Voice acting is a major global industry, and voice over work is involved in almost any field you can think of.
Whether it’s corporate videos, commercials, phone responses, public service announcements, or something else, both public and private clients are constantly looking for professional voice actors.
While certain types of voice acting work may come and go, jobs like commercials and public service announcements will always be available.
There are also opportunities for growth in a variety of other industries such as dubbing, corporate training, and audiobooks.
With remote work becoming more popular and voice acting equipment becoming even cheaper, developing a voice over business is more accessible than ever.
Voice over can be an intimidating field, particularly for people who don’t have professional experience in voice acting.
After starting a professional voice over business, you’ll be able to express your creative energies while maintaining control over your schedule and work-life balance.
If you’re looking for a way to make money doing what you love, building a voice over business is a great way to start.
Let’s take a look at some of the key steps involved in setting up a successful voice over business.
1. Find Your Direction
Like any other field, voice acting companies vary widely in size as well as focus.
Before you invest in any equipment, staff, or anything else, you need to determine what kind of business you want to create.
For example, you might want to focus on connecting with educational clients who need voice actors for e-learning content.
On the other hand, people with more dramatic voices may prefer to look for work in animation.
The field you target will have a significant effect on the future of your business, so it’s important to pick something you can stick with for the long haul.
2. Look into the Market
Once you know what you want to do, the next step is performing some basic research to get an idea of the competition and the market landscape.
During this step, you’ll learn what other companies are doing to find clients and begin to network with others who are already involved in the industry.
Before doing anything yourself, you should look at some leading websites and try to get the information you need for a successful launch.
Even if you have an incredible voice, simply finding leads to work with can be a major challenge for new voice over businesses.
3. Work on Your Voice
If you’re thinking about starting a voice over business, you’re probably confident in your vocal qualities and capabilities.
While some people have naturally great voices, even the best talents need to work hard to develop their skills and stay on top of their game.
No matter where you are today, it’s important to make a consistent effort to improve as a voice actor and make yourself more marketable to the top clients.
You may be reluctant to invest in professional training, but hiring a voice acting coach is one of the best investments you can make in your career as a voice over artist.
An experienced voice coach will know how to help you draw out your strengths and improve on your weaknesses to become a more unique and complete vocal talent.
4. Work on Your Branding
Branding and marketing are crucial when it comes to getting your name out there, and they need to be part of your business plan from the very beginning.
You don’t need to figure everything out at the early stages, but you should start working out ideas for a few basic elements:
- The name of your new business
- Your logo, fonts, and visual style
- Your ideal brand image or tone
Competitor research is a great way to get started with branding, but you also need to find ways to build a unique brand style that will grab your audience’s attention.
Most clients don’t call the first voice actor they find—they’re going to look through a few websites and contact the firms that catch their eye.
With that in mind, your website and digital presence are absolutely vital for differentiating your brand and building your client list.
5. Produce Voice Demos
As a voice over artist, your demos are the first thing potential clients will hear when they’re looking for new talent.
The quality of your vocal demos is one of the most important factors when it comes to landing new jobs, so it’s important to get these done professionally.
While DIY demos might sound like a good idea if you’re on a tight budget, remember that professional demos are a long-term investment in yourself and your business.
It’s worth doing it right by collaborating with a professional who can help you put your best foot forward.
Additionally, make sure that your voice demos showcase your full range of skills and capabilities—this will help you cast a wider net when looking for work as a voice actor.
6. Start Auditioning
Like interviewing for any other job, auditioning for voice acting work can be a tedious and even discouraging process.
With so many actors auditioning for each new role, it can feel impossible to get your foot in the door and establish yourself as a unique vocal artist.
Keep in mind that auditioning is a combination of luck and talent.
Even highly skilled voice actors often send in tens or even hundreds of auditions before they land their first professional gig or even hear back from a potential client.
On the other hand, some people walk right into their first job after sending in a few applications and landing on the perfect project for their skills.
Unfortunately, there’s no way around the auditioning process other than simple trial and error.
Don’t feel bad if it takes you some time to get the ball rolling—finding new jobs will become substantially easier once you have a portfolio of successful projects along with a contact list of satisfied clients.
7. Build Your Network
Even the most famous voice actors on Earth don’t work alone.
Instead, they rely on a network of contacts throughout the industry to connect them with projects that fit their skills and schedule.
The bigger your network becomes, the easier it will be to move from project to project and earn a reliable income through voice acting.
Agencies and marketplaces are particularly helpful resources for newer voice over artists who don’t have as much experience in the field.
Once you’re connected to a reputable agency or voice over marketplace, you’ll have the inside track to jobs that may not be available to you as an independent voice actor.
Creating a new business can be overwhelming—especially when you’re putting yourself out there as a vocal artist.
With both remote and in-person opportunities available in so many fields and locations, there has never been a better time to jump into the industry.
These tips will help you jump start your new career and fulfill your potential as a voice actor.
