The MyMic Facebook application lets you post audio updates to your Facebook profile or onto your friend’s Wall. You can post up to five seconds for free and there are paid options to post longer messages.
I ran into the application’s creator, LeaAnna Hernandez (@MyMicApp on Twitter), during a #LATISM Twitter chat. I had asked the Twittersphere if there were any Latino/Latina startup techies out there and LeaAnna “raised her hand.”
The application caught my eye because:
- It is super easy to use. There’s a tutorial at the end of this post just in case you have questions.
- Your friends don’t have to install anything to listen to your messages.
- My Facebook friends started asking about it once I posted my first message. I love attention.
I also liked the recent press release where LeaAnna says,
“Sometimes we don’t want to be on camera. Maybe we’re having a bad hair day or the lighting isn’t the most flattering. With MyMic, none of that matters. Users, musicians, celebrities can easily record updates in their pajamas and no one would know the difference”.
I caught up with LeaAnna for an interview
JPL: Why did you select audio?
LH: I come from the radio industry…specializing in advertising. So i wanted to build an app that could marry radio with social. Businesses run commercials on radio stations. So I built the app for businesses to be able to run “social commercials” on Facebook.
JPL: I think I saw some stats that only one in a thousand YouTube users actually records and uploads a video. What do you think that ratio will look like for audio?
LH: I think that there are a lot of people that are camera shy and don’t want to be on camera. It literally is a production, having to get the right angle from the camera…nice lighting….good backdrop maybe.
With audio, it’s much easier and faster so I am inclined to think that it would be better but it’s still so new that only time will tell.
JPL: I tested the application and was able to post to my profile and to a friend’s Wall. Is there a way to post MyMic messages to the Facebook pages that I administer?
LH: In 2 weeks we are adding the feature to post recordings on Fan pages. I “like” your thinking.
JPL: Do you see businesses using MyMic the same way they use radio? Will they even start off using the same on air commercials?
LH: I think some brands will initially use their same radio ads. But others will get more creative.
For example, one advertiser I know is looking to create a promotion where they ask their friends to come up with a new slogan for the brand and record with MyMic. (This is another reason why the post on fan page functionality is important ). And they have an incentive attached to the promotion.
How does MyMic work?
MyMic is extremely easy to use. All you have to do is:
1) Go to the MyMic Application page on Facebook.
2) Click on the “Start Recording” button.
3) The little Adobe Flash Player Settings alert box will appear. Click on “Allow” to give the application permission to access your microphone.
4) Now you’re ready to record. To post a five second audio message for free, just click on the little red record button and leave your message.
5) Click on the “Publish” button and you’ll have the option to set a post Title and add a Message.
6) Decide if you want to post to your Facebook Profile by clicking on the “Save and Publish” button or post on a friend’s Wall by clicking on the “Send To A Friend” button.
Once you click on the “Save and Publish” button, you’ll get the “Post To Your Wall” dialog box.
From the “Post to Your Wall” dialog box you can decide who can see this post. You can choose to make it visible to Everyone, Friends and Networks, Friends of Friends, Friends Only, or Customize things.
Your Facebook friends can now listen to your recording without having to install any kind of application.
If you’d like to send the audio message to specific friend, you can select the “Send to a Friend” option when you publish. When you do this, you’ll be able to search and click to select the message recipient. This will post the message to their Wall. (The application does not allow you to post private messages at this time.)
I like the way the application allows you to filter then select friends. As you type in letters, the little picture list below filters your friends. This is especially useful for people who have a ton of friends.
At this time, you’re only allowed to post to the Wall of one friend and there’s no option for tagging other people.
Final Thoughts
I like the simplicity of the MyMic app and already have a lot of ideas on how to use it for Facebook promotions. I think this will be a nice utility for companies, Facebook page admins, and heavy duty content creators. It will be interesting to see if removing the “bad hair day” factor, as it exists with video, will encourage “regular” Facebook users to take on a new medium. As LeaAnna says, “only time will tell.”
Ok, it’s time to test out MyMic Application then report back here to leave your feedback. Will MyMic catch on? Was it easy to use? Did your Facebook friends like it and ask about it? Come on back and share with the other readers!