Interesting that I would find this article — The Sound of Business (Part 1) — so soon after my first Web marketing podcast.
To quote author Jerry Bader:
the sound of the human voice is powerful, and it connects to the listener on a whole different level. It connects emotionally to the listener on a very human plane. It breaks through that liquid crystal barrier and says, "Listen to me, I’m here, I’m human, and I have something real to talk to you about." It’s time to bring a human voice to your own site.
I’ve been playing around with the idea of adding audio to flyte’s Web site for a while now, but for professional speakers it should be a given. If you want to be hired for a speaking gig you need to be giving away that free sample.
Speakers should include an aural portfolio at their Web sites, just like artists and graphic designers show off their best work online.
People not interested in speaking gigs should still consider adding audio to their sites. Although recorded audio is more about talking to someone rather than with someone, it can be an engaging way to start a conversation.
