How to Improve Your B2B Customer Experience with Audio

Ever considered audio as the secret sauce to a seamless customer journey? Take a look at YouTube – it's becoming a hub for ears, not just eyes. Businesses are catching on, weaving audio tech into their platforms to dial up engagement, learning, and how we share stories.

This got us thinking, leading us straight to Tal Florentin, the brain behind Summurai and a whiz at crafting more than 250 digital products that hit the mark. 

We couldn't resist; we had to have Tal on our podcast to unpack his take on sprucing up the B2B product vibe. Let's jump into his insights.

What's up with B2B products needing a facelift?

Gone are the days when churning out text was enough to charm Google and, by extension, potential users. Now, driving folks to blogs through SEO only to have them bounce after 37 seconds? That's our reality. They skim, they judge, they leave.

And here's the kicker: B2B customer experiences are morphing. Users are shouting from the rooftops, 'My eyes need a break from screens!' This digital detox wave is something businesses can't ignore if they hope to keep their audience hooked.

How audio becomes the B2B hero

The struggle is real for SaaS businesses drowning because their content is gathering digital dust. Picture marketers throwing cash at white papers, tweaking and fine-tuning every word. Yet, the moment it's downloaded, it's out of sight, out of mind – message lost in translation.

But imagine turning that content into something as easy to digest as a playlist. Suddenly, it's not just about making content accessible; it's about really connecting with it, engaging.

From a design angle, we stumbled upon a neat trick we're calling 'later' – a blend of 'play' and 'wait for the right moment.' Instead of forcing content now, why not bookmark it to tune in later? Got a long commute? Perfect. But linking desktop finds to mobile listens? That's been a gap.

'Later' is our bridge. It saves your picks in audio form on your phone, scheduling the perfect time to dive in. It's a game-changer, proving discovery doesn't have to sync up with consumption.

Echo this with YouTube's shift. The platform, once a video kingdom, is now a haven for audio. With its Pro model even banking on audio, it's clear we're onto something big in shaping B2B landscapes.

3 Industries that can level up customer experience with audio features

Revolutionizing edTech platforms with audio

There's been a huge shift in how we learn things these days. It's all about diving into a wide array of topics, especially when we're all racing against the clock. With our noses not buried in books like they used to be, turning our ears to audio has become the new way to soak up knowledge. 

This change isn't just about the gadgets we use. It's more about how these technologies have woven themselves into the fabric of our daily routines.

For getting a handle on concepts or expanding our knowledge base, audio is in a league of its own. Its ascent is a key turning point for the folks who create educational tech. Video's already proven its worth, with platforms like Vimeo making it easy for companies to get on board. Now, with audio getting a boost from giants like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, it's about to take the educational world by storm too.

But here's the rub for those innovating in educational tech. The audio platforms we've got now aren't exactly business-friendly. They're missing lead generation and easy website tie-ins. It's a ripe opportunity for those dreaming up the future of EdTech to step in. By tapping into audio's full potential, they can offer learning experiences that are not just more immersive but also more interactive. (Not to mention that SaaS gamification is a massive canvas, demanding our VIP focus).

The leaps we've seen in AI for audio are nothing short of revolutionary. AI-generated audio used to be a tough sell because of its quality. But now, thanks to tech advancements, creating top-notch audio content is easier than ever. This opens the door for EdTech to weave AI-powered audio into their fabric.

We're on the brink of something big with the launch of a new platform that's going to make creating audio content a breeze, no human required. But for those who want a personal touch, there's still room for human voices. This is a crucial moment for the leaders in EdTech. With the tech landscape always changing, blending audio and AI into education is a chance to transform how we learn. 

Audio for governmental projects

Think again if you reckon governments are always lagging in the innovation race. Right now, I'm in the thick of a groundbreaking project that's stitching our state-of-the-art tech right into the heart of digital engagement strategies for the government. We're talking about a shift where four government offices are tearing down the old walls by swapping info through our snazzy audio platform.

Government sites are infamous for being a bit of a maze. With so many departments and messages trying to get your attention, they often miss the mark on really connecting. They tend to shout their messages into the void rather than listening and answering the folks trying to wade through their sea of info. It's like building a city so complex, everyone's getting lost.

But here's where the light bulb went off. Amid all this confusion, we saw a chance to make things simpler for scenarios touching lives left, right, and center. Picture our collab with an office geared towards helping people who've just lost their jobs. Their current setup? A web of rules and guides spread out like a not-so-welcoming carpet on their site, anything but straightforward. Our bright idea? Pack all the must-knows into an audio guide that's easy to digest, cutting through the clutter.

The real trick isn't just making these guides. It's about smartly using what we've got. Crafting extensive video courses? Not the best move when you think about how tight on time and attention we all are. But squeezing that heap of info into an audio playlist? That's a game-changer. It's something you can dive into right away, maybe even while you're on the hunt for a new gig, blending in the ease with the essential.

Our game plan goes deeper than just handing out info. We're fine-tuning the way we talk and the vibe we send out. Choosing the perfect voice, splitting the info into bite-sized pieces, and putting together a custom playlist – it's a careful dance through red tape and approval mazes. Yet, what comes out is a playlist that's all about the user, making key info as handy as your favorite tunes on Spotify, but for navigating government stuff.

This isn't just another podcast gig. We're carving a special spot for audio in government comms. Each piece is built with a clear next step, guiding folks straight to what they need, cutting down on the runaround.

And the cherry on top? This setup kind of markets itself. As these audio nuggets make key info a breeze to grab, they're something people can pass around, slashing the need for the same old questions and boosting how easy it is to stumble upon what you need.

At its core, this venture isn't just about dropping audio tech into government chats. It's about flipping the script on digital experiences with the government. It's a giant leap towards a world where everyone's in the know, making government touchpoints not just easier to handle but actually welcoming, setting the stage for a future where information is just a play button away.

The symphony of AI and audio in marketing's future

AI's getting ready to redefine how we connect with users, and I'm all ears for this future where AI amps up the creation of audio content that feels real and resonates.

Starting with how we dish out audio content, the go-to has always been hiring a voice that's all polish. But what if we flipped the script? We cooked up an app for bloggers to record their own stories, betting big on raw over refined. Turns out, a dash of background life, like the hustle of a café, adds a layer of warmth and personality. It's a reminder that sometimes, the real draw is hearing passion and expertise straight from the source, not some flawless, distant voice.

Then there's the tech angle. I took a look back at how automated audio has evolved over the last bit – from awkward to almost authentic. Though we've hit a sweet spot in many tongues, some, like Hebrew, are still catching up. Enter voice cloning, a game-changer that went from needing an audiobook's worth of your words to just a snippet. It's a passport for businesses to go global, keeping their unique vibe alive across languages.

We even whipped up a government playlist that swaps languages on the fly – a trick podcasts haven't caught onto yet. But I'm betting it won't be long before you can flip any podcast to the language of your choice. With platforms like YouTube hinting at multilingual support, the future's bright for breaking down barriers and spicing up content with a personal touch.

And as we look ahead, the big question for creatives is whether it's the personal touch of the listener or a brand's crafted message that'll steer the ship. These aren't fresh dilemmas; think about the age-old dance of TV ads. Who's the face, and what's the vibe? Audio might seem simpler with just a voice to work with, but there's a whole orchestra of sound effects and styles to play with. While I tend to steer clear of those (they can get old fast), it's worth a thought. Could the voice of your ads be the one guiding through your videos, echoing across channels for that seamless brand rhythm?

Picture this: a TV ad's voice greets you on the site, echoes in your welcome email. It's a cohesive tale, yet we're miles from seeing it as the norm. Reflecting on how design and user experience have evolved, it's a journey that's far from over.

Looking down the road, we might see voice marketplaces popping up, offering brands new ways to stand out. Yet, no matter how much tech advances, human nature stays constant. The idea of fine-tuning every audio choice seems unlikely. We're all just trying to get on with our days, after all. Sure, the option to cherry-pick from a palette of voices, including celeb impersonations, sounds cool. But at the end of the day, will you really pause your life to pick the perfect voice for your mood? Doubtful. It's a creator's playground, but for the average Joe? Just another day, another task.

Takeaway

As the tech landscape shifts and new generations step in, shaping customer experiences, we're nudged to evolve. But hey, it's not about starting from scratch. We've got a solid set of tools and frameworks at our disposal.

This chat's all about the wonders of audio tech and its magic in boosting product vibes and drawing users in. It's clear as day – audio's not just another trend; it's a cornerstone in crafting memorable customer journeys. The moral of the story? Roll with the punches, harness the power of sound, and sprinkle in your creative flair to dial up user satisfaction.