Are You Using Your Voice To Build A Relationship With Your Readers?

Image by mdda via Flickr

I have a client who is dead-set against using video for her promotion efforts. She’s a wordsmith and wants to rely on words to promote her words.  I’m working on convincing her that video isn’t the only way to reach your readers. Using your voice to build a relationship with your readers works almost as well.

I’ll be able to help her overcome her resistance to using video. However, we will take small steps to achieve her goal of increasing her readers and building a relationship with them.

Recently there was a discussion on Twitter during #writechat about using short audio clips. Most people either didn’t like their voice, didn’t know where to start, or just were afraid to try.

I said you don’t need a perfect  recording to have your readers relate to you. Writers know that readers are drawn to flawed characters. Readers identify with flawed writers as well. They want to know that authors aren’t too different from themselves. They do imagine that authors lead more glamorous lives. (If only they knew.) Just reach out to with your voice to connect to your readers.

Creating short videos for your readers is easy. You just need a willingness to try and a few simple tools.

• Audacity
  • This free software will let you record and edit audio files
• Both Windows and Mac computers come with recording software
• A USB microphone
  • Using a headset attached to your audio jacks will give you a bad quality recording
  • You can use a headset such as Logitech for better results
  • If you really like doing audio, you can move up to a professional microphone later.
• An audio plugin for your WordPress blog (you do have a WordPress blog, right?)
  • This plugin will also let you put podcasts on iTunes when you really get excited about using audio

Start small. A great first step is to put up an audio file on your blog’s “About” page.  This simple step brings you closer to your readers.

If you really want to move into audio in a big way, Mike Stewart can help you with products and training that help in with using your voice to build a relationship with your readers.

What’s stopping you from using audio? Leave a comment and share.

Write on,

Lynn