As you develop a successful marketing and advertising plan, your creative strategy may include multimedia channels such as audio and video segments. Many companies continue to use radio and television as their primary sources of advertising, but now there are even more options with web-based advertising such as podcasting, webinars, and video commercials broadcast across the internet.

Any of these media or any combination thereof allow you valuable lines of communication, but you should never neglect to develop an effective, professionally done audio element to supplant visual or textual marketing. In addition to utilizing music and other contextual sonic elements, you may want to consider things like narration or a catchy slogan to accent your message.

In nearly every marketing situation, there is something to be said for hiring voice over talent to speak directly to potential customers. Below, I have list just six of the myriad of reason to hire a professional voice actor or actress for your campaign.

1. Voice overs can enhance your brand. Voice overs help to enhance your company's brand image and set your message apart from the rest. Consumers today are bombarded with advertising messages in print and online, and voice overs help to deliver your message in a unique way.

2. Voice over talent can give your company a professional image. Since your slogan needs to appeal to a large audience, you'll need a talented voice over artist who can capture exactly the right tone and message. Potential customers are the audience who can be entertained, enlightened, and persuaded with ease; all you need is the right voice over artist to help you embellish your brand.

3. Voice overs differentiate you from your competition. For marketers attempting to sell a product or service in an already-crowded market, the only way to position yourself as a leading member of your industry is to immediately evoke a unique, powerful presence. Professional voice overs are a great way to achieve this.

4. Voice overs help to create a high-impact message. While print and web-based media are some of the most sought-after advertising mediums available, voice overs can complement and enhance your marketing strategy. Podcasting, audio presentations, and even online commercials all require some form of narration; you can deliver your slogan or marketing message with voice overs strategically designed for high impact.

5. Hiring a voice over artist will help get your website more traffic. The customers of today are becoming more and more tuned in to newer innovations in online media, such as webinars and podcasts, so asserting your online presence through these channels is sure to bring results. Even more traditional media like television and radio can give you the opportunity to direct consumers to your website.

6. Voice overs can cost less than other forms of advertising. Both radio and podcasts can cost much less than other advertising mediums such as television and online video production. If you're working with a tight marketing budget, you can invest in quality voice overs to create the biggest impact with your marketing dollars.

Author Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, MN and Has Been Providing the Voice Talent for Dozens of Companies and Agencies Since 1991.

Voice overs are quickly becoming one of the most important elements of any marketing strategy and advertising campaign, and are a valuable way to persuade your target market consistently, and effectively. By adding a human element to your marketing messages, you can encourage people to pay attention, boost sales, and most importantly, create a positive brand connection with all customers.

Marketers looking to incorporate professional voice work into their campaigns should understand a few key terms and their definitions in order to communicate effectively with professionals in the voice over industry.

Audition Tapes: Along with their applications, potential vocal talent will send an audition tape containing a few brief examples of their work. These are useful in keeping track of your prospects and comparing their individual skills and talents.

Demo Tapes: Demo tapes are also part of the interview and audition process, and can be recorded in your own studio, or completed by the voice over talent. These tapes will be a recording of the sample scripts you provide as part of the interview.

Recording Studio: This is where all recording of audition tapes, demo tapes, and other related material takes place. You can rent a recording studio for your project, or request your voice over talent to make their own tapes at their recording studio and submit them accordingly.

ISDN Voice Over: Recording studios used for professional voice over work should be equipped with ISDN technology. ISDN produces clearer, better-quality recordings than you could obtain from a run-of the mill studio.

Commercial Voice Overs: These are primarily targeting customers with a direct sales approach, and will push a product or service as part of the script. Commercial voice overs are powerful marketing tools that can deliver a message with high impact.

Narrative Voice Overs: These voice overs are intended to entertain the audience by helping to tell a story, and are often included in media such as television and film. You still may require a narrative voice over, however, for your ad campaign, if it tells some type of story.

Impressions: Impressions of current celebrities or well-known figures from the past can be a great way to create a memorable advertisement and distinguish yourself from the competition. Many scripts that are available free of royalties (often found online) incorporate the use of this strategy.

Performers' Unions: These are unions for voice over professionals that set market rates and help talent develop their skills. There are currently two unions that most professionals join; the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the Screen Artists Guild (SAG).

Actors: Voice over professionals are often individuals who were trained in drama and gravitated to the field of voice work because of their marketable skills and talents. A skilled voice actor or actress is a huge asset to any marketing project.

No matter what the project is that you are hiring for, you should take an organized approach towards searching for talent. Knowing the lexicon used to discuss voice acting affairs will help you fit in with professionals and find the right fit for your job.

About the Author: Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, Minnesota and Has Been Providing the Voice Talent for Dozens of Companies and Agencies Since 1991.

If you're reading this article, it's likely that you have already made the decision to hire a professional voice actor or actress for your marketing project-- congratulations! A voice over professional can add a lot to just about any project. After this decision, however, comes perhaps the most difficult yet essential part of the process: interviewing. Those who have not done extensive work involving voice over may be wondering what exactly it is that sets truly great voice actors and actresses apart from the rest of the pack.

These are a few of the characteristics that add up to an outstanding voice over artist:

1.He or she has a believable voice. Though there is certainly a place for exaggerated narration in the style of an announcer or newscaster, you're generally going to want an actor or actress who can perform naturally in a wide range of vocal styles.

2.The voice over has the right pitch and tone. Voice over artists are constantly practicing different pitches and tones of their voice so that they can create their own 'music.' This ensures that their voice stands apart from the rest; take the time to listen for distinct characteristics that make them different from other actors and actresses.

3.He or she is willing to provide you with high quality examples of his or her work. When interviewing voice over talent, it's essential that you obtain a demo tape from each of your prospects. In addition to granting you insight into the quality of a candidate's work, this will help you keep your prospects straight after you're done interviewing.

4.He or she demonstrates the ability to perform in a wide range of vocal styles. During the interviewing process, you will probably ask your potential hires to read from a sample script or scripts of your choosing. Take a advantage of this opportunity and have candidates read in a variety of different styles.

5.A good sense of tempo. Another 'musical' element of voice over work is that of tempo, or pacing; you should look for a voice actor or actress whose speech flows naturally, and who has an intuitive grasp of the the rhythm with which he or she must speak in order to get your message across.

6.The voice over artist has solid references. Take the time to review references or testimonials to determine if you're working with an amateur or professional. Voice over artists who have a history of quality projects, working with a diverse set of clients, and providing consistency with their work are strong candidates for your project.

7.The voice over artist has a high energy level. You need to work with someone who can withstand the stresses and pressure of recording, re-recording, and in many cases, starting from scratch. Try to determine if they can articulate and develop a strong voice even when they may be tired or repeating the same piece for an extended period of time.

Interviewing potential voice talent may, at times, feel tedious, but in reality it is a key factor in the success of your project. If you can find a voice actor or actress with all of the aforementioned traits during the interview process, you will save yourself a lot of time and trouble down the road.

Author Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Artist from Minneapolis, MN and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Dozens of Companies and Agencies Since 1991.

Though there is certainly no shortage of potential voice talent for the hiring, picking through the thousands available to find the voice actor that is perfect for the job can seem like a daunting task. Since the actor or actress you choose will affect the tone and message of your project, it's essential to make the right selection.

Those working on multimedia would be wise to take advantage of the great online resources available. Need a script? There are plenty of script databases available on the web, and some of them are even free. In order to make the hiring process quicker and more efficient, you can peruse potential hires' websites, which will often contain portfolios. This will help narrow your field of candidates, and give you an idea of what to expect from a candidate early on. In addition to checking out voice talent's rsums and portfolios, some even use the Internet to conduct interviews.

Still, when you are trying to find the right match online, you'll need a strategy and process that will maximize your efforts. You can waste countless hours searching and sourcing candidates, only to find out that they won't follow through on a project or even submit a quality sample. Knowing what to look for and how to proceed online can make your interviews and auditions much more valuable. Here are the steps involved when hiring a voice over artist over the web:

1. When you first contact a voice actor or actress, ask that they send you samples of their work. Any professional voice actor or actress is sure to have some .mpeg files that they can send you, or a website showcasing their work. Actors without any samples can safely be written off as amateurs. This simple screening step will save you a good deal of time and effort.

2. Ask potential hires for a resume. Any serious voice actor or actress should be able to provide a formal resume, complete with his or her employment history and references. Speaking of references, they're there for a reason; you should make sure to contact two or more of the past employers listed in order to get a balanced assessment of the performance you can expect from a potential hire.

3. Request a preferred rate. Many voice over professionals have an expected rate for each project, and you'll want to know about both hourly and per-project rates. Some professionals will request payment only after final delivery, while others will require a portion upfront with the remainder due at the end of the project.

4. Conduct a telephone interview. Telephone interviews are best for any talent you may not have the opportunity to meet with in person. Telephone interviews can touch upon previous work, a brief script reading, and to gauge the confidence level of your candidate.

5. Ask if the candidate can complete the assignment digitally. Many professional voice actors have home studios in which they can records, save their performances as media files, and upload the finished product to the Internet. If this is a possibility, it's a great way to save on the usual costs associated with enlisting the services of a voice actor or actress.

About the Author: Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Artist from Minneapolis, MN and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Dozens of Projects and Advertisements Since 1991.