VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison

Been considering, on and off, for a few years.

Anyone have a LinkedIn premium account? If so, what do you like about it?

Many thanks.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

I'm still trying to figure out if there's any real value to a LinkedIn basic account.
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:30 pm Post subject:

I've had nothing come out of LinkedIn because I basically never go there. My wife, however, has had GREAT success with it and gotten great job leads there. She recently got a premium account because she's actively looking for work, and the premium account, among other things, apparently lets you know who has looked at your page. I'll ask her what the other advantages are; but apparently if you're actively looking for work, it may be a good idea.

As an aside: A friend of hers who was laid off the same time my wife was from the Weather Channel (and this gal had 26 years there!) went to a job social thingy here in Atlanta where a guy who works for LinkdIn said that the worst thing you can do is put that you're actively looking for work. According to him, at least, employers are looking for people who they don't deem as 'desperate'.
One more qualifier - my wife's friend did not like the LinkdIn rep one bit. Thought he was a real double-wide dweller.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:06 pm Post subject:

Trailer accommodations aside, I think the LinkedIn guy was right. LinkedIn is, ostensibly, a forum for professionals to network, and whenever I see someone who lists his or her occupation as "looking for work" or some equivalent, I cringe. It smacks of inexperience, similar to the person applying for a job at a radio station and listing the various equipment (brand and model names) he has experience operating. I doubt that somebody with a job to fill views a "looking for work" person as a peer.

By the way, even if you are not a premium member you can see the names of five people who have recently viewed your page.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:55 am Post subject:

Free or paid, anything that removes real contact with real people should be, in so far as is practical, avoided.

A "virtual hug" is nothing like a real hug.

Darren Altman · Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:57 am Post subject:

Not sure I agree Philip. I, and I'm sure lots of guys have built up great working relationships and long term clients through sites like LinkedIn, V123 etc and may even meet up down the line. I don't think that you can say "anything that removes real contact with real people should be, in so far as is practical, avoided." as you're washing your hands from potential long term clients, relationships and maybe thousands of pounds of work down the line.

Don't forget we met by communicating online first, then hooked up in New York. What stops you from doing this with clients you've met on LinkedIn etc? They can become friends too... then you can give them that real hug!!

Personally, I'm using LinkedIn more these days and am seeing the results, it's generating work and finding me new clients. Job done!
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https://www.darrenaltman.com/
http://twitter.com/darrenaltman

Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:23 am Post subject:

Key clause in the sentence "in so far as is practical". Read everything I write and understand every word, they are there for a reason.

I know what you mean in terms of making connections and any way that leads to worthwhile friendships or in the context of LinkedIn or any other website, good business can't hurt.

If a VO is trying to build a stable, growing career, specifically a VO then the compression used in Cyber BUSINESS promotion should be used with caution, used wisely and the "Me too" marketing (promotion) methods should be turned down whereas the gain on "real world" stuff, which includes visits, meetings, phone calls, letters should be maximised.

I need to get rid of about another 14lbs in weight.

Option 1 - Good diet and exercise
Option 2 - Have a leg amputated

There's a reason most CyberMarketing Gurus are broke and walk with a limp Laugh

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I think LinkedIn can be a good resource for VOs. I've met a few new clients that way and I've 'reconnected' with clients that I hadn't worked with in a while and then did after getting 'LinkedIn'. It's also a great way to build your referral pool for VO - and I've referred some talents to jobs that I didn't know before I found them on LI.

However, I think the premium account isn't worth it for what we do and how we try to find work.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

todd ellis · Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:12 pm Post subject:

i have not found a reason to make the leap to "paid", however, linked in had been very good to me. clients who would have never found me otherwise (i think). good payers, great referrals to others through them. it's a win for me.

i was recently named a linked in 5-percenter ... whatevertheheck that means.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Zach Meissner · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:58 am Post subject:

I have the basic account and I've found an interesting technique those with a premium account use for new client contacts.

When you're a premium member, you can see details about who's viewed your profile. Thus, you can view the profiles of those who view your profile, and if they seem like a potential fit for a client, you send a message out.

I've been contacted several times this way, and actually wasn't put off at all - considering it's a 'cold call' email technically. It let's me know they're confident in what they do and simply letting me know they're there.

Just my 2 cents.

ccpetersen · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:12 am Post subject:

Most of of my Linked In contacts are people I know in the "real world" so it's another way for us to keep up with each others' business advances. That said, there are a lot of people who want to link to me who I don't know, and since this is a business-to-business area (as opposed to my FB, which is ostensibly a way for me to keep up socially with people), I will cautiously link to them once I've checked out their profiles.

It's a tool, but not one that I want to pay for just yet.
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