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Does Speed of Talking Affect Audio/Video Conversions?

by Marvin Johnston
9 replies
I've noticed a fairly wide variation in the speed that people are talking on their video sales letters.

My preference is someone talking a bit faster. And a friend of mine who is blind turns the speed up when listening to tapes.

Has anyone done any testing on their audios/videos of talking speed vs results/conversions? And does a faster or slower talking speed result in less people leaving before the presentation is over?

And does it make a difference if the topic is a sales letter or teaching?

Thoughts?

Marvin
#affect #audio or video #conversions #speed #talking
  • Profile picture of the author MacMiller
    I find it annoying when the speed of the audio is slow when there is the exact text that you can read as an image.

    But if it is a screencast with instructions the audio should be slow enough for the people to understand what is being said!
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  • Profile picture of the author Brendan Vraibel
    Not something that I've tested but as a consumer I don't really mind how slow or fast unless it is excessive. I love Russell Brunson's stuff but he talks so damn fast that I often have to rewind the videos to realize exactly what he's saying.

    If it is a text slideshow with a voice over or something like that, I find it extremely annoying if it's too slow. I'll usually just exit out of the video if I find myself wasting time waiting for the video to move onto the next slide.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
      Originally Posted by Brendan Vraibel View Post

      Not something that I've tested but as a consumer I don't really mind how slow or fast unless it is excessive. I love Russell Brunson's stuff but he talks so damn fast that I often have to rewind the videos to realize exactly what he's saying.
      Russell was one of the people I was thinking about as well LOL. But the person I was thinking about that started my thought process was Jeff Johnson. Both are highly successful and avid testers, so I suspect they have done some testing.

      And I like their fast talking ways as they convey a lot of information in a short time. I just have to pay close attention to what they are saying .

      Marvin
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      • Profile picture of the author LunarSky
        i've seen that it does or can make a huge difference at extremes, it can make a big difference beyond moderate zones, it also depends on the topic, but generally, you need to get a good middle ground on the spead,

        keep your voice entertaining, keep it at about 3 minutes for a tutorial, and under 1 minute 30 seconds for squeeze page video,

        you will see a change in conversion rate just because of the length, even in offer packs, black screen with voice over is not as effective as video of the basic overview of subject matter, give them value no matter what you do,

        you wont be able to keep good buyers if you dont, but there you go, that's a good platform to jump off of just employ these techniques and you will see results
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      • Profile picture of the author Brendan Vraibel
        Originally Posted by Marvin Johnston View Post

        Russell was one of the people I was thinking about as well LOL. But the person I was thinking about that started my thought process was Jeff Johnson. Both are highly successful and avid testers, so I suspect they have done some testing.

        And I like their fast talking ways as they convey a lot of information in a short time. I just have to pay close attention to what they are saying .

        Marvin
        Very true that they test a lot but I've also heard Russell, on many occasions, say that he talks far too fast and it's something that he works on. Although I've watched his live speaking presentations and they're incredible so I'm not really sure how he can't transition that to his own videos.

        I constantly tune in nonetheless so I guess I don't really mind it all that much.
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        • Profile picture of the author MatthewNeer
          This is a very interesting question, and is something that I have been wondering about myself. I kinda tend to talk a bit speedy in some of my videos, but never really had any complaints about that on YouTube or sales videos or anything...

          I would be interested in testing this and see how it pans out.

          I personally dont think it would have THAT much of an effect on your conversions unless is was REALLY slow or REALLY fast, like an extreme either way.

          However, the numbers dont lie and split testing would be required to know a definite answer.

          With that said, I believe the BIGGEST factor is in your personality on camera. How do you come across when you are speaking. Do you use your hands? Do you do the weird Monte Burns finger triangle thing that all marketers seem to do? lol

          Voice fluctuation. That is key. DO NOT be monotone. That would undoubtedly kill your conversions. Be funny, be witty, be uplifting, be knowledgeable, deliver value, and most of all, BE YOSELF! lol

          Just Do You!
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  • Profile picture of the author centerforkaziboralimited
    To some extent it can. Some people are used to doing their things faster and in most cases such people expect no wastage of time from anybody. Such can be impatient when your audio/video's talking is slow. They can opt to leave and in the end you miss the conversions. It is better when the speed is moderate.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Someone's speed of talking usually correlates with their personality.

      Introverts often talk more slowly and deliberately than extroverts because they choose their words carefully ahead of time, while extroverts don't mind figuring out what they want to say while they're saying it.

      How this plays with the audience depends on the audience, their expectations and their prior relationship (if any) to the speaker.

      Many people assume that introverts or slowish talkers can't be compelling speakers, but that is very untrue. Garrison Keillor has been a radio star for 25+ years and he speaks more slowly than average. And if the person on the audio/video is someone you already revere, you will hang on their every word regardless of their speed of talking.

      Marcia Yudkin
      (Lifelong introvert and student of introverts)
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  • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
    On the topic of fast speaking, here is a YouTube video of the Worlds Fastest Female:

    http://youtu.be/eM6zPikfOEs

    I would probably watch this even though it is too fast for me to follow .

    Marvin
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