Audio Files: A Necessary Evil or an Unnecessary Annoyance?

When the capability to automatically attach an audio file to a website was first presented it sounded like a great idea. After all, the most difficult part of any Internet marketing endeavor is the fact that you're not able to personally interact with your consumers. Unfortunately it was a little too good an idea. Now companies all over the world are attaching audio files to their websites, including a personalized speaking presentation to introduce their services and products, and consumers are getting so annoyed that the minute they enter a site and it starts speaking to them they log out again just as quickly.

What's a good businessman to do?

There are some things that just aren't the same in print, so including an audio file with a spoken presentation can be a tremendous benefit to your site. The important thing to remember is to give your viewers a choice. Put the audio file in a spot where it's readily apparent and they can find the "play" button with ease, along with a quick summary of the content inside. That way, if they don't want to hear you speak it's their own fault!

Of course, the quality of your audio presentation is going to play a major role in how it's received. From a technical end you want to use a good software program to record, and speak slowly. Audio files that are blurry and difficult to understand are going to be rejected almost immediately. Resist the urge to launch into your "used car salesman" persona. Consumers visit these files looking for information. Your pitch should be on your site. Audio files should be used for supporting details.

So are audio files a necessary evil? Yes-and no. If you don't want to incorporate an audio file into your website you are in no way, shape or form obligated to. When done correctly, however, an audio file can be a very valuable addition to your website.

Turning Your Website into an Information Superhighway

What do you think today's most successful e-tailers are really dealing in? Fancy advertising isn't the key to big time sales in today's global economy. Consumers are more informed about their products and their accompanying niches than ever before, and they want to work with companies who are going to help them become even more informed about the products they're buying. That's why the best thing you can do to promote your business via the web is to turn your site into an information superhighway.

How do you do that? This is where all those SEO articles you've been hearing about come into play. Marketing is a complex network of resources working together to help your business succeed, not single resources spinning off on their own. Your SEO articles are going to accomplish two things; they're going to bring your website to the attention of the search engines, and they're going to give your consumers the information they need to make an informed decision on the products they want to buy.

What type of information should your website have? Before they make a purchase your consumers are going to want to know about the latest industry trends and innovations, new discoveries made and in-depth information on their products. That isn't what's going to keep them coming back, however. If you go to Amazon.com, undoubtedly a world leader in e-tailing, you'll find that along with their products and reviews they also have extensive access to booklists and articles giving more information about the field and related industries. That's what you want to give your consumers.

Think about everything you read and study to learn more about staying ahead in your niche, then share that information with your consumers. They want to know, and the fact that you're willing to tell them will go a long way toward helping you earn their trust and grow the market share you deserve.

For more information on building your website and growing your consumer base, visit us on the web at www.1uptoyou.com.