good market for this type of products. However, many internet marketers also fail to profit in audio products because they tend to miss knowing the right needs of their prospective market.

You need to invest your time and effort in researching for the right topic for your audio product that will surely match the interest of your target customers. You can actually do a keyword research in order for you to determine the highly searched keywords in the niche that you want to specialize in. The topic of your audio product must revolve around topics that get a high number of searches. Then, you will have to stuff your product with high quality contents so that your target customers will be happy with what you are giving them. Keep in mind that meeting the expectations or even surpassing the expectations of your target customers will mean a lot to your business.

When you are able to satisfy your prospective customers, you are off to a good start. Once you have decided on the subject of your audio product, you need to plan well for its content. You must properly present your ideas in a manner that is very comprehensive and packed with quality information. Having a well laid out plan will help you come with an organized output. Not only that, you also have to mind the quality of the output. Everything must be audible and pleasant to the ears. One notable advantage of having your own audio product is the fact that this adds a more personal touch in the way you deal with your customers.

Hearing your voice will draw them closer to you. You can take advantage of this benefit in order to establish a good and long term relationship with your clients. When you are done making your products, you can then focus your attention to promoting it. On your own web site, you can use a web audio to add more spice in the manner of doing your sales pitch. Online advertising will help you a lot in generating your desired sales that's why you need to know what methods will contribute to bringing your products closer to its target buyers. With the right audio product on the shelf coupled with effective advertising efforts, you are sure to gain profits from it.

The author of this article Menno Spijkstra is an Internet Marketing specialist who has been successful with several affiliate programs for many years. Menno finally decided to share his knowledge and experience through his website http://www.AffiliateDistrict.com. You can sign up for his free newsletter and join his coaching program.

Audio Postcards - Get Your Audience Listening

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:24:00 +0000

By Pat Shanks

An audio postcard looks like a regular postcard on your browser, but the message is in audio instead of in print. This will help your product or service stand out from the noise in your prospect's or customer's life. Even better, it doesn't demand much of you at all. Just follow these steps.

How do I get the audio content?

You start with a teleseminar, and then you chop that up into many different parts, just a few minutes each. Find your best points with some easy audio editing, so each part can stand alone as a valuable benefit to your listener.

A cool goal would be to develop 52 of these audio postcards over time, so it could be a weekly mailing to your list. This would make a great opt-in incentive on your site, simply by repurposing something you already have.

What does an audio postcard look like?

An audio postcard is an HTML page that looks like a postcard with a postage stamp in the upper right hand corner. Sometimes it has the face of the person sending it. That could be your face if you're sending it. There's a clickable link in the lower right corner, which is where they click it to hear your message. On the left hand side of that postcard is the message in text.

That's how you repurpose an audio postcard. You take the audio and you chop it up with software like Sound Forge or Audacity. Then you upload it into Audio Generator or Audio Acrobat, it depends what audio postcard technology you have.

You upload it and just like that you have these audio postcards which are a different and creative way to get your message to your list. A lot of people prefer listening to something rather than reading, so try audio postcards and you'll see good results.

And we'd like to invite you watch and listen to FREE additional online marketing tips and powerful strategies by going to http://www.SpectacularOnlineSecrets.com

To find out more about Pat and Lorna please visit our blog at http://www.ToPatAndLorna.com

Creativity Through Streaming Audio

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:23:00 +0000

By Menno Spijkstra

If you want to keep up with the current trends in the internet, add streaming audio to your web site and be way ahead your league. An average consumer is said to be exposed to about 3,000 advertisements and commercial messages each day. By using streaming audio on your web site, you gain complete control of what your customers hear even if you cannot control what part of your web site they read. If you are determined to stand above your competitors, make an impact through streaming audio. Traditionally, people needed to download an entire file before they could download it from their hard drive and listen or watch it.

Whereas, streaming works in real time so you can listen or view the music as it is being downloaded. There are live broadcasts and video and audio streams that you can listen. Other online businesses use streaming audio to create a sample of their products. Most people are said to be better at understanding through audio than through reading. There is better retention when people hear about what you are promoting when they get to visit your web site. Since streaming audio is a new technology to many people, now is the best time to take full advantage of it.

Unlike in the old days when you had to be well-versed with Flash and other complicated software program, adding streaming audio to your site nowadays is an easy job to do. Streaming media is made easy for people to take advantage of the benefits it can do to their web sites. There are many user-friendly software programs in streaming audio that will automatically convert your audio to streaming format. The software will just give you a code you need to copy into your web page. The good part is you do not need to be a computer wizard to do the task of streaming audio.

High quality streaming products are sold at cheap and reasonable prices these days. All these usually come with an easy to follow tutorials and do not require a special server for audio. Additionally, streaming audio can add to your credibility. Upon hearing your voice, your customers will feel a more personalized service since most people really prefer to do business with someone they can trust. So, streaming audio is one way to bring you closer to your customers. Instead of posting written testimonials about the products or services you are selling, you can make a streaming audio.

Just how creative is that idea? With streaming audio of professional quality, it will be easier for you to grab visitors by the ears! Aside from getting reliable streaming audio software, you must also be particular with the quality of sound they can offer you. There are wide ranges of streaming products that are individually designed to cater for your various needs. Make sure to read about each product carefully and know their customer support system before purchasing. Try to maximize your small investment in a quality streaming audio software that will surely make your web site a hip and a profitable one.

Increase Your Sales With Audio - 3 Steps to Using Sound For More Sales

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:22:00 +0000

By Christopher M. Hall

Have you ever thought of increasing your sales by adding audio to your website? Studies have proven that adding audio to your website can increase your sales. There have been instances of sales more than doubling just by adding audio to a website. Let's look at three ways you can use audio to make more money online.

Audio Marketing Step #1: Add A Short Bio Of Yourself

Building trust online is very difficult to do these days, but you can help build trust by recording an introduction or small biography of yourself. Allowing people to listen rather than read sets you apart from so many other people and websites. It also reinforces the idea that there is a helpful person behind the website.

Audio Marketing Step #2: Record Live Conferences

People enjoy listening to conference calls online. It just gives them the feeling that they are connected with you. A recording where people are asking you questions and you are answering them is a great way to increase your sales. People want to hear you interact with others because they feel that they are getting more value and attention.

Audio Marketing Step #3: Sell An Audio Series Instead of Written Material

Selling ebooks is still a very profitable business, but many people are beginning to sale audio series instead. An audio series allows you to be more personal with your audience. Audio series also have more perceived value than an ebook. It is even better when you offer an audio series on CD. People love to listen to CDs while they are driving, and drive time is really one of the few remaining times when you have someone's undivided attention.

Do you want to learn how to make money online from home like I do? Download my brand new ebook that teaches you step-by-step directions on how to start your online business so you can make money quicker than you thought possible: http://www.YourOnlineBusinessTutor.com

Christopher learned the hard way how to start a successful online business. Now he wants to teach you what he learned through experience so you don't make the same mistakes. Let him show you what you must know to start your own online business.

Improve Your Online Sales - Make Your Website Talk

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:22:00 +0000

By Alison Pitman

The latest trend in website marketing is the use of a speaking animated character or avatar to engage with customers when they visit your website. According to research, these characters can help increase your conversion and sales results, increase the time visitors spend on your site, and, provide your company with that all important competitive edge! In addition, a major benefit is that your information and sales message is reinforced through sight and sound. Your website can talk directly to the customer letting them know what you can offer them in a welcoming and professional manner.

Sites like Sitepal allow you to create and customise your own animation to fit with the image and personality of the products and services you are promoting. So when you're choosing what hair colour, age, clothing your character is going to wear, why not think about customizing the audio to match? Although these sites give you the option of their text to speech service its worth considering the benefits of using a professional voiceover artist to record your message.

The sound of a real human voice can really make the difference. Text to speech applications are becoming more and more sophisticated but they are still no substitute for the real human voice. The human ear can detect a synthesized voice immediately while most people will respond to the natural cadence and emotions present in a real live human voice.

In addition, a professional voiceover can bring all their experience of reading a powerful and persuasive sales message. You can also choose a voice to suit your customers expectations - clients can choose a voice to brand their company. A sound which reflects the image and values that their company holds.

Alison Pitman
Professional Voiceover Artist.

Provider of audio recordings for business including, podcasts, website audio, phone system recordings, training and presentation narrations, corporate video narrations, product tour audio, radio and television commercials and much more.

Please visit my website to hear my demos http://www.thephonevoice.com/

Business Basics For Voiceovers - Setting Up Your Voiceover Business - Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:22:00 +0000

By Alison Pitman

I hope you found the first 5 tips helpful. Here are the final five ideas to keep in mind when setting up your voiceover business.

1. I wanted to briefly mention the issue of starting your voiceover business while your still employed in your day job. This is the route most Voice-overs take and makes financial sense for most of us. But, before you start trading, it could be an idea to double check your existing employment contract first.

You may find that you are subject to a Restrictive covenant which would prevent you from setting up your business while continuing to work for your current employer. If this is the case, than your employer may be able to claim damages if they show that they have suffered a financial detriment as a result of your breach.

Even if there isn't such a clause in contract there is still an implied term of mutual trust and confidence. If you take a common sense approach you can usually work out whether you trading as a Voiceover artist will make an impact on your day job to the extent that your current employer will seek to terminate your contract. If you're working on your voiceover business in the evenings and weekends it should really not interfere with your current employment. However, if you're taking calls at work for your voiceover business or taking time off work to devote more time to voiceover your employer might well have a problem with that! Also, think about what you and your boss consider your free personal time. You may both have quite different ideas and expectations of what it actually is. With the advances in technology - mobile phones, broadband, wi-fi - you can be contactable by your boss at any time. Do they expect you to be on call at any time? Delineation's between work and free time brings me to my next point which most people setting up any kind of business will face.

2. Working for yourself and working at home. There are so many issues under this broad banner so I'm just going to touch on some, lightly. It's a topic that really deserves a whole article to itself. When you start working for yourself you quickly learn how much there is to do so its quite easy to let work overtake your home life. Working for yourself allows you the opportunity to do things your way. However, self-motivation is key and if you don't have it you could be your own worst enemy. If you lose focus your business could suffer. You may be able to choose your own hours, but this doesn't mean taking frequent holidays. Remember you will only get a lot out of your business if you put a lot into it.

Working from home may seem ideal but striking the right work-life balance can be hard. It can be difficult to switch off from work if the temptation to carry on is there, or difficult to concentrate if for instance, you have children (which will be discussed in the next tip). Try to schedule in periods in which to relax and set yourself cut off point in the evening to stop working in order to maintain a boundary between work and the rest of your life.

Other tips include

- Starting the working day with something easy, fun or interesting. This helps to build momentum throughout the day.

- Stick to a schedule. Many people have found that a 9-5 schedule really helps them keep on track and productive.

- Separate your work read from your living area - this includes your phone & computer

- Work on networking - since you don't have co-workers its good to get to know people who are doing the same things as you do - forums like vo-bb.com and http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/ are really helpful. And the latest site Voiceover Universe has tons of useful information and links to other voiceover artists.

There are so many issues when it comes to working from home and my next tip focuses on one of the main ones.

3. This section is for working mums and dads. Setting up a business when you have children adds a whole extra challenge. There are some websites workingmums.co.uk and http://www.hbwm.com/ (homebasedworkingmoms) that can offer general advice and tips. Launching a voiceover business is tough if you don't have clear, child-free time to devote to it. Recording voiceovers brings its own unique challenges that have a compatibility problem with children - unless you have extremely quiet children. Fitting work into 'nap times' or while the children are watching cartoons is not a realistic option. Childcare is key! Whether its friends and family helping out for a few set hours or more formalized arrangements with a nursery, childminder or nanny. It is wise to get childcare options sorted out as soon as possible. It can take ages to get your child into the nursery or pre-school of your choice so if you can plan the earlier the better. As a working mum or dad you will need to plan your time even more carefully. Work out what aspects of your work you can do while the kids are around and what needs to be left until they're out of the house. I tend to find looking and responding to emails are all that can be done with my little one around. Possibly writing and sending invoices, checking web stats, monitoring forums and blogs, can be managed also. But anything that involves recording voiceovers, writing press releases or podcast - these need my undivided attention so I leave these until little one is at nursery, with grandparents or daddy has come home.

Some people recommend getting up extra early (some as early as 4am) so you can have some quiet working time before the household awakes. Its also extremely helpful if you have a supportive spouse or partner who can take the kids outside or keep them entertained elsewhere in the house while you work. Alternatively, staying up later also helps. Once they've gone to bed can be the perfect time to plan for the next day, clear out the inbox and get some writing or recording completed. Remember its also important to switch of the microphone and play with them - work is important for so many reasons but so is spending quality time playing and having fun with your children. Their childhood last such a short time and a great benefit of working as a voiceover is that you can work from home and spend quality time with all your family.

4. Tip number nine is something you can implement at any stage of your voiceover career - get yourself a mentor. Having a mentor can be a huge support and can help you see the wood from the trees. Mentoring can provide a second opinion and offer constructive feedback and impartial advice. A mentor won't run your voiceover business for you but can give you the benefit of their experience, and bring with them their skills and knowledge as well as widening your contacts within the industry. What makes a good mentor for you will be a completely personal decision. You may prefer someone who you can develop a friendly easy-going relationship, another voiceover may prefer a mentor who specialises in the technical side of voiceover. Whichever mentor you choose it's critical that you find someone you're comfortable working with. Mentoring can help you personally by building confidence in your own skills, decision making and problem solving abilities. Its important to remain open to their feedback and - take their opinions and thoughts as constructive criticism. The guidance and wisdom of a mentor can be invaluable to the success of a new voiceover business.

5. My final tip is this.... Don't give up too early. There is no such thing as an overnight success story. It can take years; decades even, to get established as voiceover artist. Try something and if it doesn't work try something different.

The successful voiceover artists, are those that have persistence and tenacity in bucket-loads.

Alison Pitman

Professional Voiceover Artist. Provider of audio recordings for business including, podcasts, website audio, phone system recordings, training and presentation narrations, corporate video narrations, product tour audio, radio and television commercials and much more.

Please visit my website to hear my demos http://www.thephonevoice.com/

Live Internet Radio - The Future of Radio

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:29:00 +0000

By Prashant Dhama

Right after the introduction of the Internet, we have come across many electronic counterparts in our day to day lives. It has changed the way of our communication is made, whether it be sharing of information, marketing or infotainment. It has introduced the age of e-mail, e-commerce, e-shopping, internet radio and internet TV.

Live Internet radio is one of the latest trends in cyberspace. Talks pertaining to e-radio is very common these days. Perhaps, e-radio is the next most sought after thing in the cyberspace right after the e-mail, and e-commerce. In fact, e-radio is not that a new thing, it has been in existence for quite some time now. But, it is only of late that it has flourished and it has improved radio connectivity tremendously. As such, listeners are flooded with live radio stations, which have exhaustive range of channels. These channels cater to the varied needs of the listeners.

Definitely, the Internet radio talk is one of the most striking programmes. Streaming talk shows and discussions on a variety of lively topics have become very popular among the listeners. Such programmes are being fed by the live radio stations host talks shows even with experts of various subjects.

It has been found that the traditional radio broadcasters have been using the live Internet radio to promote their programmes or advertise them. Whereas, the e-radio technology has brought about a sea change in the way of presentation of the radio programmes. Because of its contribution today individuals can host their own talk shows from the comfort of their home.

This radio technology includes different methods for creating the audio stream source. It uses the SHOUT cast service that makes use of Winamp and SHOUT cast DSP plugin to deliver MP3 audio. This method also uses open source technologies like the Stream cast, stream db, IceS, and Muse., patent free data formats like Ogg Vorbis as well.

There is no shortage of radio networks online these days. The services offered by live Internet radio are really marvellous. Voice America is an Internet radio network that helps host ones own internet radio talk show. Moreover, it also gives the complete package of Internet streaming, media broadcasting, support services on line, marketing and Internet solutions that help make a mark on the on line audience.

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Audio Streaming - Can Audio Make a Difference on Your Web Site?

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:19:00 +0000

By Sean Ray

Audio Streaming – Can Audio Make a Difference on Your Web Site?

With bandwidth becoming cheaper and easier to access, many websites are changing the way they present their content to their visitors. For example, both CNN.COM and NYTIME.COM have increased the amount of video and audio streaming content that they provide on their sites. We can only expect that more will come. Is audio streaming, or video streaming right for your web site? It can add value to an online presentation, and coming from the right people, it’s an excellent way of conveying customer testimonials.

There are some benefits. You can’t always rely on your site visitors to read the content in front of them, but it’s very difficult for them not to listen. A quality voice can make a large difference in influence visitors and building trust. On the other hand, audio streaming is viewed by some as intrusive (like talking in a library) and if produced poorly it can reflect negatively on your credibility.

There is a place of sound. If your site is an entertainment site, a training site, has interviews for content or even a sport site, audio is a natural adjunct to copy. But if you want audio streaming to make a difference on your web site, make sure it’s good. Utilize professional voice over artists (which can be found at www.voices.com) and if you have more involved voice and music, make sure it’s professionally mixed. Professionals aren’t that expensive and they’re well worth the value. If you’re not sure where to find such talent, talk to the advertising manager at your local radio station. They’ll know.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: Email List Building

How to Move Your Audio Product Development to New Levels

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:40:00 +0000

By Bob B. Hamilton

Those in internet marketing have seen the popularity of audio products continue to grow. Users have discovered just how easy and handy they are to use, especially when compared to written products. Users have discovered that audio products are great for travel, especially while sitting in a traffic jam. In this article I will present 4 steps on how to move your audio product development to new levels.

1. Start by determining where you will complete your recordings. This first step is in many ways the most important. The very best option is to rent a professional recording studio. If finances limit your ability to follow this path, then start looking for a quiet place in your home. The location you select must be free of background noise. Remember - your listeners don't want to hear appliances, your family members, or the family pets in the background of recordings they purchase. Pick a location that has as little noise as possible, and then turn it into your own quiet recording studio.

2. Invest in high quality recording tools and equipment. Once you've establishing your recording area move on to obtaining the tools and equipment required for the job. Some of the basics include a microphone, mixing board, software for making edits, as well as a computer and sound card. Headset microphones are easier to use, they provide consistent volume, and they allow you to freely move about to handle the others tasks associated with recording. Achieve the highest quality possible by purchasing the best tools and equipment you can afford.

3. Select the right topic. While making your topic selection, put yourself in your targeted client's shoes. Stay within your niche, and then focus on the problems, issues, and questions that are the greatest concern and interest to your customers. This strategy serves to not only provide the data of greatest interest, but also to make motivating them to purchase future products more trouble free.

4. Shorter is better. Keep your audio products direct and to the point. Your customers are busy, and they have limited attention duration. Creating 1.5-hour or 2-hour recordings will not work. Not only will they lose interest, but they will fail to gain the potential value that your audio product has to offer. A better strategy is to divide your topic into sub-topics and then create shorter audios. A 20-30 minute audio can be created for each sub-topic you've identified.

A final suggestion is to avoid employing professional voice talents in the creation of audio products. Use your own voice instead. Your internet marketing customers want to hear you. You are building stronger ties and relationships with those customers when it is your voice they hear. Sure it does require a little practice to create an interesting product, but the effort will be rewarded.

To your internet marketing success!

Interesting in learning more about this topic? Download my free ebook on internet marketing.

Bob Hamilton is an entrepreneur, author, writer, business consultant and trainer.

Marketing Success Center

Audio Marketing Tips - Discover the Benefits of Using Audio in Your Online Marketing Messages

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:56:00 +0000

By Mike A Stewart

We all know the power of audio and video for marketing messages on radio and TV, right? Then why do we forget about it when it comes to our websites, blogs, and other online marketing messages?

Because the Internet is essentially the radio and TV of today, that puts the power of audio and video marketing in your hands. When you underscore your online marketing messages with audio, you are skyrocketing the power of your message.

Once out of reach

Production music was once out of reach for the average consumer. The average person could not create it or afford to have it created for them. With the advent of royalty free music, audio clips are now within reach and affordable for all.

How to use music

Here are just a few of the ways you can use music and audio in your multiple marketing messages online:

*CD audio products

*Audio book downloads

*Website audio buttons and messages

*Podcasts & blogs

*DVD products

*Online videos, You Tube and Video downloads

*Google Audio and Video Ads

*Webinars

*Live video streams like Ustream.tv & Stickam.com

An example

Imagine watching The Tonight Show with Jay Leno without the opening theme music. It would seem strange, wouldn't it? The opening theme music sets the tone, brands the show,and gets the audience ready to laugh with Jay.

Now imagine a teleseminar beginning and ending with no intro or exit music. While it would work, there is a better way to do it by adding audio.

Now imagine a teleseminar with intro and exit music that brands the teleseminar, gets you ready to listen, and sends you off with a good feeling. Just like on TV, you can use music to brand yourself and prepare your audience.

And now consider the bottom line - which teleseminar would be more profitable?

And now you can discover how to get your access to royalty free music you can use in your online marketing messages when you go to http://www.TwoBuckThemes.com

Mike Stewart, The Internet Audio Guy & Two Buck Themes

5 Ways to Add Audio to Your Blog Or Website to Attract More Clients

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:56:00 +0000

By Irene Houston

It's amazing how many people don't realise the power of their own voice.

Audio streaming has been around for a long time, but admittedly, it used to be quite complicated to work out how to add it to your site a few years ago. But that's all changed now, there' s no excuse for not having audio as a marketing tool on you web site or blog nowadays.

Here are 5 simple ways to add audio to your web site to attract more clients:

Add an audio introduction. Tell people who you are and what you do. Your voice coming out of a computer screen can often be what makes the connection between you and your prospective customer. The personal touch goes a long way. Don't go over the top though, your introduction should only be around 1 - 1.30 minutes long. Short and sweet.

Record your clients testimonials. Lots of people forget overlook one of the best ways to advertise your products or services is to have other people endorse them. Many audio streaming websites now provide a special telephone number where your satisfied customers can call in, without any the hassle of complicated equipment.

Record your ebook or special report. Remember, not everyone likes to learn by reading. Many people, particularly those who don't have English as a first language, or who are dyslexic, can prefer an audio version over a written version of your products. Break the chapters of your ebook into sections and record them one by one. Add the audio MP3 file version with the written transcript and charge extra for the two products.

Deliver teleclasses or teleseminars. This is an excellent way to connect on a regular basis with your customers, particularly if you are launching a new product or are considering a joint venture you wish to promote.

Question and answer sessions. Instead of writing a Q & A section on your web site or blog, consider recording the most frequently asked questions to let your customers hear you personally explain how you can solve their problems.

And now I invite you to join me on my free weekly teleclasses where I help solopreneurs, coaches, consultants and service professionals to raise their online visibility by adding Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, audio, videos, social media and info products to their sites to attract more clients. Sign up for my free weekly teleclasses at http://www.StartAnInternetBusinessBlog.com

Recording Audio For Your Website - Build a Relationship With Your Website Visitors Using Your Voice

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:56:00 +0000

By Felicia Slattery

Building a relationship with your website visitors is crucial to having a successful online business. If you want to start a relationship right away, one way to do that is to offer an audio greeting welcoming your visitors to your site.

One of my clients asked this question recently:

"What is the best way to record a short audio that can be downloaded for my website? I want people to hear my voice to connect."

You have options. They range from totally free and low-priced options to other options that will allow you and your business to grow offering several bells and whistles that you may want as your website gets more traffic and you become more successful.

1. Totally Free Option:

Get an account at FreeConferenceCall.com. They will give you a number to call and a code to record. Follow me here: You'll want to call in using another phone at the same time or else you'll be stuck listening to some seriously bad looped musak while you record. So call in on your main phone line. Then use your cell phone and mute your cell phone by pressing *6. Then record your greeting using your main phone line. Once your recording is done, you'll have to download it to your computer from the conference call line's website.

2. Low-Priced Option

You can go to the Internet and search for a free downloadable recording tool like Audacity. You will need a microphone that hooks into your computer with a USB cable. I personally use a headset with a microphone, so I can use for Skype voice chats and presenting in webinar rooms also. You have multiple options ranging on prices of microphones as low as $19.99 at local stores like Radio Shack and from online sources as well.

3. Looking to the Future Option

If you plan to work with audio often, you may want to invest in a longer-term solution. Services such as Audio Acrobat can help you record your own voice for your site, but you can also send your satisfied customers there to record testimonials for you. Willie Crawford, successful internet millionaire, suggests this tool for those who truly want to make an impact for a long time to come.

Regardless of the methods you choose, effective communication with your clients and prospects is the key to making your business successful. The first thing you need to communicate-- and continue to communicate -- is your credibility. Without credibility, your business will go nowhere. With it, you'll automatically attract new clients and see positive cash flow.

I invite you to discover what you need to know about Credibility and Cash Flow now. Visit http://www.CredibilityAndCashFlow.com to get your free e-course that will help you customize a credibility plan for your business and get you more clients, more business and more money.

Felicia J. Slattery, M.A., M.Ad.Ed. is a communication consultant, speaker & coach specializing in training small and home-based business owners effective communication skills so they can see more cash flow now.

Audio Marketing Tips - Discover the Benefits of Using Audio in Your Online Marketing Messages

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:37:00 +0000

By Mike A Stewart

We all know the power of audio and video for marketing messages on radio and TV, right? Then why do we forget about it when it comes to our websites, blogs, and other online marketing messages?

Once out of reach

How to use music

Here are just a few of the ways you can use music and audio in your multiple marketing messages online:

*CD audio products

*Audio book downloads

*Website audio buttons and messages

*Podcasts & blogs

*DVD products

*Online videos, You Tube and Video downloads

*Google Audio and Video Ads

*Webinars

*Live video streams like Ustream.tv & Stickam.com

An example

Now imagine a teleseminar beginning and ending with no intro or exit music. While it would work, there is a better way to do it by adding audio.

And now consider the bottom line - which teleseminar would be more profitable?

And now you can discover how to get your access to royalty free music you can use in your online marketing messages when you go to http://www.TwoBuckThemes.com

Mike Stewart, The Internet Audio Guy & Two Buck Themes

Voice Overs - 6 Reasons to Use Audio on Your Website

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:35:00 +0000

By Alison Pitman

Using professional voice over recordings can bring tangible benefits to your site visitors. As well as making their visit a more interactive and interesting experience, it also can be of practical help. Helping answer their questions and guide them through the buying process - voice over can help increase your sales and lower your customer service costs. Here are 6 benefits that adding voice over recordings to your website may bring:

1. A real voice encourages visitors to stay longer, which in turn improves your chance of your visitor taking action, whether it's buying a product, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a survey. As they view your web page they can listen to the audio - receiving the information visually and audibly.

2. A real voice increases visitor confidence because they actually hear someone talking to them. It makes your site more credible as it shows real people are behind the website and the products.

3. A real voice can increase your conversion rate and therefore increase your sales. Audio adds a whole new dimension to your website that will captivate and motivate your customers. Hearing a real voice can have a big impact on your site visitors, making their website experience more pleasurable.

4. Using a real voice can help guide your visitors through the ordering process, helping answer their questions so they don't need to contact your customer support team, saving both parties time and money.

5. A voice shows emotion and personality. People like to do business with people they like, so a warm friendly voice should build trust and a rapport with your prospective clients.

6. Use an enthusiastic voice to create buzz about your products and services. Motivate your website visitors to take action with a motivational audio clip.

Alison Pitman
Professional Voiceover Artist. Provider of audio recordings for business including, podcasts, website audio, phone system recordings, training and presentation narrations, corporate video narrations, product tour audio, radio and television commercials and much more. Please visit my website to hear my demos http://www.thephonevoice.com/

The Rising Popularity of Audio Books

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:29:00 +0000

By Tom Reynolds

Today’s society is more productive than ever. All of that increased productivity leaves little time for leisure activities. More and more activities are being done passively, and taking in a good book or magazine is no exception. Audio books are about to explode in the next few years as more and more people become aware of their mainstream popularity.

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last year or so, you know that the Apple iPod has far exceeded even Steve Jobs’ expectations. People like to listen and listening is a passive activity. In other words, you can listen to music or speech while doing other things such as writing a paper, working out, or resting on the sofa with your eyes closed. Quite frequently, people will learn new material such as a foreign language on the commute back and forth to work. While in medical school, I would listen to recordings of my lectures through the car stereo each day on my commute. This saved tons of valuable time, and I feel that my grades improved over simply reading the material. In fact, I am more of an audible learner.

The roots of the audio book come from educational material put into a format that was easier for people to use. They would listen to their book while doing other activities, and learning comprehension actually increased in some cases. Nowadays, you can find popular books, newspapers, or magazines all in audio format.

What sparked the change to popular novels such as the Harry Potter series moving over to audio book format? It’s pretty simple, actually. There is a demand for it. People have seen the ease at which they can purchase and add music to their iPod – why should audio books be any different? In fact, the numbers show that the popularity of audio book downloads are increasing rapidly. As early as 2000, people were beginning to download audio books and today the number of listeners has increased dramatically mostly due to the popularity and availability of affordable digital audio players.

The most popular means of obtaining audio books is through a rental service, or audio book club. Most people prefer to purchase - rather than rent - music due to the replay factor that is associated with tunes. Books, on the other hand, are typically only listened to once and are much better suited for a rental plan. The movie rental industry thrives for the exact same reason.

If you’re a frequent listener or only wish to listen to a book or magazine once per month, you can find affordable audio book club memberships by doing a little digging on the web. If you look around, there is probably an audio book rental plan that accommodates your lifestyle to near perfection. If you would rather purchase your audio books, you can find resources for that as well. There are also many free audio book sources on the web, although most of the content found on these sites will be unpublished literature.

Tom Reynolds is a freelance writer and writes for several sites including AudioNovel. AudioNovel provides the latest best-selling audio book lists as well as a growing collection of audio book reviews and news.

Web Radio Broadcasting and the Golden New Age of Online Audio

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:29:00 +0000

By Stefan Smith

The 1920s through 1940s are remembered as the Golden Age of Radio. Before television, before the Internet, before DVDs and video games, families gathered around a big box in the living room to listen to gripping dramas, spine-chilling mysteries, uproarious comedies and stirring live musical performances. The box offered no pictures to its audience; it was all theatre of the mind--but what theatre it was!

With all of the entertainment choices available today--so much of it visual--a person could be forgiven for assuming that radio will never again be much more than a source of background music for our cubicles and traffic reports when we're driving in our cars.

I have a contrarian view. I think we're on the verge of a new Golden Age of Radio, or "audio-tainment" if you will. The main driver behind this development is web radio broadcasting.

Tonight, for instance, I was on the British Broadcasting Corporation's Web site. Not only does the BBC have a wealth of great audio programs available for free download, it also offers live streams of its various channels.

Now, I was already familiar with the BBC's world news broadcasts, first, from tuning them in years ago on a shortwave radio, then second, from hearing the programs as carried on National Public Radio here in America. But I have always wanted to hear what the BBC's "native" programming sounded like. Now, thanks to the Beeb's Internet radio streams, I can satisfy that curiosity.

This evening I chose to listen to BBC 4, the channel devoted to "intelligent talk," in the words of the Web site. Indeed, BBC 4 provides non-stop intellectual stimulation, from interviews on religion and ethics to readings from recent books to programs on current scientific controversies. BBC 4 is also, by the way, the home of the famous "Shipping Forecast," a strangely addictive report of weather and sea conditions for the waters surrounding the British Isles.

Web radio makes it possible for me to listen not only to BBC 4, but to news and entertainment from anywhere in the world. It allows me to enjoy continuous streams of the narrowest genres of music imaginable, a form of on-demand, personalized programming that does not depend for its existence on an appeal to the broad masses.

As the technology for both Internet broadcasting and playing streaming audio rapidly improves, I think we'll see more and more people going to their computers to take advantage of the rich offerings of Web radio. But also, market-driven engineers are going to figure out how to stream those offerings to people who are not tethered to a PC or laptop. That's when Web radio will really take off. Even now, you can buy a device that will broadcast Internet radio streams from your computer to your home stereo system two rooms away.

The Golden Age of Radio may be dead, but, "Long live the New Golden Age of Web Radio."

Stefan Smith is a radio junkie who writes on entertainment and related subjects for the Solid Gold Info Writers Consortium. Recently, he has written an extensive review of new software that anyone can use to capture music audio streams from Internet radio broadcasts and break them up into individual mp3 song files--a legal way to download virtually free music. Read the review at: http://www.solid-gold.info/radio2mp3.html

For Real Reality, Tune In To Live Police Radio

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:28:00 +0000

By Stefan Smith

Today's so-called reality shows are too staged for my taste. Their contrived situations and semi-scripted actions actually render them somewhat less than real.

For unvarnished reality, try listening to a police scanner. You'll hear real cops answering real crime calls. You'll hear police officers as they head into potentially dangerous situations. You'll hear police dispatchers as they try to keep up with everything from fender benders to shootings--all in a standard night's work for many police departments.

When the first police scanners came out, my mother bought one so she could hear what was happening in her city, and especially to hear if anything bad was being reported in her own neighborhood.

I remember coming in late at night from a date to find her sitting at the kitchen table with the scanner going. Naturally, she had been worrying about where I was and listening to hear if there had been any wrecks.

When my brother became a policeman, my mother really had something to worry about--and an excuse to listen to the police radio day in and day out.

Police scanners are not just for professional worriers, though. Many people listen to them as a hobby. Newspaper, radio and TV reporters listen to them in order to get the first word of a major crime or accident so they can get to the scene quickly.

Nowadays, you don't even need a police scanner to hear police calls in many cities. There are hundreds of live police radio feeds being streamed over the Internet. There are also fire department radio feeds as well. All you do is click a link for the city of your choice and start listening.

Tonight, I listened for about an hour to the live police feed from my hometown, a medium-sized city with a normal share of crime and other human conflict. During that hour, I heard police answer calls to respond to an assault, a stolen car, an attempted home break-in, and someone who was threatening her neighbor with a knife.

A number of Web sites exist that have links to police scanners across the United States. Two good ones are policescan.us and police-scanner.info.

Policescan.us has more scanner links--fire as well as police--but it is disorganized and, to be frank, pretty junky looking. Nevertheless, it's worth a visit just for the sheer number of scanner feeds available.

Police-scanner.info is also a rather cluttered site, but its scanner list is much neater and better organized. As the list is arranged by state, it's easier to find a particular town's or city's police radio link.

One tip if you want to get the most out of listening to live police radio: Learn the 10-codes! Police use special codes over the radio. Many of the most common ones start with "10." You're undoubtedly familiar with "10-4," meaning "I copied (heard) you." But what about "10-12" or "10-19?" If you don't know the codes, or have a list of them near to hand, you won't always know what is happening.

Below are some of the most common 10-codes, but there are others. There are also other sets of codes, used by some police departments, that do not begin with "10," or any number for that matter. For example, in some cities you might hear a dispatcher tell a police officer to respond to an "ADW," that is, an assault with a deadly weapon.

10-7 Officer is out of service
10-8 Officer is in service and available for assignment
10-9 Repeat last transmission, please
10-12 Visitors or officials are present, so be discreet
10-15 Prisoner is in custody
10-19 Returning to the station
10-22 Disregard your last assignment
10-24 There's an emergency at the station; all vehicles return now
10-27 Driver's license check
10-32 Drowning
10-33 Alarm sounding
10-34 Please assist at office
10-43 Call a doctor
10-50 Subject is under the influence of narcotics
10-51 Subject is drunk
10-54 Possible dead body
10-56 Suicide
10-64 Found property
10-66 Suspicious person reported
10-67 Someone is calling for help
10-70 Prowler
10-71 Shooting
10-72 Knifing
10-79 Bomb threat
10-80 Explosion
10-91 Barking dog

Stefan Smith is a radio junkie who writes on this and related subjects for the Solid Gold Info Writers Consortium. Recently, he has written an extensive review of new software that anyone can use to capture music audio streams from Internet radio broadcasts and break them up into individual mp3 song files--a legal way to download virtually free music. Read the review at: http://www.solid-gold.info/radio2mp3.html

Capturing Streaming Audio to MP3

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:28:00 +0000

By Stefan Smith

When Internet radio first began, about all a listener could do with it was, well, listen. And the listening experience wasn't very good. The sound was awful ... when it worked at all. Having the audio stream abruptly terminate, or take endless time to re-buffer, was a common occurrence.

Today, most Internet broadcasters use much better technology to send their streams into cyberspace. As well, more listeners are equipped with broadband Internet connections, good sound cards, stereo system-quality speakers and sophisticated media player software.

The listening problem has been overcome.

Now, what about the ability for a listener to capture those audio streams and save them to play back at will? The technology to do that was slower in coming, but it's finally here. With the right program installed, you can now capture those live audio streams from your favorite Web radio broadcasters and save them to your hard drive to enjoy as often as you like.

There are now several shareware and even freeware programs available for recording streaming audio. Their names include Voice Activation Interface, WMA/MP3 Recorder, Audio Record Wizard, Advanced MP3-WMA Recorder, Silent Bob, #1 Sound Recorder, Ace-High MP3 Recorder, 1st Easy Recorder, Visual Sound Recorder, Audiolib MP3 Recorder, Audio Playback Recorder, Loop Recorder, Replay Radio, FairStars Recorder, Boombox Internet Radio Player, and Easy Radio.

As you might guess, these programs vary greatly in both ease of use and in the features they sport. Some can convert an audio capture into a large number of different music file formats, while others can only handle one or two. Some, but definitely not all, will automatically remove noise and hiss from the audio. Similarly, some will remove gaps caused by buffering or network congestion.

One of the first, and still one of the best, audio capture programs is called Total Recorder. It can record PC audio from almost any source, including streamed audio, CDs, the computer microphone and other input lines.

You can download a free evaluation copy of Total Recorder, but it will insert a bit of noise about every 60 seconds throughout the recording. To be able to record audio without the noise, you must purchase a license for the software.

The recording software that I find really exciting is the kind that not only will capture an audio stream, but will also save it as separate audio files ... automatically. The most obvious use for this is to break up a music stream into individual song mp3 files. The best audio capture software that I know of, that includes this mp3 splitting feature, is called Radio2MP3.

Internet radio has finally come into its own. The sound is great and so is the diversity of programming. Being able to record all those wonderful radio streams is the icing on an aurally delicious cake.

Stefan Smith is a radio and music junkie who writes on these and other subjects for the Solid Gold Info Writers Consortium. Recently, he has written an extensive review of new software that anyone can use to capture music audio streams from Internet radio broadcasts and break them up into individual mp3 song files--a legal way to download virtually free music. Read the review at: http://www.solid-gold.info/radio2mp3.html

Audio Streaming: Reflecting Societal Changes

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:28:00 +0000

By Scott Lindsay

The society we find ourselves in is filled with immediate connections. We can talk on a cell phone from virtually anywhere, we can instant message, text message and even send and receive images by phone. When websites are visited the end user may be less interested in learning all the fine points of a site than a computer user of even ten years ago.

Because we are inundated with immediacy it is possible that audio streaming may be a perfect answer to how to keep visitors logged on longer.

Many online businesses are supplying their visitors with an audio tour of the website. This tour blends visual response and audio presentation in a way that helps the visitor gain a clear picture of what they need to do to maximize their site visitation experience.

As your site visitor moves along in the presentation they may be encouraged to sign up for further information, eBooks or an ecourse that may be beneficial to them. The simple act of audibly asking a potential customer to sign up may seem a bit awkward, yet many online visitors will do so without a second thought IF the information presented is compelling enough to move forward along the steps you outline in your audio presentation.

The development of audio can be as simple as recording directly into your computer in raw form or you may be compelled to hire a professional audio voice over professional to create mp3 or WAV files that may add a more professional touch to your overall site presentation.

In face-to-face sales presentations you would ask the client to make a decision. This same approach is a key in online marketing though the use of audio. By gently guiding your customer through the audio presentation you can rely on traditional approaches in asking for a sale or at the very least moving to the next level in your site presentation.

Certainly your site can be designed to manage this without audio, but there is a certain long-term connection with audio that can’t be easily dismissed.

The combination of compelling graphics in an audio tour or sales presentation can result in a much greater likelihood of sales completion.

The good news for established netrepreneurs is audio streaming can be added to your site at any time and may not require a significant alteration to your existing site. Audio streaming remains a powerful methods of furthering your online marketing objectives.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects.

Make A Website in minutes with HighPowerSites or Build A Website with BuildAGreatSite.

Start your own ebook business and Resell Ebooks with BooksWealth.

Audio Streaming: Easily Captured

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:27:00 +0000

By Scott Lindsay

There was a time when it was difficult to distribute audio effectively over the Internet because the software used for listening was hard to come by and hard drive space was limited.

Today Internet users typically have three or more devices that can decode and play audio streams via the Internet. Further software applications can even allow that download stream to be captured for replay.

Thousands of Internet only radio stations are available with thousands of additional broadcasters repeating their terrestrial signal via the Internet. Many broadcasters are venturing into the realm of Internet audio by lending their voices to Internet based radio stations and other audio streams.

The growth of audio streaming is a byproduct of consumer demand and advancements in technology.

As an online business using audio to guide your visitor through your website may be a great first step, but there are so many other uses for audio that may take into account visitors who may be visually challenged.

There are already devices to assist those with poor vision, but if you create pages with audio it can make an enormous impact on those who often feel forgotten.

The use of audio can be a benefit for those who work on a hectic schedule. It may be possible to listen to your presentation while they continue working in another window.

Audio can also be an important element in an increasingly mobile society. For those on the go, the ability to listen to audio may be of more assistance than attempting to read the small print on their cell phone or Blackberry.

An audio stream from a conscientious netrepreneur is likely to meet with the approval of many of your site visitors. Certainly they will have different reasons for having an interest in the audio stream, but the audio remains an important function in site marketing and customer convenience.

The growth of online marketing techniques can move audio streaming from a ‘nice add on’ to a desired form of communication with your prospects and customers. Since it is very easy for consumers to tap into an audio stream you have a unique opportunity to brand your business in ways previously unavailable.

Where once there was debate over the use of graphics on a website now the debate may be centered around the use of audio on a website. Today you find very few websites without graphics. I believe the same will ultimately be true of audio streaming.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects.

Make A Website in minutes with HighPowerSites or Build A Website with BuildAGreatSite.

Start your own ebook business and Resell Ebooks with BooksWealth.

Exciting Audio Books Online

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:27:00 +0000

By Rudy Silva

Although I love my work, parts of my research and writing can be demanding. I am a natural nutritionist, specializing in preparing articles, e-books, and other written material that shows people, like you, on how to understand and use natural remedies.

Being able to make a career by writing was in many ways a dream come true, but it also has a downside to it. For every minute of pure joy on writing what I like, there are times when I need to relax, be entertained, or to learn new things about my business. During those times, I need something interesting to listen to.

Music can be relaxing, but sometimes I need something different. Sometimes what I really want is a good story. Often I like to listen to radio broadcasts, or to sit down to the Discovery Channel, but more often I just listen to audio books online.

I have always enjoyed a good book, and I discovered that by listen to audio books I have added a new dimension to my living.

When I listen to online audio books, it is like being read to and I don't need to think too much. I have always loved stories, and like almost everyone I know, I learned a love of literature by being read to.

I used to rent audio books from the library, and they have a good selection but not always the latest, but I quickly exhausted the possibilities. I had listened to literally every book on tape that they had! That is when I decided to start to download audio books online. Some of them were available for free, but only a few of them. Then I found a service that would give me almost any book that I wanted for a reasonable monthly price. It was well worth it.

When I listen to audio books online, I become more productive, more efficient, and happier in my work. I also purchase audio books online that are downloadable and I can move them into my ipod, mp3 player, flash hard drive stick, CD, or just my computer.

I think the mp3 player is a revolution, since it allows you to download audio topics and you can turn your wasted time into learning time. The information that you can now find through audio books online is amazing.

Something about the audio books online is rejuvenating and exciting for me. When I download online fiction books, informational books, or educational books, I and listen to them in my spare time it relaxes me and at the end of the day I feel good about myself. . My wife has even commented on the change. Listen to audio books that I download online has added a new dimension in my living and learning.

Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. To look at a list of different health audio books online go to: http://www.excitingaudiobooks.spokennetwork.com There you will find audio books on a large number of categories for entertainment or for discovering or learning subjects.

Why You Should Use Flash For Your Web Audio

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:27:00 +0000

By Roger Weavers

There are a number of different ways to add audio to your web site. Some can be a bit hit and miss and others can work out just plain expensive.

So what is a quick and easy way to add audio to your web site without breaking the bank?

You have probably guessed from the title of this article but I would like to show you why by giving you all of the options.

The cheapest and easiest way to add audio to your web site is to simply upload an mp3 file to your web site and create a link to it on your web page, job done! Well not quite, there are pros and cons to this method. If you want your visitors to be able to download your mp3 so they can listen to it at a later date on their computer or iPod, (this is called pod casting) the link method is perfect. Simply instruct your visitors to right click on the link and select "save target as" (or "save link as" in Firefox).

If you want your visitors to be able to play your audio file immediately online then there are a few problems. If the link is clicked on a number of things could happen depending on which plug-ins are installed. If iTunes or QuickTime is installed the mp3 will download and play in a new browser window. Otherwise the mp3 could play in Windows Media Player, Real Player or another application like WinAmp or maybe not play at all.

Another method of adding audio to your web page would be to embed the audio into the page. With a bit of html code, instead of the player opening in a separate window it will appear on your web page. This also depends on which plug-ins are installed so it may play in a variety of players or not play at all!

There are other options like using a dedicated server or proprietary software but these can be expensive and your visitors would probably need to download extra software before they could play your audio. These options can work out very expensive and should only be considered if you are going to have very large volumes of downloads.

So, let’s consider Flash Audio. The Flash plug-in is estimated to be on 98% of computers on the Internet. You can create audio buttons to fit on your web page in whatever position you want and in your colour scheme. Flash uses mp3 audio which will stream over any connection. So will flash audio you are in complete control. The only problem is that would need to buy and learn Macromedia Flash or pay someone else to do it. That is until recently when a number of cheap and easy to use software packages have come onto the market which enables anyone who can cut and paste, to add Flash streaming audio to their web site. Most of these programs have been listed and reviewed at http://www.websiteaudioeviews.com

So now any one can create professional and reliable audio buttons on their web site.

Roger Weavers has been working in the computer industry since 1983 and has been involved with Internet marketing since 1997. He has a number of successful web sites from Web design and promotion to Spanish real estate. Discover the Easy Way To Add Streaming Audio To Your Website

How to Add Audio to Your Web Site Using Flash

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:27:00 +0000

By Roger Weavers

Adding Audio Has Just Got Easier!

Only a few years ago the only way to add sound to your web site was to use a .wav or midi file. The problem with this was that the file size could be fairly large and the whole file needed to be downloaded before it could start to play.

Streaming audio was made available in the 90's and was in two basic formats, mp3 and Real Audio which enables the audio to start playing while it is still being downloaded. The size of these files is a lot smaller as compression algorithms are used but some loss of quality may be evident depending on the algorithm.

With these streaming audio formats audio player software is required by the browser and a streaming server is also needed.

Now audio can be streamed using Macromedia Flash (version 6 or above) from almost any web server and most web browsers can play the flash format files.

This is all very well but unless you can program in Flash (Flash 8 basic costs $399) you would need to pay a programmer to develop the audio button, which would also be expensive.

WebSiteAudioReviews.com has reviewed most of the easy to use software products that enable anyone to add audio to there web site and cost from $27 - $97

Most of these software programs have built in sound recorders so all you need to do is record your track and click a button which creates the required html code and paste this code into your web page. Then upload the .swf file and html file to your web site and you have audio on your web site in just a few minutes.

So, before you add audio to your web site read my reviews at www.websiteaudioreviews.com.

7 Ways to Increase Your Web Site Profits Using Audio

noreply@blogger.com (izone.net) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:23:00 +0000

By Roger Weavers

1. Add Audio to Your Squeeze Pages

Squeeze pages, (or email capture pages) are entry pages to your web site designed specifically to capture your visitors email addresses. It has been proven that people may need to visit a web site up to seven times before they feel comfortable enough to buy something. By capturing their email address you can send them a series of emails with useful information which will make them want to visit your site again and again.

By adding and audio button to your squeeze page the opt-in rate could be increased to up to 60%. If you use squeeze pages try this out for your self. If you are not using squeeze pages - you should be.

2. Add Audio to Your Guarantees

If you have a guarantee on your sales page, adding an audio button along side will build the visitor's confidence and make their buying decision a lot easier. Hearing some one say that they will refund your money if you are not completely satisfied will be more believable than just reading it.

3. Put Audio Testimonials on Your Web Site

Another way to build credibility to to get your clients or customers to record and audio testimonial. Either get them to record a testimonial on their PC and email it to you or if you use a service like AudioGenerator your clients/customers can dial a free phone number and record their testimonials over the telephone.

As with the guarantees and audio testimonial is far more believable than a written one which could easily be made up.

4. Record Interviews and Tele-seminars

A great way to increase your credibility and give yourself expert status is to record a tele-seminar or interview with an expert in your field. This recording you could sell or give away to your visitors or your subscribers.

5. Create Audio Products on CD

Putting audio products on CD gives them more perceived value. If you sell the audios that you have created as downloadable mp3s they will not have as much perceived value as if you sold them on a CD with nice packaging. To add even more value you can include a transcript of the audio on the CD.

6. Create Podcasts

Podcasts are downloadable mp3 audio files which are normally given away but can be sold as well. Podcasts can be promoted using RSS technology in much the same way as with blogs. People will come back to your web site to listen to your latest podcast and the content can encourage then to buy your products.

7. Produce Your Own Internet Radio Show

Finally to give yourself real expert status and credibility why not start your own online radio show specialising in your field. You could interview experts, record case studies and even conduct phone-ins

I hope this has given you some more ideas on how to use audio in increase your web site profits. The Internet is no longer silent!

Add Audio to your Web Site