Audio products such as MP3s or CDs of your ebook, podcasts and live teleseminars are popular and easy to create and you can do it for free. So, what happens when something becomes popular and easy? Everybody and their dogs and cats start doing it. There are two things we can alway count on when a craze starts: 1) someone is going to try to make money from it and 2) someone is going to try to find a way to make money from the person who wants to make money from it. This is good for us. So we now have great audio products available for purchase, which has opened the gates for us to create our own audio products. We also have great paid services, which often times tend to help us distinguish ourselves as serious business owners. For example you can use InstantTeleSeminar to hold a conference call with your customers, have an audio training session, or even just record your audio product – this one has become pretty standard with internet marketers.
Now here’s a question for you. People cannot see you in your audio recording or during a teleseminar. How do you justify that they should “listen” to you as oppose to reading something you’ve written? What do you do to make it different? In videos you can show visual images and movement to keep them engaged. In person you are making eye contact, gestures, and probably showing visual aids of some sort. But what can you do when you’re in “audio-only” mode to keep your listeners engaged and listening to what you are saying?
Here’s an idea: Try to use words that help people see and feel what you mean – you have no visuals so they will need to create their own. You want to appeal to their senses with strong verbs and you want to use analogies and exact nouns so they really know how to picture what you want to show them.
Let’s say I was talking about my first time running after 20 years. I could say “After I ran around the track once, I was so tired. Wow, I was tired and I just laid out on the grass.” Ok, that described how I felt. But doesn’t really give you any visual does it? What about “After running around that dirt track at the high school for only 2 minutes, I was so drained of energy and gasping desperately for air that I just knew I was dragging 100 pound weighted balls behind me! I was huffing and puffing like a steam engine that just could NOT! I clawed at the air thinking it would catch me before my wobbling legs gave out – but in the end I just fell out flat on the wet grass in the center of the field.”
Well, I tried to make an example that was visual. Did it work?
Now if you can’t think of how to describe something in your audio simply search in Google for an image that represents the concept or situation, then describe what you see in the picture and edit as necessary.
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Follow me on Twitter: MarthaGiffen
Thank you so much for saying what so many are thinking. Watch your words. If boring, your readers won’t be back! Good, informative post, as usual Gwen
Martha Giffen´s last blog ..Wanted: Blog Traffic
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Hi Gwen,
Interesting read and I love the graphic.Yes it caught my attention One of the reason I have decided on video
Suzie Cheel´s last blog ..Take The Passion Test
Follow me on Twitter: melaniekissell
Take it from someone who’s “been there, done that” when it comes to holding people’s interest and keeping them AWAKE with your words – using your voice.
It’s enough of a tough assignment when you’re actually standing in front of an audience, let alone doing a teleseminar, webinar, or internet radio! I’ve been doing in-person presentations for over a quarter of a century and it took me the first two years to master the art of “workin’ the audience”.
Your advice about recording audios is excellent. “Word pictures” are the key!
Melanie
#blog30
Melanie Kissell´s last blog ..Turn Your Own Mess Into Your Marketing Message
Follow me on Twitter: thecartooncoach
Hey Gwen,
This was a great post. It helps me to remember how effective telling stories and painting pictures with your words can be. Words are powerful!
J
The Cartoon Coach
Carstarphen´s last blog ..The Difference Between “Looking” and “Being”
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In response to Carstarphen’s comment:
Hi Carstarphen,
I agree – storytelling and visuals are very important in videos and movies. So why not paint that same picture with your words? It only makes sense!
Thanks for visiting,
Gwen
Follow me on Twitter: brightwings
Hi Gwen,
Making an audio that fully engages listeners can be easier than we think, provided we are empathic enough to understand what will replace the missing visuals.
Great storytellers know how to weave word images that come alive in your mind and create mental images as strong as the visual ones. I’ve heard that some images we read in books stay with us longer; surely we could do the same thing with the audio products we produce.
Your point about taking additional steps beyond just reading copy into a mic is well taken. Thanks!
Nancy
Nancy Boyd´s last blog ..Who Can You Help, Part One
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Gween:
As you can see, I’m now a regular for your blog. I enjoy reading your ideas, because I learn a lot of new things on every post! Thanks, again.
Follow me on Twitter: cindyclemens
This is a great piece of advise. You are right, sometimes it is hard to remember that we need to engage the person on the other end of the headphones. We can become so involved with getting the information out there that we forget to add in some entertainment value.
What a great reminder…
Thank you
Cindy
http://MyBusinessMarketingMentor.com
Cindy Clemens´s last blog ..Personal Branding: What Makes You An Expert?
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I agree Gwen. Thanks for the reminder.
Vernon´s last blog ..Catholic Cardinals Debating Over Celibacy
You may be or need to always be the speaker because you should but in order for you to keep a conversation you should also be in a spot of the listener, learn how to entertain him by the sound of his voice or the way he talks and if he get what you mean.