It can be your new best friend! I am sure you all have been on a conference call before, but there are a few other great uses for audioconferencing. For Example:
1. If you don't want to try and figure out how to record an audio clip or podcast, you can use your conference call service. You simply dial into the bridge and use the record feature. When you finish your call, you can download the file and Bammo! you have a nice information product that you can use for marketing, or turn it into a product. Some of you may find it easier to talk into your phone instead of into your computer.
2. It is a great way to create interviews and have guest speakers contribute to your content. Most people are happy to spend 15 minutes on the phone and you will be providing your clients tremenous value by being a great resource for new information.
3. Offering Teleclasses is one of the best ways to build your practice, and if you apply the principle of recording everything that you do, you will have 2 products- the class and a product. We use this strategy in our business, and it is a great source of passive recursive revenue.
4. Are you having a hard time creating a brochure for an upcoming seminar or service offering? Then do a 'Talking Brochure'. Invite people on your interest list to participate on a 30-45 minute call and you will be able to answer specific questions that they have and get some great feedback on your offer. Then if you want to, you can edit the recording (because you record everything, remember) and highlight the main points by using a combination of audio clips with powerpoint. If you want an example, check this one out. It takes a while for the file to load, so be patient, it will start eventually.
Hopefully you agree that using audio conferencing is a good thing. So how should you select a company?
1. If you have been a participant on a conference call or teleclass and you thought the quality was good, ask the moderator of the call who they use. If you liked it, you clients may like it too.
2. If you can, try to find a service that will give you an account manager or a live person that you can form a relationship with. When everything goes smoothly, it may not seem like a big deal, but if you have 40 people trying to get into a call and the bridge isn't working, it is nice to be able to call somebody who understands your business and will take the necessary steps to remedy the problem.
3. Quality of both the calls and the recording are key, especially if you are going to be using your calls as products and marketing material. It amazes me that some people use free services that sound terrible, and the recordings are not clear and they still create podcasts and products from that. You can spend a few dollars and greatly enhance the quality, so don't be cheap!
Once you select your provider, I suggest that you test the dial in numbers, passwords, user options and recording features BEFORE your first call. If you are comfortable using the technology, you will have more mental bandwidth for focusing on your participants.
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