Many professional web developers including myself use Fortune3 shopping cart software to create online stores for our clients. But you can only use this shopping cart program if you host with them. Although Fortune3 software popularity at Download.com, Zdnet, and Tucows.com goes far beyond all other shopping carts, there is now a new reality; prices of broadband and web servers have dropped dramatically, so we must push for independence to keep competitive.

We have been asking Fortune3 for a stand-alone version that can run in any web server. We are constantly bringing to their attention inconvenience of hosting dependency and recurrent monthly fees. Many of our clients want to host in their own servers, building a growing concern among us.

Your tip today starts with my own shocking secret - I used to *HATE* listening to audio online. I'd still rather pay to download a transcript. I'm just a print-oriented person.

But I’m an oddball- that’s why you need to remember this one very important fact:

Almost everyone in online world would rather listen than read if they can.

(And people like me will buy your audio if you let them - I’ve paid for free audio streamed seminars to be sent to me on a CD.)

I can’t name one friend who doesn’t own at least 25 CDs, but only five have more than 7 books. Yes, even if it's same material - when faced with clicking an audio link to listen, or reading, they’d rather listen.

Not everyone is a great writer. But just about everyone can talk -- or get someone else to talk for them. So here are three reasons why you need to figure out how to have an audio-enabled site today.

1- Visitors love audio. And your site is about preferences of your visitors, not you, right?

Right?

Whew! You scared me for a second there.

2 - Audio keeps people on your site longer.

In a recent conference call by makers of Instant Audio, a discussion was sparked that detailed many of reasons why visitors stay longer at your site - particularly on your sales pages - when they are also Audio-enabled.

3- I’ve got one word for you. Podcasting.

If you run a business that has even simplest web site, even if you don’t have an audio-enabled computer, there’s a way that you can widen your audience, perhaps up to one hundred visitors by this time tomorrow.

This is not an exaggeration.

Podcasting, in lay-persons terms, is simply a way to incorporate audio and other types of media into RSS Feeds.

Some podcasts are full-fledged amateur broadcasts, and others, like one at my main site, are just quick daily tutorials, tips or greetings, that I like to call mini-casts.

(There’s a free video that will teach you how to do a mini-cast at http://howtopodcast.blogspot.com and there are free how-tos all over Net.)