BETTER POST and BETTER SPEAKING!
Ever read your Post several days after publishing and . . . Oops! Combo Post
I have done it more times than I’ll admit.  However, I’m writing this Post to give a solution for catching those errors and greatly improving my Posts! If you are a blogger, writer, or speaker, it might be something you will want to do, also.
I borrowed the idea from my good friend and internet marketing expert, Russ Henneberry, Tiny Business, Mighty Profits.  Russ puts the audio of his Posts at the beginning of each Post. The first time I noticed this, I clicked on the icon and started reading along with his reading the Post.  It was so easy to listen to his rendition of his own Post, that I quickly stopped reading.
If I wanted to review something I heard, it was easy to find it in the written version. Â My comprehension of the post was better because Russ, the author, read it the way he intended it to be heard. Â He put inflection and pauses where they had the most impact and varied the cadence in the manner he intended the Post be read.
As I’ve often done, I followed Russ’s lead and started doing the same with my weekly
Posts. I wrote the Post, recorded it, and posted both renditions.
It’s a good thing I start writing Posts days before I publish them! Â The first eye-opener, found when reading the Post into Garageband, my audio capture software, were the grammatical and spelling errors I found. Â Yikes! It was a humbling experience because
I thought I’d caught those when writing and editing prior to reading –Â Not!
Finding, then correcting and re-writing parts of the Post makes me a Better Writer!
Recording, listening, then re-recording parts of the Post makes me a Better Speaker!
Listening to myself pointed out I sometimes don’t enunciate or pronounce words as clearly as they should be stated. Â Another ego deflater was hearing my voice trail off at the end of some sentences. Â Bummer! Â But, on the positive side, I am now aware of areas I need to improve and am working on them!
Listening to myself, then re-recording portions of the Post has is a great exercise for improving all the Elements of Verbal Communication:
- Enunciation and Pronunciation (As mentioned above.)
- Projection – I found myself sometimes speaking too loudly and distorting the audio. Â Controls in Garageband are helpful for adjusting volume, but it also made we aware that I need to keep this in mind when I speak “live.”
- Inflection – Changing the emphasis on individual words and giving some sentences more punch, helps better deliver the message I intend for the recipient to GET!
- Cadence – If I am too enthusiastic I sometimes talk too quickly. Â Hearing that leads to re-recording and s-l-o-w-i-n-g down my delivery. Â (Others might find they need to pick up the pace of their delivery. Â The pace of delivery should be varied.)
- Pause – I’ve always considered this one of the most important tools in a Speaker’s toolbox. Â Sometimes I hear the silence I should hear; sometimes not. Â If not, I re-record and place silence where it will produce the effect I want.
The result of Posting both the Audio and Written versions of Posts is Better Posts
and Improved Speaking – Â WOW!
The goal of all communications is to have the recipient(s), as quickly as possible, GET IT! This combo posting does that.
An added benefit is that we want our writings: books, articles and Post, to have a Voice. Posting in this manner literally does this, doesn’t it.
If you are a blogger, writer, or speaker, I highly recommend trying this. Â My experience tells me you’ll discover the same benefits I found for the Written/Audio Combo Post!
Taking this audio concept a step further, and again, following Russ Henneberry’s lead,
I now have a Podcast Channel on iTunes. Â This Post, and others are now available
there for FREE. Â Go HERE to Subscribe, please.
Thanks for visiting my Post!
For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to:Â https://nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!
About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book, “No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.
They also know:Â Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
He shows them how to Develop, Practice and Deliver Knock Your Socks Off Presentations! with –
No Sweat!
Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
Comments
Great post Fred! Thanks for mentioning me. Doing audio posts is also great because (if you set up Feedburner as a podcast) you can distribute your message to all the podcasting networks like iTunes and PodNova. Including a call to action at the end of the “podcast” will drive more traffic to your website!
Thanks Fred. I often understand a message better when I hear it AND read it.
Your down to earth style says it like it is, good speaking takes practice and feedback. Still, our time is valuable. It is most helpful to know what kinds of effort are most critical for success. It looks like getting feedback by speaking and listening to what we write is a critical key.
Would you agree?
Alice
Fred:
What a fantastic idea!
I was recording an audio yesterday and saw all my errors!
I will be implementing this immediately!
Author
Russ: I am merely following the TBMP formula.
I also have the offer you commented about in place.
Thank YOU for showing me the way a Tiny Might Business should Post!
Author
Alice:
Thanks for you comment.
Our writing has a voice and who best to “speak” that voice than the author!
Feed back is important when we spak and write. How else can we know if the audience GETS IT?
It’s easier when speaking to a love audience because we can constantly take their temperature by looking at facial expressions, gestures and body movement. We can also ask, “Does that make sense?”
Too often in writing there is no feedback. This is why I greatly appreciate your comments.
Thanks!
Author
Maureen:
I have found this formula of writing and recording to be extremely helpful to me and, hopefully, my readers.
Please let me know what feedback you get when trying this.
Thanks very much for visiting and taking time to comment.
Great idea, Fred. Some people prefer to listen rather than to read. And it’s just one more way for your audience to get to know you better. Well done! Thanks for sharing.
Author
Thanks, Sharon, for visiting and taking time to Post a Comment.
It has been extremely helpful for me as a writer and speaker.
Fascinating idea, Fred. Though I’ve considered doing some podcasting, it never occurred to me to podcast my own blog posts.
Many, many years ago, when I worked in newspapers, I often saw some of the veteran reporters standing at their desks, reading their copy out loud. They told me, if it’s difficult for you to read out loud, it will be difficult for your readers to read at all.
I’m sure we’ve all seen that in our own speeches as well. Some phrases or word combinations that sound great in our minds on paper, just don’t roll off the tongue with the same ease.
I think this may be just what I need; yet another interesting project to take my attention away from my paying work.
Author
Ruskyle:
I love your story about the reporters.
The analogy applies to speakers, also. That’s why practicing aloud vs. “in your mind’s eye” can make a huge difference in the quality of the presentation. It also usually leads to some re-writing the
presentation.
I’m curious, are you familiar with Mind Mapping? It is a non-linear, visual, brain-storming tool, literally, the “Swiss Army Knife for the Brain.” It’s fantastic for developing, practicing and delivering presentations.
More here if you have an interest: Master Mind Mapper
Thanks, again, for your comments!
I’m not sure how you are associating the two ideas, but when I first heard about mind mapping, my first reaction was, “Wait, doesn’t everyone already do that.”
I’ve always done it on paper, but I just start brainstorming and writing down everything that comes to mind, linking ideas with lines or circling associated groups of ideas, until I eventually start to see a structure emerge.
Author
You’re correct!
Mind Mapping is the way our minds work! It brings together the left, linear and right, creative sides of our brain.
You’re doing it on paper – good! Try the software and see the many advantages it offers:
Linking ability to documents, URLs, and other Mind Maps
Colors
Import graphics
Export capabilities
I mentioned it because it is such a great tool for writing and speaking. It’s also great for decision making, problem solving, strategic planning, and a host of other brain related activities.
Check out the video on the right side of the page for a quick overview.
fancy website https://myhitmp3.me/mp3/a+bit+of+fry+and+laurie+hugh+laurie