VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Apageloman · Guest

Okay gang there is a ton of extraneous chat on here about any number of subjects but there is also a lot of really great info as well so I'm hoping that y'all can lend a 'rube' a hand. What are some of the best marketing techniques you've used to get your name out there and land your first few jobs, I'm dying on the vine here and need to get something going. Your thoughts as always are appreciated

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:00 am Post subject:

The quick start programme.

1 Get a list of around 100 telephone numbers of people who use voice overs.

2 Call them. Introduce yourself"Do you ever use freelance voice overs in your productions (assuming yes) Great! May I send you a demo CD? (do not pause) You're allowed to say no by the way. That's wonderful. (Confirm details and say goodbye)

3 At the end of the phone session send the demo's. Your target is to have sent 50 by the end of this exercise.

4 Give it a few days and then call again. Introduce yourself again. "I spoke to a few days ago and promised I'd send you my voice over demo and I'm just checking in with you to ensure it's arrived safely". DO not ask for feed back, do not ask for feed back. When they say yes and usually start to say "but I haven't had chance to listen....". Say clearly that you weren't looking for feedback you were just checking it had arrived, say thanks again and add you look forward to hearing from them. You're dying to ask for feedback aren't you? Don't you ****ing dare!!!

That's it, end of process. After a few weeks and 50 demo's if you have not had one person hire you it's unlikely anyone ever will. If one person hires you that could be luck, if two people hire you then you're onto something.

dhouston67 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:37 pm Post subject:

So, Phillip, what you're saying is... don't ask for feedback? Wink

Just checking.

I must admit, I hate cold-calling people, but it is more effective than mass e-mails.
_________________
Great Voice. Great Choice. For Voice Talking and stuff.
http://davidhoustonvoice.com
Do That Voice! - The DHV Blog

mcm · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject:

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

cold calling, emails, snail mail, parties, seminars, classes, search engines, friends & family, advertising.

That's it - easy right?

-Anthony

JeffK · T-Shirt Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 276 Location: Oz

dhouston67 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject:

Often when you call a business, you first speak to a receptionist or other front-line person who is trained to deflect what they consider "sales calls". When you're collecting numbers, do you try to find direct numbers of the people who are likely to say yes?
_________________
Great Voice. Great Choice. For Voice Talking and stuff.
http://davidhoustonvoice.com
Do That Voice! - The DHV Blog

JeffK · T-Shirt Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 276 Location: Oz

I am trying to reply using a BlackBerry so I am not sure how this will turn out...but here goes...
I introduced myself to the receptionist and asked if they used freelance VO (thank you Banksey!). If they said yes I asked them who makes the hiring decisions. I got their name and most transferred me to that person. Kill 'em with kindness is my motto!

Bailey · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:15 pm Post subject:

Philip, I've been following this thread saying to myself, "A child could do it!"
But there's something about that first item on your list that has me puzzled...

mcm · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject:

Much more efficient to go for the production companies, ad agencies and radio stations, since those are likely to be where the retailers will go also. But it would not hurt to call some o fthe retailers, or visit them, to find out whom they do call when they need an ad.

I had an experience yesterday that was much better than email or phone calls -I went to a business-to-business expo where I got to meet actual 3D people and spend several hours talking to people about what they do and what I do. It was the perfect setting - because these businesses had set this entire day aside to talk to prospective clients and vendors. There was not a chance of walking up to someone and having them NOT want to talk. Quite a wonderful morning.

Christopher French · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:09 pm Post subject:

dhouston67 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject:

scooter2 · Guest

Who to cold call..where are the contacts?

Back in my younger day..in the big city of Los Angeles, the Sunday paper help wanted display ads came through many times. The bigger the ad..quarter page, half page etc..the better the chance they had some kind of a department..marketing, training etc. that used voices.

In the small markets, the same tactic can work with the bigger ads in the yellow pages.

And than too..there are always the business pages in your local newspapers.

It's amazing how many places there are out there waiting for your cold call.

You gotta look to find..and you can't hit if you don't shoot.

scooter

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject:

skynet74 · Guest

Get a pen and paper and devote a day or two just listening to your Local radio Stations. Then write down every commercial you hear. At the end of the day you will have a 100 percent accurate list of Businesses who you know for sure all use Voice Talent. Seems like a good start to me. How about you?