Voice Over Trends - What to Watch for in 2016

New year, new trends. That’s the way of the world, and the same is true in the voice over industry. Past years have shown an increase in VO entrepreneurs, e-learning, and video game voice over - so what does 2016 have in store for us? Here are the trends to watch for:

●     Guy/Girl Next Door - The “announcer” voice used to be the “it” sound in voice over. In recent years, however, this has shifted into something decidedly less authoritative, and what is sometimes referred to as the “guy next door” sound. And while this isn’t necessarily a new trend, it’s one that is expected to grow exponentially in the coming year. People like the easy relatability of this sound, and it will undoubtedly remain extremely popular.

●     Storytelling - What better way to get a message across than through a storytelling format that engages the listener from beginning to end? That’s what marketers have asked themselves, and the answer they keep coming back to is through storytelling. It’s proven to be an effective branding tool that comes across as conversational and authentic, and ultimately helps to make a connection between brand and consumer.

●     Brand Voice - Speaking of branding, many companies are looking for just the right voice to represent their brand. In 2016, this trend will certainly continue, as businesses realize the unique advantages that result when designating a single voice or sound to their products and services. That sound then becomes familiar and recognizable, which can translate into significant consumer conversions. 

●     Accessibility - With more and more focus on the digital world, and more people than ever having access to computers and the internet, we’ll see a push by businesses to create websites that are accessible for all. Including read-aloud features on websites can expand their presence to include people who are visually-impaired or for those who just plain don’t want to read. And who will take on the job of converting the written words into an audio feature? Voice over actors.

These are just a few of the trends that many experts say we’ll see in 2016. Voice over is an industry that’s always changing, always evolving, and I’m confident that we’ll see even more in the way of trends for this year.