By Glenda Bixler

Recently I was asked to review a site that both writers and readers will not want to miss! As I am prone to do when a site sounds interesting, I promptly went to visit! Immediately my eyes were assaulted with some really fantastic artwork-much better than older graphic novels! After clicking for various books, I realized that the graphics are obviously created to support the particular book being considered. So, not only do you get a beautiful "front cover" but, when you purchase a book, you will find complementary art spotted throughout!

Spying the word murder, I chose to click on my favorite mystery genre and brought up the book, The Venus de Milo Murders by Dennis Manuel. After subscribing, I opened up the book-a perfect blend of options were available. I chose to have text as well as audio; so after a gory, funky graphic or two, a deep-voice narrator started reading! Dialogue was "played" by other characters. My very first flash was of the Dragnet show, where Jack Webb acts as the narrator overlaying the storyline. Anyway, you get the idea, I am sure!

As I listened to this invisible voice, my mind wandered back to hearing "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" Even many years later, I can remember that "voice," though I can't remember whether it was from radio or early television. With a smile on my face, I decided to do a little online reading about The Shadow, who became a "character" in 1937 due to his popularity. But did you know that "The Shadow" was initially hired in July, 1930, as a "mysterious narrator of mystery tales taken from the pages of Strut and Smith's Detective Story Magazine-he was hired to read a mystery story over the radio!

This was exactly what I was now doing, except nearly 80 years had passed and I was on a personal computer, listening online on the Internet, watching corresponding graphics and reading the text as well! How cool is that!

The subscriber can get the entire story for free, with each episode being provided every day (16 hours between episodes). Just to take that a little further, NewFiction provides a chance to "experience" the first five chapters of a book. Then you can also decide to purchase a pdf file with graphics, or a version for use on your iPod or cell phone. The stories can even come to you in installments via email! The paid version, of course, allows readers to listen at their own pace.

I must say-I was impressed! And excited! Because as I further explored the site, I realized that the creators are also using new authors and giving those writers a chance to have their books enhanced and shared around the world. Readers can check out and own "much more than an e-book" for just $5! Note that author testimonials are included-it was heartwarming to read of the writer-publisher relationship being established by New Fiction!

Many of you will remember that manufacturers of soap products funded many early programs. Thus the "soap" opera analogy evolved. While lending a nostalgia touch of old radio shows during radio's Golden Age when The Lone Ranger, Boston Blackie, Amos and Andy, or "Calling All Cars" found many running to the radio to hear the next installment of a wonderful drama or comedy, NewFiction gives us "the flavor" and thrill of those days, but has fully taken advantage of the technological advantages that makes their fiction NEW in every sense of the word! Bravo!

By Sean R Mize

If you think that your customer base are stating to get bored with written information base products (ebooks, newsletters, ecourses, etc.) it's about time that you offer them something new that they will find interesting and much more convenient. Instead of putting your thoughts and ideas into writing, you can just record them and create CD series or MP3s.

Here are the latest 5 amazing steps to accelerate your audio product creation:

1. Be prepared. You need to make your audio content sound highly organized to give your clients great reading experience. So, don't just think of a topic, grab your microphone, and hope that you can swing it. Instead, create a script that contains all the information that you need to discuss and practice your piece at least a couple of times. This will help you sound more confident and will help you to eliminate or minimize long pauses.

2. Bank on the quality of your content. Just like any information base product, the quality of your audio content is still the most important element to consider. Make sure that you offer your clients with quality and relevant information that they will find useful in their lives. These could be step-by-step guides that can empower them to do things on their own, answers to their burning questions, solutions to their pressing issues, or information about issues that have direct impact on your chosen niche.

3. Minimize background noises. If you don't want your audio products to sound amateurish, you need to find ways on how you can minimize or even eliminate annoying background noises (cars passing by, crying babies, loud TV, phone ringing, etc.). You can easily do this by renting a professional recording studio or by having your room or basement soundproofed.

4. Observe appropriate pacing. Remember, this is not a marathon. Your main goal is to make your clients understand the message you are trying to get across, so you better slow down. Also, it would help if you can pay close attention to your pronunciation, diction, volume, and pitch. You may not need to sound like a professional broadcaster but you may want to modulate your voice.

5. Insert some adlibs. Don't sound very scripted as this can easily bore your readers. Insert adlibs whenever appropriate. Just make sure that the information you add are highly relevant to your main topic to avoid misleading your clients.

By Sean R Mize

I simply love creating audio products. Aside from the fact that they are hassle-free to create, they also don't require me to pound on my key boards for hours to put my thoughts into writing which can take so much of my time. All I need to do is pick a topic that I know my customer base will love and create an outline. I can then start my recording and finish in 30-45 minutes. It's that easy!

If you want to create your very own audio products and if you want them to sell like hotcakes online, you better keep these 4 maximum methods in mind. They will help you amplify your audio product creation so you can easily generate attention and subsequently, sales over the World Wide Web:

1. Choose a profitable topic. Talk about topics that people online will get interested in. Right now, the topics that are in-demand are making money online, health, beauty, how-to guides, etc. If you are an expert on any of these fields, you can create audio products about them. These can guarantee you with great sales potential as the demand for these topics are increasing by the minute.

2. Relax and slow down. Observe appropriate pacing so you will not lose your listeners. Take time in pronouncing each word and use voice inflections if you want to emphasize your points. If you can't seem to monitor your pacing, I suggest that you get someone who can be there for you during your recording. This person may signal you every time you speak faster than recommended.

3. Don't sound too scripted. Don't just get an ebook and read it word for word. Add some human touch by inserting adlibs every once in a while. It would help if instead of an ebook, you use an outline that contains a bullet list of everything that you have to say. Then, be ready to think on your feet. This can make your recording sound more spontaneous and more natural.

4. Reduce background noise. If you don't have the means to soundproof your room or your basement, you need to learn how to minimize or eliminate background noises while doing your recording. You can do this by making sure that you switch off all your home appliances and you stay away from the streets where cars are passing by.

Audio product creation is slowly becoming one of the most competitive fields in the internet today. A lot of online entrepreneurs are launching their own audio products to expand their product line and augment their sales and revenue in the process. If you are one of them, you need to think of various ways that can make your creations stand out from the rest. These 4 popular methods can help you do just that:

1. Prepare your cheat sheets. You can't just get your microphone, start talking, and hope that you can swing it. If you want your audio products to sound highly organized and well-guided, you need to have at least an outline. It must contain all the information that you would like to include in your recording arranged in a logical manner.

2. When doing your recording, it is very important that you sound friendly and spontaneous so you can easily build rapport with your listeners. You must also strive to sound confident and highly intelligent but very down to earth. Don't forget to pay attention to your diction, pronunciation, enunciation, and pacing. It would help if you can ask somebody to be there for you when you are doing your recoding who can signal you if you are talking too fast or if you are talking way too slow.

3. Minimize background noises. You would want to make your audio products sound not only crisp and clear but also professional, right? Then, you need to know the ways on how you can minimize or totally eliminate annoying background noises especially if you are recording in your home. First, you need to switch off your appliances and ask the people in your household to cooperate. You must also record somewhere that is far from the streets so you will not catch the sounds of cars passing by.

4. Offer only original content. People will not be willing to spend their hard-earned money on something that they can find elsewhere for free. If you offer them duplicate content, these people are most likely to get disappointed with your offering and you can be assured that they will get the word out in the World Wide Web. This can potentially tarnish your online credibility and professionalism. To avoid this from happening, make sure that you always offer your clients with fresh and unique content.

By Sean R Mize

If you want to excel at creating audio products, you will need more than modulated voice and cheat sheets. To make sure that your creations will be more impacting and will sound clear and crisp, take these 6 ways before you start doing your recording:

1. Get yourself a good, reliable microphone. The quality of your recording largely depends on your microphone so it is a must that you get the best in the market today. Yes, you may spend a couple of more bucks but I can guarantee you that it will worth it. You may solicit recommendations from other online entrepreneurs who are already creating audio products or you can visit several websites that offer product reviews and comparison so you can be assured that you'll get your money's worth.

2. Get rid of annoying background noises. You don't want to catch cars passing by or crying babies on your recording right? To eliminate unnecessary noises, I suggest that you invest on making your room or your basement sound-proofed. You may also opt to rent a professional recording studio every time you need to record.

3. Add some human touch. Don't sound like a robot or a stiff college professor. Remember, you would want to build rapport and connection with your listeners so you can easily put them at ease. Talk naturally. Speak as if you are talking to a dear friend who's needing your advice. Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through, strive to sound warm and friendly, and empathize whenever appropriate.

4. Make it content-rich. Online users will listen to your products for one good reason: to be informed. So make sure that your audio products can offer them what they want. Give them the type of information they need and don't forget to share a slice of your expertise.

5. Keep it short. You don't want to bore your clients with one-hour recording. If you can make your audio products run 30 minutes or less, the better. Just get straight to the point, avoid using fillers, and edit your products for long pauses.

6. Solicit feedback and recommendations. Before you make your products available online, make sure that they are flawless and impacting. You may ask some of your friends or other experts on your chosen niche to listen to your products. Jot down what they have to say about your creation and use their feedback as basis in improving your products.

By Peter Gitundu

Kenwood car audio amplifiers have been serving people for a long time and they have become a favorite to many cars. They come in very high quality and they are therefore long lasting. If you go through the product gallery of Kenwood amplifiers, you will discover that there are many kinds and the only way to know them is to have an in depth look at their features and specifications. You can find detailed information about the Kenwood car audio amplifiers on major web sites and the dealers that are authorized to sell the brand will have all the information you need about the amplifiers. One particular Kenwood amplifier caught my eye. It is the Kenwood Excelon KAC x542 amplifier which comes with very interesting features.

With its black finish, you can get to view many of its features which are clearly visible. It has a digital display with control buttons with an intake fan on top. It also has a black anodized cover with a brushed finish over the control section. It has been known to resemble an automotive engine. The digital display just shows the voltage, temperature and fan or current status. The amplifier is really one of a kind and it is worth looking at, to get that close feel and see whether it will serve you in the way you want it to. The Kenwood car audio amplifier is a bit tricky to install and you will find an eight page manual that will direct you on the intricate process of installation. The manual is also available in French and Spanish.

If you are the kind of person who appreciates pictures, they are in plenty and come with a brief description which you will have an easy time following through what should be done. The tools you need will also be described clearly and Kenwood products come with a one year warranty. If you need to know about performance, their detailed information clearly shows how the amplifier handles power. The conclusion on this Kenwood amplifier is that the company has outdone itself and competitors should be on the look out because the competition is stiff. A good way to ensure that you know the Kenwood amplifiers well is to look for reviews on the amplifiers. User reviews will always show you the good and the bad side of the product. Judge the bottom line and make a decision.

Most online stores will always handle a customer in the most professional way and when you are getting the products, visit those stores that you feel comfortable and confident dealing with. The staff should be welcoming and they should have the ability to demystify the product in the right way. Look for stores that are cheap and affordable. Discounts play a major role saving your money. When you realize there is a certain offer or discount in a particular store, find out whether they are selling the original product from Kenwood car audio. Finally have all the installation details you need and if you install an amplifier unsuccessfully, go over the manuals again or get expert help. You will be glad to have exceptional Kenwood car audio amplifiers in your car with very good quality sound and music.

By Sean R Mize

Are you considering creating information base audio products but simply don't know how? In this article, I wish to share with you the 4 challenging secrets that can help you jumpstart your audio product creation and these are the following:

1. The first thing that you need to seriously consider is the location where you will do your recording. If you have the budget, you can rent a recording studio that will cost around $50-$100 per hour. However, if you intend to do this full time, you will save a lot of money by creating your very own studio. You can do your recording in your room or at your basement. You just need to invest some money to make it soundproofed so annoying background noises like barking dogs, cars passing by, loud TV, etc. will not be included in your product.

2. Recording tools and equipments. You need to buy a computer with sound card, headset microphone, mixing board, and a couple of black CDs. To make sure that your audio product will sound nice and crisp, be willing to invest more so you'll get the best tools and equipments in the market today.

3. Don't bother hiring voice talents as you can use your own voice. All you need to do is to constantly practice reading your cheat sheets using your headset microphone. Be familiar with the appropriate tone, timbre, and pitch that will compliment the topic that you are discussing. You must also be very particular with your pronunciation to avoid confusing your listeners. It would also help if you can talk in a conversational tone to make your product sound more interesting and engaging.

4. Prepare your cheat sheets. If you are just starting out, I recommend that you write everything that you have to say in a piece of paper. This will tremendously help you not to forget any information that you need to include in your audio product. When you get the hang of it, you can just create bullet points of major topics that you would like to discuss and just be ready to think on your feet.

By Kimmo Linkama

Distinctive product design, colours and logos have been used to help brand recognition for a long time. Now some companies are trying to appeal to our hearing as a stimulator and brand identifier. How are they succeeding?

Audiovisual media, particularly films and TV series, are an enormously important vehicle for manufacturers to gain widespread brand recognition.

Visual branding predominates

Visible brand cues abound. We all know how car makers are competing to place their products in films, how film heroes glance at their watches with the manufacturer's logo clearly visible, how drinks are served from bottles with the labels in plain sight.

Yet, some studies suggest that sound is between 75 and 90% more important than pictures or words. Because sound links directly to both the rational and emotional sides of our brain, many high-visibility brands have tried to capitalise on this finding. So far, their success has been varying.

Audio branding must combine technology and marketing

Product-related sound effects, jingles and audio signatures have been around for a while, but being an attempt to artificially connect a certain sound with the brand, they do not represent a genuine brand sound. That is why I'm leaving them outside of the scope of this article.

What I'm talking about is sound that comes from the product itself or its use.

While the sound of opening a beer can, for example, is a definite audio cue, it is only generic. The sound doesn't evoke a mental image of a certain beer, it's just beer. Or it could be a soft drink, the listener cannot hear the difference. Similarly, the snap of the safety lid of a soup jar, while distinctly related to a certain product group, cannot be associated with any particular brand of soup.

Mobile phone manufacturers have tried to establish an audio presence in our minds by installing clearly recognisable, unique ringtones as default in their handsets. Yet these can be changed by the users, and many do so, after which the uniqueness is gone.

Harley-Davidson has calibrated its engine tone to become a trademark. They litigated for seven years to copyright the sound - although with no success in the end. Ford is busy developing hallmark sounds: a distinctive thud of a car door when being closed, unique warning chimes and even digitising the sound of a '68 Mustang and using it to tune the new Mustang's exhaust system to produce exactly the same sound as in the film Bullitt.

Steps in the right direction

These are clearly steps in the right direction, although I must say I'm a little sceptical about the man-in-the-street being able to distinguish the sound of a Mustang passing by from any other vehicle with a similar type of engine. Associating the thud of a closing car door with a certain make of car is even more difficult.

There are, however, some brands that are closer to the goal than others. Take Subaru cars, for example. The boxer engine used on them has a distinct sound that doesn't require a trained ear to be distinguished from inline or V engines. Then again, all boxer engines probably sound pretty much the same.

Having done a quick mental "brand sound search" in my brain, the product that comes closest to really owning a particular sound is the flip-top Zippo lighter. Intentionally or purely by chance, its mechanism makes an unmistakable sound. When you are watching a Hollywood film the next time, pay attention. What is particularly ingenious about this is that the product does not even have to be in sight.

What other brands can you think of that possess a unique sound - one that can't be confused with any other product?