Send a Script With Brand Voice Guidelines for Voice Over Recording

Send a Script With Brand Voice Guidelines for Voice Over Recording

If your organisation has established brand voice guidelines, tone of voice principles or communication standards, you can send the relevant guidance together with your script to professional British male voice over artist Spencer Cork.

Brand guidelines can provide useful context about how an organisation communicates with its audience. They may define qualities such as confident, approachable, knowledgeable, conversational, authoritative or reassuring and explain how those qualities should be expressed across customer communications.

When relevant to spoken content, these principles can help inform the interpretation of a professional voice over script.

I’m Spencer Cork, a professional British male voice over artist recording from a broadcast-quality studio in Kent, UK, for businesses, agencies, production companies and organisations worldwide.

Send your script together with the relevant brand voice information and explain which principles are most important for the recording.

Send your script and brand voice guidelines through the Spencer Cork contact page.

What Are Brand Voice Guidelines?

Brand voice guidelines describe how an organisation communicates.

They may define:

• Brand personality

• Tone of voice

• Communication principles

• Audience relationship

• Preferred language

• Words or phrases to use

• Words or phrases to avoid

These guidelines are often created to help maintain consistency across different forms of communication.

Can I Send Brand Voice Guidelines With My Voice Over Script?

Yes.

If your organisation has relevant brand voice or tone of voice guidance, you can provide it alongside the script.

You do not necessarily need to send the complete brand manual.

The most useful information is usually the material that directly relates to:

• Communication style

• Audience

• Tone

• Personality

• Language

Identify the sections that should influence the voice over performance.

How Can Brand Guidelines Help a Voice Over Recording?

A script can often be delivered in several technically correct ways.

Brand voice guidance can help establish which interpretation is most appropriate for the organisation.

For example, a brand might describe its communication as:

• Confident but not arrogant

• Professional but not formal

• Friendly but not overly familiar

• Knowledgeable but not technical

• Energetic but not aggressive

These distinctions can provide useful creative context.

Is Brand Voice the Same as a Voice Over Voice?

Not exactly.

A brand voice describes the organisation's broader communication personality.

A voice over voice is the human performance used to deliver a particular piece of spoken content.

The two can work together.

The objective is not necessarily to turn written brand guidelines into a literal vocal formula. Instead, relevant principles can help inform the performance.

Is Brand Tone of Voice the Same as Voice Direction?

No.

Brand tone of voice provides broader communication principles.

Voice direction is normally specific to an individual recording.

For example, a brand may generally communicate in a clear, confident and approachable way.

A specific project might then require:

• More energy for a commercial

• More reassurance for customer information

• More authority for a corporate presentation

• More warmth for an internal communication

You can also send a script and voice direction for recording.

What Brand Information Should I Send?

Useful information may include:

• Brand personality

• Tone of voice principles

• Target audience

• Communication values

• Preferred terminology

• Language to avoid

• Existing audio references

• Relevant campaign context

Only send the information that helps define the voice over requirement.

Can I Send a Full Brand Guidelines Document?

Yes.

However, if the document is extensive, identify the pages or sections most relevant to spoken communication.

Large brand manuals may include information about:

• Logos

• Colours

• Typography

• Photography

• Layout

These elements may not directly affect the voice over.

Highlighting the relevant verbal and communication guidance can make the brief clearer.

Can I Send Tone of Voice Guidelines?

Yes.

Tone of voice guidelines are particularly relevant when they explain how the organisation wants to sound when communicating with its audience.

They might include principles such as:

• Clear

• Direct

• Warm

• Human

• Expert

• Reassuring

• Conversational

They may also provide examples of preferred and non-preferred language.

Can I Send Brand Personality Traits?

Yes.

Brand personality traits can provide useful creative context.

However, broad words can be interpreted in different ways.

For example, "confident" might mean:

• Calm and assured

• Bold and energetic

• Authoritative and direct

If possible, explain what the brand traits mean within your organisation.

Can I Send Examples of Existing Brand Audio?

Yes.

Existing audio can help demonstrate how the brand has previously sounded.

This might include:

• Commercials

• Corporate videos

• Telephone recordings

• Online videos

• Podcasts

• Internal communications

Explain whether the objective is to maintain continuity or develop a new direction.

Can I Send a Previous Voice Over as a Reference?

Yes.

A previous recording can provide useful context about established pacing, tone or audience relationship.

However, explain what should be retained and what should change.

For example:

"Keep the same calm authority but make the new recording slightly more conversational."

This is more useful than simply asking for an exact copy of another performance.

Can Brand Guidelines Help Maintain Consistency Across Multiple Recordings?

Yes.

If you commission voice over regularly, established brand communication principles can help create a consistent foundation across different projects.

Individual recordings may still require different levels of:

• Energy

• Warmth

• Authority

• Urgency

• Formality

The broader brand identity can remain recognisable while the performance adapts to the specific context.

Can I Send Brand Guidelines for a Series of Voice Overs?

Yes.

For ongoing or multi-part projects, brand guidelines can provide a common reference across the complete series.

This may be useful for:

• Training libraries

• Product videos

• Internal communications

• Customer information

• Telephone systems

• Marketing content

Also explain any project-specific direction for each recording.

Can Agencies Send Client Brand Guidelines?

Yes.

Advertising, creative, marketing and production agencies can provide relevant client-approved brand guidance with the script.

Where the brand documentation is confidential, only send information that is appropriate and necessary for the recording project.

Can I Send a Brand Brief and Creative Brief Together?

Yes.

The two documents can serve different purposes.

Brand guidelines may explain the organisation's ongoing communication identity.

A creative brief may explain the objectives of the specific project or campaign.

Together they can provide both long-term and project-specific context.

You can also send a script with a creative brief.

Can I Send Voice Direction With Brand Guidelines?

Yes.

Project-specific voice direction can be provided alongside the broader brand guidance.

For example:

Brand principle: "Clear, human and approachable."

Project direction: "For this recording, slightly more energetic and upbeat."

This can provide a useful hierarchy of information.

Can I Send a Reference Video With Brand Guidelines?

Yes.

A reference video can provide visual and production context in addition to the brand information.

You can also send a script with a reference video.

Can I Send a Guide Voice With Brand Guidelines?

Yes.

A guide voice or scratch track can demonstrate practical information such as timing, pacing or pronunciation.

The brand guidelines can then provide wider context about the intended communication style.

You can also send a script with a guide voice or scratch track.

Can I Send Pronunciation Guidelines With Brand Information?

Yes.

Brands may have specific pronunciations for:

• Company names

• Product names

• Service names

• Acronyms

• Technical terminology

Provide this information clearly alongside the script.

You can also send a script with pronunciation notes.

Can I Send a Brand Lexicon or Terminology Guide?

Yes.

A brand lexicon can help identify preferred words, terminology and pronunciations.

For voice over projects, highlight information that affects:

• Spoken wording

• Pronunciation

• Acronyms

• Product terminology

This can be particularly useful for organisations with specialist products or services.

What If the Script Does Not Match the Brand Guidelines?

If there appears to be a conflict between the script and the supplied brand guidance, identify which material has final approval.

The voice over artist normally records the approved script rather than rewriting brand copy without instruction.

If the wording is still being developed, make this clear when submitting the project.

What If the Project Needs a Different Tone From the Normal Brand Voice?

That is possible.

Different situations can require different expressions of the same brand identity.

For example, an organisation may sound:

• More energetic in advertising

• More reassuring in customer support

• More authoritative in corporate communication

• More conversational in social video

Explain the specific project requirement alongside the broader brand guidelines.

Can I Send Brand Guidelines With a Draft Script?

Yes.

If the project is still being developed, send the current script and identify it clearly as a draft.

Brand guidance can provide useful context during early project discussions.

You can also send a draft script for voice over review.

Can I Request a Demo Based on My Brand Voice Guidelines?

You can provide relevant brand voice information when enquiring about a custom demo read.

This may help communicate the organisation's intended personality and audience relationship.

You can also send a voice over script for a demo read.

Can I Send Brand Guidelines for Commercial Voice Over?

Yes.

Brand voice guidance can help provide consistency across advertising campaigns and commercial content.

Also provide the specific campaign direction and intended usage for the recording.

Can I Send Brand Guidelines for Corporate Voice Over?

Yes.

Corporate communications often need to reflect an organisation's established personality while remaining appropriate for the specific audience.

Brand guidelines can provide useful context for:

• Company films

• Presentations

• Internal communications

• Recruitment videos

• Customer communications

Can I Send Brand Guidelines for Telephone Voice Over?

Yes.

Brand communication principles can also inform recorded telephone experiences including:

• IVR prompts

• Voicemail greetings

• On-hold messages

• Automated announcements

The performance can be adapted to the functional requirements of telephone audio while remaining consistent with the organisation's wider communication style.

Can I Send Brand Guidelines for eLearning and Training?

Yes.

Brand voice principles can help maintain consistency across training and learning content, particularly when the material forms part of a larger content library.

Project-specific direction should still be provided where required.

Can Brand Guidelines Be Used for Ongoing Voice Over Work?

Yes.

For organisations commissioning regular recordings, established brand voice guidance can provide a useful reference point for future projects.

Each new script can then include any additional direction specific to that recording.

What Should I Send With Brand Voice Guidelines?

Ideally provide:

• Current script

• Relevant brand voice guidelines

• Project-specific voice direction

• Target audience

• Intended usage

• Pronunciation guidance

• Reference materials

• Timing requirements

• Required deadline

Not every project requires every item.

Send the information most relevant to the recording.

What Happens After I Send My Script and Brand Guidelines?

The typical process is:

1. You send the current script.

2. You provide the relevant brand voice guidance.

3. The brand personality and communication principles are considered.

4. The requirements of the specific project are established.

5. Any conflicts or unclear instructions can be clarified.

6. The final script and voice direction are confirmed.

7. The voice over is professionally recorded.

8. The completed audio is prepared and delivered.

The exact workflow depends on the project.

Send Your Script and Brand Voice Guidelines for Professional Recording

If your organisation has established brand voice, tone of voice or communication guidelines, send the relevant information alongside your script.

Useful guidance may include:

• Brand personality

• Tone of voice

• Audience relationship

• Communication principles

• Preferred terminology

• Existing audio references

• Project-specific direction

You do not need to send an entire brand manual if only a small section is relevant to the recording.

Send your script and brand voice guidelines through the Spencer Cork contact page.

You can also send a script with a creative brief, send a script and voice direction, send a script with a guide voice or scratch track, send a script with pronunciation notes, send a timed or timecoded script, or visit the Spencer Cork Voice Over homepage.