Professional voice overs can benefit your business. Professionally voiced audio includes messages on hold, IVR phone prompts, radio and television commercials, marketing videos, podcasts, eLearning and web audio. Voice overs have long played a major role in marketing. Like everything in marketing, they change with the times. Here are the voice over trends we are seeing.
1. Authenticity matters more
For decades, voice overs were extremely energetic and perfectly (sometimes overly) pronounced. Think of an upbeat radio ad for a furniture sale or an upcoming concert. It is catchy, but it can lack a true human connection.
That style still works in some cases. However, most video and ad campaigns now use more authentic voice overs. A voice that sounds real appeals to emotions and helps people connect with your products or services. As a result, voice overs are becoming more conversational, and consumers are responding.
2. Bilingual and multilingual voice overs
In our experience, English is still the most requested language for voice overs in Canada. Even so, we get more requests for other languages at On Air. Bilingual voice over is popular with Canadian businesses that want to reach the French-Canadian market through automated telephone voice prompts and messages on hold.
Beyond bilingual and multilingual work, more companies are choosing English voice overs with a specific accent, such as British or Australian.
3. Voices that appeal to younger audiences
Millennials and Gen Z make up a large share of today’s consumers. Businesses are shaping their voice overs to connect with these audiences. The actual age of the voice over artist doesn’t matter. What counts is a natural, relatable delivery that speaks to the people you want to reach.
If you’re targeting younger customers, On Air can help you choose a voice over artist who is a good match.
4. AI voices are growing, but human voices still stand out
We hear the voices of Siri and Alexa every day, and AI-generated voices are now common in marketing. They can work well for quick, low-stakes content. For brand work, though, a human voice still has the edge.
A professional artist brings natural emotion, timing and personality. Those qualities help you connect with customers, and a synthetic voice still struggles to match them. Whichever route you take, ask about usage rights and licensing before you book.
Find an authentic voice over for your next project
Interested in a professional, authentic voice over? Browse our pool of voice talent to hear samples. When you’re ready, contact On Air to get started.
