VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Chuck Davis · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

I really like the simplicity and the overall look of the site. I could learn from you!

I do agree with everyone that's said that you may be narrowcasting yourself with the shorts.
The pic says "skater"..the demo does not.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com

RussRenshaw · Guest

Wow. I've got a ton of great feed back.

So, I've gone ahead and made a ton of changes.
- Took out the link to my personal blog, link it to my voice over geared site and put the link at the bottom
- Took out all the redundant links to Voices.com and Voice123 all together
- Removed the FAQ link because it just wasn't needed for me
- Updated the Demo 'Save As' language (it does read more clearly now)
- Updated my contact info so people can easily get a hold of me (the whole point of the site!)
-- Went from a link to a contact form page to a direct email link
-- Added a phone contact
- Added proper Meta Data that I had forgot before

I think a much more solid site was the result, so thank you again to everyone!

Frank F · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

Why do you wish people to go away from your web site? Links to other places are are telling clients to "go away" and not for them to stay and contact you. No Voices.com links on the main page, no Voice123 link on the main page...

Your web site is a way to make a remote first impression. Do not send your clients looking at other VO folks on your home page.

The changes have increased the capability and sell-ability of your web site greatly.

Good luck.

Toodles

F2

Edited for clarification.
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

bobsouer · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

Russ,

I agree with Frank's comments that the site works much harder for you now. One suggestion: change the file name of your demo to include your name. Something like RussRenshawFullDemo.mp3. That way when someone downloads your demo, the next day they still know it's your demo and not some mystery file on their computer.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:43 am Post subject:

Remove all references to other sites particularly to the the sites you mention. When your page loads a visitor should see something that answers the question "Why him?" Not a branding statement or a logo, a clear answer to "Why him?"

JD Robertson · Guest

Hi Russ,

I like your website. Easy to maneuver and looks professional. Love the shorts!

I have to agree with the previous comments about your blog. I think it's probably best to keep business and personal separate. You also may not want potential clients knowing what you look like.

The only thing that I noticed was that when you click on your contact me "by email" a slightly different email address shows up then what is displayed on the bottom of your web page. That could confuse people...something to think about.

Hope this helps...

RussRenshaw · Guest

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:23 am Post subject:

Instead of flagging the address, set a subject line and have your gmail flag or sort that.

mailto:russrenshaw@gmail.com?subject=Tell me about your work!
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

brianforrester · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:31 am Post subject:

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

Brian, the trouble with this is that some web hosts are drastic in the types of email they block.
I can't get email thru my domain from one of my best correspondents because someone in his general IP area has spammed in the past. So if he writes, he gets a failure notice, or nothing at all.

I don't want a potential client thinking I'm not answering their query— I'd rather get it at my Gmail address than not at all.

And don't tell me to find another host.
The g-mail work-around is fine, hasn't upset anyone, and I don't want to move all my stuff and lose the hosting money I've already paid.
Gmail is somehow much classier than HotMail or Yahoo.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

CarynClark · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:35 am Post subject:

DB, have you tried this:

http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6247&start=0

It solved that problem of emails being bounced for me.

(Thank you Anthony!!!)
_________________
Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

brianforrester · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

Deebs, valid points and all of them understood and appreciated.

My opinion hasn't changed though; free e-mail accounts still feel cheap to me. Just because gmail was originally by invite only doesn't in my eyes make it any more "professional grade" than hotmail.

Just some food for thought... why do you think gmail offers free accounts? As a service to their valued "non-paying" customers? Nope! Because they're just a bunch of generous corporate executives? I don't think so... I'd suggest that by increasing the proliferation of the Google brand through recognizable affiliate properties such as gmail, they are adding value to the Google brand which they can then leverage into attracting the businesses to whom they are selling their actual products (advertising etc...).

Which brings me back to my original point; if you value your brand, do everything that you can (within your budget) to enhance its visibility and proliferation, which includes having "@yourdomain.com" at the end of every piece of electronic communication that you send.

I want clients and potential clients to see my name whenever possible; even if they aren't concious of the fact that they're seeing it in my e-mail address, I believe that each visual impression increases the chance of my name being recalled to the front of their mind before they head to Google and find Andy Neill, Chuck Brown or Todd Schick when they search for "male voice talent." No offense to any of those fine gents, I just want to be in a clients mind before they are, because by being on page 5 right now, I don't have a chance of winning the Google race!

Maybe Web 2.0 is lost on me (I personally don't think so), but by using a gmail account, you're simply building Google's brand for them. By using your own e-mail address, you're building YOUR brand.

And that's my opinion on that Rolls Eyes

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Brian Forrester Voice Overs
www.brianforrester.com
brian@brianforrester.com
778.668.5715

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

bobsouer · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

Deirdre,

Just so you know, I implemented that change quite some time ago and it has worked like a charm for me.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

RussRenshaw · Guest

I just checked out AnthonyVO Gmail work around and that sounds perfect. I'll have to implement that right away!