How to Add Audio and Podcasting to your Virtual Assistant Website
Many Virtual Assistants are nervous about the technology behind adding audio to their or their client’s Website,but it is well worth it to learn. Adding audio to your site will make your site more personable to your visitors. It is an interactive experience that will allow your visitors to see you as a real person. This can build trust; once trust is established your visitors are more likely to become customers.
Subscribing to Audio Acrobat is a very easy way to add audio to your site. For about $20 per month, you can create audios and videos, and allow your visitors to listen to them live over the Internet or download them to listen to at their convenience. Audio Acrobat will provide you with a special number that you can dial with your phone. You can create a recording of just yourself, or you can record a phone call if you are interviewing someone. Another option is to hook a microphone/headset up to your computer and speak directly into it. I use Wavepad or Audacity to record many of my audios.
When you are finished with your recording, the service will generate a piece of HTML code that you can publish to your site. This will allow your visitors to listen to the audio or download the Mp3.
If you want to increase the traffic that comes to your site, you may want to try your hand at podcasting. Podcasting is a fairly new phenomenon, and is somewhat similar to blogging. Rather than reading a blog, your listeners will listen to your voice via your podcast. Your listeners do not need to have an iPod; podcasts can be downloaded to any Mp3 player, and your listeners can listen online, too. Audio Acrobat includes ITunes integration, allowing your listeners to automatically download your podcasts into their ITunes. If you plan to podcast make sure you can commit to a regular schedule of at least bi-weekly.
With audio it is important to set up an RSS feed, so your listeners will always have access to your latest podcast. I do this through a Website called Feedburner. Feedburner can be tricky to set up. I remember how confused I was the first time I 
tried to use it. Try to get a fellow VA to help you with it.
I have been helping my clients with their podcasting for a couple of years now and, at this point, many of them are asking me to conduct and record their interviews as well. This is a lot of fun for me. It makes me feel like a reporter with a big newspaper.
So feel free to call me at the Virtual Assistant Demo Girl with all your Podcasting needs.
Best,
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24 September 2008, 3:51 pm
Michelle, I love the look of your new website. It’s gorgeous!
24 September 2008, 4:08 pm
Thank you so much! As you know I was actually inspired to update it when I saw the gorgeous layout and graphics of yours, but in this case all I needed was a template change to get a whole new look. I’m a big fan of orange.
24 September 2008, 5:46 pm
Well, it’s beautiful. You did a really nice job. I’m actually redoing my site. Although I love it, its just not functional enough. So, Brianna is redoing the graphics for me and we’ll incorporate them into a CMS template and hopefully be able to keep the same feel.
Anyway, I think I’ll visit your site more often. You’ve got some great stuff on here!