Best practices for creating effective samples (Audio & Video)

Your samples help clients find your work and quickly understand what you offer. Creating an effective sample means choosing the right content and filling out each field clearly and strategically.

These guidelines apply to both audio and video samples.

🎬 Note: Video samples are currently being rolled out and may not be available to all members yet. Availability will expand over time.

1. Purpose of your sample 🎯

Select the option that best represents the recording purpose of this sample (e.g., Commercial, Narration, E-learning).

Each sample should focus on a single, complete piece of work.

Avoid:

• Demo reels
• Compilation or “highlight” videos

Voice123 is designed around specific samples, so clients can quickly find exactly what they need.

2. Language, voice gender, age, and voice style

Use these fields with preset options to accurately describe your sample:

• Language → the language used in this sample
• Voice gender and age → the gender and age range of the voice performed
• Voice style → how the voice sounds (e.g., conversational, authoritative)

Choose the options that best match the actual performance in the sample.

3. Search keywords 🔍

Add up to 3 keywords not already covered in the previous fields.

Focus on: 

• characters, brands, and additional voice traits. These should match commonly searched voice-over terms.
  • e.g., Morgan Freeman, Nike, easy-going, approachable. 

Avoid: 

• Repeating information already selected in other fields — this is an opportunity to include a wider range of terms
• Adding keywords that don’t reflect your sample’s content
• Using the same keywords across multiple samples — vary them to reach a wider range of searches

4. Sample name ✏️

Write a clear, descriptive name so clients can quickly understand what the sample is about. A descriptive name helps the right clients find you, and is an important field for the search algorithm.

Lead with the most specific detail first — the first words are the most visible in search results.

A. If your sample features a character or specific role 

Write your title as if it were a line from the project credits — your role first, followed by the project or context. Instead of "Character Voice Demo" or "Animation Sample," make it specific and self-explanatory:

• Narrator in an Environmental Documentary for National Geographic
• Live Announcer in a National Spot for the NBA
• Mad Professor in a Digital Escape Room Experience

If your sample is based on a project type or use case 

Build your title by layering the key details: start with the industry or brand and project type, then add whatever makes it more specific — a voice trait, target audience, or delivery style:

• Whole Foods Market - Instructional Video for Supplier Training
• Automotive Commercial - NAPA Retail Ad - Confident Male
• Healthcare Company - E-learning Narration - Warm and Friendly

Keep in mind

• Use natural phrasing, your title doesn't need to follow a rigid format 
• Avoid vague titles like "Voice Over Demo" or "Sample 1."
• Don't repeat words already used in your other fields; use the name to add new searchable information
• Skip special characters, as they reduce searchability

5. Additional sample details or video description 🧾

Use this field to add context that goes beyond the title — think of it as a chance to tell the story behind the sample and give clients a fuller picture of who you are.

This is where you can highlight things like:

• Your role in the project (voice over, narration, character, editing, direction)
• Type of project (ad campaign, training series, online content)
• Details that add credibility or context, for example:
  • You are the official voice of the brand
  • The project ran for multiple seasons or years
  • The year of production
  • Your involvement beyond voice over

The more specific and genuine the detail, the more it helps a client understand not just what you did, but why you were the right person for it.

This field has less impact on search results than the sample name and keywords, so prioritize those first. But don't leave it empty; a well-written description can be the detail that turns an interested client into one who reaches out.

6. Use each field effectively and vary your samples

All fields in your sample work together to help clients find you. Instead of repeating the same terms across fields, use each one to add different, relevant information.

Example:

• Name: Automotive Commercial – Confident Male Voice
• Keywords: retail, car dealership, storytelling

The same principle applies across your samples; each one should highlight a different skill, style, or use case. The more variety you build across your profile, the wider the range of searches your work can appear in.

Quick checklist

Before publishing your sample:

• Does the title clearly describe what this is, including the project, brand, or context?
• Is this a single finished piece, not a reel or compilation?
• Are you avoiding repetition across fields, using each one to add new information?
• Have you added any details in the description that give clients a fuller picture of your work?
• Would a client searching for this type of work be able to find it?

Following these guidelines will make your samples easier to find and understand, helping the right clients find you.