The most popular genres of voiceover work, explained.

Some might assume that the bulk of work available to be done is animation/character work or nature documentaries, but the truth is there’s so much more than that.

The voiceover industry touches nearly everything in our lives; for example: the commercials we see on television, hear on the radio, and view on the internet. The voices that power our smart devices. The narration we hear when listening to a great audiobook. There’s a whole world full of opportunity out there, and it’s waiting for your voice to narrate it. If you’re wondering about the various genres of voiceover work, look no further. The list below will give you a good idea of where to focus your efforts and find work.

1. Commercials

   Commercials are, simply put, the sexy stuff. Most voice actors LOVE doing commercials. It’s a chance for us to really flex our creative and technical muscles, as commercial projects often involve tight timings, precise edits, and the requisite creativity that this industry demands. Having a good understanding of advertising in general can help voice actors succeed in this type of work. A few ads here and there will require that salesy, announcer style voice, but most of them will actually require something more conversational and relatable. That “guy next door” sound.

   As fun as commercials can be, voice actors don’t typically do them exclusively. Commercial work makes up a rather small percentage of the overall body of voiceover work available. With that in mind, let’s look at some more genres.

2. Audiobooks

   Audiobooks are, now more than ever, an extremely popular form of entertainment. Innumerable daily commutes are made just a little bit better by listening to a compelling, well written and performed narration. Even better, some audiobooks afford listeners the opportunity to learn valuable knowledge and skills while traveling from point A to point B. Podcasts are similar in that way, so don’t sleep on those opportunities either.

   The thing about audiobook jobs to remember is this: it’s a labor of love. You’re certainly not doing it for the cash, as a narrator. While rates can range anywhere from $250+ per finished hour for professional talent, a finished hour is really anywhere from 2-6+ hours of work. It depends on your proficiency with your DAW, editing skills, how often you make mistakes while narrating, and more. So, that $250 an hour is really more like a $40 hourly wage (if you’re progressing very slowly.) That’s before expenses, taxes, all that good stuff. So, make sure whatever book you narrate has the budget needed to afford your services, and make sure you love the content you’re reading. You’ll be spending a LOT of time with it, after all.

3. Animation

   While I don’t personally pursue many animation projects, I do find that the voice actors who DO pursue this type of work are extremely passionate about it. I would be willing to bet they have a soft spot in their hearts for many an animated series, and dream of voicing the next big role in a Pixar (or perhaps their favorite anime.) Whatever the motivation, animation remains a popular genre of voiceover work for many talent. Who doesn’t want to narrate a silly character for Bob’s Burgers or something like that? Sounds like fun.

4. Virtual Assistants

   “Hey Siri, get directions to the airport” is a phrase many of you have likely said over the years. Or, if you’re not the iPhone type, insert your digital assistant of choice to relate to what I’m saying here. Digital assistants and voices are becoming increasingly common as technology advances. With this advancement comes additional, if questionable, job opportunities to consider.

   This type of work is questionable because of the dangerous trap that voice actors can fall into with TTS or Virtual Assistant VO work. You have to pay extremely close attention to the intended usage for the job. Meticulously review those contracts, so you know where and when your voice will be used. If someone wants to buy the rights to your digital voice, in perpetuity, the rate you charge should allow you to drink from coconuts on the beach in perpetuity. Know your worth. You’re basically signing away your career with that one, so put a bunch of zeros in front of your usual rate and use that to start negotiations.

5. eLearning

   Here’s a category of voiceover work that has seen tremendous growth, especially in recent years. Sure, it might not be as “glamorous” or “exciting” to narrate technical videos or training content for employees. But, when you get a nice fat check for narrating that CDL Driver Training course, or that Medical eLearning content for a university, you will feel a WHOLE lot better about the situation. I promise.

   In general, this type of work requires a professional, clear tone that someone could listen to for hours. It’s less about acting chops, and more about delivering clean, high quality performances that accurately convey information to the listener. Still, you can give things a bit of polish and flourish within reason. A professional tone doesn’t have to be boring, after all.

6. Documentaries

   Documentaries are really all about keeping people engaged and conveying emotions. Docuseries are being produced all the time by different companies (Netflix, HBO, Discovery, and more) so the work is definitely out there. So strap in, put on your best David Attenborough impression, and get to work. Who knows, maybe you could narrate the next iteration of Planet Earth?

7. Telephony

   Here’s the good thing about telephony work: almost any company you can think of probably has a phone number. Attached to that phone number? A voicemail message of some kind. Logic would then dictate that ANY business is theoretically your customer when it comes to telephony work. The amount of voicemails, on hold messages, and other phone messages that you could record for customers is seemingly infinite.

   Another good reason to consider this type of work: once you’ve become the voice of the company (on their phone system a least) they are very likely to hire you again. For example: who will tell customers about holiday hours when the phone greeting is updated? You will, most likely. Or lets say there are some new hires in various departments of the organization; who’s going to tell callers to “press 1 to speak to John Smith” ? I’ll give you one guess. (It’s you.)

   Build those relationships, and don’t be afraid to contact companies in your locale. Use that local bond to start up a neighborly conversation, and creating a lasting business relationship. It’s good business, I promise.

Conclusion

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it’s a great primer on where to look for voiceover work. As you can see, voiceover work is abundant and touches nearly all aspects of our lives. From commercials to telephony and everything in between, you’re bound to find a genre that you enjoy.

Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, get out there and do some client research! The world is waiting for you to share your voice.

(By the way, if you’re a producer looking for a voice for your next project, I’d love to help. Drop me a line by clicking the button below to get started.)