VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

Using the following - Blog, Facebook, Twitter,regular Youtube videos, pro-produced videos, corporate sponsorship, a pro web designer and PR person, a PA, celeb support plus promoting the project on one website with 90,000 members one man's vision produced 0.25% of the target he had set. His exact words - "it was a catastrophic failure".

His goal was unselfish, realistic and easily achievable.

What has this got to do with me and you the Voice Overist? Our goals are, for the most part, selfish, unrealisitic and difficult to achieve. We all know that's true yet look at the above list and count the number of things you're doing that our failure did. If you are doing the same as everyone else and are hoping for commercial success you need to ask yourself why your efforts are likely to produce results. You don't need a vague answer, a bland concept, some interweb theory, you need a tested, proven answer. Here's an example; if I send out 10 demo CDs I will get one job and that client will turn into a repeat client. Why does it work like that? No idea, it just does. What REALLY works for you? It's worth looking because you'll also discover what is a catastrophic failure and knowing that is a good thing.

[KaraEdwards]

Good post Philip!

I am amazed by how often and how quickly 'what works' seems to change. One month it seems most of my (new) work comes from agents, then it's local studios, then it's not local studios, then it's online marketing, then it's CD's being mailed out.

Already this month I've had 3 jobs land in my lap from Twitter and Linked In. I never thought that would happen!

I agree that it is important to reassess regularly what is and isn't working. But, I think it is also important to stay on a consistent path. A seed planted now may not bloom for quite some time- yet it may produce the best crop yet!
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[bobsouer]

Kara,

Yes! I firmly believe that we need to be planting seeds in all of the places where we can find viable soil. This means both not just fling the seeds wildly any old place, but at the same time, don't stint on the seed flinging when it seems the right thing to do.

Here's a simple example from this past weekend while my son Eric and I were with Pam Tierney at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. When we sat down, Pam struck up a conversation with the gentleman sitting next to her. I joined in a few minutes later. It turned out he was from upstate New York and was traveling up and down the West Coast (from Seattle to San Diego and over to Phoenix and back) by car with his son going to baseball games in every major league city. After we'd been talking for a couple of minutes, I reached in to my pocket, pulled out my business card and handed it to him. He actually grew quite excited at that point because he has long been interested in the people who do voiceover work. Not because he wants to do it, but because he likes hearing good voice work done. (He was previously involved in politics.) Pam also gave him her card.

He has subsequently emailed to say he has visited both Pam's site and mine. Has listened to our demos and is planning to pass along our contact information to some of the people he knows who hire voice talent. Is this going to lead to paying work? I don't know for sure, but it might and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to plant a seed.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Lance Blair]

Having a presence on the internet is like having an island in the pacific. That's why I direct my SEO etc. towards my local market and let the chips fall where they may. Other than that, doing your own thing and keeping it fresh, honest, and varied will reap the best and most lasting results.

Sometimes I think I'd be better off just buying one billboard than doing any other marketing. Something physical, tangible, and highly visible.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!