Contact me for a quote today!

Michele Koch

Voice Actor

So You Want Get In to Voiceover

Voice Over Business

studio recording

Those of us who are voice over artists frequently get asked, “How do you get started in voice over? Just google it. Some good folks and some slimy websites will answer that question for you. The good folks give an honest answer. the slimy ones make it sound really easy. Indeed, I recently met with a friend who was also interested in the voice over industry. And yes, she wanted to know how to do it.

 

Here’s a quick recap of my conversation.

Me: Why are you interested in voice over?

Friend: My friends tell me my voice sounds nice on the phone and I should get in to voice acting.

Me: Do you want to?

Friend: Yeah, kinda. I think it might be fun. (RED FLAGS  here ‘ yeah, kinda”…’might be fun’)

Me: Ok. Have you done any research?

Friend: No, I’m talking to you. So this is my first research.

Me. Do you have an idea about the monetary investment it might take?

Friend:  I’m guessing it might be maybe $1000-$2000.  But I don’t know.

Me:  Do you have an acting background?

Friend:  NO. Not at all.

Me:  Did you know that there are lots of ways a person can be a voiceover artist.

Friends: What do you mean? I was just thinking commercials, like TV or radio.

Me:  Ok. So here’s some basics.  You should do A LOT of research. Blogs, FB groups, books. podcasts. Then if you’re still interested, you should think about what genre you might like – yes, commericials, but also audio books, elearning, explainer videos, narration, promos, animation… then you’ll need to find a coach. I can recommend several. You’ll need the right equipment and learn some editing software. Then when your coach tells you you’re ready, he or she will tell you it’s time to get a demo – through the coach or a separate producer.  You could be at this for several months before that point.  Some people it can take over a year. My personal investment, including coaching, demos, voice conferences, equipment, has been… (and here I tell her my actual investment to date…her eyes get really, really big).

Friend: Wow. I didn’t realize it was all that.

Me: You have to be very passionate about your desire to be a successful voice over. And have the mindset to stay the course – it’s a marathon, a journey.  Are you still interested?

Friend.  Not really. No. I thought I could just buy a microphone and start auditioning.

Folks, there are no shortcuts.Being a successful voice over artist takes training, more training, demos, equipment, marketing, tenacity, and stick to it-ness. Need a little more guidance? Conact me. I’m happy to talk.

 

Top Three Ways Adding Voiceover is Key to Successful Branding

Business

What is the sound of your business?

For entrepreneurs concerned with branding, much of their focus is on the look and feel of the generated materials whether print or digital through online platforms, how it relates to their emotions and the story they wish to tell, all of it created with an attention to detail about visuals, including color palettes, fonts, art work, video or still images, and the like. But when it comes to the voiceover work, too many businesses completely ignore the branding opportunities of the human voice, letting the Fates give them the voice of their business.

But let me ask you – does it make solid marketing sense to obsess over how a business looks… and then ignore how it sounds?

What is the sound of Geiko? It’s comedian and British voiceover Jake Wood. We’d know his voice anywhere. What is the sound of Lexus? Another British voice, this time an Oscar nominated actress Minnie Driver.

What is the sound of your business?

Voiceover – Giving your Business a Distinctive Voice in a Market of Babble

Genuinely savvy marketers and business owners understand the importance of voiceover work. Progressive Insurance surely understands this – most reading this can probably hear Flo’s voice in their head.

But why? Why should you, a small business owner, invest in voiceover work?

1. Voiceover gives Branding Consistency via the 2nd Most Important Sense.

Vastly important in commercials, and especially so for radio spots, having a consistent voice across multiple channels doubles your brand reinforcement. Don’t focus solely on the look of your marketing, make sure the sound of it matches as well.

2. Voiceover Gives Personality

Who is your company? Are you fun? Serious? Sassy? Texan? A combination of these? The right voice will give your branding a true personality, turning visual cues into audio reassurance. Inflection, pitch, tonality, word choice, cadence, more, are all important aspects to consider for the voice of your business.

3. Voiceover is Flexible

Voiceover gives a tremendous amount of flexibility to your business, enhancing your branding across channels not typically thought of as ‘marketing’: Phone Prompts. Narration. Training Videos. Capital Raising Videos. Corporate Events. Translation. Having the same voice on these, in addition to your advertisements, sends a powerful, reinforcing message to all audiences.

Voiceover – Branding Reinforcement by Personality

The use of the same professional voiceover actor(s) give the experienced marketing professional unparalleled flexibility in building your company’s brand and personality. Do not make the mistake of ignoring the 2nd most important sense in your marketing efforts, the one which gives your firm a true personality.

Contact me, Michele Koch, today to discuss your voiceover needs. Please email me at michele@michelekoch.com, or call 865-221-7676 to set up a conversation.