The Voice Behind the Image: How to Be a Voice-Over Artist

how to be a voice over artist

Has anyone ever said to you, “Hey, you have a nice voice”?

It’s not something we really pay much attention to, especially when it’s our own.

But what if your voice was so good that it couldn’t be ignored?

What if it could earn you a decent living right from the comfort of your own home?

In this article you’ll discover how to be a voice-over artist, the training that’s involved, and how you can find a job doing it.

So if you’re looking to get your voice out there, let me show you how…

What is a Voice-Over Artist?

A voice-over artist is the performer that is never seen. The man (or woman) behind the curtain.

They deliver a narrative that captivates a target audience, and it can take on a variety of different forms.

It could be for an audiobook that is warm and comforting, igniting the imagination of the listener.

It can be for TV or radio advertisements, designed to capture attention and sell a product or service.

Or it could be that voice you hear waiting at the train station, or on the phone while you’re on hold.

While we all have a voice, not just anyone can be a voice-over artist. Some of the best come from a background in acting or radio, where speaking with flair comes naturally.

That’s not to say it cannot be learned and developed by yourself…

Finding Your Voice

To start off, you’ve got to be able to speak clearly and eloquently, so that your audience can at least hear and understand you easily. Many actors have speech coaches and practice reading scripts to create a particular tone, cadence, and quality that truly resonates with the listener.

For many it’ll depend on the job, whether it is to be formal and informative, to drive home a sale, or to bring a character to life, off the page and into the mind of the listener.

A good voice may be heard, but a great voice makes you pay attention. This is one of the many reasons why it is highly effective in advertising media.

How Can I Improve My Voice Acting?

Just as a painter develops their skills through different mediums and regular practice, training your voice in various ways is a great way to practice your speaking skills.

This could be in the form of reading aloud to others, presenting to groups of people, teaching a subject you’re passionate about, acting, or even reading stories to children.

There’s all sorts of different ways to use and develop your voice. So experiment, try things that make you uncomfortable, and your skills will no doubt improve in time.

The more adaptable you are to different scenarios, the more employable you’ll be.

How to Be a Voice-Over Artist

The good thing is that voice-over work no longer needs to be done in a studio, as many artists are now recording from home.

This makes the job far more flexible than it used to be, but it also means that it’ll take a little more time and effort from you.

Aside from a good voice, you’ll need to know a bit about using recording equipment and audio software. You’ve got to be organised, committed, and driven to find the work, complete the tasks and manage your schedule accordingly.

If you’re after some training you can find lots of videos on YouTube or courses on Udemy. 

And if you want to get a good idea of what clients are looking for, check out this guide from Debbie Grattan.

Once you’re all prepared and practised, it’s time to get out there to find the work.

Voice-Over Casting

Most voice-over work is paid per project rather than at an hourly rate. And if you’re good enough, some employers will even provide you with ongoing and recurring jobs.

As a lot of voice-over work can be done from home, you can sign up to an online marketplace where you can apply for all sorts of jobs.

Some of these include:

  • Voices / Voices 123 – both provide a wide range of different voice over jobs.
  • Findaway Voices / ACX – for lots of audiobook and other narration jobs.

If accepted, you will be asked to audition for the role for which you can submit a video voice over or an audio file.

There are lots of advertising and talent agencies looking for great voice-over artists, and you can find out exactly what they’re looking for.

To give you a little more insight, Bunny Studios has an excellent article here on five tips for selecting voice-over talent, which is well worth a read.

Additional Voice-Over Tips

  • Get yourself a good microphone that connects to your PC and download some free recording software like Audacity. Here’s six tips on how to make better audio recordings.
  • Create a dedicated work space at home that is quiet and free from distractions.
  • Contact companies such as film and TV studios, radio stations, and ad agencies directly to find out if they need any voice-over work. Here’s 12 tips on what people are looking for.
  • Branch out on your voice skills and demonstrate the different areas you can work in, such as translating, transcribing, character voices, or singing jingles.
  • Create a website and maintain an active social media presence to advertise your services, showcase your work, and quite possibly be headhunted!

The Last Word

Hopefully you now have a good idea about how to be a voice-over artist and what it takes to really make it.

Remember, it takes a lot more than simply having a nice voice. You’ve got to practice consistently, develop the surrounding skills, and always be professional in your approach.

There are many advantages to starting a career as a voice-over artist that you may not find in most jobs, from more flexibility to new and exciting opportunities.

So if you have the drive, the passion, and of course the voice, it’s time for you to speak up and be heard!

Head on over to Killer Spots Agency now where you can apply to work as a voice-over artist today!

How to Write a Jingle for a Business — One Customers Won’t Forget

how to write a jingle

A truly successful jingle is a triumph of marketing. It can propel unknown companies into household names, embedding itself in the minds of whole generations. Yet the simple jingle is a hard concept to get right.

If you are thinking of writing your own advertising music, it may help to have some guidance before you begin. We give you our top tips from our team of staff experts on how to write a jingle. 

Leverage the Sonic Logo

The world is filled with sonic anaphones, though many people do not understand what they are. The three notes that rang out on the Intel adverts? The sweeping tones that play as your X Box boots up?

These are sonic anaphones, more commonly known as a sonic logo. They could never be described as a melody as they are too short. They very seldom have lyrics, and if they do they are barely a company name. 

However, they manage to sum up a company in the choice of notes and musical elements they are combined with. These clever, short sounds that represent your company can be dropped in subliminally and without notice. A good sonic logo is a powerful marketing tool when used within a jingle. 

Match your Genre to Your Audience

To accomplish this, you need to first find out your audience. If you are at the stage of producing a jingle, you probably already know this. If not, do some marketing before you begin and consult the public. 

Once you have this, match the genre of your jingle to your consumer. Are they young and energetic? Then consider a dance or hip hop based jingle.

Applying the same logic, your genre must also reflect your brand and advertising aesthetic. If a product is aimed at a rural audience, you may consider country music. It could be that you are composing for a high tech, state of the art company that needs sleek, electronic synth-based music to reflect this.

Choosing the Correct Musical Elements

Once you have matched the genre, you need to concentrate on your musical elements. These are additional components that make up a piece of music. The dynamics, instrument choice, tempo, and other elements all add to the overall feel.

As an example, a jingle to promote a relaxation product would need to be soft, with a slow tempo and gentle string instruments. Banging drums and blaring brass sections would not reflect the product that was being offered. Brainstorm the adjectives you would use to describe your company and make sure it is reflected in the music. 

Research Competitor Jingles

It is very likely that your competitors already have a catchy tune composed by a jingle writer. If they don’t, you are already one step ahead of them. Listen to their advertising and write down the successful and less successful parts of their jingle.

You now have two choices. Either go with something that matches the theme and tone that they have created, or go for something totally different.

A different jingle would set you aside from competitors. However, the downside could be that it does not match your company image and alienates your customer base.

Write Lyrics that Sell your Product

Lyrics are extremely hard to write. You want to write something poignant and meaningful without being overly cliche or cheesy. Luckily, you are writing a jingle and not a song.

With a jingle, you need to sell your product, then sell it some more. Let people know what you do, how you do it, and why they need the product. Tell them the problem you can solve and what they are missing out on if they do not take part. 

Think of all the memorable jingles from TV and radio. Every one of them is over the top.

How to Write a Jingle with a Killer Hook

This part is slightly harder. You need to have a killer hook that people will be singing all day long. On top of that, it needs to reflect the business image and needs.

For this, utilize musical intervals. An interval is a gap between the notes on a piano. Each one imparts a different meaning in the ear of the listener. 

Action films always include an interval of a perfect fifth, because it makes the listener’s brain think of strength and power. One key difference and you can be summoning up thoughts of malicious evil and devil worship, so choose them carefully.

Use interval combinations that reflect your aesthetic within your hook writing. The simpler you can get it, the more impact it will have. 

Record More Than One

When you create your jingle, especially if it is for a client, always have more than one idea. You may think you have written the greatest advertising music ever, but others may think differently. Ask the opinion of several unbiased people which they think is best.

Once you have narrowed it down to one idea, you can begin to flesh out the rest of your parts. You can begin to tighten the lyrics, add extra instruments, and turn the advertising world upside down. 

Still Struggling?

Are you still struggling with how to write a jingle? It is not as easy as you would believe and sometimes it may help to just hire an expert. We have a wide range of options in radio and TV production that would be a great fit for your business.

Message us and book a consultation or ask for advice today. Alternatively, visit our blog for more information on how to write a jingle and get started today.

5 Surprising Ways Radio Advertising Can Boost Business

radio advertising

Radio advertising has been around for a long time, but it has not lost its potency. If anything, radio ads have become more helpful to businesses in recent years due to the advent of online radio advertising.

92% of Americans listen to the radio each week. And 25% of listeners become more interested in a brand after hearing an advertisement for it. This can make a huge difference for your brand.

Radio ads can be critically helpful to the success of your business. But some of the ways radio advertising can help you might surprise you. If you have not considered radio advertising for your business, you might be missing out on the ways it can benefit your brand.

Keep reading to find out the five surprising ways that radio advertising can help your business.

1. It Helps You Reach Your Target Audience

Radio advertising is one of the most effective ways of reaching your target audience. You already know who your potential customers are. Radio lets you reach them directly. 

Not all radio stations are created equal. Every station will have a target demographic of listeners. You can discern what that target demographic is by the type of radio program the station produces. By choosing which radio station to advertise on, you are targeting your potential customers directly.

Additionally, radio stations have a local focus. On-air radio will target a specific city or region. This is truer for radio than it is for television.

If your brand has a local focus, you stand to benefit substantially from radio advertising. This is because your ad will be geographically relevant to every listener you reach.

If your brand has locally based locations or events, on-air advertising is very effective for publicizing them. You know that the listeners live in the vicinity of your brand, and can attend your events.

At the same time, radio has a wider reach than some other modes of targeted ads. Radio ads can reach anyone in the region with interests related to your brand.

In summary, radio advertising can be incredibly beneficial to your business because of its wide reach with a targeted focus.

2. It Induces Cognitive Thinking

Watching television can be a passive experience. Same with scrolling through your phone. But really listening to a radio program requires active listening.

This engages the cognitive part of your brain.

Cognitive skills help you do things like think, learn, reason, and remember. You want listeners to be engaging in these activities when listening to your ad.

Active listening means that listeners are actually engaging with your advertisement. This does a few things that can be helpful for your brand.

First, it creates better retention. Even if listeners don’t immediately seek out your brand, they remember your advertisement. When they need a product or service like yours, they are more likely to seek you out, because they have heard of you.

For more information on how to make your advertisement memorable or unique, click here.

Second, listeners are more likely to think about your service or product and whether they need it. Even if it hadn’t occurred to them to seek out that service before, they might now.

Radio has traditionally been called the “Cinderella medium.” This is because when things go right, the results can be incredible.

One of the reasons it can be so incredible is that the radio can be heard from pretty much anywhere. Think about it: most people listen to the radio when they are in their cars, traveling from place to place.

This can be beneficial in its own right. If your target customers are listening to the radio while they are out running errands, they are already in the buying headspace. If they are thinking about shopping when they hear your ad, they are more likely to seek out your product or service.

3. It Can Bolster Your Online Presence

Radio as the “Cinderella medium” has never been truer than it is now.

In addition to listening to the radio in the car, you can now stream radio programs and stations on the internet.

Some people think the radio is outdated because many people don’t have traditional radios in their homes anymore. But they are wrong.

Even though many people don’t have a traditional radio anymore outside of their car, many people have a smartphone. And if you have a smartphone, you have radio access.

This is great news for online brands. When your ad plays via online streaming, it can be paired with an advertisement banner. When listeners want to know more about your product or service when they hear your advertisement, they can click on the banner. From there, they will be led to your product site.

This can help you make a sale, or even gain social media followers if you link your banner to an Instagram or Facebook page. Before long, you will be able to advertise to your target customers from multiple platforms.

It also allows your brand to engage with listeners in multiple mediums. By listening to the audio advertisement and then seeing your graphic banner, they are engaging two of their senses with your brand. This means that they are more likely to remember you.

4. It Personalizes Your Brand

Given the choice, consumers will always opt to support a brand that they have a personal connection with. Radio advertising gives you the chance to form that personal connection.

It gives them a chance to know you, and to know your voice. This is why it is helpful to have consistency amongst your ads in terms of whose voice the consumer hears.

It might be your voice, as the business owner, or it might be a voice actor, standing in. Either way, it gives your brand a personal touch. Before long, consumers feel like they know you.

By introducing a voice to your audience, it helps you create an identity for your brand. Consider producing your advertisement with professionals who can help you craft that identity for your target customer.

This is the best thing that could possibly happen to your business. Consumers are more likely to go with brands they trust. By offering up a human side to your brand, you are inviting them to trust you. 

We know by now that advertising is more effective when it engages emotions. By triggering memories or images or by telling a story, effective advertising can speak to people on a human level.

Radio advertising will allow you to do that with the sound of your voice. Never pass on an opportunity to connect emotionally with your audience.

5. It Maximizes Your ROI

Maximizing your ROI, or Return on Investment is crucial to any advertisement. Radio advertising helps you do this in a couple of different ways.

First, radio advertising can be a decently affordable way to get your message out there. Combined with the fact that you are almost definitely reaching your target audience, you are getting the most bang for your buck.

Secondly, the effectiveness of advertisements is maximized when they are repeated. Repetition will drastically affect your ROI. The more times a listener hears and engages with your advertisement, the more they are likely to remember it and act on it.

Repetition will drive home the point that your product or service is available and preferable to other similar services. This is also why it is productive to use a repeated tagline or phrase in your advertisement.

Thirdly, if your advertisement plays over online streaming, it is ultimately easier to track and measure your ROI. That’s because you get real-time results. This can help you figure out what works about your ad and what doesn’t.

Knowing how effective your ad is ultimately does two things for you. It tells you what you should change or keep the same for next time. As a result, it increases your ROI because you won’t make the same mistakes twice.

In this case, you are looking at radio advertising as a long-term investment. Your second ad will be better than your first, and your third will be better than your second.

If your radio ads are effective, you’ll want to keep producing them. Repetition over a long period of time will turn your voice and brand into a household name.

Radio Advertising Can Bolster Your Brand

Radio advertising may be one of the oldest forms of advertising, but it is just as relevant now as ever. Perhaps it is even more effective today, since the advent of online streaming. Radio advertising can bolster your brand by inducing cognitive thinking, adding personality to your brand, reaching your target audience, maximizing your online presence, and ultimately boosting your ROI.

To start planning your radio advertisement today, click here.

What Characterizes an Outstanding On-Air Broadcaster?

broadcaster

With all the different media options available, there is still something incredibly appealing to the radio. Radio is an intimate form of media that has been a staple of American homes for many generations. 

Have you ever dreamt about becoming a radio host? Have you ever wanted to be part of the great American radio show tradition?

Well, if you want to – then you have to have what it takes to be a great radio broadcaster.

Audio is an effective medium. Whether for entertaining, informing, or advertising it’s a great medium for reaching others.

But, it’s not as easy as it may look. Here’s what you need to know:

Be a Great Speaker

This may sound obvious, but being a great speaker is challenging. You might be the center of attention at the dinner table or a party, but that doesn’t mean you have a knack for broadcasting.

So how do you improve your speaking skills? We suggest practicing public speaking. While a broadcast might be by themselves in a studio, they are speaking to a large audience. Public speaking will teach you how to enunciate, persuade, entertain, and address a large audience.

You will also learn the importance of expanding your vocabulary. You’ll learn how to form your sentences to say as much as you can with a limited time frame.

Have a Great Personality

To be a great on-air personality, you need to think about what you want your style to be. Take a moment to think about famous talk show hosts – whether they are on the radio or television/video.

Do you want to be direct and matter of fact like Brian Lamb? Do you want to be confrontational like Joe Pyne? Easy-going like Bill Boggs or Dick Cavett? Or abrasive like Alex Jones?

Your on-air personality should be best-suited to what you are as a person. Your personality should be one that appeals to your listeners. The main theme, regardless of the personality you choose, is that you should be relatable.

Have a Sense of Curiosity

Regardless of what type of show you host, every broadcaster must have a sense of curiosity. If you are advertising a product, you must convey to the audience that you are interested in the product.

If you are telling a story or reporting the news, the listeners must be able to hear the interest in your voice. If you are interviewing someone, you should be curious about what they have to say.

You want to arouse an interest in your listeners. This can only happen if you show any interest in your subject.

You Must Know How to Listen

Being a broadcaster is not just about talking. You also have to give importance to listening. You can tell that a broadcaster is mediocre if they don’t listen to others. No one wants to listen to a broadcaster who only likes the sound of their own voice.

For example, when you are interviewing someone on the radio you want to make sure that you don’t constantly interrupt them. You want to make sure that you are actively listening to them. If you don’t have great follow-up questions and your interview doesn’t have a conversational style, your listeners will realize that you don’t give importance to listening.

Learn the Technical Aspects

While you may not need to ever handle the technical aspects of radio, it’s always important to understand them. Watch the sound engineers at work and ask them about what they specifically do.

You should be aware of the latest technologies so that you can adapt. You should know which are the best microphones and headphones for broadcasting audio.

If you ever decide to branch out into starting your own radio station or hosting a podcast, now is the time to learn the technical aspects.

Work Under Pressure

Any job in the media is demanding and requires you to work under pressure. This is an important skill to cultivate if you wish to work as a radio broadcaster.

You will have to know how to complete an interview or a news report in a short amount of time. If you are asked to advertise a product, you’ll have 60 seconds maximum – sometimes you’ll barely have 30 seconds.

If you have to report the news, you may only have a moment’s notice to broadcast breaking news.

The time limit and urgency are what makes the radio industry exciting. It’s also what adds tremendous pressure on broadcasters. Make sure you cultivate the habit of being calm and professional under pressure.

Work Well With Others

While you may be the solo host of your own radio show, working as a broadcaster is not a one-man job. It is a team effort and you will have to learn to work well with others.

Make sure you know how to work alongside your producer, sound engineer, etc. If you have a co-host or are interviewing a guest, you will need to know how to accommodate them.

Be Accurate

When you say something on the air it has the potential to be heard by millions of people. You want to make sure that you are responsible for what you broadcast. If you are broadcasting the news, make sure that you don’t twist the facts.

You want to make sure that you adhere to any guidelines or protocols that your producer has decided. You want to make sure that you maintain a high level of integrity.

Respect Your Audience

Finally, as you continue broadcasting you will build a loyal audience. It’s imperative to always show them respect.

Your audience is your lifeline. Make sure that you treat them with respect and that you always keep them in mind while broadcasting. They are always going to expect a high-quality broadcast. If you are consistent with your quality, the audience will remain loyal and will continue to grow.

Become an On-Air Broadcaster

Now that you know how to be a successful on-air broadcaster, we wish you good luck as you start your journey. Follow the steps in this guide and you are sure to have a successful career in radio.

Part of being a successful broadcaster is to have a great brand. Check out what we offer to see how we can help you with your brand.

7 Social Media Advertising Secrets For Business You May Not Know

social media advertising

According to Digital 2019 Reports, the internet receives more than a million new users every day. Social media alone has more than 2.3 billion active users worldwide. Many of these people use social media to find the services and products they’re looking for.

Do you know what this means for your business? Your potential clients are online, and you need to follow them there. The best way to reach these people and leverage the number is through social media advertising.

But wait! Advertising on social media isn’t that easy. It’s not about putting together a few Facebook posts and images, then staying behind to watch the reaction of your followers.

Social media advertising needs successful planning and execution for it to work out no matter the kind of business you run. You need to have a plan, do your research, and carry out some competitor analysis.

Well, apart from using the right strategies, there are also secrets you must unveil to succeed with your social media marketing. Here are seven of those secrets that will help with your social media marketing.

1. Start By Defining Your Target Audience

With the huge number of social media users, your ads will hit a dead-end if you don’t properly define your target audience. One of the best strategies to succeed is to know the kind of people you’re targeting and tailor your marketing message specifically to them.

Let’s say, for instance, you’re in the fashion industry selling streetwear. You must know the age group that will get interested in this kind of fashion. Once you know the audience, you also need to understand when to get them online and the right channels they use.

Are they on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?

Streetwear mostly targets the younger generation between the ages of 17 to 27. These people are mostly found on Instagram, Snapchat, etc. and that’s where you should focus your advertising message. Understand your audience personas to understand various social media marketing trends that will work for the specific segment.

2. Identify the Right Social Media Advertising Platforms

There are many social media platforms to use, but not all of them will work for your business. Many social media marketers run to Facebook because it’s the biggest platform with up to 2 billion monthly users. However, not everyone is active on Facebook, and it’s becoming oversaturated.

If you’re targeting the older generation, Facebook marketing will work best. However, younger people are more active on sites like  Instagram, which is also the most growing social media platform. Also, consider your target group’s social status and their professions to know the platforms they’re likely to use.

If you’re in B2B business, LinkedIn might turn out to be the best platform. E-commerce businesses and other retailers might leverage the power of Pinterest for their success.

When choosing a platform, you need to understand your audience and find out where they are, even though some may be all over. Consider your type of business and the kind of people it’s likely to attract.

Try doing a simple competitor analysis to figure out what other businesses of your kind are using and see if you can follow suit. Only do this if the platform seems to be working perfectly for your competitor.

3. Forget About Free Social Media Advertising

Many people rush to social media ads because it promises free marketing. One thing they don’t understand is that the best social media marketing will never be free of charge. Of course, you don’t need to spend to fill up your business’s social media profile or put up posts.

But one thing you must know is that free marketing won’t cost you anything of monetary value but will take a lot of your time. It takes time, commitment, and energy to build an active social media presence. One wrong move and all that effort you’ve put up building yourself on social media go down the drain.

You’ll spend a lot of time, and you know what they say, ‘time is money.’ You might consider spending a few bucks on finding a professional social media marketer or working with an influencer for faster results.

4. Influencers Work Magic

Business advertising social media have work wonders through influencer power. Influencers have helped businesses drive engagement, generate conversations, and improve sales. These are the people who create the desire among your audience and get them to use your products.

Indeed influencers are the real gem when it comes to social media for business.

But is your business leveraging the power of influencers yet? If not, this might be why you’re still stuck with your social media advertising while your competitors are gaining a lot.

Take a look at this data. Reports have it that more than half a million millennials will try a brand because their favorite YouTuber suggested it. Influencers have worked wonders to control consumer behavior and see brands succeed.

However, influencer marketing can be challenging if you don’t approach it with caution. Influencer fraud is on the rise, and you must take time to know that your ideal choice has a genuine following. Find an influencer with a quality audience and liaise with them to see your brand grow the levels you desire.

5. Don’t Get Personal

Social media is one of those marketing platforms that you can use the way you deem fit. There is freedom of communication, and you can create a deep connection with your audience the best way. However, when it’s a business account, let it be solemnly for business purposes.

Don’t post personal photos or information in your business accounts. This is where your customers are going to find your brand, and you must maintain professional standards. A report from manifest shows that 74% of customers follow businesses on social media, and 96% maintain active interactions with the businesses they follow.

If you go personal with your posts, you might scare away customers who do not agree with your opinion. You should also be careful with what you post on your personal social media accounts because some customers may follow you there. Anything contrary will see you lose a potential customer.

6. There Is Great Power in Facebook Groups

One way to get a huge audience and reach out to your customers is through Facebook groups. Facebook groups have a wider reach than any business or personal account. People interact easily in groups and engage better.

As an entrepreneur, you need to create a group and find people in your niche to join. Make sure you stick to a niche that aligns with your audience and your products. Once you bring people on board, create killer content, and work on ways to drive engagement.

Try to connect with your audience in several ways. Ask them questions, and encourage participation, go live to chat directly with your audience. You can also make videos to market your business using the latest marketing trends.

One thing you must know is that bringing people onboard those groups is not going to be easy. Take this as one of the long-term social media advertisement projects.

Don’t push them as you can easily lose their trust. Marketing is not about being pushy but about creating a relationship. Work on building a community where everyone feels important, but not there because you want to use them to make sales.

7. Don’t Forget to Track Your Success

Of course, there are various strategies that are going to work for you and a host of others that will fail. It’s encouraging to know that the advertising methods you’re using are working, and you’re soon going to start reaping benefits. But then don’t get discouraged by those other strategies that will seem not to work out.

Track those posts that are performing well and find out why they did perform. Check out those other posts that didn’t drive any engagement and figure out what you did wrong.

Knowing those advertising techniques that worked and those that flopped will help you make better decisions in the future. You will know where to focus more efforts, where to pull up your socks, and which ones to drop. Generating a monthly and annual social media report can help you track your success.

You Can Make Everything Simple

Social media advertising may seem simple, but that’s not the case. There are strategies, secrets, and tactics that you must use to reach out to your audience and maintain a strong relationship. When you understand all these and implement them the right way, you will see how powerful this platform will ensure your business’s success.

So, are you ready to advertise your business on social media and see your business succeed? Well, you must consider these secrets but go slow on each of them. Your success lies in how disciplined, determined, and patient you will be.

If you feel stuck and need someone to hold your hand, we will be there for you. We’re all about helping businesses succeed and with our expert tips and advice. Fill out our contact form to get a quote.

How to Make a Smokin’ Hot Video Commercial for Your Small Business

how to make a video commercial

If you run a small business, you want to market it successfully. No matter how great your business is, without marketing, it will not maximize its potential. 

So what are the best ways to put your small business on the map?

One of the best ways is through a video commercial. A video commercial strikes at the heart of your audience and is often the best way to promote your small business.

We’ve put together this guide to show you how to make a video commercial for your small business.

The Guide on How to Make a Video Commercial

Even if you run a small business, you can find great equipment to create a video commercial. Once you’ve invested in the best equipment, you are ready to start planning your video commercial.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. What’s the Story?

The first decision to make is the message you want to put across to your audience. Are you making a generic promotion for your brand? Are you selling a particular product or service?

Commercials are succinct messages. You need to focus on one topic for each commercial. We recommend opting for a specific message or promotion to get the most out of your video commercial.

A generic commercial will introduce your audience to your brand. These are best for showing on your website. A direct commercial is more likely to compel them to engage with your brand. These should be distributed in as many ways as possible.

2. Who Is Your Audience?

Next, you have to consider who your audience is. You need to conduct extensive research on your audience before you write the script. The audience you speak to is your target market.

You will have to look at your target market’s age, geographic location, interests, spending patterns, etc. among a variety of other metrics. This will help you decide how to communicate your message with them.

This would be a great time to speak to a marketing or branding agency to understand who your target market is and how to speak to them.

3. Brainstorming

Now you come to the brainstorming process. In this process, take a sheet of paper and write about how you envision the commercial.

In this, you can outline the portions of your video commercial. If you are planning on creating a 60-second commercial then you should aim to outline what every 15 seconds will convey. You can write a four-part structure for the video commercial.

You can also use this step to determine the style and tone of your video commercial. Do you want to put humor in your commercial? Will it have a serious or urgent tone?

You also want to think about the setting of your video commercial. Will it be filmed in several locations or one location? Will it have a voiceover? How many characters (and actors) will be needed for the commercial?

Make sure you take your time with brainstorming. Once you are finished brainstorming, you can write your script for your video commercial.

4. Write the Script

Writing the script will take time. We urge you not to hurry through this. Take your time and make sure to revise your script several times. You should also show it to seasoned commercial directors to garner their feedback.

Your script should be written on a page that has four columns. The columns should show the timestamps and duration (Column 1) and then the video image, audio, and graphics in each of the three additional columns.

So, for example, Column 1 will state 0:00 to 0:15. Within those 15 seconds, you have to outline what will be shown to the audience within those 15 seconds. You have to detail what will be seen in the commercial as meticulously as possible.

Make sure that your script has a few seconds where your company’s name will be showcased. If you are promoting a product or service, have a Call To Action within the script.

5. Shoot Your Commercial

You are now ready to shoot your commercial. A video commercial production requires you to be detail-oriented.

Make sure that your visuals are up to par. You want to make sure that the lighting makes it easy to see the graphics, actors, and the setting of your commercial. Make sure that your audio equipment is of the highest quality.

An audience can forgive sub-par visuals but never sub-par audio. Make sure that your actors are speaking clearly. If you have a voiceover, make sure that it is also recorded clearly.

It is always best to hire a professional video commercial crew to help you shoot your commercial. You should schedule a few days for you to shoot your commercial. You should also schedule days to reshoot any scenes in case they do not turn out the way you need it to. If your commercial is to have a narrator, make sure that you schedule several days for the recording and any possible re-recording.

6. Edit Your Commercial

After you have filmed your commercial, you have to edit it. You can use a software application such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for editing. We suggest hiring an editor or taking a few editing classes so you can understand how to properly edit a video. You can consult with a seasoned video commercial maker on how to best edit your commercial. 

You want your commercial to have enhanced visuals and audio. Do not overuse any transitions or special effects that come with the editing software. Keep the editing simple so that your viewers can focus on the substance of the commercial. 

7. Showcase Your Commercial

Once you complete your commercial, you are ready to showcase it. You can reach out to local television stations for showcasing.

We also recommend showing your commercial online. Using websites such as YouTube, Vimeo, or the video-sharing application LBRY, you can reach a wider audience.

You should always seek new venues to showcase your commercial. The more your commercial is seen, the greater chances you have of your small business gaining exposure.

Let’s See Your Commercial

Now that you know how to make a video commercial, we want to see your commercial. Follow the steps in this guide and you’ll make a great commercial for your brand.

We’d like to help you promote your brand. Check out what we offer for your brand.