Editor’s note: This article was first published in February 2023. The audiobook boom, YouTube channels hiring narrators and personalised voice messages being “very popular in the United States” reflect that time, and the market may have shifted since with AI voice generation.
Do you have a somewhat distinctive or special voice? Then you might have a talent. How can you make money with your voice? Let’s look at the ways you can earn money from it and put it to good use. I should point out that the voice isn’t always everything, and you may need to pair it with good diction.
If you have a good voice, these are the ways you can make money
Professional audio recording
You can offer your services as a voice-over artist for commercials, corporate videos, audio guides and so on. With the rise of YouTube, some big channels now need full-time narrators for some of their voice-over videos, so you can build a reputation in that little world.
Dubbing films, TV series, video games and more
This is probably where you’ll find the crème de la crème of special and distinctive voices, especially in film dubbing. You’re not going to become a millionaire with this idea, as voice actors don’t consider themselves particularly well paid, but it is certainly a way to make money, and one that can be stable over time if you’re lucky enough to become the regular dubbing voice of a famous actor.
Recording podcasts and radio shows
You can start your own podcast or offer your services as a presenter or host.
Live entertainment: you can perform at karaoke nights, weddings, parties and so on.
Recording voice messages
This is a business idea that is very popular in the United States. You can record greetings for birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions and sell them online. The way to make the most money is to sell personalised greetings.
See also: 8 strange ways to earn extra money without effort
Recording audiobooks
With the boom in audiobooks, you can now offer your services to record books, because in this field a good voice and a good narrator make all the difference.
Recording guided meditations and relaxation sessions
You can record audio for guided meditations and relaxation sessions and sell it online. You can even create your own videos, upload them to YouTube and make money from the advertising.
It’s important to bear in mind that to succeed in any of these options you’d need good audio quality and probably some experience in the field. It’s also essential to have a strong online presence and to promote your services properly. Likewise, as we said earlier, the voice isn’t everything, especially if you want to work as a dubbing actor, where you also need to work on your diction.
Finally, another way to make money with your voice is to teach others to improve theirs. More and more people are selling courses on improving every aspect of the voice that can be improved.
See also: 36 ways to earn extra money from home
Featured image: Dejan Krsmanovic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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