The VO Marketing Strategy That Gets You Booked

Reaching out to potential clients each month is a great start, but how do you really put yourself on the map? How do you find clients that help grow your voiceover business long term? And how do you build relationships that lead to you being booked time and time again?

Let’s have a look at what we can do to create a strategy for ourselves.

The more detailed your vision, the better your direction.

Start with Clarity

Before anything else, ask yourself the right questions:

• What are my strengths and weaknesses in voiceover?

• What kind of projects excite me?

• Who do I want to work with?

Be specific. Dream big. Would you love to work with a world renowned brand? Or do you prefer working with local businesses? Or a combination of the two? There is no right or wrong there. Both are incredibly rewarding. What kind of voiceover work would you prefer to work in? Commercials, Explainer Videos, would you like to be heard in the cinema or in an arcade game on the beach! Go wild with your ideas, the world needs your voice! Write it all down. The more detailed your vision, the better your direction.

Focus on the Client

Here’s the key: it’s not about you. It’s about them.

Ask yourself what the client needs from a voiceover artist. What can you do to make their job easier?

List your strengths: fast turnaround, clean audio, you are able to deliver multiple takes and broadcast ready files, for example. But also think bigger: Could you support their brand on social media? Share their content by collaborating with them? Or write a blog about the project you are both working on? By making them shine and going further than where others go, you could build a long term work relationship that makes your voiceover career.

Once you've worked with them, a follow up does wonders. A handwritten card or thoughtful message can go a long way. In fact, I used to sent “golden boxes”, with some nice chocolated in them, my pen with my logo, a business card, a handwritten card and some other paraphernalia. They loved it! And some of them became long standing clients.

If your clients are based locally, suggest grabbing a coffee. I’ve even flown out to other countries to do this! These conversations are gold when it comes to understanding who your clients are and what they are looking for.

Silence the Fear

From the outset I would say that we should ignore that little voice inside our heads that says: “What if the client says no?” It comes from a place of being too analytical. It’s not based on any facts. It’s a form of anticipatory fear, where we create a negative thought of what could be the outcome, rather than looking of what is actually possible and actionable.

Stick to the plan and move forward every day. Even if it is just a little. Do it anyway. On the long run, this will make a difference. Some days will be tough, others will feel great. That’s normal. The important thing is to keep going.

Write down your fears. Then next to each one, write down a small action that challenges it. That’s how you take your power back.

Anticipated rejection isn’t reality. It’s just fear trying to stall your progress.

 
Plan with Purpose

Marketing is a marathon. It can a while before a potential client decides to book you. So plan ahead.

Block out time in your calendar to follow up, share value and stay visible without being repetitive or “salesy.” Build a genuine connection. Ask how they are doing? Make a comment on a post you saw of them, don’t just randomly create a cold contact list.

Be Resourceful (and Outsourceful)

You don’t have to do it all alone. Voiceover is your craft. Marketing is a whole other skill.

Read, watch and learn but also know when to bring in help. Hiring an expert can free you up to focus on what you do best: delivering amazing voiceovers.

Look at your workload. What could you delegate? Social media? Admin? Outreach? Write it down, and start building the support team that lets you thrive.

People often underestimate what it takes to run a voiceover business successfully. But with a solid strategy and small, consistent steps, you’ll move forward with confidence.

And always remember, someone out there needs to hear your voice, so they can use it in their next project.