In anticipation of our upcoming webinar, Audio Marketing Trends in 2021, we want to share four social audio platforms worth checking out! Be sure to join our webinar on August 10, 2021, at 1:00 PM EST.
Social audio is the latest emerging trend in social media, harnessing the power of sound to create meaningful networking connections. With screen time being at an all-time high, users are searching for new enriching ways to connect online beyond traditional screen-based media, thanks to remote work and social distancing.
Enter social audio – the perfect solution for screen-fatigued users.
Unlike other forms of social media and podcasts, social audio apps are based on real-time candid conversations between users worldwide without looking at a screen. The Clubhouse app first exploded the doors of social audio with an audio-only platform, shaping a new way of social media. Leading social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Spotify are jumping on the social audio trend, launching similar audio-only platforms.
For business owners, the emergence of social audio platforms opens up a world of opportunities to connect with target audiences. Think about leveraging social audio as part of your digital marketing strategy, no different from leveraging other social media platforms. With social audio, authentic conversations are the foundation of creating engaging, exciting content for your audience and could hold a special place in building genuine relationships with your consumers.
From the emergence of Clubhouse to the growing popularity of audio-only content, it’s clear a new era of social audio is upon us.
HERE ARE FOUR SOCIAL AUDIO PLATFORMS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
1. Clubhouse
We can’t talk about social audio without talking about Clubhouse – the exclusive invite-only, audio-only social platform making waves. Clubhouse works by letting users follow people and clubs that interest them. Users can then hop in ‘rooms’ set up by moderators and listen or join in on conversations about topics they are interested in. Room moderators act as influencers of the rooms and have control over who speaks and when.
Picture a virtual conference call, with room moderators sitting on a virtual stage speaking freely about the topic at hand. Other Clubhouse users can join the room, sit in the virtual audience and listen in or participate in the conversation when called upon by a moderator.
Clubhouse was first launched in March 2020, just at the start of the pandemic, and has exploded in popularity since with individual users and businesses alike. While there is no formal advertising on Clubhouse, the networking opportunities for brands are endless.
At Candybox, we’ve embraced the power of Clubhouse’s social audio network and launched a weekly ‘Ask An Agency’ segment where we open the door to business owners and industry leaders to ask us questions related to their business goals. Through our Clubhouse discussions, we’ve been able to;
- Have authentic, candid conversations with industry leaders
- Nurture new relationships with potential customers
- Gain insight into the latest digital marketing trends
The opportunities on Clubhouse for social selling are unmatched compared to traditional text-based social media platforms. Real-time communication is an essential feature of Clubhouse, allowing users to build genuine relationships with one another as if they were sitting in the same room. In addition, Clubhouse poses the opportunity for brands to position themselves as thought leaders within their industries. By hosting discussions, answering expert questions and sharing insights, you are promoting yourself as a leader to others listening in.
Connect with Candybox on Clubhouse and tune into our ‘Ask an Agency’ segment every Tuesday at 11 AM.
2. Twitter Spaces
Shortly after the success of audio-only platforms like Clubhouse, Twitter launched their own social audio platform called Twitter Spaces. Unlike Clubhouse, Twitter Spaces is open to anyone who wants to join, and Twitter users with more than 600 followers can operate a space. A user who creates the space is the host and can invite listeners into the space via an invite link through a tweet or DM. Hosts can then request listeners to speak, or listeners can ask to talk via the ‘Request’ button. Twitter users can access their Twitter feeds simultaneously while using Twitter Spaces and listening to or participating in audio-only content. Twitter has also announced a new feature called Ticketed Spaces, where users with over 1000 followers can charge admission to live conversations.
3. Facebook
Facebook released audio tools accessible directly within the Facebook app and a Live Audio Room feature similar to Clubhouse. As with other audio-only platforms, Facebook works by letting groups host live audio chat rooms where members can participate in real-time voice conversations with each other. In addition, Facebook has also created monetized audio rooms allowing users to charge listeners access into Live Audio Rooms.
4. Spotify Greenroom
Like Facebook and Twitter, Spotify launched its own audio tool to compete within the audio-only space. Greenroom is an audio-only app that allows artists to connect with their fans in live conversations. As with Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces, Greenroom works by hosting discussions in different rooms, allowing artists to talk about their new releases on Spotify and host after-parties to chat candidly with fans.
SOCIAL AUDIO AND CANDYBOX MARKETING
The power of audio-only is undeniable. Social audio is currently at the forefront of the social media landscape and a tool businesses should be leveraging to connect intimately with their target audiences. If you’re debating whether audio-only platforms are right for your business, check out this article written by Candybox Founder and CEO Darrell Keezer, Should My Company Be on Clubhouse or Ignore it?
Are you looking to stay ahead of social audio trends? Then, attend Candybox’s upcoming webinar, Audio Networking Trends, on August 10, 2021, at 1:00 PM EST. We’re talking about the audio revolution we never saw coming and will help you learn to understand and capitalize on social audio trends like the latest platforms, audio branding and podcasts.
For information or insights on digital marketing, from tips for remote home video recording, SEO basics, social media workshops and anything in between, reach out to us! We’d love to hear from you.
