When creating commercials, explainer videos, or other marketing content that calls for a professional voice over, it can be tempting to cut corners.
Maybe asking that friend who took an acting class once to fill in on VO duties seems like a good money-saving option.
After all, what is there really to do but read the script?
Well, spoiler alert: A professional voice over involves a heck of a lot more than simply delivering lines.
The best voice overs help your brand to build trust and engage your audience while ensuring your message hits its mark.
Done right, it’s an investment that can yield serious returns, allowing you to connect more deeply with your audiences, link your brand to quality, and increase overall conversion rates.
Interested?
In this post, we’ll break down key ways a professional voice over can deliver real ROI for your marketing efforts.
Brand recognition is one of the most important aims of any marketing campaign.
The reason for this is simple.
People don’t always make immediate buying decisions. But when they do, they’re far more likely to pick a brand they’ve seen or heard before.
A great professional voice over can help in checking this box.
Just think of George Clooney’s smooth delivery and how it instantly brings Nespresso to mind.
Or Stephanie Courtney’s cheerful tone as Flo, the unmistakable voice of Progressive Insurance.
Of course, you don’t need a celebrity to be the voice of your brand. But you do need someone who knows what they’re doing.
The original Progressive voice overs, for instance, were carried out by skilled, non-famous professionals, each boasting the same style—upbeat, approachable, with just the right amount of quirk.
This consistency in sound, and the fact that the voice artists were able to convey the script in a way that was confident, professional, and on message, became part of the brand, just like a logo or slogan.
And it’s what helped make Progressive a household name in insurance.
A recognizable voice over can go a long way in building trust.
The truth is, the more familiar your marketing video feels—and a consistent VO can help plenty with that (Clooney and his coffee, anyone?)—the more likely people are to trust it.
It makes sense. If your messaging feels inconsistent, your brand can come off as more fly-by-night than ‘super fly.’
Yet trust grows from deeper roots than just familiarity.
A polished, professional voice over sends a clear signal of credibility.
When the voice sounds authentic and assured, your audience is far more likely to trust the message and take action.
And as we all know—people buy from brands they trust.
You may have put your heart and soul into your latest video marketing campaign.
You wrote the script (or using Voice Crafters free AI copywriter to do the honors for you!), voiced the final cut, edited, and then posted it— only to be met with… crickets.
It’s not you, it’s th… Well, actually, it probably is you.
As already highlighted, voice acting is more than just repeating a script. An experienced voice actor is skilled in bringing that script to life.
With the right tone, pitch, and pacing, they’ll make your content engaging enough for people to tune in and stick around.
Research shows the human voice reels in more attention from the brain than background music or ambient sounds.
So, if you’re looking for sales, website visits, or any other kind of engagement, it makes sense, then, to ensure that the human voice you’re using is compelling, fun, or interesting enough to keep your audience listening.
This segues nicely into conversion, which is the most important ROI of all.
You want your professional voice over to help you boost recognition, build trust, and create engagement so that they will become loyal customers and even brand ambassadors.
Whether it’s clicking a link, signing up for a newsletter, or making that product or service purchase, conversion is the end game.
And here’s what’s vital to know:
In our digital-first world, we’re constantly consuming content, and a bad or amateur voiceover can make even the best content (as well as the products and services they’re promoting) feel cheap and suspicious-sounding.
First impressions count.
And if the voice over on your marketing video doesn’t immediately catch attention, viewers will be quick to scroll past, swipe away, or just mentally check out.
Be aware, too, that it’s not just conversions you’re sidestepping. It’s also the credibility of your brand.
Ironically, trying to save money by skipping on getting a professional voice over for your marketing video can end up costing you more money before your video is even out the gates.
Pro voice actors typically have their own home studios complete with state-of-the-art recording equipment and a deep understanding of what quality sounds like.
They’re used to working with major companies and presenting polished, ready-to-use audio that meets professional standards.
On the flip side, going the DIY route, or hiring a bargain basement voice actor, can often lead to poor performance and sound quality.
This will likely force you to splash extra cash on editing, re-recording, or even rebranding just to get your content up to scratch.
The upshot? Using a professional voice over that gets it right the first time will save you money and headaches!
You may think the voice over to your video or audio marketing materials is just part-and-parcel of what’s expected rather than an essential piece of the overall puzzle.
But as we’ve shown, a professional voice over can not only save you money but increase your return on investment.
So, if you’re looking for professional voice actors to help move your brand forward, why not check out the Voice Crafters platform?
Our vetted talent offers voice overs in 80+ regional languages.
You can simply post your project on our online platform.
Or if you need help casting the right talent for you, drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help!
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