Audio guides are already an integral part of the experience in many museums. Today, however, no one wants to pick up an old museum bone to consume the content. We’ll show you why you too need a (contemporary) audio guide and how you can implement one quickly and cost-effectively.
Enhance Visitor Experience
An audio guide can provide a more immersive experience for your visitors by providing additional context, interpretation and narration. They can provide detailed information about the exhibits, the artists or creators, and the historical and cultural significance of the artworks or artefacts.
Flexibility & accessibility
Let visitors explore your museum at their own pace and on their own schedule with the help of your audio guide. Visitors can choose which exhibits to focus on and how much time to spend on each exhibit.
Make it easier for international visitors or visitors with limited language skills to understand the exhibits with audio guides in multiple languages. Audio guides can also be designed to be accessible to visitors with visual impairments or other disabilities.
Increased Engagement
Increase your visitors’ engagement by encouraging them to interact with the exhibits and give them a more personal experience. You can also make the museum experience more enjoyable for families and groups, as everyone can hear the same information and discuss the exhibits together.
Audio guides, by the way, can also be an additional source of revenue for museums, as they can be offered for a fee or as part of a premium admission package. This can help you fund new exhibitions or improve their facilities.
Bring your own device
Do away with old, unhygienic, uncomfortable and expensive rental equipment. Offer your visitors the convenience of downloading your audio guide to their own smartphone. Your visitors always have it with them anyway – so why not use it sensibly for their visit to the museum. You save on rental costs for the devices, don’t have to make any extra effort to disinfect devices after use and can always be sure that the batteries are charged… In addition, there is no need to issue and take back the equipment.
Overall, offering an audio guide – which can be used on visitors’ devices – can help museums provide a more engaging and enjoyable experience for visitors, while also facilitating access to the museum.
Tips for switching to smartphone-based audio guides
If you as a museum operator want to move your Audio Guide from rental devices to your visitors’ smartphones, there are important points you should consider. We will show you what these are:
- Ensure that there is sufficient Wi-Fi coverage or reliable cellular reception in all areas of the museum so that visitors can download the audio files quickly and without interruptions.
- Check the compatibility of the Audio Guide with different smartphone models and operating systems to ensure that it works properly on all devices.
- Develop a simple and intuitive user interface so that visitors can easily download and navigate the Audio Guide.
- Be mindful of device security and visitor privacy and ensure that the Audio Guide is safe to use on smartphones.
- Ensure that visitors can charge their smartphones if there are problems with the power supply.
- Ensure that the Audio Guide is accessible to all visitors, including those with visual or hearing impairments, for example by providing subtitles or transcriptions of the audio files.
- Clarify the terms of use of the Audio Guide clearly and understandably so that visitors know what is allowed and what is not. Avoid misunderstandings and ensure that visitors use the Audio Guide appropriately.
Phew, that’s a tough one and doesn’t sound easy or quick to do at first. We at UpVisit have recognised the need here. That’s why you’ll find the Audio Guide included in our Best Practice Package. We take care of user-friendliness and accessibility, compatibility, security and the terms of use. All you have to do is upload the audio files to our content management system – no programming work, no huge project that will block you for longer. Just a quick update of your audio guide. Start today free of charge with a 14-day trial period!
