When our clients come to us to create their high converting whiteboard and cartoon animation video, they always ask the following questions:

“Should I do the voice myself?”

“Should I choose a female or male voice over?”

“Should they have an accent?”

There’s a lot to decide on. Tone, accents, style… but before any of that, you need to decide whether it’s a male or female voice that will most effectively bring your video to life.

Doing your own voice over is great. But, we aren’t always that fast to jump on the Do-Your-Own-Voice bandwagon. Here’s why:

We want your whiteboard and cartoon animation video to make people take action. It’s simple really. You tell us what you want your viewers to do at the end of the video and we put all of our ninjas in play to make that happen. One of those plays is the voice over. Without a compelling voice over, the video isn’t whole – it doesn’t have all of the pieces that make those magical high conversions.

If you have a strong voice and your audience knows you and loves you, then by all means, do your own voice over. However, if your company has a strong voice, but it doesn’t come off that way when you record, then let someone else be that voice in your video marketing.

So, if you decide that someone else is going to take the reigns and command the attention of your audience, which will you choose? Fabio or Elvira? Mickey or Minnie? Pebbles or BamBam?

For some, the answer might be obvious. You’ve got a dating site and your audience is all men trying to find that perfect woman. If you have a story to tell, you’re using a male voice over. But, what if you are selling anti-virus software, nutritional supplements or life insurance?

Well, we did the research and have some data for you to check out.

How do you know which to choose, a male or female, with your whiteboard marketing video?

 

In a recent Adweek Media/Harris Poll, it revealed that almost half of the U.S. adults say that they don’t think a female or male voice is more powerful or calming than the other.

Why Choose Female?

If you are doing explainer videos then you want your audience to feel comfortable. Typically, a female voice is soothing. A soothing voice allows the viewer to trust what they are hearing. The studies show that both women and men tend to trust women more. This is why a soft female voice is believable and preferable.

Oh and here’s another reason the female voice is trusted. Women tend to be the ones who hold the purchasing power. While men decide they want something and get up and get it, a woman is more likely to research before she buys.

What about the male voice, though?

Why Choose Male?

Think of your audience and what they are interested in. Is it gadgets? Computers? Cars? The study also shows that people are more likely to buy a car or computer from a man. When the product is something that a man is interested in, it’s most likely he will follow the advice of a male voice.

What to do!

If you’re still battling between stilettos and converse, here’s a piece of advice… listen to samples!

We send a sample reel to all of our whiteboard and cartoon animation video clients because nothing speaks louder than your gut. Listen, hear it and follow your gut.

Mine’s growling now. Time for a snack!

Till next time,

Summer