During the past decade, opportunities to utilize professional voice recordings for business applications have been augmented by advances in technology and telephony.  The need for custom announcements for VoIP menus, cell phone greetings, Internet audio, Flash presentations, tutorials, virtual tours and video has fueled unprecedented growth in voice talent production.

Most production and audio marketing companies invite clients to describe just how they’d like their scripts recorded, and voice talents prefer directorial input as a guide to their “performance”.  Without specific direction, a veteran talent will interpret a script on the basis of content and usage.  If the project is geared toward a corporate audience, and the copy is technical or austere in nature, then the voice talent will be sure to “voice” the material in a tone that matches the script and context.  However, if the client has a specific notion about just how they’d like their message delivered, then that expectation should be conveyed to the scriptwriter, producer and most importantly, the voice talent.

Choosing descriptive words that accurately reflect the desired mood, style and pacing of a read is an important step towards achieving a productive result.  For example, a Message-On-Hold narration for a hospital would be read very differently than one for a resort.  Words like “caring” and “concerned” apply to the former, whereas “enthusiastic” and “fun” are appropriate for the latter.  Other words that serve voice talents in their performances include: “authoritative”, “casual”, “upbeat”, “corporate”, “conversational”, “friendly”, “relaxed”, “seductive”, “expressive”, “instructional”, etc.

So if you would like the voice on your company phone system, Flash presentation, or web tutorial to match the voice you hear in your head, put on your “director’s hat” and include a few choice adjectives for the talent.

August Newsletter

Beginning October 1, 2010, the new 855 toll free exchange will debut in the United States.

If you are seeking a vanity number for your business, now is the time to reserve the best toll free vanity numbers before they are all gone.

It seemed back in the 80s and 90s toll free numbers were popping up everywhere.  Now with the proliferation of flat rate/nationwide/unlimited calling, the need for toll free numbers may not seem as evident.  However, toll free numbers are still a great enhancement to customer service and advertising initiatives.   A toll free number, much like a Custom Message-On-Hold program enhances a company's image and makes smaller organization appear much larger.

If you'd like to get a vanity Toll Free number contact your HOLDCOM representative who will put you in touch with one of our partners who specialize in toll free numbers or email us at newsletter@holdcom.com.

August Newsletter

If you're like me, you want to trim a few pounds but you just can't seem to find the time or energy to get started.  Or you find every excuse why NOT to do it - "I don't have time to count the calories or points".  "I eat out a lot, so it's difficult to know what I should eat".

Well, you'll be happy to learn about Calorie Counter by FatSecret.  This handy app is available for Apple and Android products and has a companion website which it syncs to.

From searching restaurant menus, to an actual bar code scanner, you'll quickly and easily be able to find nutritional information about what you are eating.  The website also has enhanced features as well as forums, recipes and more.

Jump start your diet today with Calorie Counter.

August Newsletter