***Just How Good Do You Sound in Your Webinar or Teleseminar?

That’s a leading question, isn’t it? With teleseminars there is definitely no visual and with webinars, there may be a picture of you, but more than likely, your listeners will be focusing on the visuals; i.e. slides, videos, or webpages as well as the sound of your speaking voice. And, the sound of your speaking voice is what you are hearing through your headphones and not the familiar voice you hear in your head.

Might you need some voice training? If you have a nasal, whiny, shrill, strident, childlike, effeminate, scratchy, throaty, harsh, or wimpy voice, it may be in your best interest to consider some type of coaching in order to improve your vocal image. Perhaps you talk too softly or too loudly. Maybe you speak in a monotone. All of these questionable traits will change when you discover your ‘real’ voice.

Richer, warmer and probably deeper in pitch, your ‘real’ voice sounds authoritative, not overbearing or domineering, just more mature. And, it has good resonance, something your habitual voice is probably lacking.

When I discovered my ‘real’ voice in graduate school, it was definitely one of the most important qualifications I possessed because it got me the jobs I wanted when I moved to New York City later – it also got me jobs I wasn’t looking for. Even though I was only 24, I sounded mature; I sounded like I knew what I was talking about. Bottom line? I sounded confident.

Speaking like a Valley Girl, for example, does not lend credibility or confidence. If your voice lifts up at the end of your sentences, your listeners will wonder whether you are making a statement or asking a question. It is a huge problem that is found more often amongst those in their 20’s and 30’s. And, it is definitely something you should strive to change.

Image sells. Whether it is visual or aural, your perspective clients are judging you on your professionalism, honesty and integrity. A voice that is too soft-spoken, for instance, may be telling your listeners that you are shy or lack confidence. A voice that is too loud, on the other hand, may say that you are domineering, demanding, or boorish. While none of these traits may aptly describe you, it might be the image you are projecting over the phone.

Admittedly, you may not like hearing your own voice on your voicemail or other type of recording equipment but that sound is exactly how everyone else recognizes you. What type of image is that sound projecting?