| We get a lot of questions from clients about how to use more audio in their marketing.
Audio in marketing can be extremely effective when it’s done right. Listening to a recording of something is often far more compelling than reading it in print. (Video not displaying or simply prefer to read? Of course we have a transcript ready for you right here on the page…) |
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Here are ten quick tips on how you can use audio to help your business:
#1) Use Audio to Increase List Opt-Ins
A frequently overlooked use of audio is to increase list opt-ins. They say the money is in the list, and that’s often true. Oftentimes adding a small snippet of audio to your opt-in page can dramatically increase your conversion rates.
If you’re more comfortable speaking than writing, you can also have that audio transcribed and use that as the text on the page.
#2) Audio Testimonials are Powerful Things
Audio testimonials on product and service pages are also very powerful. Hearing somebody say how good your product is or how wonderful a service was is far more powerful than just reading it on the page.
The Speakpipe Plugin for WordPress makes audio testimonials really easy. You can get that at Speakpipe.com.
The free version of that plugin is plenty for the occasional testimonial. There is an upgrade available that costs a few dollars per month if you want to upgrade and use that service more frequently.
#3) Keep it Short and Sweet
If you’re using snippets of audio to promote a product, to promote a service, or to get opt-ins, you want to keep your audio short and sweet. For quick marketing points, try to keep the audio to around two or three minutes, sometimes even less.
A 90 second audio or video can actually increase your conversion rates because it’s long enough to get your message across, but short enough to keep people’s attention.
Obviously, if you’re recording something like a demo, a podcast episode or a full information product, your audio is going to be a lot long than two or three minutes.
#4) Audio Versions of Information Products
Speaking of information products; have audio versions of those info products. Many people are auditory in nature and they would much rather listen to a recording of your product than to read the print version.
Offering audio can increase your profits, increase your conversion rate, and it definitely increases the chances of people actually using the information you shared with them in your product.
#5) Interview an Expert = Instant Credibility
You can always interview an expert for instant credibility in any market. Find someone well known in your niche and interview them.
Interviews like this make great opt-in bribes for your newsletter, awesome podcast episodes, and they’re perfect bonuses for your information products. They help to establish your credibility while giving your friend and mentor a nice credibility boost as well.
#6) Record Your Webinars
Don’t forget to record your webinars and have a replay available. You’ll probably have people that are attending live, but as long as you record it you can use that as a bonus for a product, you can use it as a pre-sales video, and you can do all sorts of things with the audio snippets.
You can create little sneak peeks and trailers with bits and pieces of the recording. Those can be really useful when you sell the replay or when you want to give people a preview of things for joining your list.
You can take the webinar itself and create a full product by combining it with the replay, transcripts, and an audio version that people can take on their iPod if they want to. Add a few bonuses to that and you’ve created a massive value product in no time flat.
#7) Teleseminars & Conference Calls
The same goes for your teleseminars and conference calls. You can use these recordings to create products or to promote your existing products.
Recording conference calls and coaching sessions provides you with valuable content to use in promotions and to create new products with. You can even transcribe them and use sections of those transcripts as blog posts on your blog.
#8) Use Affordable (or FREE) Software
One of the things I’m asked about most often is what software to use when recording audio. You don’t have to buy the most expensive software. A lot of people mistakenly believe that they need a $500 program or an expensive monthly service to get an effective recording. That just isn’t the case.
You can use affordable software, or even free open source software like Audacity, to record your audio. No one will know the difference.
#9) Good Sound Quality Matters
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you don’t want it to be fuzzy either. Whether you’re recording a welcome message for your sales letter, a full length podcast episode, or your newest information product, the audio quality is very important.
That is achieved more through your microphone than through your recording program. If you have to choose between software and equipment, I say go with equipment and get a good microphone.
I’m currently using the Blue Snowball Microphone with my desktop computer; everything sounds fine and it’s easy to use. I can switch and plug it into my laptop if I want, it’s USB plug in and play.
You can generally pick up a USB powered microphone for between $30 and $60 on Amazon or your favorite electronics retailer.
#10) Outsource It If You Must
The last tip of the day is if you’re not comfortable with audio, just outsource it and have someone else do it.
A lot of people just don’t want to record their voice for one reason or another. If that’s the case, there are services and virtual assistants that will handle your audio for you. If you need help finding a virtual assistant you can contact us at the Small Business Transcriptionist and we can help you find one to work on your project.
The bottom line is audio in marketing can be extremely effective for boosting your business. Implementing one or all of today’s tips will help you achieve good results in growing your business with audio.
Thank you for joining me today. Remember, here at the Small Business Transcriptionist we’d be happy to help you with transcripts, finding a virtual assistant, or putting together your next information product.
Transcriptionist by trade. Writer at heart. Seeker of knowledge and reader of novels. Dreamer of big colorful dreams. Specializing in transcription for small businesses and individuals, giving each project a personal touch and a reasonable turnaround time.