Here's How You Should Write a TV Commercial

In the formulative years of the television industry, there was an acute shortage of capable scriptwriters. There were experienced writers for stage work, radio ads and specialist press copywriters in abundance. However, TV Commercial Script Writing was a new frontier.

While the first television broadcasts went to air in the USA in the late 1920s any form of advertising on television was prohibited. The Federal Communications Commission distributed commercial TV licences to 10 stations in May 1941.  

The first TV Commercial went to air 5 weeks later on July 1, 1941. Prior to the start of a ball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, viewers were treated to a 10-second spot for Bulova Watches.

From there the floodgates swung open. Advertising grew to be the force behind the TV industry. Just a few decades later in Australia, Sydney TV audiences were being bombarded with commercials that ran 90 seconds. It was a boom time for TV Commercial Script Writing.

The TV industry flourished and socked away the bulk of many nation’s promotional budgets for years. Global advertising giants like McCann-Erickson, the Coca-Cola agency wielded huge influence in world markets.

SHOW THEM THE MONEY

The once lowly writer of TV commercials rose to god-like stature throughout the Ad Agency fraternity. Along with the reputation came the big bucks.

Copywriters cranking out TV campaigns began taking advantage of their position to move from agency to agency for ever-growing piles of money. They would quickly dump brand loyalty for a bucket of cash. A bit like footballers really??

Many took their work and sometimes appropriated other writer’s stuff to enter in every Advertising Award show. With every award won, their hiring price increased.

The digital revolution created more opportunities for TV Commercial writers and producers. The numbers of writers increased dramatically, however, a lot of chaff survived the threshing and finished up alongside the talented individuals.

Now when you need a competent scriptwriter you can waste days sorting the rubbish scribblers from the talented writers.

MEDIA GROUP IS A HEAD START

Media Group have assembled a dynamic team of experienced script writers. They’re available now to work on your brief for new TV Commercial scripts.

Don’t get caught in the same old rut if the results keep disappointing. Head to where you’ll get a fresh approach from a team that loves trying something new. www.mediagroup.co.nz

Professional voice over services

We source only the world’s leading voice artists to ensure your project is of the highest standards.

Free Quote

Voice Over Artists

Finding a voice over. Two choices. First place a call to Media Group NZ. Next. Well, there are second options but we strongly urge you to go for the first choice.
        
The second choice requires you to hunt high and low to find a voice over talent that may possibly be suitable for the project. Or possibly not.

In the process you might blow the budget, screw the deadline and exacerbate the trending hair-loss situation. 

Far better you should choose option one. Media Group NZ

Go direct to the source

Everyone has a different way of describing a voice. At best you may be able to communicate the “genre” of the voice you seek. However nothing beats hearing the sound of that voice. You’ll be shouting. “Yes. That’s what we are after”.

Click to hear voice samples online

Whatever voice the project requires we have it. Male or female from teens to seniors. 

On the Media Group NZ home page you can begin by clicking on to sample recordings of the sort of voice you have in mind. Search by gender, age group, style, accent or origin.

Request a quote and maybe a free demo

Select the fee quote button at the top of the page. Follow the prompts and we will email the quote.
If you want a demonstration read from your chosen voice talent we may be able to arrange that free of charge too. Ask for details.

Get cracking now. Click here

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SERVICES:

PHONE MESSAGES
Well scripted, professionally voiced messages on your business telephone can be a powerful marketing tool for products and services. Contact Media Group now and enquire how to get started.

VOICE ARTISTS
Listen and book premium New Zealand and International voice artists.

IN STORE MUSIC
Entice customers into your store and promote your products and in-store promotions to them with an In Store Music and Messaging system.

MESSAGES ON HOLD
Telephone Messages On Hold is a cost effective marketing channel that is a must for all businesses.

WELCOME MESSAGES
Your Welcome Message, also referred to as an "Auto Attendant" message, is the first image that is projected to your callers of your business. Booking the correct voice artist and music strengthens your brand and creates a professional image to your callers.

AFTER HOURS MESSAGES
An essential part of your phone system is the After Hours message.

AFTER HOURS MESSAGES
An essential part of your phone system is the After Hours message.

MENU PROMPTS
Menu Prompts or IVR Prompts are stages through the telephone system that can guide your callers through informative announcements prior to answering.

QUEUE MESSAGES
Similar to On Hold Messages, Queue Messages are unique to certain transfer groups or lines. If a caller is transferred to say the accounts team, specific queue messages can play that relate to accounts matters.

ON HOLD HARDWARE
If your phone system requires additional Onhold Equipment to play your informative & entertaining messages on hold, then you can rest assured we have the latest technology to suit your telephone system. We stock the leading MOH1200 systems.

MESSAGES ON HOLD VOICE ARTISTS
We have handed picked the best voice artists to professionally be available to record all telephone messages.

MESSAGES ON HOLD COPYWRITING
Make a lasting impression with your telephone messages and get our team of copywriters to devise a script for you.

Before You Hire Voiceover Talent, Ask These Questions

WHO’S IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE?

Monday, early. You. Yes, you the lucky one, it’s OK we know you’re the boss’s pet. You are now in charge of selecting the voice artist for the new TV commercial.

Now that doesn’t sound like a bad way to start the week. But if you are new to the task there are Questions to Ask Before Hiring Voice Over Talents.

You could run up a quick checklist. Start with the question of who and include, what, where, when, for how long, copyrights, residuals, and contingencies.

And how much?

AGREE ON THE QUOTE FIRST

There’s only one way to identify the voice actor with the style and tone you have in mind for a job. You need to hear a recent recording by the talent, preferably reading a script with the sort of “feel” you want in the performance.

Media Group, the business audio specialists is a great place to start. On their website, you’ll be able to click on hundreds of samples recorded by some of the best male and female professional voice over artists.

When you hear a voice that you believe may be right for the job and you need to find out a cost all you do is click on the button labelled “free online quote”.

SORT OUT THE DETAILS  

  

To cut right to the chase once you have identified the voice or at least a candidate, and you have a quote from Media Group, discussions will continue so have a list ready with Questions to Ask Before Hiring Voice Over Talents.

As you know it is always wise to agree on the cab fare before getting into a “tuk-tuk”.

A lot of problems can be pre-empted and skirted with careful planning and attention to any un-dotted-eyes and un-crossed-tees.

In a few emails and phone calls, the seasoned experts at Media Group will have everything sorted.

If there is still a lingering doubt over the voice and a demo recording is required that can be arranged free of charge. The demo would involve a recording of the preferred talent reading an extract from the actual script.

When complete a link will be sent to allow access to the finished demo for review and final assessment of the voice before heading into full production.

Take the lead. Head on over to www.mediagroup.co.nz  

Messages On Hold New Zealand Address

Nobody said there’d be days like these 

You know those days when Murphy takes over? You remember Murphy don’t you? He’s the Irish Bar Room Philosopher who created Murphy’s Law which states that “what can go wrong, will only go wrong at the worst possible time”. 

Well that may be true, but it’s not as full of impending doom as O’Brien’s Law which states very succinctly that “Murphy was an optimist”.

Sometimes in business there are days that make even Mr O’Brien appear like a glass half-full kind of guy.

When the s-h-one-t collides with the fan

It starts the moment you get into work. Some nut is parked in your reserved car space. The rain starts just as you get out of the car. That’s when you remember lending your umbrella to the neighbour.

For some reason your key to the office doesn’t fit the lock. You’ve picked up the wrong keys when you rushed out of the house because you were running late.

A half an hour later, still dripping spilt coffee from your shirt sleeve, the phones are ringing non-stop. It’s about then you wish you had got around to organising the new On Hold program for the updated telephone system.

Someone suggested getting Messages On Hold New Zealand Address, however that obviously never happened.

Now callers are getting frustrated hearing your phones ring out. You are now not only annoying existing customers but also losing new business opportunities.

A rainbow’s end

Suddenly amid all the turmoil a voice comes into your head and reminds you about Media Group NZ. Your mind races and recalls the line “business audio specialists”.

Media Group NZ will write and produce your own bespoke program of On Hold Messages and Music at a surprising reasonable cost.

Plus Media Group NZ copywriters will craft a great script based on your brief. All you have to do is approve the script and hire the professional voice over artist of your choice from line-up at Media Group NZ.

As for the music, it’s another win for you. You’ll get to select the sort of music you think best represents your company’s desired image from a library of Royalty Free Music. That means no annual music licence fees to pay.

Forget about Murphy and Obrien and the Messages On Hold New Zealand Address.

The sun is breaking through. All is bright in the world and getting better every moment. Seize the day. Click on www.mediagroup.co.nz

Authentic New Zealand Voiceover Artist

Things may not be all they appear to be

Over the years South East Asia has been awash with counterfeit designer brand products. You probably never imagined an Armani suit could be that cheap? Or the flashy pair of Nike sneakers the guy is selling came from his friend’s factory.

Bangkok and Hong Kong were rife with imitations. Even in squeaky clean Singapore, you stood a good chance of being accosted by a friendly tout with the call of “Copy watch! Copy watch?”

This was more likely to happen in the centre of the island republic on Orchard Road outside Lucky Plaza. Or walking along Scotts Road, near the pedestrian overpass.

Even many of the pretty girls plying their trade by night were not always what they appeared to be. A fact many an unwary customer only realised when they discovered their sweet little painted doll came equipped with a “bonus package”.

It’s sort of like a “Sports Barbie”. The one that comes complete with bat and balls.

What you hear is what you get

It’s not just clothes and watches in the rip-off basket. Music has long been a victim of this fraud. In the night markets of Hat Yai, Thailand you could score a discount issue of a recording featuring Nirvana’s greatest hits.

Then back safe in the hotel room home you realise the CD cover is a photocopy. Worse still, the music includes the sound of passing motorbikes and the faker’s kids playing around in the background! 

Dear old Tchaikovsky could also be misrepresented. The copy of Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique” in B Minor, Opus 74–IV. Adagio Lamentoso which was purchased in good faith may not sound as polished as you had hoped.

That’s when you find out it was not performed by the London Philharmonic or the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, but instead it’s an unknown artist recorded playing a synthesised arrangement on a Kurtzweil keyboard.   

The voice on the ad may not be genuine

When you’re searching for an Authentic New Zealand Voiceover Artist you need to be sure of getting what you ordered.

Voices can be easy to imitate. Everybody does Humphrey Bogart.  Although in the film Casablanca he never said the line “Play it again Sam” it’s the jumping off point for every mimic. A bit like the fake Sean Connery “Surely Shirley” or a Mick Dundee “That’s not a knife…that’s a knife”.

The unique qualities of an New Zealand accent are difficult if not impossible to reproduce for those not born and raised in New Zealand.

Unwary Producers can fall for something that sounds like it was recorded by an Authentic New Zealand Voiceover Artist only to suffer the ignominy of an amused audience.

When you’re looking around for the genuine item, the true blue New Zealand voice, that fair-dinkum, bonza, beaut sound of the land down-under, beat a path straight to www.mediagroup.co.nz 

Speaking to the world

Whether you are operating on a global scale or marketing to specific segments within multicultural Australia there are times you need Translation Services for Audio.

Perhaps you have existing Advertising & Promotions material that needs to be translated from another language into English.

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Or you may be in the process of creating new marketing and advertising in English but will require the audio to be recorded in a language other than English.

Face it, you will be wasting the A&P budget if your audience doesn’t comprehend the words being spoken. However, not all direct word to word translations will be fit for the purpose.

There are some blatant examples of translations with a “failure to communicate”. In Taiwan the slogan “Coke Adds Life” was originally translated as “Coke brings your ancestors back from the grave”.

Your translator needs to be aware of local vernacular especially with the phraseology common on TV and Radio. The translation is not going to communicate if it sounds stiff and formal. Audiences all over the world are accustomed to less stringent use of vocabulary and grammatical structure in ads.

Choose wisely

You could easily fall into the trap of basing your decision purely on cost. But as we all know in life, cheap is usually not the way to go.

All Translation Services for Audio are not created equal. It’s important to establish that the translator you engage is experienced in both the language you require and modern audio production techniques.

Media Group, the business audio specialists, have the jump on the competition because they not only provide the translation but also the voice over artists who will feature on the recording.

Many of the voice over professionals from Media Group are native speakers of a language other than English.

Media Group own and operate their own state of the art digital studios. This means the turn-around time is fast and the recordings you receive will be of the highest audio quality.

When you have a script that needs to be translated and recorded in English or any modern language there’s only one destination.

Head to www.mediagroup.com.au

Getting your message across

We can’t always be “Johnny on the spot” to field every telephone call in person. At busy times phones can ring out or callers tire of waiting on the line listening to the ring tone. So they give you “the flick’” and take their custom elsewhere.

 Calls lost mean business lost. That’s why it’s essential to have an efficient Message Queue Service. With business telephones this starts with the On Hold facility which can range from yukky chimes to a captivating program of music and messages.

Relying on MOM

Our modern data-cluttered world of IT has long depended on various queueing formats to provide a store-and-forward message service. This is referred to as message-oriented middleware (MOM) where messages are sent via a transport service.

The service delivers the message as far down the pipeline as possible and when the next step in the route is busy, offline or otherwise unavailable, the message is placed in a queue.

You could say a Message Queue Service is a bit like communicating by email or the old snail-mail. Another example would be voice mail.

The message still gets through but unlike a telephone conversation or a face to face Snapchat or Skype the sender and receiver of the message are not connected in real time.

Projecting the company image

As callers placed On Hold hear your messages from a recorded source you risk losing the impact of person to person communication.

Unfortunately some company’s After Hours Message or On Hold program can be treated as an after-thought. All too often it’s a “rushed job” that’s been poorly scripted and roughly recorded using an amateur voice over by the Receptionist or a willing staffer.

That’s simply not good enough. It presents a sloppy image and opens the door to all your competitors to outshine your professionalism.

Get the experts in your corner

Media Group are the business audio specialists. When you need an effective On Hold program, a Welcome Message, an After Hours Message or a detailed Auto Attendant recording you need to talk with Media Group. They will equip your phone with quality messages that reinforce and enhance your desired image.

You’ll get to choose from a range of professional male and female voice over talent. Your scripts will be expertly written for you in accordance with your instructions and everything will be handled efficiently on-line.

Jump the queue and make it happen. Go to www.mediagroup.co.nz