There's no reason to spend big money for an audio generator for your web site. Here is the way to do it for free with the same results.

The "latest" fad is for some software programs to embed audio files onto your web page. Click the play button right here to listen to an example of how it works:

This Is How's Its Done

In the case of other "high end" products, they are usually being created using Flash files.

In our case, we are going to keep things simple and make the audio a ".mp3" embedded in the page.

Step #1 Recording Your Message

You will need a microphone attached to the soundcard of your computer. It is possible your sound card came with one already, or you can pick up a very inexpensive one on ebay or at a local computer retailer.

The better quality of the microphone, the better the recording. I use a Plantronics boom mic that I got off ebay and it is very good. It has noise cancelling features amoung other things. (If I could only remember to keep the boom mic away from my face, it would have even better results!).

Once your microphone is all hooked up, you can record the message itself using any number of free audio recording programs. If you have Windows, it comes with a recording file already. You find the sound recorder by going to the Start Menu --> Program --> Accessories --> Entertainment --> Sound Recorder as shown here:

(This will vary depending on what version of Windows you have. I am using Windows XP)

Step #2 Converting The File To MP3

The sound recorder I use only records it in .wav format. The .mp3 format is much more compact and loads quicker.

The program I use is the same one I mention in this article.

It is the TotalRecorder program. I simply convert the .wav file to the .mp3 file.

Step #3 Add The Code

Here is the code that you want to put on your website in the spot that you want the sound buttons to appear.

Click anywhere in the box below and then (1) Press "ctrl"+"a" to select all (2) Press "ctrl"+"c" to copy it. You can then past it in your HTML code by pressing "ctrl"+"v":

<OBJECT ID=RVOCX CLASSID="clsid:CFCDAA03-8BE4-11cf-B84B-0020AFBBCCFA" WIDTH=0 HEIGHT=0> <PARAM NAME="SRC" VALUE="http://www.YOURWEBSITE.com/soundfile.mp3"> <PARAM NAME="CONTROLS" VALUE="ImageWindow"> <PARAM NAME="CONSOLE" VALUE="one"> <PARAM NAME="AUTOSTART" VALUE="false"> <EMBED SRC="plugin.rpm" WIDTH=0 HEIGHT=0 NOJAVA=true CONTROLS=ImageWindow CONSOLE=one AUTOSTART=true></embed> </OBJECT><p> <OBJECT ID=RVOCX CLASSID="clsid:CFCDAA03-8BE4-11cf-B84B-0020AFBBCCFA" WIDTH=36 HEIGHT=26> <PARAM NAME="CONTROLS" VALUE="PlayButton"> <PARAM NAME="CONSOLE" VALUE="one"> <EMBED SRC="plugin.rpm" WIDTH=36 HEIGHT=26 NOJAVA=true CONTROLS=PlayButton CONSOLE=one></embed> </OBJECT><p><p><OBJECT ID=RVOCX CLASSID="clsid:CFCDAA03-8BE4-11cf-B84B-0020AFBBCCFA" WIDTH=26 HEIGHT=26> <PARAM NAME="CONTROLS" VALUE="StopButton"> <PARAM NAME="CONSOLE" VALUE="one"> <EMBED SRC="plugin.rpm" WIDTH=26 HEIGHT=26 NOJAVA=true CONTROLS=StopButton CONSOLE=one></embed> </OBJECT>

Important! See line # 2 that has a reference to "VALUE" and then a web address. You need to change that to where ever your .mp3 file is located.

It's More Than Just The Audio

Don't expect anything to automatically sound good on your site. You should type out a good script of what you want to say. Also, make a good effort to try to sound cheerful and enthusiastic without going overboard.

Don't Just Assume

Don't assume that the audio is going to have a great effect on the performance of your site. The only way to find out for sure is to keep track of the results.

Check out this article to learn more about the proper way of doing A/B split testing to see if audio is helping or hurting your site.

Bottom Line

If you were tempted by some of the audio generator type products, you can now have the same effect without spending all of the money that they are asking for it. Whether it actually helps or hurts your site is for you to figure out!