Can Playing Music Enhance My Website?

Small businesses are always looking for ways to stand out from competitors. That starts with original content and images that represent the business well. The body of your website is what you need to worry about first. The extras can come later.

Sometimes a website’s music is pleasant, a sound you do not mind hearing after a long day. More often, I come across small business websites where background music overwhelms the page. It is unexpected, especially when you are already listening to something else, and turning your own music down seems easier than putting up with a mishmash of tastes for as long as you are on the site.

So is music really necessary for a small business website? In most cases, no, and in many cases it does more harm than good.

Music helps only when it is part of what you sell

Whether music makes sense depends on the website and what it sells. If your business sells music or something music-related, such as lessons, instruments or event entertainment, a sample or a player the visitor can choose to start can help them make a decision. Choose those pieces carefully so that they give visitors useful information.

If you are only adding music as background noise, think about the needs of your target audience first. Be very choosy about what you use and ask whether it truly improves the page. If you cannot name a purpose for it, leave it out.

Autoplay music drives visitors away

Imagine opening a website to buy something and hearing a song you hate playing on a loop, or a song that reminds you of something from your past. Visitors in that position cannot wait to leave, even if it means leaving empty-handed. As a customer, I want to focus on browsing or buying, not on what the website is playing. People have very different tastes in music, so it is hard to choose something that everyone will react well to.

Autoplay audio is also a technical problem. Major browsers, including Chrome, Safari and Firefox, limit or block sound that plays automatically, so your music may not play at all for many visitors. It can also startle people on phones, in offices and in public places, and it is a barrier for people who use screen readers because it competes with the spoken audio.

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If you add sound, give visitors control

If you do decide to use music or any audio, never start it automatically. Let visitors press play, and make the pause or mute button easy to find. Accessibility guidelines say that audio that plays for more than a few seconds should come with a way to pause or stop it. A clear play button respects visitors’ choices and avoids the worst of the distraction.

The same goes for video. Short, muted background video can add personality, but any video with sound should start only when the visitor chooses.

Using music can create legal problems

Each artist and music publisher handles commercial use differently. To avoid problems with copyright or licensing, find out what you are allowed to do before using any song on your website. Playing music without the right license can lead to takedown notices or fines, and it is one of the quickest ways to damage a small business’s reputation. If you want background audio, use music you have licensed for commercial use or royalty-free tracks that clearly allow it.

Decide based on your audience, not on adding something extra

This is up to each small business. Look at your website as a whole. Does your site feel as if it lacks personality? Will music add something your visitors actually value? Keep your target audience in mind as you answer. If you think your site needs audio, add it carefully, with visitor controls and the right license. If not, leave it out. It is all about what works best for the people visiting your site.