WhatSounds Design Blog

What is a Sonic Strategy?

Written by Charles Balderston | Dec 5, 2024 2:15:43 PM

A Sonic Strategy Coles Notes (if you know, you know)

Below is a very basic overview of what we do for your brand or product. There are a ton of wordy articles about audio branding but I wanted to take a 'TLDR' approach. When someone asks "What is audio branding" or "What is a Sonic Strategy" feel free to share this with them. It's to the point and concise. Obviously this isn't an exhaustive list, its just an outline, but it's a great place to start when a company hasn't even considered this route.

Importance of Sonic Branding:

  • Brand Recognition:
    • Establish a unique sonic identity that distinguishes your platform from competitors.
    • Enhance brand recall by associating specific sounds with your platform.
  • User Engagement:
    • Create a memorable and immersive experience for users.
    • Audio elements can evoke emotions, making the platform more engaging and enjoyable.
  • Consistency Across Platforms:
    • Ensure a cohesive brand experience across different devices and interfaces.
    • Consistent audio branding reinforces your platform's identity on various platforms.
  • Professionalism:
    • Audio branding adds a professional touch, contributing to the overall perception of your platform.
    • It helps in building trust and credibility among users.

Importance of UX Audio Strategy:

  • User Guidance and Feedback:
    • Use audio cues to guide users through various actions within the platform.
    • Provide feedback through sounds to indicate successful actions, errors, or alerts.
  • Accessibility:
    • Enhance accessibility for users with visual impairments by incorporating audio cues.
    • Audio elements can complement visual feedback, making the platform more inclusive.
  • Reduced Cognitive Load:
    • Well-designed audio elements can streamline user interactions, reducing the cognitive load.
    • Users can quickly understand and respond to different events with the help of audio cues.
  • Personalization:
    • Allow users to customize their audio preferences, creating a personalized experience.
    • Personalized UX audio settings contribute to a sense of ownership and comfort.

Options to Build Audio Branding and UX Audio Strategy:

  • Custom Sound Design:
    • Work with a specialized design company to create unique sounds that align with your brand.
    • Develop a distinct set of audio elements for various interactions within the platform.
  • Voice Branding:
    • Consider incorporating a unique voice or voice commands for specific platform interactions.
    • Voice branding adds a human touch and can enhance user engagement.
  • Dynamic Audio Feedback:
    • Implement dynamic audio feedback that adjusts based on user actions and context.
    • Differentiate between positive feedback, error alerts, and neutral interactions through varied sounds.
  • User-Controlled Audio Settings:
    • Provide users with options to control volume levels, enable/disable specific sounds, and customize their audio experience. This should be done judiciously as you still want to control your brands audio experience.
    • Respect user preferences to ensure a positive and adaptable user experience.
  • Testing and Iteration:
    • Regularly test the effectiveness of audio elements with user feedback and analytics.
    • Iterate on the audio strategy based on user responses and evolving platform requirements.

Want to learn more?

These are some of the key points to creating a solid sonic strategy. Every project is different and requires a good listener to help bring your brand to life. If you'd like to learn more about the process and talk about your specific needs, book a free 30 minute chat and lets see if we can help.