Voiceovers For eLearning: How Courses Come To Life

$374 Billion Revenue

By 2026, the eLearning space is expected to produce more than $374 billion in revenue. So, if you’re not utilizing these tools in your business already…it’s probably past time for you to start.

Now, with all that being said, allow me to remind you that I’m a voice guy, not a statistics guy. That means that my sole mission is to help companies engage with their audience by understanding the ins and outs of the voiceover process. In this handy guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about voiceover for eLearning and what you should or shouldn’t look for in a professional narrator coming from someone who has been there, done that, and has the demo reel to prove it.

Voiceover for eLearning: The Basics

First, it’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of different types of voiceovers, and I’m not just talking about the range of voices you can find online. Depending on the style of the course and target audience, there are usually 3 main categories of voice work you’ll need a professional narrator for.

Narration

I know this one seems self-explanatory, but hear me out for a second. Narration is so much more than just reading the text on the screen. It’s the personal element that connects students to their course and keeps them engaged throughout the entire learning process.

With a good narrator, your students can deepen their understanding of the course materials and streamline their path to completion.

But…

Hiring sub-par eLearning voice actors can lead to, well, just imagine inserting some cricket noises here.

Translations

Now, let’s say you already have a great online course, but you’re ready to expand your offerings into new markets with new languages. This is where a translation-style voiceover comes in. In this case, the narrator would translate the information being used in the original course without needing to recreate the entire thing. Typically, you’d use this if your course included a bunch of videos that you don’t have the time or the budget to reproduce from scratch.

Dubbing

Similar to translations, dubbing involves covering up an existing narrator’s voice in a different language by laying the new voiceover of the original actor’s moving lips. Occasionally, this can be a bit distracting for the viewer if the words and movements don’t match up well, but it’s still a popular method for international course offerings.

The Do’s and Don’ts Of Voiceover for eLearning

Most businesses make the mistake of thinking that just having someone record a script is enough for their eLearning needs.

• Don’t be on of those business
• Don’t overexaggerate
• Don’t rush
• Don’t be afraid of silence
• Do match your audience
• Do make it clear

Don’t be one of those businesses.

Instead, there are a few do’s and don’ts you’ll want to keep in mind during the voiceover production process that can completely transform your final product.

Don’t Overexaggerate

Listen, I know it’s tempting to avoid creating a boring online course by hiring a voice actor who takes things up a notch or 50. But keep in mind that an overly exaggerated performance can also make it more difficult for students to focus on the subject matter. That’s why I always suggest keeping it casual and authentic.

Don’t Rush

Trying to cram a lot of crucial information into one course is tough, but the faster your actor reads their script, the more likely it is that your students will miss important details, so a nice, even tempo is your best bet.

Don’t Be Afraid of Silence

Have you ever heard the expression silence is golden? Believe it or not, that goes for voiceovers, too. Don’t be afraid to include pauses and other breaks in your recording to give students plenty of time to take notes.

Do Match Your Audience

As I said earlier, eLearning courses can cover a wide range of industries, from nursing to corporate training and every niche in between. So, make sure you hire an eLearning voice actor who matches the demographic your course is intended for. The more relatable your narrator, the better your success rates.

Do Make It Clear

And no, I don’t just mean writing a good quality script, although that’s a key component of this process! Audio quality is a huge factor in the voiceover process, and you’ll want to do a test run with your voice actor to make sure they’re capable of producing the crystal-clear audio your students deserve.

What To Look For In eLearning Voice Actors

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, you’re probably ready to hit the ground running to find the perfect eLearning voice actor for your project. But hold up! These are the top 3 things you need to consider before you even think about offering a professional narrator your contract.

A Good Demo

First, request a demo that specifically deals with eLearning narrations. Sure, listening to video game reels and commercial demos can be fun, but you’d be surprised how much a voice can change from one genre to the next.

Quality Recording Space

Unless you’re planning to fly your voice actor to a private studio to record your project, you’ll need to make sure you’re working with someone who has access to a studio quality setup in their home, making it easy for them to record any revisions for your project without compromising on audio quality.

Authentic Empathy

Acting starts with empathy, and a good voice actor should know how to relate to your audience on an authentic level. That’s why I suggest scheduling a discovery call to get to know the real person behind the voice before you move forward in any kind of business relationship.

So, Now What?

You deserve an eLearning voice actor who understands how to connect with your audience and deliver a high-quality product that produces results, and, as it happens, I know a guy who can help. Check out my eLearning demo reel and connect with me to start working on your project today.