Using Talking Testimonials To Increase Sales
(Part 2 of 2)



In the last article I talked about the benefits of having
testimonials on your site and what a boost "talking
testimonials" can give you. This time I'm going to show you
some ways you can get the audio from your satisfied
customer's mouth onto your web site - quickly and easily.

When using a "self service" audio tool, you're responsible
for getting the testimonial from the person into an MP3
file. If you're in physical contact with the person you
could use a handheld MP3 recorder and go straight from
voice into the correct file format. Then it's just a matter
of copying the file from the recorder to your computer.

The following site is a good place to find MP3 players that
will work (make sure you choose one with a line-in jack
as well as a microphone): http://reviews.cnet.com/

Most of the time you'll be recording from the phone.
Fortunately there are inexpensive gizmos from Radio Shack
that will do the job pretty well. For $15 to $30 you can
buy a device that records both sides of a phone call (stay
far away from the little suction cup device).

Now that you have a way to record phone calls, you have to
decide what you'll record them onto. In some cases you can
go directly from the device into the line-in jack on your
computer sound card. Try it and see if that works on your
system -- if so, you've got a quick and easy way to record
phone calls.

You may have to go from the phone to a recorder of some
type and then from the recorder to your computer. I usually
record to a mini-disc unit and then after the phone call
run the audio from the mini-disc into the line-in jack of
the sound card. You can even use an old-fashioned device
such as a cassette recorder (grin) but I like to "stay
digital" for as much of the process as possible.

Okay, so the mechanical end of things is settled. But
there's still the issue of recording the call. One of the
best options is to call the customer and record the
testimonial live. That way you can coach them in what to
say and do a "retake" if the first shot isn't all that
great.

If someone is a little shy about singing your praises with
you listening in, you can still get audio testimonials as
long as you have voice mail or an answering machine that
allows you to call in for your messages.

Just make sure that the customer calls and leaves their
testimonial at a time when you won't pick up the phone.
They record their message on your voice mail or answering
machine and then all you have to do is call in to retrieve
your messages and record them with your phone gizmo.

Then copy the audio testimonial to your computer, convert
to MP3, and you're all set to go.

Yes, going the "self-serve" route when doing web site audio
takes a little more work, but once you have things set up,
recording a new testimonial and adding it to your web site
is a piece of cake and can be done in just a few minutes.

And, for some people, that little extra hassle is worth the
savings they'll net by not paying for a monthly service.

=====================================================
Jay Jennings is the developer behind the Sonic Memo sound
utility and runs an email list that includes different ways
webmasters/marketers can profit with audio-based products
and projects.
=====================================================

Using Talking Testimonials To Increase Sales
(Part 1 of 2)


When you're in the internet marketing biz, the name of the
game is making sales. Okay, if you're in *any* biz that's
the name of the game. But it's a different game than selling
an item from a retail location, or even door-to-door.

On the internet, anyone can put up a site. You don't know
whether the guy behind "Make Money In Your Socks!" is legit
or whether it's a 14-year old with too little parental
supervision. Folks have to trust you before they'll type
their credit card numbers into the little boxes.

And that's where testimonials come in. As a way to build
trust they're invaluable. You as the salesperson aren't
the only one touting the advantages of your product or
service -- with a testimonial you have a 3rd-party also
joining in.

There are a couple kinds of testimonials -- those from
known gurus or people "in the biz" and those from the
"man/woman on the street." With the first kind you get a
"riding on his coattails" kind of effect. After all,
Guru Greg has a reputation to hang on to and so isn't going
to endorse a bad product (or, hopefully not).

But with the "just a regular Joe" testimonial you have the
credibility from someone who's probably a lot like your
prospect. They can see someone in their shoes (not in the
rarified air of Guruville) with success from your product
and so it's easier for them to imagine that they will also
have that success.

Including both types of testimonials on your site is best.

Now, by adding a picture of the person to the testimonial
you'll increase the credibility of the testimonial because
the prospect can now see the *real* person behind the
words. If at all possible get a picture of the person.

And to really make the testimonial work as hard as it can,
add an audio clip of the person giving a verbal endorsement
of the product. Folks might think a text testimonial could
be faked. If you add a picture it automatically increases
the amount of trust they have toward that testimonial. And
when you add audio, it bosts it up another notch.

Not only can the prospect read what someone is saying
about your product, but they can see what that person
looks like and even hear them at the same time.

Yowza! Talk about a trust-builder -- that's a big one
right there. And with increased trust will come an
increased willingness to spend their hard-earned money on
the product or service you offer.

So you're convinced that adding audio testimonials to your
site will help increase your sales. But how do you get the
talking testimonials on the site?

There are a couple services that allow you to record your
audio via a telephone call so you can ask your people who
are providing the testimonial to call the number and create
their message. Those services usually charge a monthly fee
but they're very easy to use.

There are also audio packages available that are more of a
"self service" model -- there's no monthly fee, but you
also have to do a bit more work up front. As you'll soon
see, if you decide to go that route getting an audio
testimonial really isn't all that hard.

And I'll explain more than one way to do that in the next
article -- Talking Testimonials Part 2.

=====================================================
Jay Jennings is the developer behind the Sonic Memo sound
utility and runs an email list that includes different ways
webmasters/marketers can profit with audio-based products
and projects.
=====================================================