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Unlock Social Media Super Powers with Voice Over Animation

My Voiceovers, Voiceover Styles

Group on phones voice over for mobile appsSay “animation” and most people think of  series like The Simpsons or Family Guy. Both are definitely hilarious animated TV shows (and contain equally fun voice over characters). But the kind of animations that lengthen website visitor time and unlock your social media super powers are bite sized, often fun snippets that showcase you or your company.

We’re talking about animated videos for your brand. The type of video that, once paired with a voice-over narrator, is shareable on social media. The reason behind their popularity is simple: we live in a world now where storytelling is everything. People don’t just want to buy a product or service – they want to buy into a brand too. They want to know the brand’s character, story and hear the brand’s voice. And that’s exactly where animations, matched beautifully with a voice-over artist, come into play.

I’ve worked on hundreds of this type of animation, and apart from being fun to work on, I also see their value. The internet is packed to the brim with wordy, fluffy content. So now, social media users and agencies are striving to put stuff out there that’s different from the rest. Animated videos are a perfect example of visual and voice coming together as one, so it’s kind of a no-brainer that this is what more and more brands are seeking.

Storytelling is Key to Great Voice Over

I read an interesting article in Psychology Today that talks about the importance of storytelling and why it’s become such a thing on social media now. The author says that humans have always been storytellers. Since the beginning of (our) time, we’ve used stories to both educate and entertain. Whether by rock paintings or poetry, it’s always been a thing. It’s just that now, that thing has evolved into animated videos with voice-over characters.

The other thing to consider is that as humans we’ve also evolved to want more from our storytelling than rock paintings. It’s not so much about what the story is anymore, but how it’s being told. And that’s where commercial voice-over artists like myself come into play. I take on your brand’s character and tell your story to your intended audience in a relatable way. 

Not Just a Pretty (Sounding) Video

Not only do animated videos sound and look good, but they also achieve quite a few goals in the process. An article on Medium.com suggests that whether you’re trying to explain how something works, bring in new customers, or simply reiterate a fact to the database you already have, an animated video is the way to go.

Explainers and videos are important on websites, in fact, people spend 100% more time on a page that has a video. Surprisingly, 59% of senior executives would rather watch a video than read text.  These senior executives aren’t videophiles out of laziness, but rather because of pressures of time (or lack thereof). Packaged, visually and vocally appealing info is quicker and easier to digest than a wall of words.

Another great benefit of animated videos, is their shareability on social networks like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and their ability to heighten your Google ranking. Perhaps the biggest bonus of all is that animated videos do exactly what storytelling was created for: to entertain and educate, at the same time. They use funny characters with their own personified voice-over narration, unique animations, and a quirky and offbeat tone. And by doing so, they capture your target audience and hold their interest long enough to get the point across.

To show what an end result should sound and look like, I’ve included a few examples of animated videos I’ve worked on below. Sometimes friendly, sometimes quirky, they’re always effective. 

Case Study: SAGE Event Planning

Eventsage.com is an online event planning service, and this animation educated people on why their service was needed. In this video, I helped paint the picture of someone getting super stressed with their own event planning. More importantly, I explained why they should turn to a professional service for help. The emotion we were playing on here was stress, which is harder to convey in text, yet risks coming across like an infomercial if portrayed by a screen actor. The emotion in my voice paired with quirky and clear cartoons, however, captures and resolves it rather nicely.

Case Study: Dun & Bradstreet

Interconnected systems by Dun & Bradstreet aren’t necessarily the easiest thing to explain… but we achieved it in this  animated video matched with my kinda quirky voice-over narration. I particularly loved the clean good puns in this explainer video. If you get to the ‘nutshell’ part, you’ll see what I mean.

Case Study: Xpertdoc

This video I worked on for Xpertdoc isn’t necessarily as quirky or funny as other brands’ animations, but it is still an very effective tool for their business. It’s clear, it’s concise, and it informs the viewer of the service in an engaging and easy to follow way.

Need Help Telling Your Own Story?

In my time as a voice-over artist, I’ve voiced thousands of characters. Not necessarily always the type from The Simpsons, but brand characters instead. Whether you’re looking for a tone that’s serious, or funny, or something in between, performing great explainer video voice overs is one of my personal super powers.

Looking for a voice-over talent for your own business or brand’s animation? Contact me and let’s chat about giving your project a voice.

Filed Under: My Voiceovers, Voiceover Styles Tagged With: animation videos, brand animations, branding, commercial voice over, corporate narration, explainer videos, female commercial voice over, female voice actor, female voice over, great voice over, social media, social media agencies, voice actor, voice over actor, voice over artist, voice over narration

Voice Over, An Insider Take on the Exploding iGaming Industry

blogs, Voiceover Business, Voiceover Styles

Kim Handysides voice over artist on set

Aside from buying the odd lottery ticket (’cause a gal can dream!), I wouldn’t say I’m much of a gambler. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be part of the ever-growing iGaming industry. I work as a voice-over talent for many clients in the online gambling industry. This photo is actually of me backstage for a on-cam lottery commercial I worked on recently. As you can see, I totally milked it 😉

As a voice-over artist for many types of video, I’ve worked across a whole bunch of industries, and my take on the iGaming industry is that it’s one of the most versatile. In the last few years, I’ve seen the game (see what I did there?) evolve like crazy. In early days, it used to be a group of (probably) socially-awkward poker players on the internet trying to make a quick buck. It’s gained on cool factor since and is now a social and super interactive community of people. They love high stakes, the thrill of the win, and most importantly, having fun.

As a result, many iGaming companies are now creating engaging social content to share in the online community. Branding is key – and who better to give a brand a voice than a professional voice-over actor like yours truly? 

An Industry to Listen Out For

I’m not the only one to have noticed the change. Businesses in iGaming have had a fun time constantly reshuffling their marketing teams over the last few years to adapt. There’s been a lot of talk about it, but I think Business Matters Magazine puts it best. In their article, they touch on a few points like online reviews, expansion and more. But their main point is that in a world where everyone loves sharing online, why would online gambling be any different?

I tend to agree with this statement. Plus, I think it’s exciting to see a previously quiet industry take an interest in developing brand personalities and voices. From traditional announcers, to sexy molls, to zombies, pretty much anything goes. The extent of use of voice has gone beyond a myriad of “oohs, “ahhs” and “yays” to lean into gaming industry territory and give voice to characters. The industry has changed its structure to create more work for commercial voice-overs.

One Industry, Many Voices

casino machines voice over in games
Source: Steve Sawusch

One of the things I love about working for the iGaming industry is the diversity in its jobs. When I take on a job for a PSA, I have a rough idea of the tone of the voice I’ll need… similarly to when I perform work for eLearning narration. There’s a tone and a style that come with some industries, no matter the content. With iGaming however, it’s very much like a box of chocolates (cue Forrest Gump reference).

For example, as a female voice-over I’ve done many a presentation video for Pear Fiction. These guys are producers of premium casino games, and they used the presentation videos to sell the games to casino sites. Since this is very much a B2B-type situation, the tone of my work here, required an upbeat and animated voice-over narration, while still sounding professional as if talking to prospective buyers. When it comes to social videos however, a more personal tone suits the concept better.  These videos need a real, authentic voice from someone who sounds like they’re genuinely interested in what they’re selling. This is what’s  engages the online community, and this is what works.

Tipping the scale completely are lottery videos (a necessary expense for most licensed casino companies), which is when voice-over acting gets really exciting. I actually read the twice weekly winning lottery numbers on TV early in my career, (when I still resembled a young Vanna White) and like so many other voice over situations, the job called on empathy. For people watching and listening, it’s a little highlight in their week. The thrill, the hope, the possibility. Reading the lottery numbers as a female announcer is what it feels like when you’ve had three coffees back to back. It’s all about enthusiasm and genuine surprise when we draw the next number. After all, this could be the moment I call out the number that could completely change someone’s life… and that’s pretty darn exciting!

lottery balls gaming voice over

What It’s All About

Speaking of various types of voice-over work for iGaming, it’s important to mention the games themselves. Because online gambling is seriously similar to online gaming. People play these games to have fun. To relax. To forget. To feel a little control. And a little risk, too. It’s a release. They play these games to win money too, but let’s face it, there are more solid investments out there to be made.

Just like video games, online casino games have themes and characters and purposes too. People can take them quite seriously, and as such the voice-over work should be much the same. As a female voice actor, I’ve performed for game characters before, as well as for the promo videos and trailers. I love that this industry allows me to get into the zone and do something out of this world (literally). Whether it’s battling aliens from outer space, crawling across trenches in WWI or flying dragons across sea monster infested waters, it’s storytelling. And acting. And helping others vicariously really get into this world of thrill and risk and fun. 


I take this whole gaming thing very seriously.

From the Best Corners of the World

If you’ve listened to any of my previous work (like, ahem, the video above), you’ll know I’m a Canadian-American voice-over. So does that limit me in iGaming work? Absolutely not.

One of the first things I learned about the the industry is that it’s literally spread across to all the best corners of the world. I’m talking Malta, Gibraltar, Manila, Curacao, and a handful of other amazing tropical islands. That includes, of course, the perhaps not-so-tropical-but-equally-amazing island of Montreal, which I call home. And as much as I’d love to be flown around the world for work, this is the era of the virtual office, so I do it from my own broadcast quality professional home studio. That makes it pretty easy to team up with agencies in the iGaming world, since in such an international environment, requesting and completing work online is old hat.

Marina international voice over

 

Have you got an iGaming project of your own that could do with a voice? Serious, excited, personable – I’m ready to be your voice-over talent. Get in touch now and let’s talk fun, wherever in the world you are!

Filed Under: blogs, Voiceover Business, Voiceover Styles Tagged With: brand voice, commercial voice over, female announcer, female commercial voice over, female voice, female voice actor, female voice over, igaming, narrator voice, online casino, online gambling, social media, social videos, video content, voice actor, voice actress, voice over actor, voice over artist, voice over character, voice over narration, voice over talent

Spotlight on a Retail Video Ad: My Voice Over Life

My Voiceovers, Voiceovers Completed

Ask anyone who knows me in my voice over life. I love video ads. In fact, if I had to choose only one form of voice work to do for the rest of my life, it would be commercial voice overs. The kind that sells things to the everyday Jane & Joe. Like this 15 second gem for Sears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAiZxf4QAOE

Creativity within a Constraint

I hanker for a good set of boundaries within which to play. I first realized this during a year long stint on a weather channel, where I had to spiel off weather report after weather report in 4 minute and 50 second chunks over and over again for hours on end. Hotter than Hades you say? I did succumb to initial tedium, for about a minute. Maybe two. But then, I realized there was a secret challenge locked in “sunny today with a cold front moving in.” Yes, the basic info was pretty much the same from set to set, hour to hour, but I could change the delivery. Experiment within it. Improv it up. Find ways to make it more natural, more serious, more conversational. Roll it around in some humor, find out how to make commercial voice over funny, get busy with it. Same thing applies for that 15 or 30 second mini-saga centered around advertising toilet paper. It’s a creative constraint I love to play in.

Helping Humanity

Seriously Kim? You’re going to say convincing people to load up on discounted toothpaste and deodorant is helping humanity? Yes. I am. Because I am genuine in my approach to retail ads. And health and cosmetic ads are not exception. What does that mean? It means knowing that for the pensioner or single mom, the money they save on those toiletries may mean the difference in being able to spend it on something nice for themselves, or in some cases, in just being able to make ends meet. So I do get excited about deodorant 3 for $5 because that is my way of helping people. Cynics may see it another way. That’s their view. This is mine.

rows of spices like voice actor choicesThe McLuhan Spice Blend

Marshall McLuhan, father of media theory, said “Advertising is the greatest art form of the 20th century.” I grew up believing this and hearing the greatest minds are not in the universities, hospitals or on Wall street – they’re on Madison Avenue churning out ads. Whether that’s true or not, as a voice over talent, I bathe in the notion that adding human sound to ads is my predominant art form. Some of them are arty ads. Some of them are family friendly ads. A lot of them are not. But they are all different. Like curry, cumin or chili powder, they all have their own flavor. They all reach out creatively to tap someone on the shoulder and send what could be a very impactful message.

Looking for a great voice to help you sell your message? I’d love to help.

Filed Under: My Voiceovers, Voiceovers Completed Tagged With: advertising, believable, commercial, commercial voice over, conversational, delivery, family friendly ads, genuine, health and cosmetic ads, message, natural, retail ads, voice actor, voice over artist, voiceover talent

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