1:20 PM
Think about it for a second. When it comes to blogs and blogging you are the brand. People want to read about you and your experiences with the subjects you write about. That’s how they relate to it. And that’s how you get them addicted.
The About Us page is usually the first or second thing that people look at when they first encounter your content. So why not use it as a personal introduction to your brand? Why not give people something more than the usual plain text verbatim?
In this post I am going to tell you why I added some audio to my About Us page, how I did it and why you should do it too.
Why I added audio to my About Us page
As I mention on the About page itself, I have this fancy new mic that I just like using. So part of the reason I did an audio About Us page is probably because I just felt like recording something new.
But there was some method to the madness. Here are a few other reasons that might tickle your fancy:
- Personalization is like caffeine
You know that feeling in the morning when you really feel like a cup of coffee? That’s the caffeine talking. Personalization is a lot like that. People love it. They need it. And even when I put out crappy content it keeps them coming back. All the big bloggers keep a loyal following by virtue of making content personal. Even if it has been written about 100 times, the personal edge will make people interested. So I thought that an audio About Us page would give me a chance to take you out for that first coffee nice and early. - I thought people would share it
I haven’t even seen an audio file on an About Us page before so I did had the selfish thought that perhaps people would share it around and thus send me more traffic. I could be wrong on both counts though. Perhaps you would like to prove me right? - I can get more information in
You need to keep About Us pages short. People get bored. They want to know how your site is going to help them. But when you add an audio file you automatically shift people’s expectations. Suddenly they are willing to give you two minutes instead of 20 seconds. This is a good thing.
Now, as I only put this audio file up the other day there hasn’t been enough time to track and test its results. This post, however, should serve as a mini-promotion to the idea and hopefully generate me some useful feedback. That means comments people!
What to include in your audio About Us page
So you want to do an audio file for your About page. What should you include in it? Here are some ideas to think about from an online marketing point of view.
- Create authority
One of the main things you want to do is subtly create authority by talking about your experience and why you are a person worth listening to. Now, this is tricky because it can cause you to talk about yourself too much. You need to balance this point with the second. - Make it about your listener (reader)
Whilst creating authority you want to also make sure you tell people why your site is good for them. What benefits will they get from reading your content? For every authoritative statement you make you should also relate why it will help the readers. - Be humble
I am not very good at this but I try. You need to remain humble. People flock to an “expert” who is also humble and approachable. The goal of the audio file is to make people loyal to your and your site, not scare them away with your ego. Self deprecation goes a long way to making friends. - Include a call to action
Make sure you tell people what to do next. Whether its subscribing or checking out a certain section. Don’t let them close that audio file and leave your site.
All of these things are important but don’t include them all unless you can keep the audio file short. Anything more than a minute or so is too much. People will lose interest fast. Its a lot like an elevator pitch in that way.
How to make that audio file
So for all of you looking to now record some audio and embed it on your blog here are a few things that I use and highly recommend.
- Get a good quality mic
You need a good quality mic that you can then use for Podcast, videos or whatever other online audio you might need. Now, some people spend thousands on proper equipment but I found that the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone is a perfect solution for less that $100. Its smooth, clear and just plugs in to your USB port. - Use Audacity to record
Audacity is a free program that you can download and start recording in a few minutes. It also has some super simple editing tools that allow you to filter out background noise, cut and paste tracks, tweak the sound, etc. I highly recommend it for beginners and experts alike. - Use Audio Player to get the little player thing
Audio Player is a WordPress plugin that allows you to add that neat little player in any post or page you like by just adding a simple tag. Very easy.
That’s it! Its a very simple set up that will cost you less than $100 but last you a very long time all the while putting out some very good quality sound. And like I said, you can use the mic for videos, Podcasts and even Skype chats.
What do you think?
What are your thoughts on the audio version of the About Us page? Is it something you would do on your own blog? I’d love to hear your ideas about this one so please leave comments and let me know.
Posted in: Blogger Tutorials
