Being in-the-know can give you a competitive edge. Refocus your efforts to maximize your results.

Hi there voiceover achievers,

All of your friends here at CSM hope you had a peaceful and restful start to the new year — we all earned it for making it through 2020. Now, onto the next. Amidst all the recent world challenges, we need to continue to adapt in order to thrive. This is true in your voiceover work too.

As we look ahead to 2021, I want to give you some VO insider info to keep up with current tips and trends in the industry. This way, you can say to the world that your business can pivot and change accordingly, and your brand reflects those changes.

Five 2021 industry predictions 

With each year comes new industry trends and developments, and we’ve compiled a list of the VO ones you need to look out for in 2021.

1. Remote working is here to stay 

We all know work-from-home culture took over with the rise of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders. While we will most likely see some return to offices and studios in the coming months, the workplace probably won’t be fully in-person for a while.

So what does that mean for you as a voiceover talent? You have freedom over your schedule and pace, and now you don’t have to be geographically close to your clients. The whole world is your oyster! That being said, invest in your home studio space so you have a broadcast quality sound.

2. E-learning and training content will be in high demand 

Another effect of working from home (and remote learning for children too!) is the need for more e-learning and online training content. That’s where you come in, my VO aficionados.

Professional talent with clear, pleasant, captivating voices are needed to produce engaging clips whether it’s for corporate narration or academic instruction. If this isn’t a genre speciality of yours currently, it’s a worthwhile effort to break into this niche!

3. Marketing will move quickly, meaning VO jobs will move quickly, too

2020 was a violent storm of headlines that demanded the attention of marketers; news was happening constantly and brands were faced with the challenge of responding to it all efficiently and appropriately.

Where there’s the need for a quick marketing turnaround, there’s often a need for a quick commercial VO turnaround. Stay on your toes, keep your mic close and help marketers meet their deadlines in 2021. Balancing fast turnaround times and great service is the name of the game.

4. Natural and conversational reads remain popular

This has been a consistent trend over the past few years, and it doesn’t look like it’s going away any time soon. Social distancing and shelter-in-place have only increased the need for human connection, and a warm and welcoming VO performance can offer that comfort to people.

On the voiceover side, a more authentic performance gives them a sincere feeling and lets their audience know they can trust them. In a year that’s been difficult for many businesses, audience trust can go a long way. This includes everything from retail spots to medical. Tap into your humanity and make sure you voice from a place of authenticity with every script.

5. Internet video jobs are on the rise 

Have we mentioned people have been at home a lot more than usual? Yes? Well, one more time for good measure, because more time at home often means more time online; and more time online means a greater demand for Internet video content.

This isn’t an especially new or surprising trend, but it’s still on the upward trajectory for 2021. Keep your eye out for more jobs for online video VO, from educational to entertaining and everything in between.

To stay ahead of the curve, look into the Clubhouse app: it’s a new audio-only social media platform that is booming in the VO world right now since your work centers around your voice. You can meet new people, tune into various meetings/conferences and participate in discussion panels. In a nutshell, it is the perfect platform to boost your online presence and digitally network with other professionals + industry leaders.

Closing words of encouragement 

As we keep venturing forward into 2021, don’t lose sight of the goals and business plans you created back in January. (And if you haven’t done so, you need to. Strategizing is the key to success!)

Make sure you have a unique brand that works for you. Find what you’re most passionate about as a VO professional and pursue it. Dedicate time to your craft by taking workshops and studying with voice coaches. Know where you are in your voiceover career and where you want to be.

Here at CSM, we are working day in day out to help our VO talent reach their fullest potential through every step of the process. Whether it’s branding, managing, business coaching, or auditioning, we’re working hard to open up doors and opportunities for you to share your voice and do good work.

Let us know how we can help and we will work with you to bring your VO business to the next level. Go ahead and schedule a free consult with me and let’s rock this year together.

Celia Siegel