Tips for Booking E-Learning Voice Over Narrator Jobs

E-Learning is a fast and efficient way to teach courses online.  Businesses find that this is the best way to train employees and customers.  It is a huge market for voice-over narrators and can be consistent with regular work.  E-Learning also gives the opportunity for repeat voice over jobs.

What is E-Learning?

E-Learning is different from documentary narration or corporate video.  Unlike audiobook voice over jobs, E-Learning places a greater emphasis on the voice engaging the audience without being able to use character voices.  The voice-over narrator has to keep interested over a long period of time.  It is all about using personality and clarity in the voice.

Different Types of E-Learning

There are four main categories that are commonly used in E-Learning, each one has its own style and its important to understand them when discussing the videos with the potential client.

• Pure Video Narration
• Click-through / text-based (similar to a PowerPoint presentation)
• Interactive (includes additional media and interaction)
• Simulations (highly interactive)

Tips for Researching and Preparing

Listen to E-learning demos from demo producers and other voice talent.

Check out the performance styles the client has used in the past when possible.  It will give you a feel for what their preferences are. See how you can fit in.

Ideally, as a voice-over narrator, you have multiple styles that you can switch between for different jobs.  Moderately paced professional, more upbeat, quick-paced. Work on adjusting your pace and speed to what the client wants. 

Qualities that A Company Looks for in A Voice Over Narrator

In addition to liking your work or your personality, there are several factors that a company will use to make a final decision when hiring a voice-over narrator.

Voice Quality – The voice-over narration should be crisp, clear, and pleasant to listen to.  It is about the likeability of the voice.

Audio Quality – It is not easy to listen to the audio if it is full of white noise, pops, and other distractions.  Many E-Learning videos are listened to with headphones, so pristine audio quality is a necessity.

Fast Turnaround – These projects require lots of editing.  Which means the recording needs to be completed in a timely manner.  Whether you are only doing the voice-over narration or the voice and editing, it needs to be a fast turnaround.  Companies do not want to wait, be mindful of the timeline.

Audio Technical Specs – The audio file format can vary greatly.  As the voice-over narrator, you are the expert and should have the ability to recommend the best format and/or be able to set it up in the preference of the company.

Voice Over Acting is a Business

You need to think of your voice over acting as a business, not a job.  When you train your mindset to consider yourself a brand, and your voice-over narration as a service, it will help you book jobs.

Marketing is a huge part of making the connections to book the jobs. 

When looking on job boards you want to search for companies who are looking for someone who will hire, manage, and work with voice actors.  This is an indicator that they have projects in the works and will have opportunities for voice-over narrators.  Reach out to the company and ask if they happen to need voice actors.  Many times, you will find they are responsive and ready to discuss right away or put you on the list when the time comes to reach out.  You are then top of mind.

Email Marketing Tips for Voice Over Actors

One of the challenges of voice over work is finding new customers and booking jobs.  Marketing is often one of the most intimidating and confusing parts of running your own business.  There are multiple ways that voice over actors find business, whether it is agents, referrals, websites, ads, and email marketing.

What is Email Marketing?

Email marketing is a type of direct marketing that promotes a product or service while developing a relationship with potential clients.  For voice over it is focused, targeted, personal outreach to potential clients who will hire you.

It is a long-term strategy that keeps you top of mind.  Keep in mind, it will not get you booked immediately.  The goal is for them to be interested to learn more about you by either listening to your demos or visiting your website.

Set up Your Strategy

First, take into account what your strengths are and what types of jobs you are best suited for.  Think about who your clients are, is its commercial work, corporate, radio, e-books, etc.

If you are a voice-over actor that works in several areas, you will need to create more than one template.  You want to have an email that speaks directly to the type of voice over actor their projects will require.  The content will vary as well as the links that you share showcasing your work.

Intriguing Subject Line and Personalize It

The subject line is the first thing that they see, and so you want to make sure that it is opened.  You want the reader to understand what the email is about and interested to read it.

The email needs to be personalized, it should have their name and other key points, their company, the type of work they hire for.  Doing the research and making it personalized will give you the edge.

Keep your message simple, informative, and short.  The worst thing is a long drawn out email.

Focus on Your Client

A strong email marketing campaign focuses on what they are looking for, what their needs are, and then how you can help them achieve that.

You want them to see you as the voice over actor expert.  Keep your tone friendly, casual, and professional.  Be sure the content of the email states clearly you are a voice-over actor and how you are ready to help them. What is the one unique thing that you alone can bring to their projects.

Call to Action

You need to give them something to do, also known as a call to action.  If you end it with something like “hope to work with you in the future”, it doesn’t make them reach out or contact you.  You want them to reply to discuss with you opportunities or go to a demo reel, so they can hear your work.  It is far better to have a link so they can hear your voice versus describing your sound.

Stay Connected with Previous Clients

Email marketing is a great way to stay connected with previous clients.  This way they don’t forget about you.  Have you added a new voice over skill set, increased your level of production work or added editing options, anything that will make working with you a better solution... a better value to them.