Text to speech (TTS) is a technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that converts written text into human-like speech. Thanks to recent advancements in natural language processing (NLP), text to speech AI models are more realistic than ever, with human-like voices that are as convincing as the real thing.
Using text to speech software comes with a range of advantages, including a faster production process, easier editing, reduced costs compared to hiring voiceover actors, and a consistent brand voice. AI text to speech is also scalable and can be used for multiple languages, meaning that it’s a solution that can grow and expand with your business.
However, there are certain considerations to bear in mind when using AI TTS tools. Here are the do’s and don’ts of text to speech for businesses to guide you.
Best Practices For Using AI Text To Speech For Businesses
AI text to speech is a powerful tool but learning how to maximize its full potential is as much about knowing what pitfalls to avoid as it is about learning how to use it to your advantage:
DO Choose The Right Text To Speech AI Tool
There are lots of AI voice generators out there, all with different pros and cons as well as distinct specialisms and target users. Your first step should be to research the various text to speech tools available to you and find the one that best aligns with your budget, offers the quality you need, and works with the languages you use when communicating with your target audience.
LOVO AI’s text to speech tool Genny was designed specifically for professionals and offers high-quality content creation. It’s also easy to use and highly customizable. As a result, Genny is ideal for creating audio for everything from explainer videos, customer services, and corporate training to YouTube videos, audiobooks, and podcasts.
The best way to ensure that your choice of text to speech for businesses software is right for your brand is to sign up for a trial period. LOVO AI’s 14-day trial provides you with full access to the Pro plan, allowing you to get a good feel for the technology and explore some of the ways your brand could use it. That said, not all text to speech tools have the same options or access throughout their trial period—if they even offer one—so be sure to check the details before you sign up for anything.
DON’T Rush Into Things
AI text to speech offers a range of advantages, although you need to learn how to use it correctly to reap the benefits – and this takes time, forethought, and planning.
Before rushing into things and creating audio content that doesn’t resonate with your audience or represent your brand, you need to devise your approach. This means determining your brand voice, defining where and why you’ll implement text to speech for businesses, considering the scope of usage, and deciding how much content to convert to audio.
For example, while one business might find text to speech AI most useful for customer services and corporate training, another brand with a more international audience would likely need to investigate how to leverage TTS software language options for customized global promotions.
DO Quality-Check The Output
The voice you use will represent your brand as much as what it says. That’s why it’s vital to choose a high-quality AI voice that the audience can connect with on an emotional level.
Converting text to audio also means checking the text for flawless grammar and punctuation, and the audio for correct pronunciation. Even the best TTS software can mispronounce words, which can be embarrassing for your brand and confusing for your audience. Be vigilant about editing your voice output to ensure high-quality, accurate spoken content every time.
You should also ensure your audio conveys the emotion of a text. While an upbeat yet professional tone will work for everything from corporate training to marketing, there may be times when the content calls for more drama, excitement, sadness, or otherwise. In these cases, you can use LOVO AI’s text to speech tool to convey over 20 different emotions to ensure that your audio sounds appropriate for the content, natural, and full of meaning.
DON’T Use A Robotic-Sounding Voice
Many people incorrectly assume that the kinds of AI voices text to speech technology produces are robotic and artificial-sounding. While early examples of text to speech did have a robotic quality, today’s AI TTS software offers a range of realistic voices that are indistinguishable from human voices.
Despite this, it’s not uncommon to hear AI voiceovers on TikTok or Instagram that sound robotic and artificial. While some content creators might believe these robotic voices are ironic or better for getting users’ attention, others use these for speed without worrying about the finished result.
For businesses, however, choosing a voice that sounds robotic can negatively impact the user experience and detract from the quality of your content. To connect with your audience on a personal level and build trust, always choose voices that are as natural and lifelike as possible.
DO Personalize The Voice
Pro-quality AI voice generators like Genny by LOVO AI are also highly customizable, making it possible to develop an even more personal and unique AI voice with text to speech software.
As well as male AI voices and female AI voices, text to speech software offers the option of selecting a more mature-sounding or more youthful-sounding voice. There are also a range of different accents to choose from, even within the English language, such as Australian English, American English, and British English.
If desired, you can then adjust the speed, tone, and intonation of your chosen AI voice to suit the content better or as a way of appealing to your target audience. With Genny by LOVO AI, it’s also easy to make alterations to the pronunciation by adding natural pauses, emphasis, and other human-like vocalizations. These kinds of customizations can make all the difference when using advanced text to speech technology to generate a premium AI voice that’s unique to your brand.
DON’T Get Overly Creative
With over 600 voices at your fingertips, it’s tempting to want to use them all. However, when it comes to cultivating a brand voice, less is more.
Switching from one voice to another is likely to confuse your customers and will fail to make your brand easily identifiable. A unique and recognizable voice that has been carefully chosen and customized to appeal to your target audience is one of the most valuable marketing tools your brand can possess.
The sheer range of different voices available through text to speech for businesses software makes it easier to find the perfect voice to help your brand stand out. More voices mean more choices for your business, but smart brands know that sticking with one voice is the best choice they can make.
DO Stay Consistent Across Your Marketing Efforts
Once you’ve found the right AI text to speech voice for your brand, make sure to use it across your marketing touchpoints. The more your audience hears the same brand voice, the more they’ll associate it with your brand, the values you represent, and the products and services you’re known for.
Text to speech technology makes it easy to integrate the same voice into your brand’s marketing and communication channels for optimal consistency. Even if that means updating existing audio, the speed and ease of TTS software ensure that this process will be as straightforward as possible.
Moving forward, you can use the same voice in videos, podcasts, phone systems, and other customer-facing touchpoints to create a consistent and memorable brand experience.
DON’T Neglect To Test and Refine Your Voice
While maintaining a consistent brand voice is vital for building trust and connecting with your target audience, you will have to continually ensure that your chosen voice is the best voice for your brand.
Once you’ve customized your TTS voice, test it with your target audience and gather feedback. If necessary, you can use this feedback to refine your voice so that it aligns with your brand goals and resonates with your audience as much as possible.
Try LOVO AI’s Text To Speech Tool Today
Want to find out what LOVO AI’s text to speech tool Genny can do for your brand? Then DO sign up for a free trial today. With 14 days’ access to LOVO AI’s Pro plan, you’ll soon see the many benefits that AI text to speech can offer your business.
