A Beginner’s Guide to Posting a Voice Over Job Online

It’s the digital age, and the process of hiring a voice talent for your project has never been easier. With the vast array of talented voice actors available online, voice over casting has become more accessible and efficient than ever before. Whether you're producing a commercial, audiobook, animation, or any other type of project requiring a voice, navigating the world of hiring freelance voice actors can be a daunting task for newcomers. Fear not! In this blog, we'll walk you through everything you need to conduct a successful voice over casting and hire the perfect voice talent for your project.

Choose Your Voice Over Casting Site

The first thing you need to do when you’re looking to hire a freelance voice actor, is to choose your voice over casting site. It’s important to choose a platform that showcases only vetted, professional voice actors. This ensures you receive quality auditions without the hassle of sorting through sub-par or beginner submissions.

Equally important is finding a site that allows for direct collaboration and is free from platform fees and commission deductions from voice actors. This enhances your purchasing power and means you’re able to hire a higher quality voice actor.

VOPlanet offers the ideal solution for discovering and hiring freelance voice actors. Our platform is designed to connect you directly with experienced professionals, empowering you to find the perfect voice for your project without charging any fees.

Name Your Voice Over Project

This seems like a simple enough task. However, some names are better than others. Think in terms of attracting attention to your project. After all, the name of your project will be the first thing voice talent sees once your project is posted. Many name their project using the title of the script. This can be effective, but that depends on what your script is titled. For example: If your script is called Q9403, you might want to choose a more descriptive title. Example: Phone Messages, or Health Center Phone Message. This title lets voice talent that specialize in phone messages know the project is a good fit for them.

Define Your Project Type

Next, you need to define the type of project you are casting. Are you booking a voice talent for a documentary, or do you need someone to voice your eLearning course? Most voice over casting sites will have a drop-down menu to select your project type.

Describe the Voice You Need

When describing the voice you need for your project, be sure to include key details that will help voice actors understand your requirements and preferences. Start by specifying whether you're seeking a male voice, female voice, or indicate if you're open to either.

Describe the desired tone and style, whether it's authoritative, conversational, playful, or something else entirely. Provide any specific requirements or preferences, such as accent or dialect, vocal range, age range, or any vocal qualities needed for the role. You can even provide links to voices that are similar to the voice style you are looking for.

Additionally, if the project involves multiple characters or languages, be sure to specify these details to ensure that voice actors can accurately match your needs. By providing a clear and detailed description of the voice you're looking for, you'll increase the likelihood of finding the perfect fit for your project.

Set Your Budget

You should include your budget in your voice over casting. Research industry standards and rates to establish a realistic budget that reflects the value of the work being performed. Be upfront and clear about your budget constraints and expectations when posting your job or reaching out to voice actors, but also remain open to negotiation and flexibility to accommodate varying rates based on factors such as end use, experience, demand, and project complexity.

Define the Usage

It's important to include the intended usage of the voice over so voice talent can accurately quote for the work. The intended usage, whether it's for a local or national commercial, for distribution over social media, etc., significantly impacts the pricing structure and licensing terms.

Basically, the bigger the audience for the voice over, the bigger the fee. Voice actors will tailor their quotes to reflect the appropriate usage rights, ensuring a fair and transparent pricing process for both parties.

Request Demos or Auditions

You should specify whether you want your auditions to be generic demos or custom auditions tailored to your project. A generic demo, or demo reel, typically showcases a voice actor's range and versatility across various styles and genres, providing a general overview of their capabilities. On the other hand, a custom audition involves recording a sample script or excerpt from your project, allowing you to hear how the voice actor interprets and delivers your exact script and the quality of their recording gear. You should request only a small portion of your script to be voiced for custom auditions.

Client Directed or Self Directed

When hiring a voice talent, it's important to specify whether you will direct the voice over session yourself or if the talent can self-direct. Some voice actors may charge higher rates for client-directed sessions, as they will have to reserve a set time for the session and take additional time and effort to accommodate feedback, needed equipment and direction.

Directed sessions can help ensure that the final product aligns closely with the client's vision and requirements. Conversely, self-directed sessions may offer more flexibility and cost-effectiveness, particularly if you prefer a hands-off approach or if you or the talent have limited availability for direct involvement. Also specify the time, time zone, date and length of the session so the voice artist will be ready to record when you are.

Sample Script

Providing a script is not always necessary when auditioning voice talent. However, it can significantly enhance the audition process. If you’re requesting a custom audition, you should provide a small portion of the script. Including a sample script ensures that both parties are on the same page regarding the tone, style, and content of the project, leading to more accurate auditions and better-informed decisions. Make sure to include any special instructions or pronunciations with your sample script.

Deadline and Turn Time

Stating your audition deadline when posting a voice over job is essential to ensure that voice actors have sufficient time to prepare and submit their auditions. Clear communication of the deadline allows voice actors to prioritize their workload and meet your timeline, facilitating a smoother and more efficient casting process overall.

When posting a voice over job and hiring a voice talent, it's important to provide clear and detailed information about the project requirements. By effectively communicating your needs and expectations upfront, you'll attract qualified voice actors and facilitate a smooth voice over casting process, ultimately leading to a successful outcome for your project.

VOPlanet is a global marketplace that connects freelance voice talent with creators, casting directors and other voice buyers. You can post a voice over job for free and get auditions in minutes. Or browse our voice talent directory.

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