Here are a few tips to help you prepare your voiceover or video testimonial script for a smooth production process.

1. Pronunciation: Please carefully read and then reread your script taking note of any words or names that may not be familiar to me. Remember how confused you were when you came across the word Hors d'oeuvres? Some scripts are very hard to understand – if you send in a script that has confusing or hard to read words, it will take more time to complete your project. I will have to contact you, ask for clarification, etc. Avoid that whole process by simplifying your script and being clear.

Remember, Justin does voice work for people from all around the world. A word that is common in your region may not be common in his. Therefore, please make note of any strange pronunciations and provide a phonetic spelling. If you have a really out of the ordinary word (or name) that you have a hard time spelling phonetically, feel free to call and leave a voice message with the pronunciation of the word.

2. Word Count:  The nifty little word count tool in Microsoft Word or Apple Pages is not necessarily accurate when it comes to your script. For instance, does your script contain any symbols such as $ or %? What about Roman numerals such as XXV?

Microsoft Word will consider $3,499.95 to be one word. However, when read it is actually eleven words: "Three thousand four hundred ninety nine dollars and ninety five cents."

When preparing your script it is important to spell everything out. Do not use abbreviations or symbols, as this will lead to an inaccurate word count.

3. Style of Read or Video:  Are you imagining a soft, very conversational style delivery for your voiceover or video? What about a hyped up "Buy Now!" car salesman style? Please explain as clearly as possible what you are looking for. I believe that the better you explain things, the better your final product will be. If you find a demo on my website that you like, please make sure to note that specific demo so I can model your project after that one.

4. Remember you are not writing for a newspaper. What works great in print very often does NOT work well for a voiceover or video. Feel free to throw out all the rules of grammar and write in a conversational way.

I often have clients insist on perfect grammar and no contractions… as a result, their final product may sound fake and unbelieveable.

Write the way you speak!  For example, use a lot of contractions.

Rather than writing: "Today I am going to…" Write this: "Today I'm going to."

Instead of: "she will have a great time…" Write this: "She'll have a great time."

Read your script out loud to yourself and if you come across any points that feel awkward to you (the writer), always remember they will feel twice as awkward for me and sound ten times as unnatural to the listener! This will probably lead to less conversions and sales, wouldn’t you think?

7. Don't simply share facts. Try to tell a story. If you don't have a story to tell, spice up your words! Use an engaging script with words such as "imagine" as you present a problem and a solution or whatever it is that you are trying to make a point about.

Imagine receiving a super effective video testimonial or voiceover for your project in the next 24 hours. Did you notice how great that word "imagine" worked there?

6. Please do not type your script in all uppercase: It makes for an incredibly difficult read. Also, avoid WrItInG lIkE tHiS aS iT iS aLsO vErY hArD tO rEaD!

7. Music: Music plays a CRITICAL role in almost all pieces of production If you are planning on having music in your production, it is helpful to pick the music in advance (or at the very least have a particular style in mind) and to perhaps listen to the music while writing the script. If you need help finding royalty free music, no problem. I can help you out. I have a great royalty free production library available for your project. Of course, if you have your own soundtrack you’d like to use, just send it in! Even if you plan on having Justin record a dry voiceover or dry video and you want to mix it with music later, PLEASE provide the music track so that I can listen to it in headphones while recording the piece for your project (it makes a huge difference, trust me).