our clients or colleagues. This is what I did in one hour. I recorded 15 separate snippets of sound, according to the approved script...then I got fancy and decided to do more than one “take” (in one instance I gave her four) so Rebecca would have more to choose from. By the evening of the next day, Rebecca sent me a complete recording for me to share with my friends and colleagues.

I sent the Interview with Santa out to 40 friends and business associates. Becky’s teacher-adviser didn’t like the bit she and I had recorded about Santa asking everyone not to leave him any icy cold beer anymore, because Mrs. Claus is tired of him getting home at d

You’ve been hearing about the use of videos in emails and websites, plus the fact that Google bought YouTube recently for $1.6 billion. You can use audio the same way. If you want to differentiate yourself from others, there are two new ways to do so using common tools available. If you have Windows in your computer and a microphone, you can make good audio recordings yourself. Then you can insert these recordings into emails or on your web site. Even if you can’t make a video, you can use still photos accompanied by an audio recording that complements the visuals.

This can be uploaded to the major video sites, like YouTube, Google Video, Blinkx.tv, vSocial.com, Jumpcut.com and many others. I received quite an introduction to this recently. My niece, Rebecca Warner, asked me to help her with a school project. She is studying audio and visual arts management at community college. Her final project for this year entailed “An Interview with Santa.” Now you can imagine quickly who she wanted to play the part of Santa. My unnecessary girth (still working on losing it!) added to the attraction of course; but my voice was the key factor when recording (my too big belly not being seen by the public). Rebecca and a fellow student wrote a script. She sent it by email. I went through the script, made a few minor adjustments, then colored “Santa’s” parts in red ink, leaving hers (as the interviewer) in black to keep them easier to read during the interview. We spoke using Skype (voice over internet protocol) internet phone service, which, for a student, means a free call. She is located 2,800 miles from me; so long distance can be expensive. I was ready to be interviewed, so you can imagine how surprised I was when she informed me that I only had to read my parts, making a series of short (digital) recordings. I would then send them back to her via email. She would read her parts, then splice the best together digitally to make the final recording for airing over the college’s radio station. I had never made a recording before. She showed me in a flash. You can too. Go to “All Programs”, then choose “Accessories”, then look under “Entertainment”, then choose “Sound Recorder”.

When you get there, you’ll see a little rectangle in the top left hand corner of your screen. Just use it like any other recorder to record, rewind, play back or re-record. When finished, click on “Save” and you will have a saved “wav” (wave) file that you can send to others as an attachment. Simply record any greeting, specific sales message, or invitation; attach it to your email and send it to your clients or colleagues. This is what I did in one hour. I recorded 15 separate snippets of sound, according to the approved script...then I got fancy and decided to do more than one “take” (in one instance I gave her four) so Rebecca would have more to choose from. By the evening of the next day, Rebecca sent me a complete recording for me to share with my friends and colleagues.

I sent the Interview with Santa out to 40 friends and business associates. Becky’s teacher-adviser didn’t like the bit she and I had recorded about Santa asking everyone not to leave him any icy cold beer anymore, because Mrs. Claus is tired of him getting home at da

Blinkx.tv, vSocial.com, Jumpcut.com and many others. I received quite an introduction to this recently. My niece, Rebecca Warner, asked me to help her with a school project. She is studying audio and visual arts management at community college. Her final project for this year entailed “An Interview with Santa.” Now you can imagine quickly who she wanted to play the part of Santa. My unnecessary girth (still working on losing it!) added to the attraction of course; but my voice was the key factor when recording (my too big belly not being seen by the public). Rebecca and a fellow student wrote a script. She sent it by email. I went through the script, made a few minor adjustments, then colored “Santa’s” parts in red ink, leaving hers (as the interviewer) in black to keep them easier to read during the interview. We spoke using Skype (voice over internet protocol) internet phone service, which, for a student, means a free call. She is located 2,800 miles from me; so long distance can be expensive. I was ready to be interviewed, so you can imagine how surprised I was when she informed me that I only had to read my parts, making a series of short (digital) recordings. I would then send them back to her via email. She would read her parts, then splice the best together digitally to make the final recording for airing over the college’s radio station. I had never made a recording before. She showed me in a flash. You can too. Go to “All Programs”, then choose “Accessories”, then look under “Entertainment”, then choose “Sound Recorder”.

When you get there, you’ll see a little rectangle in the top left hand corner of your screen. Just use it like any other recorder to record, rewind, play back or re-record. When finished, click on “Save” and you will have a saved “wav” (wave) file that you can send to others as an attachment. Simply record any greeting, specific sales message, or invitation; attach it to your email and send it to your clients or colleagues. This is what I did in one hour. I recorded 15 separate snippets of sound, according to the approved script...then I got fancy and decided to do more than one “take” (in one instance I gave her four) so Rebecca would have more to choose from. By the evening of the next day, Rebecca sent me a complete recording for me to share with my friends and colleagues.

I sent the Interview with Santa out to 40 friends and business associates. Becky’s teacher-adviser didn’t like the bit she and I had recorded about Santa asking everyone not to leave him any icy cold beer anymore, because Mrs. Claus is tired of him getting home at d

through the script, made a few minor adjustments, then colored “Santa’s” parts in red ink, leaving hers (as the interviewer) in black to keep them easier to read during the interview. We spoke using Skype (voice over internet protocol) internet phone service, which, for a student, means a free call. She is located 2,800 miles from me; so long distance can be expensive. I was ready to be interviewed, so you can imagine how surprised I was when she informed me that I only had to read my parts, making a series of short (digital) recordings. I would then send them back to her via email. She would read her parts, then splice the best together digitally to make the final recording for airing over the college’s radio station. I had never made a recording before. She showed me in a flash. You can too. Go to “All Programs”, then choose “Accessories”, then look under “Entertainment”, then choose “Sound Recorder”.

When you get there, you’ll see a little rectangle in the top left hand corner of your screen. Just use it like any other recorder to record, rewind, play back or re-record. When finished, click on “Save” and you will have a saved “wav” (wave) file that you can send to others as an attachment. Simply record any greeting, specific sales message, or invitation; attach it to your email and send it to your clients or colleagues. This is what I did in one hour. I recorded 15 separate snippets of sound, according to the approved script...then I got fancy and decided to do more than one “take” (in one instance I gave her four) so Rebecca would have more to choose from. By the evening of the next day, Rebecca sent me a complete recording for me to share with my friends and colleagues.

I sent the Interview with Santa out to 40 friends and business associates. Becky’s teacher-adviser didn’t like the bit she and I had recorded about Santa asking everyone not to leave him any icy cold beer anymore, because Mrs. Claus is tired of him getting home at d

make the final recording for airing over the college’s radio station. I had never made a recording before. She showed me in a flash. You can too. Go to “All Programs”, then choose “Accessories”, then look under “Entertainment”, then choose “Sound Recorder”.

When you get there, you’ll see a little rectangle in the top left hand corner of your screen. Just use it like any other recorder to record, rewind, play back or re-record. When finished, click on “Save” and you will have a saved “wav” (wave) file that you can send to others as an attachment. Simply record any greeting, specific sales message, or invitation; attach it to your email and send it to your clients or colleagues. This is what I did in one hour. I recorded 15 separate snippets of sound, according to the approved script...then I got fancy and decided to do more than one “take” (in one instance I gave her four) so Rebecca would have more to choose from. By the evening of the next day, Rebecca sent me a complete recording for me to share with my friends and colleagues.

I sent the Interview with Santa out to 40 friends and business associates. Becky’s teacher-adviser didn’t like the bit she and I had recorded about Santa asking everyone not to leave him any icy cold beer anymore, because Mrs. Claus is tired of him getting home at d

our clients or colleagues. This is what I did in one hour. I recorded 15 separate snippets of sound, according to the approved script...then I got fancy and decided to do more than one “take” (in one instance I gave her four) so Rebecca would have more to choose from. By the evening of the next day, Rebecca sent me a complete recording for me to share with my friends and colleagues.

I sent the Interview with Santa out to 40 friends and business associates. Becky’s teacher-adviser didn’t like the bit she and I had recorded about Santa asking everyone not to leave him any icy cold beer anymore, because Mrs. Claus is tired of him getting home at dawn...”just hammered”. Her teacher strongly advised her to take that part out, which she did. But I have the original (“beer”) version. If you'd like to hear it, send me an email; I’ll send you back the recorded "Interview with Santa" in an email attachment. Recording your own voice helps you build a strong bridge (rapport) with your recipient/client/guest/customer/constituent. It makes you real. ‘Blood and tissue, flesh...a real, living person they can relate to in the context of your communications. I strongly suggest you give it a try. You’ll be delighted with the results. If you’re shy, just try one recording and send it to yourself and one other trusted friend or relative. You'll see how it works. It'll grow on you.

© Copyright, Roy W. MacNaughton, 2006