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Can Adding Sound Enhance the Ecommerce User Shopping Experience?  

:: Thursday, January 15, 2004 ::

Can the use of sound be duplicated on websites to get similar satisfying results as regular stores or do we associate sounds or music as a distraction when it's done on the web?

"I wonder if the fact that people are playing there own music while they surf is a clue, maybe they are missing the audio element that is present in every other multimedia experience?" (Asked in Cre8asiteForums)

Synchronicity is a funny thing. I've been wondering about sound (music in particular) and ecommerce websites that sell things like clothing, music, accessories, books, baby items, crafts, etc. and whether using sound can help create atmosphere. Would it hinder or enhance the online shopping experience?

Meet "The Maestro" of Maestro Media Services. He approached us at Cre8asiteForums about what his company does ("We provide a service to web designers who are bold enough to think about sound being a part of the web experience and how designers can apply sound to websites.") and I jumped on the opportunity to start a new thread and invite discussion on this subject.

You can join in or read the various opinions on adding sound here >>> Can Sound be used as "Atmosphere" for websites?

Some of the comments so far:

"There's an adage about the web that is very true. It says: Please a person and they'll tell their friends. Annoy them and they'll tell everyone."

"I feel that things like a little clip of sound that accompanies a small site identification (think of TV channel logos with their fanfare) that can also be included in all digital media for the client, a moving letterhead with sound for all their emails is probably something that a lot of companies would be interested in."

"With bandwidth costs dropping and broadband growing, I'm experimenting with MP3 files of the authors reading their work as just one example. Poetry depends so much on sound it only makes sense."

This last thought made me immediately think of narrated books and online story telling. How about customer testimonials that the user can listen to versus reading on a webpage?

- - - - - - - - - -

In the event that what I blab on about here totally fascinates you and you've come to realize you can't live without usability in you life, then I have great news for you.

My friend Scottie Claiborne of RightClickWebs.com is about to launch a newsletter called Successful Sites Usability and Marketing

"The goal of the Successful Sites newsletter is to provide you with common sense usability ideas and tips to enhance your web site. It's an easy-to-read monthly e-mail newsletter about getting the most out of your web site, whether your goal is to make more sales, get more subscriptions, build a community, or use your site more efficiently."

First issue launch is January 22 and delivery will be the last Thursday of each month.

:: posted by Kim Krause Berg on 1/15/2004 11:43:27 AM

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