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.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, February 11, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Voice Talent Makes Stuff Sound Better
When you begin to think of it logically, you know how important it is for your audio project to have the best voice behind it. After all, voices are powerful. Even though they often take a backseat in our minds to a person's appearance without the perfect voice, looks ain't nothin'. And if the voice talent is all you have to go on – for instance, in a radio commercial – then the voice becomes the most important thing in the world.
A person who knows just how to use their voice can control another person just by talking. This is a startling concept the first time you consider it, but when you think about some of the most famous voices in the world, you will understand just how correct that is. Consider, for example, the actor Michael Wincott.
He's an attractive guy, but of course in the world of acting that doesn't mean a whole lot. It's just too common. But this guy gets role after role after role based on the power of his voice. He has a voice that can keep you looking over your shoulder, long after the movie is over, because you're just a little worried that the latest Michael Wincott character may just be lurking in the shadows. Remember the movie, The Count of Monte Cristo? He was the warden with the whip and the gravelly voice. Fans of the movie weren't quite sure which was more frightening, the whip – or that voice. That voice is what gets him work.
Consider, also, Clint Eastwood. Of course, that unflinching, squinty stare of his is something to write home about. But what do people do when they're doing their best Eastwood impression? They give some love to the stare, but mostly they love the way he said, “Come on punk. Make my day.” Like Wincott, Eastwood has a gravelly characteristic in his voice. But once upon a time, he knew where all the pauses were supposed to happen, and that made him something worth watching. He was worth watching because he was worth hearing.
Another actor who made great use of his voice was Marlon Brando. Now this guy had a nasally cotton-mouth voice that, untrained, would have been unpleasant. But he became an actor. He learned how to speak. He took something that stood out and made it a trademark. The rest, my friend, was timing. When he said, “I made him an offer he couldn't refuse,” as the Godfather, he didn't just say a cleverly written line – he said it with emphasis. With weight. What we are responding to isn't something these guys do because of who they are. They've been schooled. Therefore, when they said those lines, the audience never knew what hit them. But they knew that it was important.
Of course Michael Wincott, Clint Eastwood and Marlon Brando won't be available for your commercial, but they make great models to study when you are learning how voices affect audiences. You want to use some of the same principals in selecting your voice actor, or in deciding whether to use one. You are not the only one with a message for the public. There are thousands of other messages out there as well. You will have to seduce listeners, and that means getting and keeping their attention. A powerful voice can do that.
A person who knows just how to use their voice can control another person just by talking. This is a startling concept the first time you consider it, but when you think about some of the most famous voices in the world, you will understand just how correct that is. Consider, for example, the actor Michael Wincott.
He's an attractive guy, but of course in the world of acting that doesn't mean a whole lot. It's just too common. But this guy gets role after role after role based on the power of his voice. He has a voice that can keep you looking over your shoulder, long after the movie is over, because you're just a little worried that the latest Michael Wincott character may just be lurking in the shadows. Remember the movie, The Count of Monte Cristo? He was the warden with the whip and the gravelly voice. Fans of the movie weren't quite sure which was more frightening, the whip – or that voice. That voice is what gets him work.
Consider, also, Clint Eastwood. Of course, that unflinching, squinty stare of his is something to write home about. But what do people do when they're doing their best Eastwood impression? They give some love to the stare, but mostly they love the way he said, “Come on punk. Make my day.” Like Wincott, Eastwood has a gravelly characteristic in his voice. But once upon a time, he knew where all the pauses were supposed to happen, and that made him something worth watching. He was worth watching because he was worth hearing.
Another actor who made great use of his voice was Marlon Brando. Now this guy had a nasally cotton-mouth voice that, untrained, would have been unpleasant. But he became an actor. He learned how to speak. He took something that stood out and made it a trademark. The rest, my friend, was timing. When he said, “I made him an offer he couldn't refuse,” as the Godfather, he didn't just say a cleverly written line – he said it with emphasis. With weight. What we are responding to isn't something these guys do because of who they are. They've been schooled. Therefore, when they said those lines, the audience never knew what hit them. But they knew that it was important.
Of course Michael Wincott, Clint Eastwood and Marlon Brando won't be available for your commercial, but they make great models to study when you are learning how voices affect audiences. You want to use some of the same principals in selecting your voice actor, or in deciding whether to use one. You are not the only one with a message for the public. There are thousands of other messages out there as well. You will have to seduce listeners, and that means getting and keeping their attention. A powerful voice can do that.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Have You Ever Seen A Voice Actor At Work?
Have you ever seen a Voice Actor or Voice Actress at work? If you have you’ll notice that even though it’s only their voice being recorded, they will utilize their hands, face and what ever other body parts are necessary to create the mood, not only for themselves, but for the listeners. Even such subtle effects as nodding or shaking ones head can often be ‘felt’ in the final work.
The subtle variations in sound as the head moves away from the microphone and back, away and back are not consciously picked up, but are a subtle reverberation shift in the final product.
If you are someone looking to break into the world of being a Professional Voice Over Talent, take the time to train yourself, train your breathing and voice to be the best of the best. With the abundance of competition, only the VOPs with the most professional and polished product to offer will get the good jobs in the end.
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