You may not have noticed it, but I guarantee you’ve listened to multiple voice overs today; from commercials you’ve heard on the radio, television or YouTube, in any video games or e-Learning, when you’ve called the bank and been on hold, if you’ve watched any corporate presentations or animations, and so much more!
Fiverr, an online platform that connects freelancers with clients, has become a popular source for finding voice over talent, but is it any good?
In this article I’ll explore the positives and negatives of hiring a Fiverr voice over artist to help you make an informed decision.
What Experience Do I Have For This Fiverr Comparison?
I’ve been a professional voice over artist for twenty years, working with clients around the world.
Most of my work comes through my own voice over website and recommendations. In April 2023, I decided to became a Fiverr voice over artist and I signed up to offer my services, mainly because I noticed a drop in SEO for my website and a surge in rankings for Fiverr voice overs – if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Prior to joining Fiverr, I’d also used it myself to source female voice overs for projects I’d been working.
So I’ve experienced Fiverr from both sides; the buyer and the seller. Let’s start of with the positives:
The Positives of Hiring a Fiverr Voice Over Artist
1. Cost-Effective
One of the most attractive features of Fiverr is its cost-effectiveness. You can find people on there who offer recordings for as little as $5, which is great when you’re on a tight budget.
But beware the added extras, commission fees and quality (I’ll get into those in the negatives).
2. Variety of Talent
Fiverr does boast a very diverse pool of voice over artists, with talents from all around the world. This variety allows clients to find the perfect voice for their project, whether they need a specific accent, gender, or style.
The range of talent also means you can find someone who specializes in the type of project you’re working on, whether it’s an audiobook narration, a commercial, eLearning course, YouTube video etc.
3. Quick Turnaround
Many Fiverr voice over artists offer a quick turnaround time, with some providing same-day or next-day delivery (at a cost). This is great for clients with tight deadlines.
Additionally, Fiverr provides secure tools for communication and file delivery, streamlining the process.
4. Flexibility and Customization
Fiverr allows clients to communicate directly with voice over artists, enabling them to provide specific instructions and feedback. This flexibility means you can customize the voice over to suit your needs, making adjustments along the way if necessary.
The Negatives of Hiring a Fiverr Voice Over Artist
1. Quality Variability
I mentioned the cost effectiveness of Fiverr, it is very cheap and you can get some very affordable voice over artists on there. But cheap isn’t always good.
Whilst Fiverr does offer a wide range of talent, the quality of that talent can vary significantly. Some voice over artists lack experience and have just set themselves up as a voice over to earn bit of extra money, having never done it before. Because there is so many people on their offering voice over services, you have to spend a lot of time researching to find consistently high-quality talent.
I’ve been in media and recording voice overs for 20 years, with clients including British Airways, BMW, Sonos, iManage and many more.
2. Beware The Extras
A lot of Fiverr voice overs offer recordings for $5, but when you look into it, that $5 doesn’t get you much at all.
If you’ve not used Fiverr before, you can add Extras to your project for fast delivery, high quality audio, extra revisions, saving separate files, online usage, commercial usage…the list goes on and on. This voice over that started out as $5 could very quickly add upto hundreds of dollars. So beware of whats on offer and what’s included in the price.
There are no added extras when you hire me directly. All audio comes in a high quality format, with fast delivery and revisions included. The fee includes the recording of audio in my studio, editing the audio so it matches the script (minus any breaths etc.) and delivery. It also includes online usage in perpetuity.
3. Not A Professional Recording
When hiring a voiceover artist on Fiverr, you have to take their word that they’re using professional equipment. Anyone could go out a buy a microphone and plug it into a laptop, then claim to have a professional home studio.
I’ve experienced voice overs on Fiverr who have delivered audio that sounded like it was recorded on a mobile phone or in the bathroom. Yes, you can reject the audio and get a refund, but what a waste of time.
When hiring my services, you are guaranteed a professional, high quality recording, thanks to industry leading equipment I record on…which you’re more than welcome to see.
4. Potential for Miscommunication
Communication is crucial when working with freelancers, and miscommunication can lead to delays or incorrect recordings. Fiverr’s platform, while useful, may not always provide the same level of clarity as face-to-face meetings or direct phone calls, leading to misunderstandings about project requirements.
With my voice over services you can call me in the studio, email me directly or even join me on the voice over recording session, all at no extra cost.
5. Fiverr Fees
Obviously, Fiverr needs to make money to keep the platform going. The price you see gigs advertised for, isn’t the price you’ll pay.
Fiverr will add their fee on top of that when you come to check-out. And it’s not just you, the client, who pays a fee, they take a slice of the voice over artists fee, too. They’re basically acting as the middle man. Much better to cut them out and go direct to the freelance voice talent.
There is no middle man fee when you book my voice over services direct, saving you money on the project.
Conclusion: Is A Fiverr Voice Over Right for You?
Hiring a Fiverr voiceover artist can be a cost-effective and efficient way to get quality voiceover work. However, it’s essential to be aware of the potential downsides, including variability in quality, extra charges, limited revisions, lack of direct control, and potential for miscommunication.
If you need to hire a professional voice over artist, contact me directly to discuss your project and how I can help.
Neil
