Top 5 digital promo tools: Part 1 – Audio
In an era where you’re competing with umpteen websites, Facebook feeds, Twitter streams and mobile apps – promoting new books and publications can be somewhat daunting.
Over the course of the next few days, I’ll show you a few tools that are highly effective, low cost (or free) ways of promoting books and authors, engaging with readers and generally doing all you can to sell more books.
The first area we’ll look at is audio. Often overlooked in the rush to create YouTube videos or trailers; audio is still hugely popular. I can honestly say that there hasn’t been a project that I’ve worked on where the number of audio streams accessed or number of podcasts downloaded hasn’t ended up surprising me and my clients alike. It’s definitely worth thinking using a tool like Soundcloud as part of your promotional efforts.
1. Soundcloud
Soundcloud are one of my favourite companies around at the moment. In a nutshell, it’s like a YouTube for audio. Although it focused heavily on music and bands in its early stages, it’s now doing a lot of work on non-music content.
For authors and publishers, Soundcloud offers a new way to connect with fans. It’s a simple way of allowing authors to record readings or exclusive extracts from forthcoming books. It can be used for interviews – allowing readers to submit their own questions and hear the author reply.
There are also some really interesting ways that you can mash Soundcloud up with other services. Imagine something like Sounds by Southwest, but with Stephen King taking you around Maine – talking about different locations that feature in his books or that inspired him as an author. Then add images and you have an interactive website that has enormous potential.
Soundcloud works online and has an iPhone and Android app as well as dozens of useful complementary online apps.
Coming up tomorrow – building low cost and no cost mobile apps.
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Eamonn Carey is a digital media entrepreneur and consultant who lives in London. He’s worked on digital, social and mobile strategies and applications with companies like 3, O2, Diageo and many others. If you want to know more about Eamonn’s work, or if you’re interested in talking to him about consultancy or ideas, feel free to contact him at his website. He also has an idea for a book if anyone is interested. But then, who doesn’t.