(Because Not All Talent is Actually Talented)
When you decide to produce an explainer video for your business, chances are it’s going to have some kind of human element in it. Maybe it’s a person speaking directly to camera to get the point of your video across. Maybe it’s someone that you interview to add an opinion or personable element to your video content. Maybe it’s a voiceover artist who tells the story over relevant footage.
In much the same way that you need to source a video production company to produce your explainer video, you also need to source people to feature in it. Unfortunately choosing the right talent for your video sometimes isn’t straightforward, but here are some tips to help you along the way.
Engagement
It doesn’t matter what the subject matter of your video is; if it’s not engaging, it won’t be watched. The talent you choose to feature in your explainer video should be friendly, enthusiastic and upbeat, and represent the essence of your business. If they’re the opposite, the viewer will switch off. Faces that will appear on-camera should be friendly and smiley, while voices should sound like you’d imagine a smile to sound. If a voice is monotone, don’t use it.
Speed & Pace
There’s a fine line between a video that’s too slow and a video that’s too pacey, but it’s important to find the right mix. If your talent is too slow, the viewer may struggle to engage with the message you’re trying to communicate, but if it’s too fast they may miss the point of it altogether. Ensure your explainer video is pacey by using a voiceover artist that has a mid-range pace, that’s fast enough to feel like you’re having a conversation with them, but slow enough to absorb all the information they’re communicating.
Professional vs In-House
We understand how hard it is to say ‘no’ to the CEO who wants to front your new explainer video, but if they’re not going to provide you with the impact you need, you need to. Using in-house talent will help your budget, but professional presenters and voiceover artists will always provide a better result.
Browse Portfolios
Once you’ve decided on a presenter or voiceover artist that you like the look or sound of, check out their portfolio. A portfolio will help you see the work they’ve done and envision how their look or sound might work with your explainer video. Reviewing portfolios is effectively your opportunity to shop around, so don’t be afraid to spend a bit of time on this.
Think Long-Term
While you might only be producing one video right now, you might produce more further down the track. Could the presenter or voiceover artist you choose now be used in the future? Or are you happy to mix things up if you do decide to make more explainer videos? There’s no right answer to this, but it’s important to consider it before you make your final decision.
Have an idea for an explainer video for your business, but not sure where to start? Give the friendly Onepost Video Production team a call; we’d love to help out.