Hiring a Voice Over Artist Over the Web

The sheer number of voice over actors vying for jobs today can be a little overwhelming when you're looking for the one perfect candidate to represent your project. Take your search online can be a great way to streamline the process of finding the right voice actor for the job.

When piecing together a multimedia project, you shouldn't underestimate the resources that are freely available on the Internet. Online databases can, for example, allow you to find a perfect sample script at no cost to you, or can serve as valuable reference material if you are writing your own script. Many voice professional nowadays maintain personal websites containing their portfolios and samples of the voice work they have done in the past. Checking out online samples of potential hires' work is a great way to save time during the hiring process.

Though the web can definitely make your search for talent quicker and more efficient, without the appropriate strategy it can turn into a gigantic waste of time. Potential voice actors you find online, for example, may not be as reliable as they first appear, and may delay your progress by failing to submit their samples in a timely manner. These kinds of obstacles can be easily surmounted, however, with a little bit of know-how. Here are some valuable tips on hiring voice talent on the web:

1. After you you initially contact a potential hire, ask for a sample of their work. If the person in question is the true professional they claim to be, they will have .mpeg samples on hand to send to you, or will direct you to a site where you can heir their work. This first step goes a long way towards weeding out candidates who aren't serious about getting the job.

2. Ask potential hires for a resume. Any serious voice actor or actress should be able to provide a formal resume, complete with his or her employment history and references. Speaking of references, they're there for a reason; you should make sure to contact two or more of the past employers listed in order to get a balanced assessment of the performance you can expect from a potential hire.

3. Request a preferred rate. Many voice over professionals have an expected rate for each project, and you'll want to know about both hourly and per-project rates. Some professionals will request payment only after final delivery, while others will require a portion upfront with the remainder due at the end of the project.

4. Conduct a telephone interview. Telephone interviews are best for any talent you may not have the opportunity to meet with in person. Telephone interviews can touch upon previous work, a brief script reading, and to gauge the confidence level of your candidate.

5. Ask if they can provide all services digitally. Some professionals have the equipment and skills to record the voice over in their home studio, convert it into a media file for review, and allow you to download it directly from the web. Find out what your options are, and plan accordingly to save on mailing fees, travel expenses, and other costs typically incurred for projects of this scope.

Choosing Voice Over Scripts For Talent Interviews

If you're considering hiring voice over talent for an upcoming project, you'll need to schedule an interview, review demo tapes, and request a sample script reading from potential applicants. Voice over scripts make it easier to find just the right match for your business, and can make the interview process much more valuable. Think of the script as a sample of work your applicants can produce for you.

There isn't a hard and fast rule as to how long you should give your applicants to rehearse the sample script. In most cases, an hour or two should be sufficient. This is because this type of reading is most commonly conducted in a studio setting, in which the applicant is free to read off of the script. Once the actor or actress has had time to familiarize him or herself with the script and practice lines, he or she should be ready to perform a reading.

The general demographic group that you are targeting will be the chief determining factor in the style and tone of the sample script you ultimately choose. Deciding in advance as to what vocal styles will be appropriate for your target market is important for the efficiency of the hiring process, as you will otherwise find yourself performing excessive numbers of interviews with applicants who are not right for the job.

In order to decide what sample scripts you will use, you will need to think about several different factors; you will need to select scripts that will give you a good idea of the breadth and nature of your applicants' talents. To make sure that you choose voice talent that is a tonal and stylistic match with what your business is trying to accomplish, you will also want to consider what type of marketing you're trying to create. What are the general themes you're looking to tackle? Will the tone be authoritative, or do you want to make listeners laugh? These decisions will guide you in the selection of your sample scripts.

In order to find a suitable voice over sample script, possibly free of charge, all you need to do is consult on of the many script databases available on the Internet. With the resources at your disposal, it should be a cinch to find something that matches the tone and style you have chosen. Even if you've decided to write your own sample script, the scripts you can find online, free of charge, can provide invaluable help as reference materials, if you have a good idea of what you're looking to create.

Last of all, you are going to want to obtain a demo script of each applicant. These demos should allow yourself to compare and contrast the performances of the applicants side by side. To this end, you shouldn't just have your potential voice actors read one script; have them real several, with varying tone and subject matter, so that you can judge the versatility of your applicants, and the styles to which they are each uniquely suited. If you do not want to record these demos in your studio, you can request that applicants submit them with their initial applications.

Why Hiring A Voice Over Artist Is Good For Your Business

No matter how badly you think you need to save money, it is never a good idea for a merchant to read his own commercial—unless, of course, he has a talent for it. The truth is, however, that most people don't. They may succeed in giving their commercial an air of originality, but that isn't a good thing if it results in people laughing at your commercial. And people are less likely to purchase your product or service if they don't respect you.

Many people mistakenly underestimate the importance of the voice over talent they use when approaching the public, because many people mistakenly believe that all they have to do to sell their product or service is to let people know that it's there. As long as they do something memorable, people will buy from them, right? Wrong. They may remember the guy with the funny voice or the guy who read in a monotone or tried to act out a little skit with his brother, but they'll buy from the guy who hired a professional to do his commercial.

And that is the heart of the matter. There is a purpose behind buying airtime and creating a commercial—you are trying to convince people to do something. You're trying to talk them out of their hard-earned cash, to come and give it to you in exchange for what you have to offer. You are trying, in other words, to impress them. If they sense that you didn't care enough about your marketing to do it correctly, then they will not be impressed. In fact, if you attempt to convince them using a very bad commercial, they may even feel as though you are insulting their intelligence, and that is definitely something you don't want.

When your commercial airs, it should sound professional. This makes you look professional. It may be the first contact a potential customer has with your business. In this way, your commercial is like your clothing. You wouldn't wear something sloppy and poorly assembled to go meet a client, so why would you present them with a sloppy and poorly assembled piece of advertising? Even though the voice telling the world about your service has nothing to do with how well you do what you do, in the same way the state of your clothing has nothing to do with how good you are at your job, you want to make the best impression possible with that voice, just as you would with your suit.

So what are the elements of a well-read commercial that a professional voice-over artist can give you? Professionalism is one very important thing that you will get. Your brother-in-law can't give you that in reading your commercial, because he doesn't know how. Just because he's been speaking all his life doesn't mean that he does it well. In fact, most people don't speak well. Speaking well is partly about pronouncing the words clearly so that people can understand, and partly about doing that so that it sounds natural.

Everyone in need of a commercial has to do it in the way they think is best, of course. For some it actually may not matter if they put out a professional-sounding commercials. Some customers may truly not care. However, someone who wants potential customers to associate his business with a voice that sounds professional, then it is vitally important that he hire a professional to do the talking.

Podcasting and Blogging are Becoming Ubiquitous

In the fast paced world of today’s internet communications it can be easy to forget about the success of “old-fashioned” advertising. Now a days, marketing is driven by websites, blogs and email; such as, podcasts, vlogging, and multimedia on the web. This means your business needs a marketing strategy that includes voice overs, creative photography, and videos.

Before television and the internet, the world turned on the radio to get their daily news and commercials. Voice over artists were in high demand back then since many companies turned to radio to advertise and promote their products and services. By the time television became the norm, people were already familiar with ‘hearing’ a lot of advertisements; the T.V. took this to a whole new level with much more sound and images.

Flash forward fifty years and people are turning to another medium for entertainment and knowledge; the internet has grown to become one of the technological forerunners for advertisers and marketers, and prompts visitors to simply read sales letters and pitches as oppose to listening to them. However, this is quickly changing with the development of podcasting, online videos, and other multimedia across the web.

Now that podcasting and blogging are becoming ubiquitous, your company needs a powerful message that impresses visitors and listeners so they remember the brand long-term. The same impact that radio ads had on the listening audience in the 50’s is coming back in full swing with online advertising, videomercials, and podcasting. Voice over actors and actresses now play an important role in presenting your business’s marketing message, slogan, and can even promote your brand. Hiring the best voice over artist (with the assistance of a voice talent agency) is a positive way to create advertisement and attract new customers right away.

Voice overs can be applied to short commercial segments, introducing products on a web site, podcasting, or just making a radio advertisement. If you’re considering about producing a television commercial, you’ll need a voice over artist to perform the script so it is appealing and creates the kind of impact you’re looking for.

For companies that want a competitive edge on the web - voice overs are becoming more and more crucial to their success. Creative slogans, ‘jingles’, and songs can still have a strong influence on visitors and potential customers, and are essential when you’re advertising on the radio as a part of your plan. Introducing voice overs into your marketing helps to strengthen your brand, create an identity, and even build a strong relationship with potential customers.

Print advertising may have less impact as more people turn to audio and video on the web. Why bother investing your marketing budget in an area where people are paying attention? Audio and video segments that are developed with a voice artist can produce the effect you need and make your advertising message stand apart from the competition.

The world is filled with voice overs.

The sounds of voice-over artists are everywhere. In fact, your world is filled with it, and you probably don't even realize it. Or at least you didn't before you started thinking about hiring one of them. If you're wondering why you never noticed voice actors before, it's because you typically aren't supposed to. One of the best things about being a voice actor is the ability to get someone's attention while at the same time redirecting their attention from the speaker to the service being described. That sounds a bit difficult when you begin to actually think about it, doesn't it? If you try to create these results yourself, you are only going to wind up drawing everyone's attention to you and off of your product, which ain’t very good. That's the biggest reason you need to hire a professional if you are in need of a voiceover.

Consider the huge number of places that voice overs wind up, and that is after thinking about jingles and T.V. But you can use voiceover artists to introduce your special event or your commercial website. Heck, you can even use an actor to announce your personal website if you really want it out there badly enough. Many people decide to voice those types of projects for themselves. Maybe it's because they don't think of them as important enough to hire an actor. In that case, why are they bothering with it at all? If it is worth your effort, it is worth doing right.

For example, if you want to produce an audio book, why would you even consider voicing it yourself - unless, of course, you have a professional-grade talent. And most people simply don't. Then you have corporate videos and educational videos, which are very helpful and can be highly lucrative - if done professionally. If you have a good script, and the listeners enjoy hearing the narrator, then you have a message that can bring you a measure of success. But if people can't stand listening to the voice for one reason or another, then your message is in trouble.

“But I talk to people with this voice all the time!” you may protest. True, but your listening audience will tolerate a lot more face-to-face than they will tolerate on a recording. And are there people actually paying to have you speak at this point? Probably not. If they are, then stop reading here. This article is not for you.

You might think that using an amateur or doing it yourself will save you cash. Starting out, yes, but if this is a money-making venture you are planning, it will probably cost you money in the long run. Sounding silly can cost you the respect of the people you're trying to impress. People are more likely to spend their money with businesses who give them the impression that they know what they're doing. If they see you bumbling around in a recording, as so many wannabes do, then they are going to have second thoughts about spending their money with you.

How To Use A Voice Artist In Your Marketing

Connecting with your buying audience is the main purpose of your advertising campaign, but discovering which avenues will work is often a bit of a crapshoot. Now that webinars, online advertising, and podcasts are opening new avenues of communication, more companies are working on high-impact slogans and messages to boost their brand. Radio and television advertising still offer a lot benefits, and each and every one of these sales and marketing channels are made better with the use of a voice over.

Combining a voice actor to your marketing strategy will help to create a unique message and differentiate your brand. Whether you’re intending to persuade your customers to buy something, deliver news, or just entertain your audience, voiceovers can help you deliver your message in a memorable way. An effective delivery of you advertising message assists in creating a powerful presence for your company; consider how often a jingle, slogan, or just one sentence can work it’s way into pop culture. Placing the right voice behind your message can definitely make or break your sales and marketing campaign.

The first item to think about with a voice over is what your current target market is like. Consider demographics such as age, ethnicity, and location. If you’re marketing to customers in the South, for instance, you may choose voice talent and advertising concepts that have the components of Southern culture and a Southern accent. When your clientèle can resonate with the tone and message, they’re much more likely not to forget the message, slogan, and most importantly, your company.

The second thing to ponder is how to hire the right voice artist. Voice over actors can be represented by an agent, or they might have created their own website and online profile. Some voice over artist directories can also help you focus your quest; these can be searched by age, type, background, or keyword so you can find a strong match with less legwork involved. If you decide to use a voice over talent agent, you might paying a fee for services. Still, the agent can help you track down a pro voice over actor who has experience in the field, and maybe even a strong list of references.

The 3rd item to think about is how long you will need to contract your voice artist for. If you’re creating a marketing strategy that includes different marketing messages and advertising for extended periods of time, you’ll want to develop a contract with your voice actor. Since you don’t want to keep switching voice actors and destroy the memorable “voice” of your image, consider how you can negotiate payment for the long-term, and plan on hiring the voice actor for more than one campaign at a time. In many cases, costs are negotiable, and you can research current fees online so that you can make a compelling offer.

Voice overs are an excellent method to enhance your image and extend a professional representation with your sales campaign. From online-radio to podcasting, voiceovers play a essential role in projecting the best message to your clients.

Some Things You Should Know About Hiring A Voice Over Artist

From radio-commercials to podcasts, locating the best voice over talent for your company and image is crucial part of your advertising efforts. Voice overs play a part in persuading, entertaining, educating, and generating interest from your target-market. No matter what type of message or ads you are looking to promote, a voice over artist can assist you in creating the dynamic message you need.

Locating the right fit for your voice over artist is crucial in today’s highly-competitive marketplace; you must create a marketing message that jives with your clients and helps to ensure that your business stands above the competition. The process of hiring can be slow, but finding a voice over talent agent can make it easier to locate the best fit. Never the less, there are many ways to track down someone who can assist you in developing the right advertising and marketing message you need. These are some basic do’s and don’ts when hiring a voice artist for your marketing campaign.

Do ask for references. Finding out how the voice over talent has been with other customers and clients can provide some insights on how well they may fit with your company’s goals.

Don’t just listen to only one sample. Ask for at least 3-5 different examples that demonstrate how flexible and adaptable the voice over talent may be. Professional voice over artists should be able to create a bunch of voices and adjust their intonations to meet the demands of your message.

Do request more than one interview. The 1st interview may be strictly to review the person’s qualifications and discover more about their background. The second and third interview might include tests or evaluations, so plan ahead and devise a series of interviews to focus your choice.

Don’t skip online talent. Many talented voice over artists can now be found on the web, and have their own homepage and portfolio for your review. This can make hiring much easier, and you’ll have a far greater comprehension of their background with the audio files and related-links that are accessible online.

Do select a voice that complements your target audience. Customers in your demographic are much more likely to appreciate someone who sounds like their own friends, neighbors and coworkers. Don’t be afraid to invest the time to find at least three distinct qualities or characteristics of your demographic, and seek out voice over talent with the same traits.

Remember to request ask for demo Mp3s. You can review these after the interview, and having them on hand can make it easier for you compare them to all the other voice artists with ease. Don’t forget about those Mp3 or demo-tapes so you can do an ‘apples to apples’ comparison when it comes time to make the final decisions.

Hiring the right voice artist is vital part of creating your sales messages, and you will need to do some research in your market to find out what your clients like the most. Finding a voice over artist with a good track record will make the process of developing your campaign much nicer; take the time to interview and review each applicant to determine just the perfect match.