(Source: hood-lynch)
by Marie Howe Every day I want to speak with you. And every day something more important calls for my attention—the drugstore, the beauty products, the luggage I need to buy for the trip. among the falling piles of paper and clothing, the garbage trucks outside The mystics say you are as close as my own breath. My days and nights pour through me like complaints Help me. Even as I write these words I am planning [from THE KINGDOM OF ORDINARY TIME, W.W. Norton & Co. 2008, $13.95]]Prayer
Even now I can hardly sit here
already screeching and banging.
Why do I flee from you?
and become a story I forgot to tell.
to rise from the chair as soon as I finish this sentence.
Corporate America is on a hiring binge for people to manage a company’s presence on Facebook, Twitter and similar sites. Once given such titles as social media wizards, ninjas and divas, they take their jobs seriously and are gaining more respect.
I took some of the advice from this Mashable Article by Justin Fogarty and analyzed how SoundCloud has achieved the goal of creating such a community. I look forward for a chance to work with such an innovative company.
SoundCloud’s Success in Building an Online Community
1. Facilitate What Customers Already Want to Do
“Customers will come back to a place with a compelling reason for going there in the first place. Let the user determine the model, and look at the type of user that you want to attract as the primary driver behind the online presence.”
I think a lot of people stumble onto SoundCloud by reading a music blog or because a DJ posted a mix there. They keep coming back for more to stay updated on new music.
I’d love to help people become introduced to SoundCloud and to clarify it’s purpose and it’s uses. I’m great at holding the hands of reluctant, shy students and helping them to try something new. SoundCloud is such an amazing model that I’ll only have to nudge people in the right direction and I’m sure they’ll be hooked.
2. Extend Traditional Success
“Your online community should mimic the positive interactions traditionally formed within your company.”
I love how easy it is to comment on music posted on SoundCloud. It reminds me of inviting people over to listen to records on vinyl. You’re finally able to share a private moment with others. You’re able to state out loud which moments in the music move you. You can do an online head bang with rocking parts or state how pensive a sweet, quiet moment in the music made you feel. It’s so easy to cheer on your favorite artists as well. I’m sure the musicians love hearing the feedback from fans.
I love listening to single mp3s and extended mixes from my favorite blogs like The Fader, Gorilla Vs Bear, and Pitchfork. It’s so comforting knowing I’m not alone in thinking a piece of the music is beautiful. I love sharing my opinion and hearing the voices of others.
3. Keep it Clean
“Keep a simple, clean interface with a clear direction for a user to personally benefit. It will keep your brand’s image in focus, and give users a sense of the benefits they’ll get from engaging with you.”
It’s insanely easy to start a SoundCloud profile. I’m amazed at how easy it was to find friends that already had profiles and how simple it was to find interesting established artists to follow. I feel like I’m the first to know about anything a new, hot DJ has posted. It’s empowering to see things as they happen. I’m in control of what I’m learning about music and how quickly I acquire this information. It’s an addictive feeling.
I am already a fan of SoundCloud and feel that it will be easy to speak about the merits of the site. It’s simplicity and usability make it so appealing. I don’t feel that it will be hard to convert people into lifetime SoundCloud users.
4. Treat Engagement as a Long-Term Process
“Your content should be short, frequent and easy to engage with.”
Most people don’t have long attention spans and I love the short bursts of information available on the SoundCloud profile homepage. I can decide if I just want to scroll around a bit or if I want to click on a profile and really engage with the musician. The power is in the consumer’s hands. As an evangelist of SoundCloud, I just have to lead people in the right direction. They’ll take over from there and experience the power of choice and community engagement themselves.
5. Make Engagement Easy
“With your business, create a community of quick and easy participation. This will get people invested in your message and enable continuous interaction.”
SoundCloud has definitely made engaging with musicians and music fans very easy. Really powerful ways of interacting with others are made simple. The consumer leads the experience and the choices are theirs. It’s a beautiful experience.
“Keeping these tips in mind, your business will be well on its way to creating unique experiences, increasing engagement and enthusiasm for your brand, and developing a truly interactive and meaningful community.”
SoundCloud has definitely created a unique experience, fosters engagement and enthusiasm, and has developed a truly interactive and meaningful community. It’s a website that is easy to speak volumes about. I can’t wait for the chance to lead more people into such an empowering world where anyone can create sounds and share them everywhere.
