It’s amazing how many people don’t realise the power of their own voice.

Audio streaming has been around for a long time, but admittedly, it used to be quite complicated to work out how to add it to your site a few years ago. But that’s all changed now, there’ s no excuse for not having audio as a marketing tool on you web site or blog nowadays.

Here are 5 simple ways to add audio to your web site to attract more clients:

1. Add an audio introduction. Tell people who you are and what you do. Your voice coming out of a computer screen can often be what makes the connection between you and your prospective customer. The personal touch goes a long way. Don’t go over the top though, your introduction should only be around  1 – 1.30 minutes long. Short and sweet.

2. Record your clients testimonials. Lots of people forget overlook one of the best ways to advertise your products or services is to have other people endorse them. Many audio streaming websites now provide a special telephone number where your satisfied customers can call in, without any the hassle of complicated equipment.

3. Record your ebook or special report. Remember, not everyone likes to learn by reading. Many people, particularly those who don’t have English as a first language, or who are dyslexic, can prefer an audio version over a written version of your products. Break the chapters of your ebook into sections and record them one by one. Add the  audio MP3 file version with the written transcript and charge extra for the two products. 

4. Deliver teleclasses or teleseminars. This is an excellent way to connect on a regular basis with your customers, particularly if you are launching a new product or are considering a joint venture you wish to promote.  

5. Question and answer sessions. Instead of writing a Q & A section on your web site or blog, consider recording the most frequently asked questions to let your customers hear you personally explain how you can solve their problems.

DVDs are the latest media for movies and video entertainment. New DVDs can be expensive, so the common trend for most people is to buy used DVDs and there is a large market for it. Usually, there are stores that specialize in used DVDs. These video disks are sometimes available in music shops too. Many stores will allow you to sample the DVDs in their players, right in the store, so that you get a taste of what you are buying before you purchase it.

There are also online stores that offer huge collections of second-hand DVDs. However, buying used disks from an online store may be a little risky. While shopping at an online store, there is no chance of testing or checking the condition of the item. At best, you may be able to return the item if it is already damaged, but first check the store’s return policy to make sure they will accept returns. In most cases with DVD movies, you can return an item only if it was damaged in shipment, but not simply because you do not like the content of it. The reason for such a strict return policy is that there are those people who “pirate” or copy DVDs. This is difficult for the majority of people, because there are security protections in DVD recorders that protect against such copying. However, a few people have the software and/or technology to do this. In fact, there is computer software available that can make this possible, for those who are aware of it. For these people, it would be too easy to buy a DVD, copy it, and then return the original claiming they do not like the content. If this were allowed, it would mean free DVD copies for them!

By purchasing movies, you may watch them only once, but they will stay in your living room collection. After that, perhaps your guests, relatives, friends and children will watch these movies. Therefore, the more movies you buy, the larger your collection gets. There will always be an interesting movie for everyone to watch.

There is usually no risk in buying old DVDs as long as they appear to be in good condition. Unlike cassette tapes and LPs which degrade over time, DVDs maintain their quality with near perfection since they are digitally recorded. Only if there is major damage to the disk will there be a problem, which can mean unplayable portions of the movie and thus render the entire disk worthless. However, if there does not appear to be any physical damage to the disk, you can be almost certain that the movie will playback exactly like new.

When buying used DVDs, your selection is limited to mostly older movies. If you want the latest and neweset hits, then you will have to purchase them new for a price as much as 10 or 20 times higher.

The business of radio has been in some turmoil even before the economic downturn of 2008-2009. There’s a lot of consolidation, competition, and less advertising to go around. Add in satellite radio and internet radio to the mix with earthbound stations and the pie seems to be getting cut up into more pieces. The Radio industry will have to look to new technologies and innovation to get healthy again. iPhone applications are one of these new innovations to watch for.

Radio is moving in a new direction with streaming audio on iPhone apps. The mother of all radio iPhone apps would be Clear Channel’s “I Heart Radio” application, which feeds off of Clear Channel’s “I Heart Radio online streaming website of 750+ radio stations. Last count showed 150+ stations streaming via I Heart Radio on the iPhone. But streaming individual stations on a giant aggregator app like this can sometimes be slow with lengthy buffering times.

Another option is for a radio station, either land based or online or satellite to have its own dedicated iphone app. Why be one of hundreds or thousands of radio stations on someone else’s app when you can have your own custom Streaming Radio iPhone app with its own icon on your listener’s iPhone screen? Your radio station gets one step closer to your audience, and your listeners have direct icon access to your streaming broadcast! Add advertising to your Radio Station iPhone app for increased revenue and social networking features to build your listener community.

A recent count in the iTunes App Store showed over 40 radio stations of all kinds with their own iPhone apps for streaming their broadcasts. From large organizations like Public Radio to smaller niche online stations like Classical Philippines Radio, streaming broadcasts via iPhone apps.

The cost to develop a streaming radio app is very reasonable if the station already has an MP3 or other compatible stream. A basic streaming radio app can cost as low as $1200.00 with optional upgraded features possible, or the app can be upgraded at a later date. The initial development cost can be offset by adding advertising, sponsorships, selling playlist music through iTunes, and more.

Will iPhone applications turn the radio industry around? Not by themselves, but this new technology should be seriously considered by any radio station that’s seeking to position themselves for the new era of broadcasting.