Have you seen those cool audio/video seminars offered on websites? Where you sign up and get a new audio or video for X days or X weeks?
I’ve been working on a couple for my websites and, of course, researching tips and tricks so I can get it right.
Here’s a great article to help you plan your series and at the bottom I’ll share some free tools you can use to create yours.
How To Create Your Own Audio Mini-Seminar
By Kendall Summerhawk
Audio is a really fun, effective way to create connection with your website visitor. My audio mini-seminar series receives rave reviews…and makes sales for my different information products, like my Website Wisdom Writing course and upcoming “How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It!” audio and workbook program.
If you’ve been thinking about creating your own audio mini-seminar but weren’t quite sure how to get it all set up, then you’ll love these 7 simple steps.
There are several small steps that go into setting up your audio mini-seminar. Just follow them and you’ll have your own audio mini-seminar up, helping you sell your services or products in no time!
Step #1 Decide on your audio mini-seminar topic
Choose a focal point for your audio mini-seminar. I usually recommend choosing a specific topic that directly relates to the type of service you provide and want to be hired for. Make your chose specific, targeted, and clear.
Tip: You don’t need to cover everything you can help a client with in your audio mini-seminar.
Step #2 Decide on the number of steps
This is not the time to try and “teach” your listener to be an expert. Keep your audio mini-seminar focused on delivering tiny tidbits of information, organized into a specific number of steps.
Tip: I recommend 5 or 7 tips, delivered every-other-day by autoresponder.
Step #3 Include a “call to action” in each audio tip
Getting your listener to take action is a super way to deliver value. End each audio tip with a specific request your listener can take action on right away. Better yet, ask them to email you with the results!
Step #4 Record each audio
I recommend about 2-4 minutes for each audio length. I record mine right from my telephone, using my Audio Acrobat account. I love this service! It is fast, simple, and inexpensive to use. And, once you get a feel for using it, you’ll find many more ways to put it to work for you as a valuable marketing tool.
Tip: Audio Acrobat lets you create different folders within your account. I store my audio mini-seminar recordings in one folder to keep them neatly organized.
Step #5 Post each audio tip on its own page on your website
The more you can get your listener to go to your site, the better off you are. Post each audio tip on it’s own page. Include an extra note, example, or checklist on the page. Your listeners will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Tip: Create a link for the prior audio tips and include on each new tip page. This way, if someone didn’t receive the last audio tip, or wants to hear it again, all they need to do is scroll down on the current audio tip’s page and click on the link for any of the past tips.
Step #6 Set up the email autoresponder series
I use my newsletter broadcast system. You can also use the autoresponders that should come with your web hosting. If you’re not technical, do NOT let this part trip you up! Ask for help from your web master.
All YOU need to do is write a short, upbeat email message introducing each of your audio tips. Include the link to the tip’s web page you created in Step #4. I like to include a list of the upcoming tip topics to pique the readers’ interest.
Tip: Add a “PS” to each email with a little tantalizing question or statement that they can ONLY find out about by listening to your audio.
Step #7 Add the sign-up form to your website
Add your opt-in box at the top of your home page AND at the bottom. Is that too much? No. It helps attract attention and encourages sign-ups. Get your web designer to create a graphical “doo-dad” (that’s my technical term and my web designer loves it!) to draw attention to your audio min-seminar.
Tip: Add a graphical doo-dad for your newsletter too, so your free give-away looks even more tangible. Take a look at my site for an example of what I’m talking about.
It took me one day to get everything set up, tested, and working. Is it worth it? My website converts an average of 15% of the visitors to newsletter/audio mini-seminar subscribers. That is a fantastic percentage so, yes, it is WELL worth it!
Copyright 2006 – 2009. All Rights Reserved.
Small business expert and author Kendall SummerHawk is the “Horse Whisperer for Business.” Kendall delivers smart, simple ways entrepreneurs can brand, package and price their services to quickly move away from “dollars-for-hours work” and create more money, time, and freedom in their businesses. To learn more about her book, Brilliance Unbridled, and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at: http://www.kendallsummerhawk.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kendall_SummerHawk
Tools and Resources to Help You Create Your Audio or Video Tip Series
If you’re doing audio:
- Audacity – free audio recording software for your PC/Windows computer
- GarageBand is what I use to record audio on my MacBook
- FreeConferenceCall.com – if you want to record over the telephone
If you’re doing video:
- Jing for screencasting (if you want to show slides or how to do something on your screen)
- YouTube for recording from your webcam and hosting the files (direct link)
For delivering your series:
- MailChimp offers a free plan for getting started with a list
- I use Aweber and 1ShoppingCart (neither are free, but if you know you want the features they’ve got, it’s best not to have to move your list so start with one of them)
For your opt-in page:
- Any of the services I mentioned above will give you copy & paste code for your opt-in form
- MyEcoverMaker is awesome for designing images for courses/ebooks
Over to You!
Do you offer a video/audio tip series on your website yet? Feel free to share it with us in the comments.
If you don’t, what topics might work for you to create your own series around?
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thanks for the “my ebook cover” site. I spend way too much time designing my graphics.
MyEcoverMaker saves me (and my VA) a lot of time. And my graphics turn out better, too. I’m a big fan of that site. :)
I love this. I am about to do some audio, now that I’ve got a couple of video blogs under my belt. I was originally inspired by Elizabeth Purvis at MarketingGoddess.com with her series by 6 different fantastic women. Kendall Summerhawk is her mentor, and I am SO looking forward to reading her stuff, too. Thanks for putting out such awesome content, and great stuff from others as well, Michelle! Let us know when you have your own audio up! I’m looking forward to hearing more from everyone. Literally. :-)
Love that – “hearing” more. LOL I will!
Elizabeth & Kendall are both very smart ladies. Worth following and learning from. :)
Hi Michelle,
Super in depth tutorial here!
I haven’t developed an audio or video series but know where to look for advice ;) I can see how each series would be a wonderful tool to connect with your followers, add immense value and build your brand, all in one shot.
Thanks for sharing the insight with us!
RB
Hey, Michelle, Great article! You make it look so easy that I think I will consider giving it a chance even if it’s only for learning how to make one. The MyEcoverMaker tip is going to come very handy.
Good stuff!
I’ve been itching to change my freebie offer for a while now and I love recording audios.
I’m already using Audio Acrobat and it’s a great service at a very reasonable monthly fee. I try to recommend it as often as I can. And very soon they’re going to be adding even more wonderful features.
Your resources and Kendall’s tutorial will make this endeavor a slam dunk! :)
Thanks!
Perfect! I like this step by step as I read..LOL!. I do the same thing as you post…Thanks for sharing this tips:):)keep up the good work:)
Hi Michelle. What a fantastic post with so many good tips. Thanks for the MyECoverMaker. I never knew there was a online service like this and it looks so easy to use! I am thinking about doing an audio or video series about handwriting or sensory processing problems to get my occupational therapy service reaching an online market. Your article was very timely. Thanks Natalie