Podcasting Product Descriptions - will it work?

[philippeb]

I'm throwing this out there - how effective would it be to not only use textual product definitions - but use audio podcasts?

My thinking is that - as long as the audio voice is clear & radio friendly - it could make my customers' shopping experience that much more personal.

I haven't seen this done much in the e-com world - is there a good reason for that or would I be a pioneer of sorts?

Any thoughts/advice out there?

[incrediblehelp]

Sounds like I good idea to me, what business niche.

[tomfoolery]

It's both a good and a bad idea.

Good because it can make the shopping experience a bit more like a retail experience. Bad because you won't know how many of your users will have their computer's audio/speaker properties set properly, nor can you be guaranteed that their internet connection isn't dial-up (which would affect audio as well). You could always have a tick-box to turn audio on or off, and this may solve the problem.

Not really a pioneer thing -- we did this when I worked at Oracle back in 2002, we used a Virtual Host software called Oddcast (which is quite cool, and has come a long way since we used it). http://www.oddcast.com

Hope this helps

[compusolver]

Good point about some people might not have speakers, etc. - but they are probably a small minority any more.

Filesize/dialup isn't a problem. Even with dialup, compressed audio like mp3 and wma files load quickly, even if they're a couple minutes long. In fact, I've used this when I want to give a lot of info on a page, but am afraid that some might not want to invest the reading time.

[tomfoolery]

Compusolver: fair enough about the filesize issue. You're probably right.

Regarding Speakers/Volume "minority": You're right in terms of home users, certainly, but I think you may be forgetting the amount of people in office cubicles, or open office environs (who are usually instructed to keep volume down or off), or who work on workstations (with no speakers), or who are in Internet Cafes (blown or missing speakers, or with ambient volume that makes audio impossible to hear), or the "new" user (like my father!) who can't, for the life of him, figure out how to use his speakers/audio, etc. Since a large portion of people surf at work, the target market is surely significant.

That said, if the audio is only an enhancement/addition (and not the sole way of delivering the product descriptions) then my whole point is moot. But just thought I'd share anyway. ;)

[AjiNIMC]

I'm throwing this out there - how effective would it be to not only use textual product definitions - but use audio podcasts?

Go for it, we have done it and it works fine. This is adding one more hand to your marketing. You know why gmail is a success today as they launched a different technology (JS based) which works good with high speed internet. In this era audio and video are good ways of doing it.

A marketing guy has only one head but certainly can have more than two hands if he can use his brain cycles properly. You just discovered one more hand. Also submit to podcasting sites. Also go for video.

AjiNIMC

[Purple13]

Hi
Been thinking along similar lines for our Blog, in particular the article pieces I write and publish on it.

I reckoned I could then submit these to the usual podcast sites etc and gain more exposure for Fabulous Photo Gifts and Purple 13.

I've got the software, just got to find a minute to record it!

Bottom line, its another string to your bow and something else to put your product or service in front of more people.

Surely it has great benefits when making a site accessible to visually impaired etc?

Jonathan

[philscanlan]

to me, that would be like listening to a radio station that's all commercials. the whole point of the web is doing things my way, on my time.

[JohneeMac]

Originally Posted by Purple13

Surely it has great benefits when making a site accessible to visually impaired etc?

That in my opinion is the strongest argument for doing it, not your Seo, but it wont hurt