How to Add Text to Speech in WordPress (Step-by-Step)

By Naveed Ahmed | Reviewed by Syed Balkhi | August 22, 2024 | Reader Disclosure

Want to add a text-to-speech feature to your WordPress website? Text to speech allows you to add an audio version of your articles using artificial intelligence. This feature is especially useful for long reads and helps users who prefer audio content while exercising or traveling. In this article, I’ll guide you through the simple process of adding text to speech in WordPress.

I’ve been working in the tech space for over 15 years, and I’ve seen firsthand how WordPress has evolved to become a powerful platform for everyone. One of the things I love most about it is its flexibility and the vast array of plugins available to enhance its functionality. Text to speech is a prime example. It offers a truly valuable service for your users.

You’ll find that adding text to speech not only enhances accessibility but also boosts your website’s SEO. That’s because search engines tend to rank websites with accessibility features higher.

What is Text to Speech in WordPress?

Text to speech is a technology that utilizes artificial intelligence to convert any text into natural-sounding speech. It is a cloud-based service offered by various companies, including Google Cloud and Amazon AWS.

Adding text to speech to your WordPress site allows your users to listen to your blog posts while engaging in everyday activities such as exercising, cooking, and traveling.

Here are some key benefits of using text to speech:

• Increased accessibility: It makes your content more accessible to visually impaired individuals and people with reading difficulties, enhancing user experience.
• Improved SEO: Search engines tend to rank inclusive websites higher, and text to speech contributes to this inclusivity.
• Engaging content: It provides an alternative way for users to consume content, especially those who prefer listening to reading.

How to Add Text to Speech in WordPress

To add text to speech to your WordPress website, you’ll need a plugin that can handle the conversion process. One popular and effective solution is the BeyondWords plugin. It is a freemium service with various pricing plans, including a free plan that allows you to convert up to 30,000 characters into audio each month.

Let’s dive into the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Create a BeyondWords Account

1. Visit the BeyondWords website and click the “Sign Up for Free” button.
2. Enter your email address and password on the “Sign Up” page and click “Create My Free Account.”
3. After creating your account, you’ll be redirected to the BeyondWords dashboard. Click the “Create New Project” button to set up an audio workspace for your WordPress blog.
4. A prompt will appear asking you to choose a title for your project. Select a language from the dropdown menu below the title field. This will be the language used for narrating your articles.
5. BeyondWords offers approximately 143 languages. For this tutorial, I chose “English.” Once you’ve selected the language, click the “Create” button to save your project.
6. You’ll be taken to the “Content” page of your project dashboard. Click the “WordPress” tab under the “Connect Your CMS” column.
7. You’ll be redirected to the “WordPress Settings” page. Here, you need to configure the voice settings. Go to the “Voice Settings” section and choose the AI voices for reading the title and the article body from the dropdown menus.
8. Click the “Save Changes” button to store your settings.

Now that your BeyondWords account is set up, it’s time to connect your WordPress website.

Step 2: Integrate BeyondWords with the WordPress Plugin

1. Install and activate the BeyondWords plugin. It’s a text-to-speech plugin that will connect BeyondWords to your website. For detailed instructions on installing a WordPress plugin, check out our beginner’s guide.
2. After activating the plugin, go to “Settings” > “BeyondWords” from your WordPress admin sidebar.
3. To fully integrate your account with WordPress, you’ll need to add your BeyondWords API key and project ID. Go to your BeyondWords project dashboard and navigate to “Settings” > “General” from the sidebar.
4. Scroll down to the “Credentials” section and simply copy the API key and project ID.
5. Return to your WordPress dashboard and paste your credentials. Scroll down to the “Content Settings” section. If you want to include excerpts in the audio version of your content, select the “Process Excerpts” option.
6. Scroll down further to the “Audio Generation Settings” section. Select the checkboxes for “Posts” and “Pages” if you want to generate responsive speech for both. You can also uncheck either box if you don’t want to generate audio for posts or pages.
7. Don’t forget to click the “Save Changes” button to store your settings.

Step 3: Add Text to Speech to a Post

1. Open the post or page where you want to display the text-to-speech audio player.
2. In the block editor, click the “BeyondWords” tab in the post settings panel.
3. Select the “Generate Audio” checkbox, and then click the “Update” or “Publish” button to save your changes.

You can now visit that post or page and see the text-to-speech audio player in action.

Bonus: Add Voice Search Capability to Your WordPress Site

Once you’ve added text to speech for your blog posts, you can also add voice search to your website. This will allow users to search for different content on your website without typing anything. It’s also helpful for visually impaired users who struggle with reading or typing and rely on voice commands to navigate the internet.

To add this feature, you need to install and activate the Voice Search plugin. For more detailed instructions, refer to our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activation, the plugin works right away and automatically adds the voice search icon to your search form. However, if you haven’t added the search form yet, you can visit “Appearance” > “Widgets” and add the “Search” block from the menu. Once you’re done, click the “Update” button to save your settings.

For more information, check out our tutorial on how to add voice search capability to WordPress.

Conclusion

Adding text to speech to your WordPress website can significantly enhance user experience and improve accessibility. It’s a relatively simple process, thanks to plugins like BeyondWords. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily make your website more inclusive and engaging for a wider audience.

FAQs

How do I change the text-to-speech voice?

You can change the text-to-speech voice by going to the “Voice Settings” section of your BeyondWords project dashboard. Choose from the available AI voices in the dropdown menus for the title and article body.

Can I add text to speech to existing posts?

Yes, you can add text to speech to existing posts. Just edit the post and follow the steps outlined in “Step 3: Add Text to Speech to a Post” above.

Will the audio file automatically update if I edit a post?

This depends on the specific plugin you are using. For BeyondWords, you will need to manually regenerate the audio after making edits to a post.

Can I use different languages for text to speech?

Yes, most text-to-speech plugins support multiple languages. BeyondWords, for example, offers approximately 143 languages. Select your preferred language during project creation.

Does text to speech affect my website’s loading speed?

Text to speech can slightly increase your website’s loading time, but this impact is typically minimal. Ensure your hosting plan has sufficient resources to handle the audio generation process.

Is text to speech free to use?

Some text-to-speech services offer free plans with limitations. BeyondWords, for instance, provides a free plan for converting up to 30,000 characters into audio monthly. For larger websites or more extensive use, you may need to consider paid plans.

Is text to speech beneficial for SEO?

Yes, text to speech can be beneficial for SEO. Search engines tend to favor websites with accessibility features, and text to speech contributes to this inclusivity.

Does Google consider audio files for SEO?

Google is increasingly considering audio content in its ranking algorithms. While not a direct ranking factor, having audio transcripts and structured data for audio content can help improve your site’s visibility.

Can I use text to speech for my podcast?

While text to speech plugins like BeyondWords are designed primarily for website content, they can be useful for quickly creating audio content for your podcast. However, for a professional podcast, you might want to consider using dedicated recording and editing tools.

Are there any other text-to-speech plugins available?

Yes, several other text-to-speech plugins are available in the WordPress repository. Some popular options include:

• Read Aloud: This plugin allows you to add text-to-speech functionality to your posts, pages, and comments.
• Speechify: This plugin provides a text-to-speech reader that can be used on any web page.

If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.