I hope you know I think of you often. As your mentor, as I go through my day as a full-time voice actor I often catch myself thinking… This would be a great thing to share with my students! And ‘marketing – aka self promotion’ – is at the top of that list!
The most challenging part about the voice over industry, aside from being exceptional at your craft, which is a MUST, is letting people know you exist. Everyone loves the idea of becoming a voice over actor, but few are willing to put in the real hard work. We can love the idea of ‘anything,’ but if we don’t dedicate the time, energy, focus and consistency toward our goal, in this case becoming a pro talent, it’s just a daydream. I’m here to help you make this happen!
Here’s a little marketing advice for you:
I make it a point to reach out to my clients once a month… And even after almost two decades into my career I still continue to market myself to prospective clients and agencies regularly. I keep my emails brief, and to the point. The most important thing is that they know who I am & they keep me in mind. And the only way we accomplish this is by showing up! Regularly! Instead of writing a lot of text, I opt to put an e-card together, and write a few personal words up top, and that’s it! Make it “clickable” so they can click the ecard to direct them to your website. If it doesn’t work with the email software you’re using, place a link to your site where it’s easy to see above or below your ecard. Most people enjoy visuals over text, anyway. I’ve had great results with this approach. I’ve included a copy of an e-card I sent out a few months ago. Everyone loved it and said, “Oh Melissa Moats, this e-card is SO YOU.” And yours should reflect YOU! Choose your words carefully. Keep it simple. And always, always take this moment to say THANK YOU. I never pass up a chance to express my gratitude for the great relationships I have.
If cold-call emailing freaks you out… I can understand how, when you’re new to introducing yourself to the VO world, it can feel a bit intimidating… I recommend using this same approach. Put a simple e-card together that ties in with the look and feel of your website, and blast it off as a “Nice to meet you – I’d love to work with you” introduction.
Timing. I used to recommend reaching out to clients once per quarter, but in this crazy-busy-high-tech-world we’re living in, a quarter now feels like an eternity… And life in the production world moves very quickly… So, I have found reaching out once a month to be just right. I wouldn’t do it more often than that. Ideally blast on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (early). This is when people are most focused and at their peak productivity. Mondays and Fridays have shown few results. I also avoid blasting around major holidays.
Ya know what happens every time I blast these e-cards off? I hear this… “Melissa, your timing is impeccable! It just so happens we have a project you’d be perfect for. Can we book you later today to voice this for us?” Ummm, yeah. You bet. 😉 And I hear this over and over again every time I blast these off. Your timing will be impeccable too. Ya just have to do it.
Don’t have any clients yet? That was me once upon a time, too… I spent hours scouring the internet, looking up audio/video production companies, VO talent agencies, Message On Hold companies, and the like – building my list from the ground up. Remember, this is a global business, and the world wide web is your new bestie! As you’re mastering your craft, and prepping your skills to be demo ready… you’ll simultaneously be compiling the pieces to build your home studio too… Compiling your master list is something you can start building now too, my friend. And it’s free! If you have wi-fi, that is. Or just go to Starbucks! Keep an eye out, I might be there. LOL.
You are building a business. No one said it would be easy. But I will tell ya this, when things get rolling, and you’re regularly booking work, you’re going to look back and say, “Wow. I did that.” I know you absolutely can do this.
So, yeah. Some Moats-ivation delivered with love. You’re welcome! Now, get to work!