“Reel in More Prospects,
Leads and Clients by Using
Audio & Video on Your Web Site”

Review of Software & Service Providers You Can Use Today to Promote Your On-line or Off-line Business or Practice

By Boris Mahovac

OK, so you have a web site up. Chances are, your site is mute. You may have pretty graphics on it, but if there's no video or at least sound - you're missing a lot. If you are a solopreneur or a small business owner, using audio and video will be one more way you can establish a personal connection with your audience (i.e. visitors to your web site).

What is streaming audio and video? This powerful technology is very simple to implement. If you know how to edit and update your own web pages, you will be able to add this human touch to them. The technology is based on Macromedia Flash, which means almost all internet users will be able to hear and see your content, because Flash is already installed on almost every computer. Flash provides the technology to play audio (and video), however you will need one of the tools discussed here to create athe Flash version of your audios and videos.

Two kinds of solutions are available to you:

simple, low-cost, stand-alone computer programs that record/convert to Flash format, and
subscription-based online services that offer all the bells and whistles.

(Please note: The programs and services are listed in ascending order of features and cost)

Software for Creating Web Audio - PC and Mac

These are stand-alone solutions ("pay once, use forever"). If you are OK with updating your web pages, or have an intern or a virtual assistant, one of these software solutions may be all you need. The benefit of buying the software is that you pay a small licensing fee once and you can use the software for as long as you like, without paying a monthly fee to a Service Provider for hosting and streaming your audio or video content.

Impact Web Audio

This software runs on MS Windows and provides an easy way to add new or existing audio recordings to your web pages. Feature highlights:

record your web audio using a microphone;
import an existing recording that you made elsewhere, for example, you could record and edit your tele-seminar;
add a music background track to your audio (hear this home page)
select the size, colour and style of the player control buttons to match your web site.
generates the code and a few files you need to upload to your web site.

If you are interested in re-selling this software, then definitely take a look at Impact Web Audio with Master Resale Rights

SonicMemo

Doesn't have recording capability, relies instead on you to provide the audio in MP3 format (this is really not a deficiency because there are many free audio recording programs available);
greater selection of player styles, such as one-, three- or five-button, and colours to match your style;
ability to encrypt your recordings for protection;
allows you to track your audio programs, e.g. if people listen to the complete recording or bail out after 10 seconds;
send audio by email (call it audio emails, or audio postcard)
redirect web visitors to a new page after the audio completes
uploads your audio to your site with built-in FTP.
Versions available to run on your PC ord Mac computers

Full-featured version is available for a small one-time fee, or consider a free version with basic functionality

Please note: regardless of which program/service you use to prepare the audio for the web, once your recording is posted to your site it will play on any computer.

Online Service Providers

There are two main players in this arena: Audio Acrobat and Audio Generator.

(UPDATE: A third contender has recently entered the arena, called TalkStream. I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet, but I have a feeling it’ll be quite good, considering it is the latest offering by none other than GetResponse, the Email Service Provider that I use and highly recommend. It includes support for both audio and video for $19.95 per month, which is the same as Audio Acrobat. TalkStream’s main advantage is it offers a toll-free testimonial-recording line.)

These service providers offer fairly similar features and benefits for those of you who are either too busy to tinker with your own home-made solutions that the software programs provide, and don't mind paying a monthly service fee ($20-$30), or simply need the extra features that are available.

Both Audio Acrobat and Audio Generator offer a full spectrum of features that may be appealing to your particular line of business. Here's a quick list of the main features:

record and store unlimited number of audio messages;
record messages by phone, microphone, or upload existing recordings;
record your tele-seminars or other conference-type calls (Audio Acrobat only);
use audio on any number of web sites and web pages;
send audio messages by email (audio postcards).
record customer testimonials by phone, regardless of where they are located.
powerful statistics on how your audio messages are played
add video to your web pages and emails (included with Audio Acrobat, extra with Audio Generator)

I advise you to visit both web sites and compare them directly, as features and pricing plans change as both technology and the merketplace evolve. Both Audio Acrobat and Audio Generator offer a trial period during which you can explore the system to see which one fits your needs and budget the best.

My personal preference and recommendation is Audio Acrobat because it's cheaper and includes video. However, Audio Generator has a tremendous feature called "Super Testimonials" which you have to see in action to understand how powerful it is.

One last note: If you decide to go with one of the Service Providers, back up your recordings often in case you decide to cancel your account, or your service provider encounters technical problems, or goes out of business. This is especially critical with irreplaceable content such as live tele-seminars and client testimonials.

In conclusion

Use audio (and video) to attract more clients and customers, describe your services or products, or in many other creative ways. Audio is so powerful, that one test shows that placing audio on an order page increased the conversion rate by more than 300% – I am sure, this alone may be reason enough for you to consider using audio on you web site today!

YOU MAY USE THIS ARTICLE in your ezine or your web site if you include this complete resource box with it, with active hyperlinks: Email Marketing Expert Boris Mahovac, “Your Ezine Coach”, helps small businesses and solo professionals publish e-newsletters (ezines). Services, training, coaching and products available to achieve your business goals by publishing an effective ezine. Sign up today to Contacts 2 Clients biweekly ezine.