Do you create video material for your business? You’ll know how powerful the right voice can be to really drive home your message for your target audience. In this blog post, we will show you what to look out for when choosing a voice-over. With practical tips, we will help you find the perfect voice, deliver a convincing message and highlight your brand in an authentic way.
What is a voice-over?
A voice-over is a recorded audio track that is overlaid onto a video in order to support, supplement, or amplify the message. The voice-over in a corporate video often acts as the 'voice of the brand'. It allows you to add extra information to your video, in addition to conveying the brand messages. Think explanations about products or processes, just to name a few examples. Consider a voice-over in multiple languages to make your video accessible to an international audience.
Why is the right voice-over voice so important?
The voice is one of our most powerful means of communication. Even before we learn any words, we use our voice to make ourselves heard. Each voice is unique and reveals a lot about someone’s personality, emotions, and intentions. By the way, did you know that the Latin 'per sona' literally means 'by sound'?
This is why the choice of a voice-over voice is so crucial. The voice is the first - often unconscious - image listeners form of the person or the underlying brand. The impression left by the voice determines how credible and reliable your message comes across. Only a voice that matches the expectations of your target audience inspires trust. And trust leads to commitment. A strong voice-over ensures that people not only hear your message, but actually listen and take it on board.
With the right voice, you can activate your target audiences exactly the way you want to: by getting them to listen, understand, act, or buy. In short, a carefully considered voice-over strengthens your brand identity and video branding.
Find the perfect voice-over voice in five steps
These five steps are guaranteed to help you choose the ideal voice for your corporate video:
Step 1: Define your target audience
People respond differently to voices. What combination of voice, language and speaking style is right for you, depends on your target audience. To choose the perfect voice-over, you will first need to understand which voice best suits your audience:
- Who is my target audience?
- What does my target audience stand for?
- What kind of voice and person inspire confidence in my target audience and why?
Step 2: Capture your voice
The voice of your corporate video should not only suit your target audience, but also reflect your brand and message. The tone of voice determines how your message comes across.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Who are we as a company?
- What do we stand for?
- What kind of voice best represents us as a company and our message?
Our experience as language suppliers shows that the following tones of voice are often used:
- Enthusiastic & energetic: ideal for marketing and advertising videos
- Composed & informative: perfect for educational and instructional videos
- Confident & inspiring: excellent for corporate and presentation videos
- Powerful & resolute: suitable for official speeches or technical explanations
The wrong voice can disrupt the viewing and listening experience and reduce the impact of your video. The perfect voice-over voice, on the other hand, strikes just the right chord.
Step 3: Request sample voices and give clear instructions
Before making a final choice, listen to several sample voices. Next, provide a clear briefing:
- Tone & emotion: what mood should the voice convey?
- Pace & emphasis: how fast or slow should they speak?
- Target audience: who is the video intended for?
- Technical finishing: do you need the voice-over in unusual audio formats or with special post-processing?
Step 4: Multilingual videos: native speakers or not?
Are you targeting an international audience? A native speaker can offer three major advantages:
- natural pronunciation and intonation
- understanding of linguistic and cultural nuances, including humour, puns, and expressions
- more credibility and confidence in your brand and message
However, a neutral or international voice may be more effective in certain cases. For example, if your company operates globally, an easily understood, clear pronunciation without a strong accent can be an advantage. It depends on your target audience and the intended effect of your message.
Step 5: Ensure professional audio recordings
Even the perfect voice will lose effect if the sound quality is suboptimal. Professional recordings ensure:
- no annoying noise or echoes that reduce intelligibility
- consistent volume and sound balance
- natural intonation that reinforces the message
Want to be sure of a high-quality recording? Leave it to an experienced language services provider like ELAN Languages. We have the right professional voice actors, technical equipment, and expertise to deliver a perfectly finished voice-over.
Conclusion: the right voice-over makes all the difference
Choosing the right voice for your corporate video is crucial if you want your message to get across properly. The voice-over should connect with your target audience, strike the right chord and be recorded in excellent audio quality. A professional voice-over strengthens your brand identity, increases audience engagement, and ensures your message really hits home.
How to choose the perfect voice for your video. Ask ELAN Languages – we will be happy to find the ideal voice-over for your video productions. Contact us for advice today!