Narration

Narration encompasses a lot in the world of voiceover. There’s corporate narration, sometimes referred to as industrials. This includes online training, sales presentations, orientation videos, conference videos, internal training and e-learning. You’ll also find documentaries, educational films, news stories, scientific shows and medical shows under the umbrella of voiceover narration. Museum instructional videos, tours and exhibit explanatory videos are also described as a type of voice over narration. The medical industry also utilizes narration with provider, practitioner and patient informational or training videos.

Whatever your type of narration, there are several ways a voiceover can help your project. There are four main ways: Train, Teach, Inform and Guide.

If you need someone to not only retain the information you’re presenting but also be able to apply it, the purpose of your project would be to train. You need a voice over that can not only speak with confidence and authority but also helpfulness. They need to understand what you’re instructing them to do but also help in being able to implement it themselves.

Training and teaching are similar, except with teaching, the purpose of the project is to “drop some knowledge” (in the most professional manner anyways). Okay, it goes a little beyond “dropping knowledge.” It’s about being able to explain a concept to your audience and for them to understand it.

Informing doesn’t require your audience to understand a concept, it’s simply to present information to the audience. A lot of times, this is the case for certain type of information that’s required by law to provide.

Narration that is intended to guide the listener or viewer is something like a documentary, travel video or museum tour. The voice over leads the listener or viewer through a journey.

As a voice actor, I believe it is my job to determine the purpose I play in different narration projects. Knowing this allows me to help communicate your message more effectively.

The greatest strengths I bring to voiceover narration projects are TRUST, HELPFULNESS, HEART and RELATEABILITY. When I did endorsements during my radio years, the most consistent feedback clients received from their customers was they trusted me. TRUST is a big part of authority. If someone is to be an authority in something, the listener or viewer must trust that what they’re saying is true and accurate.

HELPFULNESS is something my parents have passed on to me as teachers (both were elementary school teachers). They’re both so helpful and honest to everyone and that is something that is not only reflected in me as a person but my voice as well.

The reason I book a lot of non-profit narration projects is because you can hear HEART in my voice. I do have a huge heart, in general, and it can’t help but bleed through in my words.

And I learned years ago, through radio, how to be real and relatable even if the person I’m talking to isn’t standing right in front of me. I make sure there’s a sense of connection and authenticity in my narration projects.

I’ve voiced narration projects for US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, helped give a voice to Kerry Foods corporate culture, taught healthy habits for the CDC, trained people on how to clean their home naturally for GA Pacific, instructed medical facilities on the benefits of Medeanalytics, showed consumers how to use their Simmons Beautyrest mattress, guided employees through a new office area at the COKE home office, demonstrated the standard for making beds for IHG and trained sales teams how to sell better with the Level Five Selling strategy.

You can hear my narration demo HERE to see if my voice would fit your project. I have both a home studio and co-own Atlanta Voiceover Studio, so I have access to a studio to record. If you need to direct the session, I have a phone patch and source connect. Of course if you’re in Atlanta, you can come and direct me in person if you’d like. Our studio is located off Howell Mill and 75. I edit my recordings with Adobe Audition and can offer you editing services so your voiceover is ready to be handed over to the video producer. Depending on the length of the project, I can usually offer you a 24 hour turnaround time. Regarding rates, I adhere to the GVAA rate guide found here. These are current industry standard rates.

I always prefer you contact my agent to book me but if it’s a smaller project, I’d be open to a direct booking. You can email me at: Heidi@heidirew.com or leave a message on this phone number:(404) 403-5674

I look forward to being a part of your company’s next narration project!