What’s the Fastest Path to Creating Content for My Websites? by Andrea Lee

Use Audio Recordings to Capture Content Quickly and Leverage the Expertise of Others

Thank you to the Internet Biz Whiz member who posed this question:

“Hey Andrea, I’m launching a new site soon and I want to know the best and fastest way to create some content for it. You know, simple and easy. And preferably with some hints about how to involve other people in the content creation too, so that the pressure isn’t all on me.”

The easiest way to create content for your websites is also one of the best ways to create value for your clients. It’s a wonderful technique that when used well can make a big difference to how professionally your work is perceived in the marketplace.

One of the Biggest Mistakes You Can Make Doing Business Online is Trying to Be the Expert on Everything

Many online business owners think that if they don’t create their own content, they can’t offer it or sell it. This is absolutely untrue. Moreover, if you don’t get over this mental block, you will end by exhausting yourself and likely not completing many of your projects.

Instead of getting stuck in this way, try using audio recording to create content quickly and relieve yourself of the pressure of having to do everything yourself.

Find Experts on Your Topic and Interview Them “on the record”

Send an email to 5 people you’d like to interview, inviting them to chat with you for 30-45 minutes by telephone. Do this as often as you like, but at minimum twice a year.

Be sure to provide a few sentences about what you’d like to ask them and tell them what you’re doing the interviews for. Let them know you’ll be recording your interview so you can share their expertise with your online visitors.

Most experts will find your invitation appealing because they have to do very little preparation, they don’t have to travel, and it gives them added ongoing exposure to your network. It’s a great way for them to reach lots of new people with little effort.

Don’t be shy. Biz Whiz member Tom Heck certainly isn’t and has met with great success in the last several months adding top-notch interviews with Ken Blanchard, Paul Pearsall and several others to his website at http://www.teachmeteamwork.com. Impressive work by Tom, with the result being tremendous value for his clients and a great deal of credibility for his site.

There are Two Methods to Record Interviews: Use a Professional Service Or “Do-It-Yourself”

Use a Professional Service

There are different levels of service in the “audio recording” industry and lots of bells and whistles to choose from. At this point, to create an audio recording for your website visitors, all you will need is a way to put a link on your website in MP3 or RealAudio format.

You won’t need CD or cassette duplication, but you may wish to consider it down the road.

Choose from the recommended services based on your budget and how much of the legwork you’re willing to do on your own.

(1) Great Teleseminars

I highly recommend Great Teleseminars for those with the desire to hand absolutely everything over to a “one-stop audio recording shop”.

It is definitely a pricier option because the process is not automated, so you receive personalized service throughout the process of recording, production, sales and administration. Remember, you don’t have to spend this much money to make your audio interviews happen, but if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, this will appeal to you. Just be sure to watch your return on investment closely. Pricing and more info is at: http://www.greatteleseminars.com.

(2) Audio Strategies

Audio Strategies is a reliable compromise for those on smaller budgets and the willingness to do a middling amount of legwork. Provide the date, time and bridge number of your interview and Audio Strategies will be on hand to record and then send you your recorded link in either MP3 or RealAudio. You must find your own place to host your audio link, whether that be at Playstream, or another vendor. Once again, part of the reason for the cost of this service is because the recordings are done by a real human being.

“Do it Yourself”

“Doing it yourself” has its benefits: You can record almost anything at the last minute without having to call a supplier. Over time, there are significant cost savings. And of course, becoming more technically savvy brings you a measure of independence that will add to your confidence as an online business entrepreneur.

There is a learning curve that involves a time commitment, and requires about a US$200 investment to get you started. If you are at least somewhat technically capable, and plan to record more than 15-20 hours of audio in the next year, have a good look at the following resource on doing your own recordings. You will save money by doing it yourself. In fact, perhaps it’s worthwhile hiring a virtual assistant to learn this for you.

This article on how to record TeleClasses and create passive revenue is clear, detailed and quite technical: http://www.todayscoach.com/2002/0826/default.html. It contains everything you need, including step-by-step screen shots, to get started recording interviews from your telephone in your very own office.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to “go it alone”, do a few recordings using Audio Strategies first, see how that goes, and then decide.

Now Have a Look at Some Examples of Completed Audio:

Even if you’re a naturally gifted writer, you’ll find that doing audio recordings is a good change of pace. Sometimes creating content out loud can unlock new material very effortlessly. And most experts will be more willing to spend 30-45 minutes with you on the phone than writing an article. Here’s a great example:

Recently, Ramon Williamson interviewed David Frey about how he built a super successful coaching business in the pool and spa niche in just 18 months starting from scratch.

To see the layout of the interview, as well as listen to the recordings, click here: http://www.ramonwilliamson.com/friends/davidfrey.html

This is a rich example of the content you can create for your sites using audio. Note: Ramon has been coaching successfully since 1986 and has many successful online businesses to his credit. Nonetheless, he defers to the hands-on expertise of David Frey to effortlessly create content, bring credibility to both of David and himself, and above all deliver great value to Ramon’s existing clients. Have a look especially at the format and layout used at the interview page.

Another example of audio-based content is the Internet Biz Whiz lesson on the topic of “How Do I Hire For My Online Biz?” with Biz Whiz member Julia Stewart. Click here to take another look at the lesson. In reviewing it, make some notes on how you could use the interview format shown to add content to your websites.

You will continue to see examples of audio content that leverages the expertise of others in upcoming issues of the Internet Biz Whiz.

So…now that you know how to tap into partners to help create content, you’re on a roll, right?

Consider this: Interviewing people “on the record” not only helps you add content to your current websites, it is also a tried-and-true way of creating a complete information product. Set up three people to interview in the next two weeks, then package the recordings into a quick and dirty information product for sale. If you make sure your interviews provide answers to a specific problem your clients experience, you’ll have a winner.

There’s no reason why you can’t open a brand new revenue stream just that quickly and simply.

Keep those wonderful questions coming! And drop me a line when you interview someone especially exciting too. I’ll be happy to share your success in an upcoming issue. Just send your email to: andrea@internetbizwhiz.com.

My Best,

Andrea Lee

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