Marie Westerman, a REALTOR® member here from Georgia emailed me this morning and asked, "Brad how can I put a MP3 into a blog?" Knowing that there are probably other members wondering how to do this, here's a quick tutorial that will show you How To Add MP3 Files to a Blog Post.
VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Keep in mind that MP3 audio files should never be setup to "AutoPlay" on your Blog. Let your readers and listeners select if they want to hear it or not. If you set them up to "autoplay", you might scare the crap out of somebody when they load your post at 1:00am and their computer speakers are up full blast! lol~ This is the quickest way to get someone to close their browser on you!
Here's an MP3 player that is used for ODEO.com audio files and it works well here on AR. I used a funny example of an MP3 file just to make this Blog post a bit more fun and interesting. (It is NOT the actual AR Support Answering Machine)
Click the button on the player to listen.
This is the code you will need to place in the HTML tab when creating a new post. All you need to do is find the .MP3 file on the web that you want played, then replace the URL or web address you currently see in the HTML code highlighted below. Just erase the one that is there and replace it with the URL where YOUR MP3 file is located. For this type of MP3 embed, the file must be on the Internet housed on a server somewhere.
To use the embed code above, here's a site where you can copy the code to paste to your blog since the one above is only an image/screen shot and can't be copied and pasted. Click here to get the code.
Getting a bit more practical, here's an actual MP3 worth Listening to. It's a podcast MP3 by Marissa Mayar from Google talking about innovation at Google. This is the type of MP3 or Audio file that might bring more value to your readers listeners.
There are some other ways to embed sound files, MP3 files, podcasts etc. This should be a good start and easy way for anyone wanting to add "optional" audio to their Blogs and posts. Thanks for asking Marie, I hope this helped. Happy Blogging and Listening! :-)
If reading or listening just isn't your thing, here's a video that might help you more.
"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount RainCamp™ - "Because The Way We Do Business Online Has Changed!"
Hi Brad, This is a great tutorial. I do have a question. Suppose I want to embed an MP3 file that is a song that I purchased. If I put the file here in a blog post, would I be in violation of copyright rules for putting music files on line that others can have access to without paying for ? I ask that because AR is considered a commercial site and isn't that the rub?
Brad - Thanks for the excellent tutorial. I hadn't thought of using podcasts, which Todd suggested above, to promote myself but the idea of adding MP3s may be very useful.
William - you cannot use purchased mp3 songs unless you have permission of the author. Usually, the mp3 files used on blogs and posts are those that you have created. This can be music you've created, podcasts you've recorded, interviews or meetings, or mp3 files from sites that allow you to use their mp3's to link to. As long as they are in the mp3 format, not copyright protected, and are sitting on a server that you can access with a URL, you should be good to go.
I use mypodcast.com to create my own recordings. I also have an mp3 mini recorder I take on the road with me. Many of the sites like BlogTalkRadio also allow you to embed or use MP3 files as well. There is quite a selection of sites that allow you to record your own MP3's and host them on their site.
Always be sure you are not taking copyrighted content from the web in any format including pictures, text, and video too. :-)
Bryant - with all the cool technology out there, I'm sure there's a way. In order to do it this way, you have to upload that file to a site that will host your mp3, then you can use the URL. I'm not aware off the top of a way to take it and play it right from your computer. Let me go see if I can find you a couple sites that will host the file, or let you do it from your computer. brb....
http://box.net - but they don't have a unique URL address, box.net has it's own player.
You can Google search "Free MP3 Hosting Sites" for more. Each has some restrictions regarding file size and storage space, but they look like they might work for what you need.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for saying to never setup the auto-play. That drives me crazy! I actually unsubbed from someone because of it. OK. Yeah. I'm high strung. All the more reason for me to avoid things that annoy me >.< lol
Lisa - hahaha!! I don't care who you are, that's some funny stuff there! ROFL. You're not alone, the economy and market have left many in and out of the industry "high-strung!" I remember loading a page or Blog post once and I had my speakers full blast. When the audio auto-started, i jumped back 10 feet from the computer. :-O I had to close 6 tabs and 2 windows because I couldn't tell where in the heck it was coming from. Then I had to go change my under garments. :-)))
Initially I thought this of little interest since most people will only post their favorite song(s) - I could see the educational benefit if one can create short excerpts. Like short blogs that pack a punch. I can't see anybody listening at length. At least I'm to0 ADHD for that!
Ok Thank you so much Brad...After I Laughed my A** off I have bookmarked it so I can try tomorrow. Just for the record it is a great mp3 of our Mayor Deke Copenhaver sharing how great Augusta is doing. As always thank you again for your quick response.
Brad...as always, your timing and information are perfect! I just got home from doing my very first radio show and was mulling over all kinds of ideas. Of course, I'd like to be able to make the broadcasts available on my blog...and, now I can! Thanks for keeping all of us in the AR community so enlightened.
Don't lie, Brad. You know that's actually the real answering message at AR. Me pressed 3, myself pressed 4 and I pressed 5. But, nobody likes me so I need to go drown my sorrows in...wait, what was I talking about?
By the way, I agree with Lisa. Thank you for reminding people to keep on the optional play, not auto-play mode. There's nothing like having someone's voice yelling at you when you land a site because you forgot your speakers are on. Yikes! Besides the fact that, if you add more than one auto-play file, it will sound like you need to be pressing the 3, 4, 5 and 6 buttons!
Marie - I'm glad you got a laugh here, and just know that your question and email hopefully helped alot of members here too.
Now you can apply the same principle I did with a Blog post the next time you get an email from a consumer asking you questions about Real Estate or your community. It's also a good way to drive traffic to your Blog without the additional time and effort.
I truly believe that some of the greatest content our members could write about is sitting in the sent and received folders of their email. Thanks for asking such a great question and for letting me share it here on my Blog for others. You're awesome!!
Be sure to come back and share a link to your post using the MP3, I'd love to hear what your Mayor has to say about Augusta. :-)
Brad- First of all, I laughed and laughed with the first audio, that was really good! Second, podcasting has been on my to do list for 3 years now! LOL! Katerina
Brad - wow, another way to easily (I think) enhance our posts. Thanks for the tutorial. I am still planning to do some podcasts but they seem to get pushed to the bottom of the list...over and over.
Jason - I'm really surprised you haven't already? Missy - you know the number. lol Russ - you'll get to it ....eventually, I promise...at least I'm honest. :-))
"I could see the educational benefit if one can create short excerpts. Like short blogs that pack a punch." Steve, exactly!
Marie - all flattery is accepted on this Blog! ((((BIG SMILE)))) Thanks.
Naomi - there is an audience for it, the question is who? and what percentage or readers would rather listen? Michelle- looking forward to hearing some of them, hope you'll let us know when you post. Heather - OK, I lied, that's my shrinks answering machine!! :-O BTW - I just clicked play and woke the kids... DOH!
Roland - this should work the same on your profile as it does a post, or on the sidebar. On another note: Now that's how you drive traffic to your Blog. Planting little seeds about your jingle like that around the community, man...now that'll get some attention. Now I can't wait to hear your jingle. haha~ I Hope you'll remind me when you have it up??
Rebecca - only when YOU"RE ready, and when you are, you know I'll help ya with it if you need any. Ed - maybe I should call my Blog that... I kinda Like that alot actually!! Serious - "ActiveBrads Toy Shop in the Rain" hmmm...
Dale - just do like Roland does! lol~ All I know is that when someone has a Blog with something really good or really bad, the social media and networking world have a way of spreading the word and love along very quickly, and in some cases, help make things go "viral" and drive traffic. There's Text, Audio, Video, Braille, Telepathy etc. (haha) I think there's an audience for it all though. Some like to read the paper, some like to listen to the radio, and others watch the movie. I think variety can be a good thing if used correctly. Driving traffic and adding value always has been, and hopefully always will be about "content."
Sal - the "ol guys" legwork will one day run out and no doubt need braces... I'm sure. Better take advantage while you can! lol~ Thanks. :-)
Katerina - now you have me laughing and laughing, I remember you telling me that way back when. I better never call you and get that Voicemail message!! ROFL~
Christine - check around before you just jump into one. There are many I'm sure, and some are better than others. You want a stable, popular, highly referred and recommended hosting site. The ones I added above were just from a little Google search, I haven't really researched them that deeply. The other way to find more info and get feedback is to use Facebook and Twitter etc. to get the word out that your looking for some recommendations or referrals for some sites that are good for hosting. There's good stuff out there, and the Social Media platforms really work. You can find the best of anything on the web these days. :-)
Ok...that's it. I'm done for the night, gotta get up at 3:00am to catch my ride to Phoenix Arizona. Goodnight all...
Thanks Brad for answering Bryant's question above, and thank you Bryant for question #8 above as I had the exact same question - I have a microphone and a little software program I bought years ago which allows me to record anything and it creates an MP3 file on my hard drive.
William question (#1) and your response are particularly useful to keep me out of hot water! Will have to put on my thinking cap about how to best use this tip.
Thanks Brad, another technology to learn and get into. It was not on my plate but it really looks "cool". Not too sure how to integrate it with everything else...
Cool stuff Brad. I'm also testing out a comment to see if this new option in the Settings for "Signature" pastes a signature in our comments or if it's utilized somewhere else. :)
Chanda panda
OK, it appears the signature option is not for comments....Hmm...I need to figure this out...
Hey Brad, I wish I'd read your article one day earlier! I just paid for a software package to do what Screenr does for free! I love free! The software was cheap enough and has some plus features so I don't really mind but it's a great tool to recommend. I try to recommend free products to my clients whenever possible. This one's great!
Chanda - your signature can be modified on your "settings" page but will only show up on the footer of each of your Blog posts, not in the comments section. Jeremy Blanton did a great post discussing the new signature feature.
Dave - Screenr is a new site and tool, only a couple weeks old. It's the best screen capture video tutorial screencasting app I have seen and used in a long time. I'll do a post about it in the near future. I can see where it could come in very handy for a multitude of reasons for our members here and other Industry Professionals.
Wish I could stay and play, but the email and tickets have backed up... gotta run for now, be back later. :-)
Rick - very cool, this should work perfect for you. Here's one of the gadgets I use to create mp3's. It fits in your top pocket, records up to 80 hours on 2 double AA's, and has a USB pop-out to copy files (MP3s) to your computer, and it only costs abot 69.00. I love it.
Brad - Just another post that I can learn some new technological trick from. I can't wait, but need to get through the other 100 posts I have bookmarked of yours.
Thanks Brad, I'll take a look at Jeremy's blog! Now that's pretty awesome. It'll help me keep my posts consistent. I seem to forget to put my info at the bottom of each post so this feature will be very helpful. :) Thanks!
A great audio editor that is Free and easy to use is "Audacity". It's easy to do some stuff but it so versitile that I haven't any limits yet. I've used to convert tapes over to mp3 and it will let you create breaks & even edit out the sounds that tapes make.
@TLW - you have great taste in music dear, but you're lacking in the desire to keep up with your meds. ROFLMAO!! At least all your audio files aren't slowing down my post like some of those videos do. So when are you doing the tutorial on how to add MP3 files to comments????? :-))
@Ginger - thanks, I'm glad you like these.
@Shawn - Audacity is another great site and tool. Thanks for sharing that. :-)
Wow was that the voice of Brad AKA Mr. Encyclopedia of AR? Fabulous! I loved the answering machine, it was great. Will bookmark so I keep it. Thanks for the fun tutorial.
I was going to wait until Tuesday to put my post up. I changed my mind because I certainly can't go around dropping music all over The Members blogs without showing them how to do it :)
I'm having a blast with my music :)
Thank you so much for all the things you've taught me. If it weren't for you I'd still be just another blonde who knows nothing about HTML code :)
Brad, Ok, I admit it I wasn't EVEN thinking about this. It opened my creative eyes a bit more and true to form you included the etiquette to go with the "how to". Thanks
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
button on the player to listen.
Posted by 
;)
;)
Hi Brad, This is a great tutorial. I do have a question. Suppose I want to embed an MP3 file that is a song that I purchased. If I put the file here in a blog post, would I be in violation of copyright rules for putting music files on line that others can have access to without paying for ? I ask that because AR is considered a commercial site and isn't that the rub?