How to Make Marketable Sound Effects

By SFXsource

A well put together sound effect library can generate sales online as downloadable single products. With the advent of higher internet speeds and downloadable products, purchasers of sound effects seem to be moving away from bulk purchases of CDs filled with hundreds of effects to downloads of one to ten sound effects that specifically fit a particular project. By using the following tips, a sound designer can create a sound effect library that will be able to tap into this new internet revenue stream.

1. Rule number one for a marketable sound effect library is to create hundreds, if not thousands, of sound samples for sale. A good goal which will provide a broad amount of choices for potential clients is to make three thousand sound effects.

2. Video editors like to use loops that they can fit to particular scenes so create loopable elements from longer ambiances such as traffic noise.

3. A wide variety is better than a small variety with tons of repetition so its preferable to have 10 different ambiances of three clips each then one ambiance type of 30 clips.

4. Since sound effects are used for a variety of purposes, create 44.1 16bit .mp3s for use on the internet, 48k 24bit for film, .aiffs for Mac owners, and .wavs for PC users.

5. Market your sound effect library through as many online distributors as possible in order to reach the broadest range of possible customers and maximize your sales.

6. Though it takes extraordinary determination, it may be worth building your own e-commerce site to market your sounds. This site can be promoted via article writing, participation in forums, and link building.

As more and more internet users arrive online, the number of buyers for sound effects will only increase and the above tips are general fool proof guidelines for increasing the attractiveness, and thus the sales, of your library.

About the Author:

Check out SFXsource's sound effect catalog and listen to fantastic sound effects at Sound Effects and review vast amounts of royalty free production music at Royalty Free Music