Create a Self-Guided Audio Tour with ElevenLabs

Before you touch ElevenLabs, you need a written script for each stop. Each stop should be 200-300 words — about 90 seconds to 2 minutes of audio when read aloud.

Write each stop script to include:

• A location cue ("You're now standing in front of the Beauregard-Keyes House...")
• The core story (the most compelling angle for this stop)
• A sensory detail (what does it look, smell, sound like?)
• A transition to the next stop ("Walk one block north to...")

Use ChatGPT or Claude to draft these if you're starting from scratch. Prompt: "Write a 250-word audio guide script for a self-guided walking tour stop at [location]. Opening line orients visitors who are standing in front of it. Include [2-3 historical facts]. Conversational, engaging tone. End with directions to the next stop: [next location]."

1. Go to {{tool:ElevenLabs.url}} and create an account
2. Click Speech Synthesis in the left sidebar
3. Browse the Voice Library — filter by "Warm," "Narration," or "Conversational" styles
4. Listen to 5-10 voices. Look for one that matches your tour's personality:

   • Ghost/historical tours: deep, measured, slightly mysterious
   • Family tours: warm, clear, friendly
   • Food/culture tours: enthusiastic, conversational, approachable
5. Click Use on your chosen voice

What you should see: The voice appears in your text-to-speech panel. You can type or paste text and preview it.

Troubleshooting: If a voice sounds robotic or unnatural, try a different voice. ElevenLabs has 100+ options — don't settle for the first one.

1. Paste your Stop 1 script into the text field
2. Adjust settings: Speed around 0.95 (slightly slower than default helps with comprehension outdoors)
3. Click Generate Speech
4. Listen to the preview — does it sound natural? Are there any mispronounced words?
5. Fix mispronunciations by editing the text (sometimes adding a hyphen, phonetic spelling, or a comma pause helps)
6. When satisfied, click Download → save as stop-01-[location-name].mp3

Repeat Step 3 for each tour stop. Name files consistently: stop-02-, stop-03-, etc. For a 10-stop tour, this takes 60-90 minutes including review time.

Quality check each audio file:

• Clear and audible (imagine listening in an outdoor environment with street noise)
• No unnatural pauses mid-sentence
• Place names and historical terms pronounced correctly
• Appropriate pacing — not rushed, not too slow

1. Go to izi.travel and create a free "Producer" account
2. Click Create Audio Guide
3. Name your tour, add a cover image (use one of your best tour photos)
4. Add your stops: for each stop, enter the title, upload the MP3 file, and drop a pin on the map at the exact location
5. Write a 2-sentence text description for each stop (izi.TRAVEL displays this alongside the audio)
6. Set your tour as Published when all stops are complete

What you should see: A preview of your audio guide on the izi.TRAVEL app, with a map showing all stops and play buttons at each one.

1. In izi.TRAVEL, find your tour's Share link or QR code (in the tour settings)
2. Open Canva and create an A5 or Letter-size design
3. Design a simple tour map showing the route (screenshot from Google Maps, then trace it in Canva)
4. Add: tour name, your business name, price, QR code (paste it from izi.TRAVEL), and brief instructions ("Scan to start your audio guide")
5. Download as PDF for printing

• Print at a local print shop or FedEx Office ($0.10-0.25/page)
• Sell the map at your tour starting point, local hotels, visitor centers, and Airbnbs
• List it as an add-on to your live tours ("Take the self-guided version home for friends who couldn't make it")
• Consider pricing: $8-15 for a 10-stop audio tour is common and converts well