The Persuader
It could be a local politician operating on a “change-jar” budget, a national presidential candidate with $$$ millions for marketing, it could be the local carpet showroom or some garage band looking for a contract. These are people seeking to persuade others in some way – to buy something, to think a certain way, vote for one candidate or another or buy some shag for the living room.
The Visionary
Few and far between but there are site owners who have a passion that has propelled them to some position they want to share with the world. It might be a new business with a new product that eliminates the need for electricity. That would be visionary.
Or, it might be a not-for-profit on a mission to improve the world. You’ll find visionaries in the NFP and commercial worlds. It’s the passion that sets these people apart.
So, if you’re an authority, a persuader or visionary AND you have that certain something – the camera likes you – time to change the static look of your circa 2002 website and start spreading the word.
In the risk versus reward equation, broadcasts of you from your site are a low risk, high upside bet. If you look good on camera or sound good in audio-only podcast, if you have something to say, and you have that enthusiasm, a good sense of humor or insider knowledge divined from scanning the morning tea leaves, you can build your own loyal following. Today, we can all buy the technology to have our own broadcast channels, available to the world. The fact is, you can build an archive of digital broadcasts quickly, painlessly and potentially turn this archive into a subscription site if your information is “insider” enough.
So, what can you do on the cheap. Become a cult figure if you do it right. And, everything you need to create your own channel costs less than $100. Much less.
Podcasts
These “audio-only” broadcasts from your site are low cost (or no cost if you take a few hours to learn basic audio mixing software) and are a perfect way to start moving into less text, more you on screen, interacting with your buyers or members or subscribers.
You’ll need a decent mic ($20 online and go with a lapel mic), some basic notes on what you’re going to cover and some sound capturing and editing software. You can use open source software (free) because podcasts don’t need a lot of production. Just cut out the “ums” and maybe mix in a little intro/outro music and you’re on the air, baby, to anyone who clicks on the podcasts link on your site.
Also ideal for those who prefer to be heard rather than seen. Podcasts are radio.
Webcasts
Buy a web cam ($49 online), plug it into the USB port and you’re ready for your first webcasts. Think it’s too hard? Too complicated? Have you seen some of the videos on YouTube? Anybody can become an worldwide sensation today – thanks to video and web technology.
A webcast is nothing more than a podcast with your image appearing on the viewer’s screen. It’s a great way to share your passion for your products, services or candidate. Again, if you have that certain something – that thing that has made you a successful life coach, business coach, alternative healer, stock picker or some other gifted authority – then that charisma comes through much more clearly when you can be seen and heard rather than just read.
Teleconferencing
An excellent way to stay in direct contact with your membership or subscriber base. A weekly or monthly teleconference call, in which your members speak directly to you, ask questions and you, “in person,” provide the answers. This one-on-one interaction adds to your credibility and is a great “value-added” bonus for buying an ebook or opting in for a newsletter subscription on a highly specialized topic.
If you’ve got that unidentifiable something, that je ne sais pas ce qui, add it to your marketing tools kit and sell yourself and your product or service at the same time.
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