I'm an idiot! I can't write! (Are you too dumb to talk?)

22 replies
Did the headline grab you? No offense meant to anyone. ;-)

Let me ask a simple question...

Can you TALK?

Seriously. Can you speak?

Also, do you have a computer? (Yes, I'm serious.)

OK, so if you can talk and you can speak, you can write.
Don't believe me? It's simple. There are two answers to
this puzzle:

1. Speech to text (e.g., Dragon Naturally Speak, MacSpeech Dictate)
2. Transcription services

I don't ever accept the, "I can't write!" excuse from
anyone. It doesn't wash. It's an excuse not to get
off your butt and do work.

If you can talk, you can write. It's THAT simple.

But wait, there's a MONSTER BONUS here...

If you use a transcription service then you actually can
create two products at once. You can have a sizzlin'
hot MP3 but also a report or ebook. Customers love to
have both formats because it offers something very
powerful: choice.

Listen? Check.
Read? Check.

You've got them both covered.

Hold on, there is even more here...

You don't need fancy software to make this happen.
It's paint-by-numbers simple.

1. Get Audacity so you can record your speaking (free)
(Note:You'll need LAME for conversion, also free)

2. Upload MP3 to your server (you can do that right?)

3. Send URL to the MP3 to the transcription service

4. Wait for the transcription

5. Take text, format it a little using OpenOffice (free)

6. Convert to PDF; links *will* be clickable

If this isn't simple enough, I guess you'll have to
pack your bags and go home. This formula for info
product creation is deadly simple.

I'd like to talk about promotion here too, but I can't.
This'll turn into an infomercial.

~ John
#audacity #dumb #idiot #openoffice #pdf #rhodes brothers #speech to text #talk #write
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Brock
    Originally Posted by John S. Rhodes View Post

    Did the headline grab you? No offense meant to anyone. ;-)

    Let me ask a simple question...

    Can you TALK?

    Seriously. Can you speak?

    Also, do you have a computer? (Yes, I'm serious.)

    OK, so if you can talk and you can speak, you can write.
    Don't believe me? It's simple. There are two answers to
    this puzzle:

    1. Speech to text (e.g., Dragon Naturally Speak, MacSpeech Dictate)
    2. Transcription services

    I don't ever accept the, "I can't write!" excuse from
    anyone. It doesn't wash. It's an excuse not to get
    off your butt and do work.

    If you can talk, you can write. It's THAT simple.

    But wait, there's a MONSTER BONUS here...

    If you use a transcription service then you actually can
    create two products at once. You can have a sizzlin'
    hot MP3 but also a report or ebook. Customers love to
    have both formats because it offers something very
    powerful: choice.

    Listen? Check.
    Read? Check.

    You've got them both covered.

    Hold on, there is even more here...

    You don't need fancy software to make this happen.
    It's paint-by-numbers simple.

    1. Get Audacity so you can record your speaking (free)
    (Note:You'll need LAME for conversion, also free)

    2. Upload MP3 to your server (you can do that right?)

    3. Send URL to the MP3 to the transcription service

    4. Wait for the transcription

    5. Take text, format it a little using OpenOffice (free)

    6. Convert to PDF; links *will* be clickable

    If this isn't simple enough, I guess you'll have to
    pack your bags and go home. This formula for info
    product creation is deadly simple.

    I'd like to talk about promotion here too, but I can't.
    This'll turn into an infomercial.

    ~ John
    True. Very good advice here but I don't think it's people's inability to write that stops them...

    It's their inability to write compelling articles/sales pages/headlines (like your title).

    I assume that the writing part is something anyone can do (like you said) but to actually make people take action from having read what is written is something altogether different.

    Solid advice though!

    Thanks,

    Mark
    Signature

    AWOL

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293228].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
      Originally Posted by Mark Brock View Post

      It's their inability to write compelling articles/sales pages/headlines (like your title).
      Thanks for the compliment...

      Pulling people in is important for sure. However, if you
      need some articles for article marketing, this method
      is going to work for you too. It's fast-n-easy, low cost
      (dare I say "cheap"?) content anyone can generate.

      ~ John
      Signature

      Important message from John S. Rhodes:
      I think you're awesome.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293326].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Mark Brock
        Originally Posted by John S. Rhodes View Post

        Thanks for the compliment...

        Pulling people in is important for sure. However, if you
        need some articles for article marketing, this method
        is going to work for you too. It's fast-n-easy, low cost
        (dare I say "cheap"?) content anyone can generate.

        ~ John
        No problem John. That compliment was intended!
        Signature

        AWOL

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293334].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Shannon Herod
    Hey John,

    I was actually one of those people that never did anything because I could not write. So, I finally went out and got Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Once I did this by production has almost tripled.

    My income has skyrocketed. I no longer sit and look at the computer. I actually get work done.

    Unfortunately, sometimes I have a few mistakes in my writing, but oh well.

    For instance, I totally dictated this entire post in about 25 seconds using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

    So, if there are any mistakes please excuse me.

    I unfortunately do not have time to go through and check this post. I need to go out and finish writing my articles for the day.

    Regards,

    Shannon Herod
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293355].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Hi John,

    I'm not so sure.

    I've like, you know, heard some $%&# people, like, say words, and not know if, for the simple fact that, if they, you know, really can talk more better to make even enough sense, like for a taxidermist to write it down whatever they say - you know?

    However, your point is a good one. I tend to write like I talk, and vice-versa.

    For those who have a poor grasp of grammar, they may be well served to get a transcriptionist who can also edit/proofread while transcribing.

    All the best,
    Michael
    Signature

    "Ich bin en fuego!"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293362].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      For those who have a poor grasp of grammar, they may be well served to get a transcriptionist who can also edit/proofread while transcribing.
      Agreed!

      Transcriptionist for people with terrible speaking skills.

      Dragon or MacSpeech Dictate for people with good speaking skills.

      I use both depending on what I'm trying to get done...

      ~ John
      Signature

      Important message from John S. Rhodes:
      I think you're awesome.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293402].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
        Originally Posted by John S. Rhodes View Post

        Agreed!

        Transcriptionist for people with terrible speaking skills.

        Dragon or MacSpeech Dictate for people with good speaking skills.

        I use both depending on what I'm trying to get done...

        ~ John
        Hi John,

        Well said!

        I was just having a bit of fun with the 'like, you know' stuff.

        It really is a great tip. In IM you are not out to impresspeople with large words and show off your vocabulary, you are trying to talk to them with your words. That doesn't mean you can't go back and refine some of those words for clarity, but you shouldn't use poor writing skills as an excuse either.

        All the best,
        Michael
        Signature

        "Ich bin en fuego!"
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293417].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ken Preuss
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Hi John,

      I'm not so sure.

      I've like, you know, heard some $%&# people, like, say words, and not know if, for the simple fact that, if they, you know, really can talk more better to make even enough sense, like for a taxidermist to write it down whatever they say - you know?
      Michael,

      So true....and thanks for a great laugh!

      Ken
      Signature

      Coming soon for all you IM junkies... The Internet Daily Show

      A Secret to Success: Making serious money online or offline is not complex unto itself - we're the ones who complicate it. Simply sell them what they are already buying.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293641].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tommygadget
    Sorry John, most people can speak, but as you and I know, we really don't want to hear what they have to say Dragon Naturally Speaking can't fix that!

    TomG.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293408].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
      Originally Posted by tommygadget View Post

      Sorry John, most people can speak, but as you and I know, we really don't want to hear what they have to say Dragon Naturally Speaking can't fix that!
      True!

      I was just having a bit of fun with the 'like, you know' stuff.

      It really is a great tip. In IM you are not out to impresspeople with large words and show off your vocabulary, you are trying to talk to them with your words. That doesn't mean you can't go back and refine some of those words for clarity, but you shouldn't use poor writing skills as an excuse either.
      Also true!

      However, a good transcriptionist can help with those issues.

      ~ John
      Signature

      Important message from John S. Rhodes:
      I think you're awesome.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293624].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Magy
    You can speak, you can write, maybe. But some peoples have a lot of mistakes when they write. And others cant write because they are not native (like me for english articles)
    Signature
    Less Questions, More Action!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293409].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Asher
    Hi John,

    I disagree a little though. There are some people who
    can speak but they can't write it.

    I say that it's because in a multi-cultural place like
    Singapore where English is used a lot... I still come
    by a lot of people who can't write if their life depended
    on it.

    But they can still speak fluent English (or at least,
    understandably).

    In fact, a lot of Singaporeans who are well-to-do
    IMers outsource literally all of their english work
    because they're simply bad at it.

    Knowing how to speak a language doesn't necessarily
    translate to knowing how to write the language.

    My $0.02

    Asher
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293739].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
      Originally Posted by Asher View Post

      Knowing how to speak a language doesn't necessarily
      translate to knowing how to write the language.
      And just having a pepper crab recipe doesn't mean
      you can make *real* Singapore pepper crab! ;-)

      ~ John
      Signature

      Important message from John S. Rhodes:
      I think you're awesome.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293756].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Asher
        Originally Posted by John S. Rhodes View Post

        And just having a pepper crab recipe doesn't mean
        you can make *real* Singapore pepper crab! ;-)

        ~ John
        Okay, that messed up my noogins a little...
        (by noogins I mean brains) But yeah, that's
        true.

        You sound like you've had some of it before

        Anyone who like spicy stuff should try some
        of that when you're in Singapore.

        Asher
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293795].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
          Originally Posted by Asher View Post

          Okay, that messed up my noogins a little...
          (by noogins I mean brains) But yeah, that's
          true.

          You sound like you've had some of it before
          Yes, I have had the spicy crab. Delicious!

          What I wanted, but didn't get, was the barbecued stingray. :-)

          ~ John
          Signature

          Important message from John S. Rhodes:
          I think you're awesome.

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293856].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    John, is that how you do all those great videos?

    If you've never heard John speak, he has one of the most professional
    sounding speaking voices I have heard online. He could easily do voice over
    work if he wanted to.

    Great post John, but I can still type faster than DNS can get my Judy
    Garland voice down right.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293762].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      John, is that how you do all those great videos?

      If you've never heard John speak, he has one of the most professional
      sounding speaking voices I have heard online. He could easily do voice over
      work if he wanted to.

      Great post John, but I can still type faster than DNS can get my Judy
      Garland voice down right.
      Hmm...

      Perhaps I should offer up a WSO for my voice talent. Any takers? ;-)

      ~ John

      p.s. You deliver great content, Steven. Who cars about the voice!
      Signature

      Important message from John S. Rhodes:
      I think you're awesome.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293776].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[294142].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Shannon Herod
      Originally Posted by Louis Raven View Post

      I'm a fast speaker can Dragon-N keep up or is it "laggy"?

      I can just imagine it trying to keep up and missing half sentences lol.

      Louis

      Actually, I find that the faster you speak the better it dictates.

      I concluded the reason that is true is when you speak fast the software has more words to compare to make sure the words it is typing are in the right context.

      I hope that made sense?

      I find that the slower and choppier I speak, the worse the dictation becomes.

      Shannon
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[295325].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Melody
    John - Sent you a PM - hope to hear from you soon!
    Signature
    Our first "Digital Yard Sale"! A massive PLR Blowout Sale to help a friend pay medical expenses.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[294158].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John S. Rhodes
      Originally Posted by Melody View Post

      John - Sent you a PM - hope to hear from you soon!
      My brother and I have literally tried to email you 10 times.
      Nothing works. I am using BOTH emails you provided. I'm
      also trying to PM you here on the WF and I cannot. I get a
      "Page Not Found" when I try to send it -- this isn't happening
      with any other customers and I'm dumbfounded. I have even
      tried emailing from a 3rd account, to both email addresses
      that you've given me. Nothing is working and I do not know
      why. I hope you see this note.

      ~ John
      Signature

      Important message from John S. Rhodes:
      I think you're awesome.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[294606].message }}

Trending Topics