Use video or audio on your profile to tell your story and convince & convert
I am lazy and prone to distraction. My eyes get tired looking at computer screens, and my attention span is shorter than a goldfish.
I'll give your profile only lazy, partial attention - a text message may distract me, or twitter might pop up with something, my phone rings, my microwave will ping... it's easy to get distracted.
So why not tell me a little story - literally?
Some people do not “get it” when they read something - they need to hear a voice or see your face to understand how you can help them.
And humans connect at a primal level with the sound of another human voice and an animated face in front of them. That's why they like using the phone, Zoom, or Google Meet.
So if you don't ever speak to them… they won't ever really know about you.
Setting up a Soundcloud account is a two minute task. Adding the app to your phone is simple — then you can quickly record your messages to share on your profile.
You may need to edit any recording, and for PC or Mac owners, an excellent free resource for recording and editing your sound files is Audacity - or with a Mac, you can also use Garageband. On my iPhone, I use AudioCopy, which is simple, flexible and free, and uploads files straight to SoundCloud.
To embed the media into your profile, add the SoundCloud URL. Simply copy the URL of your media, and then make it a link. Done.
Polywork will read the metadata from the first URL you add in any update, and in Soundcloud's case, it shows a player widget.
SoundCloud player is embedded automatically
Visitors to your profile can then just click on sound tracks selected from your Soundcloud profile or playlist. They can listen to your recordings without clicking away from Polywork. And they can listen while they are looking at the rest of your accomplishments and updates. Nice.
You can use video in the same way: Upload it in the same way with a link to the YouTube, Vimeo or other URL.
Video is only growing in importance across all social media, so it's my view you should have something in place, even if it's only brief. 'Hello' this is me, this is what I do, contact me'.
People buy people, and video is the perfect way to introduce yourself.
I still think amateur video is bad for your image.
If you're going to use video, get the lighting, background, sound quality captioning and editing done to the highest standard - otherwise you will just let yourself down.
I'm never convinced by someone telling me how to make a six figure income when they are sitting parked up in their Toyota. Don't do this. There's always room for casual spontaneity and a shot-from-the-hip look, but if the topic requires some gravitas, think twice.
Best of all, get a professional videographer to work with you to create a truly accomplished video, in an appropriate setting, lit well, with quality sound and professionally produced captions.
Talking with Andrew Lopez on the power of the Headline
