Sound Bites for Your Website
by
Lois Stern
Would you like to add some sound files to your website? If so, let me share some how-to advice from my own experience. I learned about the Sony ICD, a simple battery operated gadget, at the Infinity Writer’s conference last September. If you place this recorder on your desktop or podium as you speak, this tiny hand held device will record your pearls of wisdom with pretty good clarity. But unlike other recorders, this one comes with a cord that you later plug into a USB port on your computer to transfer your recordings into one or more sound files. I purchased my Sony recorder ICD-P 320 at Best Buy last September, right after the conference. As I recall, it cost about $50. Perhaps there are updated models on the market by now, but this one worked just fine.
As with everything in life, there are caveats. For one thing, while
recording, the ICD is sensitive to surrounding sounds. I placed mine on a
podium at New Voices Book Store in Manhattan the day of my Sunday afternoon
book presentation. It is my habit whenever making a presentation, to
set a timer to warn me when it is about time to conclude. Without thinking,
I placed the timer on the same podium with my book and index card of
notes. When I got home and replayed my talk, I discovered that the
recorder had picked up the tick-tick-tick of the timer along with my voice.
Those were the sound files that lived a short life!
The second caveat is that you might have to convert your recordings
into MP3 sound files before you can use them on your website. I use Go Daddy
for my website, and the only sound files compatible with their format
are MP3’s.
So let me tell you how I dealt with each of these two caveats:
(next column)
Caveat #1. Extraneous sounds:
To eliminate extraneous sounds while making a recording, I now place the recorder on a small pillow on the desk in my home office, next to my computer. I take notes beforehand to prepare my little talk so I don’t end up with a lot of pauses and am able to keep my voice sounding as conversational and natural as possible. I decided I would create a number of sound recordings for my website – not to simply read what was already on the screen pages - but to supplement information already posted. Now that adds interest and a personal touch!
Caveat #2. Compatibility:
I plugged the Sony cord into a USB port in the front of my computer, thinking
it would be a simple task to now download these sound files to my website. Wrong
again. My files were in the wrong format for Go Daddy and needed to be converted
to MP3’s. I did a Google search, asking: “How can I convert sound
files to MP3 format?” I looked at a couple of free downloads for that purpose
and selected Express Burn NCH, which was relatively easy to use. Now I have sound
files on many of my website pages, and I do think it enhances my site and makes
it a bit unique.
I have found that one of the benefits of networking with other authors is learning
and sharing. I hope you find this information helpful and maybe even tweak a
page or two of your website by adding an element of sound. I for one, found it
a lot of fun.
I would like to encourage other authors to use this forum to share specific marketing
strategies that have worked for them.
Lois Stern author of "Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery"
Thanks Lois for the article... John Wolf
