What I love about Sound Branch is that it’s such a cool tool to share a thought or to tell someone something. Why type it when you can talk it? It’s a hellova lot easier than sending an email.

It’s been called “Twitter for voice” – but, unlike that app of 140 written characters, you can hear the emotion in the voice notes, the person’s personality! Plebeians to presidents could and should use it instead of Twitter – it forces you to be direct, to the point and not to repeat yourself.

You can say a surprising amount in the 10 seconds (a seed) that’s available. There’s two ways of looking at this – if you get tongue tied, you might want to jot down first what you want to say, or you may want to embrace the spontaneity that Sound Branch offers and just record your words as they enter your head. Either way, you don’t have to post what you’ve said until you’re totally happy with it.

Another great plus is that you can use Sound Branch while you’re on the move – so easy to record something while you’re walking along.

It’s a godsend if you have trouble spelling. I recall one note in which a mum informed the school that little Johnny wouldn’t be attending today as he had diara – crossed out, dairro – crossed out, and instead, was written “the runs” (well actually it wasn’t, it was another word that begins with ‘sh’ but I have no wish to violate your sensibilities!) A Sound Branch message would have avoided any associated embarrassment. It also avoids predictive text – too late you find out a word was replaced with one you didn’t want.

Best of all about Sound Branch is that it’s free – what’s there not to like about that? And it goes back to human communication in its simplest and oldest form – speaking and listening.

What Sound Branch needs is a new verb for the utterance. We now have the verb ‘to text’ and Sound Branch needs something similar – ‘utterance’ is too long a word, ‘speech’ or ‘talk’ don’t quite fit the bill of something that cannot be longer than 10 seconds, so what could it be? Thoughts, not on a postcard, but on a Sound Branch seed – go to https://soundbranch.com and let us know!

I’ll leave you with a couple of things to avoid because, like anything, it’s horses for courses! Don’t try to shoehorn your talking into the 10 seconds – anyone would be hard pressed to make sense of what you’re saying if you’re gabbling at the speed of sound. And I’d definitely recommend you use intonation in your voice and sound interesting. If you sound like you’re bored saying it, the chances are your listener will find it boring. So, add vibrancy to your voice and let your speech be special!

Today, 24% of Americans listen to podcasts on a monthly basis. That’s about 67M people. If you are in the kitchen or traveling to work by car or train, consuming audio is attractive for entertainment and for education.

Now, not everyone likes the sound of their own voice. Some people prefer just to listen but there are people who have opinions and want to voice their thoughts. These thoughts could be from topics like ‘Donald Trump’ and ‘Brexit’, which polarise communities through, to simple questions and answers asking for help and advise.

You can already use voice messaging in private groups through popular messaging apps such as Messenger, WhatsApp, WebChat and Kik, but these voices are not public and they are not searchable. So how about the ability to post your voice notes to the public and for anyone in the world to be able to find your voice and talk back?

Well, now you can podcast and get your voice out on the World Wide Web for free. Sound Branch is a free cloud-based platform where you can start with a 10-second seed and then branch out with further 10 second recordings called branches.

This allows non-linear conversation and podcasts, where topics can drift off in all sorts of directions and tangents. Most conversations in the world are not recorded but this is starting to change with smart homes, Amazon Echo and Google Home listening into our conversations. With this in mind, there is also an Alexa Skills available for Sound Branch accessible on the Amazon Echo.

Whether we are talking to our TV to change a channel, talking to our connected car or talking to our Amazon Echo to play music people are starting to use voice-controlled technology and assistants to do stuff. And whilst it’s fine for Siri to talk back with its computer voice or for Alexa to reply, they don’t always understand what you say. Humans however do and humans’ brains are still more powerful than supercomputers. So I think it’s much more interesting to talk to your Amazon Echo than to talk to virtual assistants. And whilst virtual assistance through machine learning trying to have more of a personality they aren’t there yet.

In summary, voice search is coming and 50% of people will be using their voice to search the internet by 2020. With this sweeping change in technology and users not needing to touch their screens, opportunities for new platforms and media will emerge. Sound Branch is one of those platforms that take advantage of voice technology connecting human beings. Sound Branch makes podcasting available to the many, not the few and lets everyone grow their voice in new ways. Sound Branch allows you to talk to people around the world and broaden your horizons!

There are many things you need to consider in order to create a popular podcast. For example, the audio equipment for producing high-quality audio and a room, perhaps, which is sound dampened to ensure there is no echo.

When you are recording your audio it is worth making sure your computer’s volume is at 70% and that the gain on your microphones is at around 60%. This way, if your listeners want to increase the volume of your podcast they can.

Setting the scene for your podcast, making sure the narrator reads with enthusiasm and excitement are all aspects of best practice.

So scripting is yet another hurdle to creating an authentic podcast. Now, if you can remove the need for a script it becomes the cheapest method of producing media. No scripts mean podcasting is cheaper than blogging and its video counterparts.

By eliminating scripting and the need to edit the audio you can mass produce podcasts just-in-time. So how is this humanly possible? What would you need to do to avoid scripting and audio editing?

Now I’m not saying you don’t need to plan your podcast. Nor am I saying you don’t need to think about what you are going to say or read around a subject in question but by using Sound Branch you can accelerate the speed of production of podcasting and make podcast creation accessible to all.

So how does it work? Well, the key principle is that all audio is recorded in 10-second bites. Narrators can re-record these 10-second bites, playback, and only post when they are happy with the quality. So the pattern goes somewhat like this. Think, speak for 10 seconds and post, think, speak for 10 seconds and post.

To grab the attention of audiences, it is good to change your voice in a podcast, and Sound Branch allows other people to contribute to a concept of seeds and branches. You start with a 10-second seed, which can be posted using your SoundBranch.com account or your Sound Branch mobile app. The mobile app is free to download on Google Play for Android and the Apple App Store for iPhone users. From a 10 second seed, either yourself or other users can branch with further 10 second recordings on the subject in question.

So there is no need for audacity or Adobe Audition. All you need is a computer with a microphone built in, which most modern laptops have these days, or alternatively a smartphone with an internet connection. Your audio is recorded and posted on the cloud and Sound Branch is hosted on scalable and secure AWS technology.

And finally, you can create a podcast that is non-linear in nature. This means listening to a seed and then navigate off different branches to consume differing stories. So you don’t need fancy software or to script anyone, you can get podcasting straight away. All your podcasts are discoverable by SoundBranch.com because all voice notes are converted to text. So people can simply Sound Branch your thoughts and start listening to what you have to say from anywhere around the world!

To everyone, ten seconds is a very short space of time. Think of what you usually do in ten seconds. You can tie your shoes, post a letter, open a door. But what if you could sell your business? There are countless theories about how you can make every moment of the day mean something, and most come to the same conclusion: it isn’t the time scale that matters, it’s what you do with it. Imagine if you could get more done in ten seconds than most people get done in a lifetime, all with a simple voice clip. Sound Branch aims to help you with just that, providing you with the stage you need to get people interested in your business.

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of how you can attract people to your business using the Sound Branch app:

What are you advertising? This may sound like a silly question, but it’s one so many seem to miss the mark on. You want to get to the crux of what you’re selling- whether that be a product, collaboration, or your core message. For example, if you’re a charity, your business sells itself on ethical practices, and it won’t be your services that are the selling point of your company. Therefore, there’s no need to elaborate within your ten seconds if it won’t help promote your business. Simplify it, strip it down, and say exactly what it is that will get your market interested in you.

Say something people haven’t heard before – In the business world, people hear a lot of white noise. Many often promise the same thing, and even if they’re not, it’s easy to tune out of what they’re saying because of how they’re saying it. Ask yourself what makes your business different, what makes it useful to people, and zone in on that. Try to avoid slipping into sounding like every other business, but also pay attention to what works- it’s okay to gather inspiration. To make sure you know how it sounds, it’s worth recording your clip and running it by people who can help. This way, you can finely tune it to stand out from the crowd.

Be specific – You’ve been hearing it since your days learning how to write essays, and it’s a principle that will be floating about for the rest of your working career. Try and be as specific as possible. Think of the ten seconds as your headline, your jingle, the first thing your target market will see. If you’d prefer to be short and snappy, choose words that have the most impact and emphasise them; if you want to convey as much information as you can in your short space of time, avoid filler words where possible. Try not to pause, be as clear as you can, and most importantly slow down. It won’t get you anywhere if you speak too fast for people to hear, or are mumbling into the microphone. You can always replay it, or re-record it until it sounds perfect.

Be accessible – Headlines account for 90% of advertising dollar, so if you’re treating your voice clip as such, you’ve got to get it right. This is where Sound Branch doesn’t just help with giving you your ten seconds. Your voice notes can go anywhere, either on your public feed, into group chats, or to one person, so it’s wise to think about who you’re targeting. Once you’ve nailed this, you can choose your words and your tone of voice to match your audience, personalising it to make your business as accessible as you want it.

To start making your ten seconds count, make sure to download Sound Branch.

Let’s face it, texts are not always the best form of communication. You’ve probably struggled to convey your emotions or figure out the true feelings of others through text messages. How many hours upon hours have you wasted with your fingers fixing words and phrases to get it just right? So often, texts mask the true meaning of the original intent. As a busy sales director, you need to implement national sales plans and supervise regional sales managers with the utmost organization. Your time, energy and effort are always being tested.

Well, there’s a new voice notes app called Sound Branch that looks very promising. It will literally take the burden of text away, and personalize what should really be personal. The concept is pretty simple – but highly effective. Just say what you want in 10 seconds and your recording is converted to text. It’s quick and to the point. No more wasting time pecking away on the keyboard. Communication can be private or public. For example, create audio and correspond back and forth with a sales manager – a single private conversation. Need more than one person involved in the discussion? The groups chat feature is the way to go. Want to go completely public? With this option, you can actually have all your texts be a part of a “public timeline”, that anyone on the web can see.

The really cool thing is that all of your text conversations are searchable! Want to refresh your memory on a topic you discussed at a previous meeting? No problem, just enter a few keywords and your conversation will pop up. Your meeting was recorded and everyone has access so there are no questions as to what was discussed.

Sound Branch lets you use your voice to say it with heart! It gives you a place where everyone is on your level and we can all be within reach. Ten seconds is just enough time to keep it concise and to the point! Eliminate rambling and unnecessary chatter. It’s all about just getting down to business.

For Sales Directors this is very convenient to use among your sales team and even with clients. Sound Branch will allow you to reduce the number of back and forth emails and the amount of meetings you have to manage and attend. If you have remote workers overseas, using the app can be a real time saver with keeping up with tasks. In fact, research has shown that people prefer to use voice messaging at home to in the office, something Sound Branch allows you to do seamlessly while you are out and about from the office.

The Sound Branch app is free and is available via the Apple store,  or via Google Play. You can also go directly to soundbranch.com.

Once you’ve signed up, you can create your public Sound Branch profile by simply speaking about your education, experience, skills, certificates and interests. You can then share your profile on social media thru your profile page link. All of your messages will be stored at https://soundbranch.com.
Sound Branch can provide powerful search, both web-based and in-app recording, analytics and dashboards, private group, chat and public voice messaging, audio profiles, speech to text and instant notifications.

So, there you have it. Sound Branch truly is the Voice Messaging App for Sales Directors! If you are ready to supervising your regional sales managers, manage remote teams more effectively, and reduce the need for meetings and missed phone calls, this voice messaging app is definitely worth checking out. The voice of your world is always with you, no matter where in the world you are.

Download Sound Branch and get started with better communication today. Grow your voice at soundbranch.com.

In a Nutshell:
Soundbranch is a similar experience to using email, but way better as you simply use your voice as opposed to your fingers. Sound Branch is a faster way for your team to keep in touch. Discuss your projects, share ideas and make decisions… faster.

In a world where businesses are growing at an unprecedented rate, the need for new employees is inevitably climbing alongside them. With this burst comes a demand for quick and effective recruitment tools to match their fast-paced environments. Enter Sound Branch, a new app with the aim of making the hiring process as smooth as possible – for both prospective candidates and recruiters.

We understand that it’s hard to move away from what companies are used to, but we’ve put together a few reasons why Sound Branch may just be the key to getting round those pesky problems that keep cropping up.

#1- It’s Quick

From setting up to becoming a full fledged user, everything about Sound Branch is designed to be quick. Sign up with your Google, Facebook or Twitter accounts in just a few clicks, follow your contacts, then send your voice notes. It’s as easy as that.

With 10 second recording windows, you are forced to be concise. The information you send becomes more efficient, making the whole process much quicker. For those worried about rambling on, and for those who are worried about details being missed out, you can always send more than one voice clip. Or, even better, use the text box above your recording to write anything you’ve missed. It’s this beautifully quick interface that allows things like preliminary interviews, or even full interviews, to be carried out within minutes, making it easier for everyone involved.

#2- Giving Feedback is No Longer a Chore

In 2015, only 41% of interviewees received feedback from prospective employers, leaving a whopping majority without feedback. And this is a problem that is only worsening. In fact, as Alexandra Levit says, “unfortunately, [the practice of not contacting a candidate if they aren’t chosen for the position] is the norm.” With reasons reasons ranging from lack of time, to other priorities taking hold in the business, typing up a detailed response to candidates is becoming less attractive to employers.

This is where Sound Branch can help. It removes the faff of writing an email, and the temperamental nature of phone calls. Instead, you record their feedback into ten seconds of speech- and that’s it. With employees being four times more likely to consider an employer if they’ve been given feedback, this ultimately benefits both parties, and means that job updates, good or bad, can be sent in an instant.

#3- Removes the Pressure of a Phone Call

These days, it comes as no surprise that 92% of adults admit to being nervous before an interview, with 15% being concerned about giving the right answer. It’s a fear that invokes exam fever. You work hard for it, but then have it thrown away in a few minutes just because the right answer wasn’t in your head at the right moment. For both parties, this hardly seems like the best way to know you’re considering the right person.

While Sound Branch is aimed at promoting fast business, the most unexpected- but often useful aspect- is that you can send and record in your own space, in your own time, not just on the spot. Replay it back and re-record if you need to, tweak that word you’re unsure on. Take a deep breath, and give the best answer, your best self, to your prospective employer.

#4- Makes the Workplace a Social Hub

It’s not just in the recruitment process that Sound Branch helps. From the get-go, cultivating a positive environment in the workplace is essential. So much so, that studies have found that 70% of people with good social relationships live longer, and what better place to start than in the workplace?

A better working environment attracts more interest, and therefore higher-grade applicants. In turn, this helps a business run in the best way it can. Sitting at your desk to email the person in the next room, or running into trouble when someone can’t turn up to work one day is the epitome of this problem. This is something Sound Branch can help with. At the end of the day, debrief your team in personalised huddles, brainstorm ideas, or update those who have missed out. All in the most conveniently social way possible.

At the end of the day, Sound Branch does exactly what it aims to do, and gets things done, and is the perfect app to complete your modern day business.

If you aren’t sure just yet, make sure to try it out for yourself here.

This short video gives an introduction to the Sound Branch voice notes app for iOS devices.

Sound Branch iOS App Video from Sound Branch on Vimeo.

Introduction to Search on SoundBranch.com

Overview of Sound Branch Web Inbox

Audio Profile Overview

We just wanted to say thank you for sharing your feedback for Sound Branch. Our mission is to bring you the best voice messaging app, so it’s great to hear so many of you love it.

Here is how users are finding the app! (Click ‘Play All Clips’)

We are trying hard to make Sound Branch the best voice notes app in the market, so thanks to all of you who have given us such amazing feedback.

If you’d like to share your love for the app please leave an App Store or Google Play review too.

We are always here to help. If you have any questions please get in touch.

In August 2017, the Founder of Sound Branch, Sean Gilligan, was interviewed by Nick Ahad on BBC Radio Leeds.

Sean talks about the benefits of using Sound Branch as well as how the app can be evolved into a billion dollar company.

You can listen to the interview below.