5 reasons why your company should use audio marketing

Business owners invest in their websites, logos, business cards and other expensive material to build up their brand. But what does their brand sound like? If you’re not using audio in your marketing and social media strategy, you’re missing a trick.

Audio is voiceover and music – sometimes both. It can be used in all sorts of ways across your marketing mix: on-hold messages, as narration in your web films and promos, in presentations, at events and training courses. In fact, if you think of a business activity, you’ll be able to think of an application for audio. It helps people remember your brand. And we all want that, right?

Audio marketing with voiceovers can feature all sorts of people - your customers, your staff and of course, professional voice artists to give your audio polish. The music you choose should be appropriate for your brand and should mirror your core values. Putting heavy metal on a web video about a relaxing spa break isn’t going to win you new customers.

So why should you use audio?

1. Audio is multi-purpose. You can use it across many platforms in different ways. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, PowerPoint, Soundcloud, AudioBoo – pretty much any social media or communication tool you can think of. And of course there's your website, your induction programmes, your PR shindigs, product launches…the list goes on.

2. Audio can feature all sorts of different content: you can shout about your products and services, awards or accreditations, customer testimonials, online reviews, social media links – anything you like.

3. Audio distinguishes your company from the competition and makes it instantly recognisable. It helps you get ‘top of mind’ traction.

4. An audio logo is a crucial part of your company’s marketing toolkit. You have a visual logo – why not have an audio logo that will really speak to your customers?

5. Audio can be very cost-effective. Planned correctly, you can get the most out of a recording package to use across different platforms, in different ways to help you meet your marketing goals.
Want to learn more about audio marketing? Check out VoiceTakeaway.com, the pro voiceover audio store.

If you're not using audio as part of your marketing and social media strategy, then your voice just ain't getting heard.

Why your business needs an audio logo.

While there’s no truth in the rumour that the marimba-like ‘Dumm! Dum dum dum dum’ of the Intel Inside audio logo has driven 56 people insane and caused at least two computers to be thrown out of office windows, it IS true that the creation of audio logos, or sonic idents, is one of the fastest-growing branches of the marketing industry.

A rising whoosh, topped off with a friendly little blip, for example, says ‘welcome to Skype’. A single assertive chord, held for a couple of seconds heralds the arrival of Apple. A dreamy rising cadence followed by fading single notes distinguishes Microsoft Windows. Or how about Danone’s “ooh Danone!”? They are all instantly recognisable and quick to bring the brand to mind, just as, for example, the Jaws music conjures up an unforgettable image of a dark fin cutting through the water.

Often used at the end of a piece of sound communication, but equally effective at the beginning or interspersed at judicious intervals within the body of the message, an audio logo enables listeners to instantly identify your brand or business. If well produced, creative and appropriate to the product, these sonic idents can become ingrained in the listening experience, enhancing it and making it more emotive. They use the emotional power of sound to create lasting connections between people and brands or services, enhancing brand recognition and awareness, and when paired with a visual logo or particular graphic device the impact is increased still further.

There are now a number of specialist companies devoted to producing audio logos, of which recent arrival Voice Takeaway offers one of the most comprehensive and exciting services. Our experts recognise that idents can be a powerful tool of brand identity, drawing attention to company or individual communications while making them more cohesive. Voice Takeaway’s easy to navigate website allows you to top and tail specially created sound indents with your company name and strapline.

So where can you use these highly emotive audio logos? Well, just about anywhere, especially now that we have more access to sound via mobile phones, internet, iPads etc. They’re ideal for:

• On-hold messaging, from ‘we’re closed’ to wedding planning; offer packages to product ranges
• Intros and outros to corporate videos
• Websites and web narration
• TV and radio productions
• e-learning
• Podcasts
• Presentations… the list goes on.

So if you want to ensure that your communications deliver maximum brand recognition in the most professional way, an audio logo will provide the memorability you’re seeking, in a quick and cost-effective way. Have a listen to some of the audio logos that Voice Takeaway have crafted and you’ll see why audio branding is fast becoming and indispensible part of the up-to-the-minute marketing mix.

If you’d like a completely bespoke audio logo, we can do that too. Just drop us an email and we’ll get started.