Author: Billy

As the world becomes more globalized, the demand for high-quality subtitling and captioning services continues to grow. While captions and subtitles may seem straightforward — translating speech to text, or text to speech — they are in fact vital tools for entertainment, education, and accessibility.

Why You Should Think About Subtitling And Captioning Services

Visual storytelling is a powerful promotional tool that can greatly help a business draw attention from potential clients. If you’re going to the trouble of crafting high-quality videos and neglecting to caption or subtitle them properly, you’re leaving money on the table.

With all the videos we consume today — from eLearning content to news coverage to anime, entertainment, and TV shows — it is essential to have an accurate, consistent way of conveying language that benefits everyone.

Subtitling Vs Captioning: What’s The Difference?

While subtitles and captions are essentially the same things, they are two different forms of translation that require a different skill set. Captions are primarily for live video or audio, while subtitles are for movies, television shows, or recorded videos.

Because subtitles are meant to be read by a person (not necessarily heard) they are much more detailed than captions.

As a business owner, you must know how important it is to get your message across to the customers in the most efficient manner. The right subtitling and captioning services will help you in effectively delivering your message.

7 Reasons Why You Need To Use Subtitling and Captioning Services

Today we’re going to look at the top 7 benefits subtitling and captioning services can provide to your business.

1. Accessibility

The most obvious and arguably most important benefit is that captions and subtitles are a way to give hearing-impaired individuals an opportunity to watch and enjoy your content. 

But captions are not only for the deaf and hard of hearing. They are critical for understanding for those with learning disabilities and for those who are in areas with a lot of background noise.

Being able to understand what people are saying in a video is important for several reasons. Captions and subtitles can help clarify the meaning of a video when it’s not possible to hear the audio clearly. Ever struggle to understand a particular tricky accent? Subtitling and captioning can help there too.

Subtitling and captioning also help people enjoy videos without volume, which is important when 69% of Internet users watch videos in public places without sound.

2. Improve SEO

The importance of subtitles and captions is not limited to accessibility.

Subtitling and captioning can also increase SEO.  Videos, unlike blogs posts, cannot be crawled or indexed by search engines. This is why closed captions are so important for online video content — they allow search engines to crawl and classify your content, making them much easier to find by potential customers.

3. Global Reach

Video is the most persuasive medium on the planet. It’s also the most global, too!

In fact, on YouTube alone, we consume over 1 billion hours of video each day. That means that your audience isn’t limited to your neighbourhood or city — they can be visiting from halfway across the globe. And if you want them to understand what you’re saying in your video, then captions translated into multiple languages are a must.

4. Include Additional Information

Subtitling and captioning services include additional information such as the speaker’s name, a sound effect, or a musical cue. This allows deaf and hard-of-hearing people to enjoy video content with a similar experience to that of other viewers. It also enriches the experience for users watching without sound.

5. Legal Requirement

Depending on where your business operates, providing subtitles and captions may even be a legal requirement.

In America, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires subtitles and captions on television, in movie theatres, and on the Internet.  Over in the UK, the Communications Act 2003 requires that all programmes except news, current affairs, sport and advertising use subtitles or sign language for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

While we appreciate not all of our customers will be producing content for television, adopting subtitles and captions is a good practice we recommend to all.

6. Strengthen Brand Identity

You might think that subtitles and captions are just for movies and TV shows, but they can be a great way to strengthen your brand. 

When you have subtitles or captions, you can control how your brand is represented and how it is positioned in the marketplace. You can also use subtitles and captions to creatively convey your company’s message clearly and concisely.

7. Increase Engagement Rates

People who watch videos and listen to audio files with subtitles and captions have a higher engagement rate than those who don’t. In a recent study by Verizon, 80% of consumers were more likely to watch an entire video when captions are available.

They also found that marketers who create captivating videos that tell a story that customers can relate to are 20 % more likely to receive word-of-mouth marketing, and in turn drive up their profits.

Videos and audio files with subtitles or captions are more accessible because they’re easier to understand. This means your customers are more likely to hit the share button.

How Our Subtitling and  Captioning Services Can Help

Wordsburg is the leading Singapore-based translation and interpretation service provider. We understand that communication works best when paired with a personal touch. That’s why we pride ourselves on our community of wordsmiths. We take the time to translate your content into the target language but also choose the right wording for it. It’s the tiny details that make all the difference.

With our affordable video subtitling and captioning services, you can ensure that your video content has maximum impact. And not just at home. Our expert translators will translate your English subtitles into more than 100 languages — making it possible to reach audiences worldwide and work around language barriers.

Conclusion

Video is a great way to get your message across to a larger audience, but not everyone gets to hear what you’re saying. This is why it’s so important to have your content subtitled and/or captioned. Well executed subtitles can make a world of difference to the reach of your content.

 

There is no question that the rise of content marketing has brought with it an era in which video reigns supreme. With YouTube being the world’s second-largest search engine, businesses cannot afford to overlook this valuable way to reach customers.

As a business, you need to be producing quality video content in order to consistently stand out from the crowd — and to make sure you’re appearing at the top of search results. But where do you begin? 

Voiceovers: Stand Out From The Crowd

Many brands are using a voiceover to help introduce and explain their products, but the first step is deciding what kind of voiceover you want. Do you want a serious voice that sounds authoritative? Or would an energetic, fun voice be more in line with your brand’s personality? 

One of the most powerful techniques in visual storytelling is the cinematic voice over — a narrating voice that builds a story as viewers watch a short film. This kind of narration gives your story mood, atmosphere, and feeling. Today, we’re going to help you decide whether a cinematic voice over is right for you and your business.

The Purpose Of A Voiceover For Your Business Videos

The purpose of a voiceover for your business videos is to give the viewer context for what they’re about to see, whether it’s a testimonial, a product demo, or just an overall brand message. It’s important that your voiceover is clear and concise and that it represents your brand.

A voiceover can make or break your video, so you need to be very careful when choosing a voiceover artist or a script for your content. Your videos don’t always need a voiceover but if you do decide to add one, it needs to be on-brand. 

What Should You Look For In A Voiceover Artist?

When you’re looking for a voiceover artist, you should be looking for someone who’s really great at conveying your message. If you’re working with someone who’s not a professional voiceover artist, it’s important to make sure they have a good ear for how your message should sound.

You also want someone who can bring your script to life. You want someone with a voice that’s interesting and engaging. Of course, that’s all subjective, but it’s also important to think about the demographic you want to reach.

When Hiring A Cinematic Voice Over Professional, What Are The Things That You Should Ask Them?

Finding a reliable contractor is not easy. When you’re hiring a new professional, you want to make sure that the person you’re working with will be ethical, responsible, and will complete tasks on time. 

The questions below will help you on your search to find a voiceover professional for your video.

1. Can You Give Me An Example Of A Project You’ve Worked On Like Mine?

Cinematic voice overs are fairly niche, so it’s fundamental to take a look at the portfolio of potential voice talent. To make sure you’re working with the best, look through voice talent portfolios before casting a project. In addition to seeing how they read for different scripts and in different genres, you’ll also get an idea about their range and versatility.

2. What Is Your Recording Setup?

When hiring a professional, you should expect them to use modern, high-quality recording equipment. Don’t be afraid to ask about what kind of equipment they use for your project; most recording artists love talking about their craft,

3. What Is The Usual Turnaround Time For A Job?

Once you’ve confirmed a voiceover artist, make sure to establish an agreed-upon schedule for approving your draft and finalizing the cinematic voice over. This way both you and your voice actor will have the time necessary to complete your project successfully.

If you’re thinking about hiring a voiceover talent for an upcoming project, you should make your move quickly — booking the best voiceovers is often easier said than done. With a growing list of customers and multiple demands from major companies, most voice actors are in high demand and can be booked up well in advance.

4. Do You Do Revisions? How Many?

With a good script and a decent budget, you’re more likely to get the voiceover you want the first time around. However, we don’t live in an ideal world — if your first attempt isn’t exactly what you want, request revisions. Make sure you understand what is included in the revision package before signing the contract.

Things To Avoid When Recording Your Own Voiceovers (And How To Be Sure You Don’t Make These Mistakes)

If you’re looking for ways to lower your marketing costs, the easiest way to do it is by recording your own marketing voiceovers. However, many businesses fall short when they try to make their own promotional videos —and the results can be disastrous. 

We’ve compiled some of the top voiceover tips so that you can make sure your recordings will be spot-on and effective.

1. Choose An Appropriate Space

When recording voiceovers, it’s paramount to ensure that you’re in a quiet room. No echoes or reverb will ruin a professional-sounding recording, and you’re going to want your audio to be as crisp and clear as possible.

2. Don’t Try Too Hard

A common mistake made by amateur voiceover artists is to imitate the style of other actors and marketing campaigns. Listeners can tell when a voiceover is just trying to sound like the actor from an ad that they liked, and this comes off as being inauthentic. Rather than mimicking existing styles, new voice-over artists should develop their own unique voice and style.

The best voiceover artists are also great storytellers. They have the ability to engage listeners and make them feel a part of the story — without sounding like they’re reading off of a script. The trick to sounding natural is delivering dialogue in a way that you would when speaking to a friend: pause, breathe, speak slowly.

3. Equipment Matters

The most important component of a voiceover is the audio recording equipment that the voice actor uses — it’s absolutely fundamental to producing a quality final product. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking cheap microphones and poor recording devices are just as good as higher-end equipment — they’re not. Voice actors who invest in their own equipment and gain experience with proper recording techniques will always produce better results than those using entry-level or low-grade equipment.

Is Using A Cinematic Voice Over Right For My Business?

 A cinematic voice over is an effective way to create a cinematic feel to your video. It’s also a great way to add a layer of authority and credibility to your content. But that doesn’t mean it works on every type of visual content out there.

The most important thing to remember about using a voiceover in your video is that it is there to add character and personality to what you’re creating. The voiceover should never be the main focus of the video, but it should be there to draw the viewer in.

If you’re still not sure, speak to a professional voice actor or company providing voiceover services who can give you the right advice and help you find a voice that matches your brand and your product.

International language and interpretation services are an important part of a globally connected workforce. The demand for language assistance is growing as business interactions become increasingly complex.  Businesses that fail to adapt in an increasingly globalised world are running the risk of being left behind. We can say that international business and languages come together nowadays.

If you’re not working with an international language and interpretation service, then you’re missing out on opportunities to gain revenue and expand your business.

 

What Are International Language and Interpretation Services?

When the world seems to be getting smaller, language barriers can still be a problem. A popular solution to this is to reach out to an interpreter or translator. These professionals are trained to help you make your point and understand what others have said in a language you don’t speak.

 

What Is The Difference Between An Interpreter And A Translator?

Many people mistakenly use the terms interpreter and translator interchangeably, but in reality, they’re two very different professions.

A translator typically works with written documents, while an interpreter mainly works with spoken messages. Translators often take deeper dives into subject matter than interpreters do. But because interpreters have to work quickly and accurately, they must focus on what they’re doing to convey the right message at the right time. This, as you can imagine, requires an immense level of dedication and skill.

Translation services are regularly used in a variety of industries. They are vital in the process of translating and formatting written content into different languages. Companies that specialize in translation offer services for contracts, legal documents, advertising materials, and websites.

 

Should I Use An Interpreter Or A Translator?

 

When direct communication between people is not possible, a certified interpreter is needed to facilitate communication. Without an interpreter, words can get lost in translation — both literally and figuratively. In the worst cases, a lack of interpreter or miscommunication can lead to painful or costly mistakes. When there is no interpreter physically present, the speaker must deliver their message as clearly as possible. This will make the interpretation process more straightforward and accurate for the interpreter.

A professional translator can turn your words and the content of your business into a reality for a variety of different customers. A translator knows how to not only convert words from one language into another but also how to create an experience. Without a translator, your message could be lost in translation — or, probably worse, misinterpreted entirely.

 

Why Interpretation Is Important

Language is a powerful tool. It can bridge cultures and create bonds, enabling greater understanding between people who speak different languages. But if not performed with care, it can also serve to divide. 

A translation into new languages is a must for any business that hopes to enter or gain market share on an international stage. Translations increase the accessibility of your online presence, letting you reach a wider range of customers.

 

Types of Interpretation Services

Interpretation services can help you communicate with the world by providing you with a full range of interpretation services.

Some of the most popular interpretation services include:

Simultaneous / Live Translation

Simultaneous interpretation is the art of delivering a message to an audience in their language. Unlike consecutive interpretation, which involves getting a speaker’s words translated and delivered to an audience in instalments, simultaneous interpretation involves getting the words translated and delivered all at once.

Enabled by simultaneous interpretation equipment such as booths, transmitters, and headsets, the process is capable of delivering quality translations to large audiences in mere seconds.

A great example of this type of interpreting happens at the United Nations, where delegates from participating countries come together for meetings. Important functions like this require language to be a bridge instead of a barrier.

Consecutive Interpretation

Consecutive interpretation is the process of translating what you hear after listening to a speaker’s message completely. Unlike simultaneous interpretation, successive interpretation delays the messaging process by a few seconds.

It’s the perfect option for when you need to communicate with a large group. It’s also ideal for situations where technology is limited or when your interpreter needs to take a moment to recreate the message and communicate it in a compelling manner.

An example of consecutive interpretation is when President Obama met Prime Minister Maliki.

Remote / Telephone Interpretation

Remote interpretation has become a vital tool for the business world. With the spread of global pandemics like COVID-19, organizations have begun holding virtual conferences in order to accommodate as many remote attendees as possible. While there are some challenges involved with holding an event remotely, many of them can be overcome with the help of a remote interpreter — and of course, the right technology.

Remote interpretation can be done both simultaneously or consecutively, and there are many options for achieving your event goals. In-person interpreters are available in multiple languages at all times through Zoom or Gotomeeting — so you can easily incorporate them into your event.

Conference Interpretation Services

Conferences are all about sharing ideas. But language has become one of the most significant barriers that have been preventing ideas from spreading across borders. Conference interpreters present the opportunity to communicate with people who speak different languages in the same space.

With the help of interpretation services, businesses can reach out to a wider audience while bridging international gaps. These services provide a new way for companies to exchange ideas with clients, partners, and consumers.  This helps them grow profitably by building stronger relationships with global communities.

 

Selecting The Right International Language And Interpretation Services For Your Needs

If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably realized by now that you need to know more than just English. Whether you’re trying to do business with clients from other countries, trying to make connections with customers from other areas in your own country, or just looking to expand your horizons, understanding other languages and cultures is a great way to get there.

Interpreters have a responsibility to ensure that they are providing an accurate interpretation for every meeting, presentation, or speech. Professional language interpretation services ensure this by being present at each event and carefully following the instructions of the speaker. Interpreters also have years of experience that help them anticipate any new terminology or concepts that may be used in a meeting or presentation.

 

Working With Professional Interpreters That Understand Your Industry

A professional interpreter can make all the difference in ensuring clear communication during your international meeting or event — but be wary of choosing the wrong one. When hiring for an interpreting or translation job, it is important to find someone who understands the context of the source language and will convey that meaning into the target language fluently and correctly.

Most professional international interpretation services work with a variety of interpreters with experiences across different industries. Working with a professional will enable you to find an interpreter who speaks your language, understands your business, and can communicate your message across borders.

By understanding the nuances of your industry, international language and interpretation services ensure that when you pitch your product to new clients in a foreign tongue, it’ll make the right impact.

 

Conclusion

Language barriers are common in the business world, especially when a company is trying to expand overseas. Language and translation services are crucial in order to break down those barriers. Using a professional language and interpretation service will help your company communicate more effectively with its international partners and employees.

The secret behind any great infomercial is the voice over. A good infomercial voice over will ensure customers notice you — and hopefully, your brand will become synonymous with quality and excellence the next time they make a purchase. To guarantee that your infomercial has a positive impact on your brand, it’s essential to partner with a professional voice over artist whose reading style matches your tone and messaging.

In this post, we’ll look at what a good infomercial voice over looks like — and how you can use it for your own business.

What Is An Infomercial?

An infomercial is a special kind of commercial that is usually longer than 15 minutes. It usually airs during the late-night timeslot, when no other programs or commercials are competing for viewers’ attention.

Of all the ways a business can advertise its products and services, an infomercial is one of the most effective. A successful infomercial for a product or service allows the company to properly introduce a product and provide enough information to the customer that they’ll be convinced that it’s worth the purchase.

What Makes A Good Voice Over For An Infomercial?

The performance of an infomercial commercial and voice over actor is so important. All too often, a sales pitch sounds like it’s being read by someone whose been forced to stand in front of a camera. This can make customers feel uncomfortable, or even angry. Instead, you need to find a good balance: if you sound too stiff and formal, viewers won’t believe you and will lose interest. If you sound too laid back and casual, viewers may find you too unprofessional to trust with their credit card. Instead, you need to find a good balance.

An entertaining personality is one of the most important things you should look out for — it helps your audience to identify with you, and, more importantly, to become repeat visitors. Having a lively sense of humor makes you memorable, while also providing your viewers with fun content that won’t bore them. These habits are shown to correlate with both increased eye contact and an increase in review scores on platforms like YouTube.

Choose Your Voice 

Whether you’re looking for a male or female voice actor, the choices are abundant — and that’s a good thing! The best voice actors can add realism, charisma, and credibility to your brand, while also providing a unique tone that resonates with your audience. 

Generally, it helps to go with something a little more upbeat and friendly but this will depend on your business and your product.

Voice actors can provide a voice for any mascot, character, or real human you envision — making it crucial to enlist someone with powerful diction and cadence, as well as the talent of being able to bring life to whatever script they’re given.

The Importance of Voice

We don’t usually think about how voice acting affects the actual human brain. A 2013 study published in the journal NeuroImage looked at how emotion affects different parts of the brain and found that negative emotions like anger and anxiety made it harder for people to recognize faces. 

Analyzing two different scenarios in scenes of anger and anxiety, the researchers noticed a relationship between the emotional state of the camera and the activation of specific parts within the brain. Turns out, emotion communicates information within your brain better than words ever could. Vocal features like intonation, pitch, volume, and timbre describe each emotion better than you might expect or be aware of. Using raw emotion in your video content helps make it easy for viewers to connect with your products and services.

How To Choose The Right Voice Actor For Your Infomercial

When it comes to voice over for a specific product, you need more than just a general voice that can be used on anything. Of course, a neutral accent with a good and clear voice is an important part of the process, but your customers also need someone who knows how to talk about your product — and whose voice matches the personality of the brand.

You also need to think about the style of infomercial you will be going for.

Some of the most popular styles of infomercials include:

(a) An easy-to-follow instructional video about how to use your product

(b) Series of straightforward, tactical steps customers can take to solve a problem they are having (using your product)

(c) A commercial-style review of your product’s features and benefits.

Depending on the type of infomercial, you may prefer to opt for a different style of voice talent. Some infomercials are traditionally narrated; others are more conversational. Voice actors with different styles can be used to give a project a unique feel, especially if you wish to appeal to a specific demographic.

If you’re unsure, we would recommend speaking to a professional infomercial voice over company that can help to steer you in the right direction.

Top 3 Tips To Consider For Your Informercial Voice Over Project

Here are some of our top tips for your next infomercial voice over.

1. Consistency

Keep voice over tone, style, and pacing consistent throughout the video. 

2. Keywords

Keywords and key phrases are an essential part of any successful marketing effort. It’s important to make sure you are including the keywords that your target audience is listening for when discussing your product.

3. Focus on Common Questions

One of the most important things to remember when you’re selling a new product or service is that you need to address any and all concerns upfront. Potential buyers will have questions, and you’ll want to know what they are before they commit.

Understanding your audience’s pain points is key in formulating content that answers their questions. Spend some time on this! The more questions you can cover off in your infomercial the more likely a customer will convert.

How To Get A Great Voice Over For Your Commercial (Even If You’re On A Tight Budget)

You Get What You Pay For — Consider Higher Rates For A Great Voice Over

Getting cheap voice over talent is tempting, but it’s not a sustainable business strategy. In the long run, you’re better off investing in the experience of a professional voice artist. Working with professionals can help you get the most out of your budget.

While professional voice over talent isn’t cheap, the extra cost upfront for a quality product will pay dividends in the long run.

Be Flexible — Consider Different Options And Find The Right Voice For You

The benefit of working with a professional voice actor is that you can rely on their skills and experience. They’ll know what sounds right or what’s better for your brand. Sometimes, they have an idea of how to make things sound better. Be open and flexible, but know what you want your end result to be.

Provide A Script And Details About Your Brand And Product

If you’re on the lookout for a voice actor to voice your infomercial, have a rough budget ready. While the scope of work you have in mind will help a voice talent better suggest an appropriate price, make sure to clarify what you’re looking for at the start of the conversation.

While it’s useful to have a rough first draft of a script, it’s important to be open to any constructive feedback the voice talent gives you. Having an idea of the tone of your final infomercial and a rough script — though not necessarily finalized — will help the voice talent provide useful estimates for how much work is involved.

Conclusion

So, are infomercial voice over services worth it? In a word, yes. It’s more than worth it. A good voice over artist can elevate the production value of your video, giving it a more professional and polished feel, which is exactly what you want to achieve for your business.