Three tips to market yourself locally... 

So, firstly, how do we keep the clients we have?

Here’s your first tip:

Under promise and Over deliver…

It means when you get an audition, don’t give one take and move on, give three, provide them fast and friendly, always say please and thank you and be cheery, informative and easy to work with…

When that audition finally becomes a project or two or three...

Be professional, helpful, and convenient.

So, I’ve started this article with a term you’ve probably never heard before… 

And that’s with good reason.

Because it’s a made-up term! And I can’t claim to own it, but a number of my close friends know exactly what it means… Shortly, you’ll have a solid understanding of it too!

What is it? How can it erode my profits?

By way of explanation, You know how you’ve sat down with a plan or goal in mind? Maybe it was to compile a new demo for a Fiverr gig you are working on or to update your profile or complete a series of auditions?

You started well, you opened the website in question, started to pull together the resources you require to complete your task, turned off the TV, shooed the kids away, or gave them something to do and found a quiet spot to work away…

...then your phone beeps, Oh look, Katy Perry has posted a new dance item on Instagram! You ignore it, but the phone face down and look at your computer...

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying: It’s all about how you market your voice over business…

Here is the hot tip people, IT IS...all about how you market your voice over business!

But there’s also an ‘addendum’ to that statement,

Do more of what works… and less of what doesn’t…

What does that mean exactly? This one took me a long time to knuckle down but I think I got it...

It means you need to be constantly leaving ‘marketing landmines’ for potential clients to ‘trip over’ but these landmines need to be where your potential clients will find them!

It’s a fact that as an entrepreneur, you can spend a lot of money and time on voiceover portals, pay to play and social media websites and mailer programs, etc, that bring slim results, if any.

Which brings me back to the statement, DO MORE of what works…

Now, to Fiverr...

Fiverr was once known as a ‘cheapie freelancer...

“So, just in case you didn’t know it yet, you’re a can of soup”…

“What? How do you come to that conclusion?”

“Well, you have a label, don’t you? And content? And you’re attracted to some, but maybe not to others, for all sorts of reasons… and you’ve got a price! 

But who sets that price? YOU? Or your market? Or both?...

All good questions that we will explore in this article, What price does your Brand command?

Not sure if you’ve struck upon it yet, but there will come a time in your VO journey when someone tells you:

1. They like your voice and

2. They’d like you to forward your rate card…

I don’t think, in all my years as a voice talent, when I’ve sent my rate card to someone, they’ve emailed back and said Great! I love your rates! Here’s a Voiceover job for you! 

There’s usually some form of negotiation that takes place, which brings up a good...

So you're looking for a voice over coach?

Well...

Yes! They do exist!...

You’ve arrived at the point in your voiceover journey where you think you may benefit from the experience and guidance of a coach? 

Well done! For many, ‘getting a coach’ seems to be the last resort when ‘everything else’ has been tried out and attempted beforehand.

Really, coaching should almost be the first thing you consider when setting up your voice over business… 

Why?

Because a ‘good coach’ can help you dodge and weave most of the landmines awaiting a novice voice talent and get you on the road to success, a lot quicker than you’d possibly take to ‘find your VO groove’ all by yourself...

Here’s 7 major points on how to know whether you’ve found a coach that can help you in your VO journey…

But before we start, let me take you back a little, or for some, a lot! to days at school when you came across that nutty...

1. What’s really important to start?
2. What’re your goals? 
3. What’s your niche?
4. Resources
5. Equipment required

What’s really important to start?

1. Know your audience
2. Use your body
3. Tell the story... beneath the story

Sometimes whether you’re a slick and seasoned voiceover professional or a brand new ‘wet behind- the-ears’ beginner, it’s really important to get back to the basics of the craft of providing a great voiceover and like any practice, there are the fundamentals…and today we’ll focus on three of the most important ones…

So, who do you think you’re talking to??

I can remember my father using this saying when I was young, especially if I’d been a little off the cuff or disrespectful with a snide remark and it was usually followed by a grounding and sometimes a shoe if I didn’t apologize promptly! 

But it illustrates the importance of knowing who your audience is!

Who is your audience?

What do they like to do?

What’s important to them?

What drives them?

What interest do they have in your content?

Imagine going to a Doctor who chose not to ask you...

What’s reasonable, expected, or completely over the top?

“So, now I’m set up and ready to go, what do I charge for my voiceover services?”

It’s a question that has even the most seasoned voice artist confused, due largely to the ‘shifting sands’ of the voiceover industry… 

Now, don’t get me wrong, the shifting sands I’m referring to, are not the tropical jungle quick-sand type, that will swallow you whole, completely gone without a trace… 

Although for beginners, the industry may feel a bit that way from time to time…

I’m referring to the ‘shifting sands’ of the voiceover market, which currently feels like the only consistent thing about it, is it’s constantly changing and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s changed again by the time you’ve finished reading this article!

Some time ago, there was no such thing as talent websites, ‘pay to play’ sites...