Michigan VAs

Working with AudioAcrobat can be frustrating when you have a WordPress blog.

You can’t just copy the embedded code into your post as it may disappear when you save or publish your post or page.  WordPress strips <iframe> code because it can interfere from the look and feel of the site.

Audio Acrobat wants you to use a link to a blank page with just an embedded player.  However, this takes your visitor away from your site and may be confusing.

Here is another method for embedding the audio right in your WordPress post or page so they don’t leave your site.

Step 1: Install an Audio Player Plug-In

In order to use this method, you will need to install an audio player plug-in such as WP Audio Player (this is used in the example below).  Customize the look of the player by changing the settings for the plug-in.

Step 2: Get the URL for the download file from Audio Acrobat

To publish the audio in WordPress, you will use the download link for the Audio Acrobat file.

In Audio Acrobat, go to the audio file you want to publish.  Go to the “Publish Audio” tab and click on “Publish Download Link”.  Copy the download link for use in your WordPress blog.

Step 3: Add Audio to your Post

Use the shortcode and download link to add an audio player to your post.

For WP Audio Player, use the following code.  Replace yourdownloadurl with the download link.

[audio:http://yourdownloadurl]

Definition: The text, images, and media on a web page that is displayed in a browser without scrolling down.  The term comes from a mass mailing concept.  A person who opens a marketing letter from the company decides whether to continue to read a letter or piece of literature based on what information is provided on the top part of the paper – above the crease made where the paper is folded so it fits in the envelope.

Above the Fold on Your Web Page

The mass mailing concept can be used on web pages as well.  A visitor to your site decides whether to invest time to read your web page based on what they see on the screen when they click to go there.

According to an article by Kim Krause Berg of Search Engine Land, you have about 3 seconds to convince a visitor to stay.  Make sure the following is visible:

• Your Company Name
• Why someone should choose you
• Why you are better
• How to Start (your free report or product for signing up)
• How to Buy

Above the Fold in Your E-Mails

When you design the layout of your e-mails, incorporate the Above the Fold concept.  Most people view e-mails in the preview panels and decide from there whether the e-mail is worth reading more fully.

At the top of your email, you should have such things as:

• Your company name and logo
• The title of the newsletter’s topic

I don’t know if you are tracking where referrals and sales come from, but one of the most well noted buying behaviors is – ask a friend or relative for a recommendation.

Before social networks, you might have asked the people in your family, your neighbors, or your colleagues at work for a recommendation.

Social networks have opened up a whole new avenue for gathering information.  A quick tweet or post on Facebook can get you product recommendations in a few minutes.

Although biased opinions rather than the raw facts, referrals made by people in your social network generate more sales than most other avenues of advertising.   Remember, most purchases are made on emotion.

For a statistical overview on how people solicit product recommendations, see the article “What Makes Social Media Trustworthy?“

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