VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Jeffrey Kafer

I've made a few contacts with some folks over email. And a few of them have said "We like your sound, we'll keep you in mind". How do you go about making sure they keep you in mind without spamming and/or annoying them? keep in mind I've never worked with them, so a "newsletter" seems a bit presumptuous.

Any ideas?
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

MelissaVoicer · Guest

I would suggest dropping them a line whenever you have updated a demo... Or when you buy some new gadget that allows you to offer a new service... "Hey, just wanted to let you know I got ISDN...etc" And make sure to make them personal...I hate emails addressed to "undisclosed recipients." Makes them so much less personal. Good luck!

mcm · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:25 pm Post subject:

My method was always to send an email telling what I had been up to, every 3 months. A producer (David Goldberg at Edge Studio) said, 3 months really isn't enough. Every 6-8 weeks is better. You could send a postcard after 6 weeks, an email after another 6, whatever feels right to you. Some people find phone calls to be a better avenue, but I can't do it. I did finally get to the point where I couldn't keep up with individual emails, even at the quarterly intervals, and switched to a monthly newsletter. My format is to have several short articles about stuff that my clients would find interesting (gear/production related), a few VO highlights of my month, and that's it. Pictures sometimes. Have gotten good feedback on the newsletter.

Marketing, however you do it, evolves. You do things one way for a while, then something happens that shows you ways to improve.

If you write a newsletter, make sure it has an unsubscribe option.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

MelissaVoicer · Guest

Great point, Jeff! You should contact that dentist and let him/her know!

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:41 pm Post subject:

Some producers have asked me on first phone contact to please not send newsletters.

I don't use newsletters, but I think that plea tells you something.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

If you are going to keep in touch, people know why - You are looking to them to provide you with work. Since you last got in touch with your prospects who have you added to your client list - Tell your prospects the names of the companies, the project and give them the feedback from the client.

"Why am I sending you this? I'm looking forward to telling others about what I did for you!"

If you were thinking of a newsletter call it Delete - Mmmmm, Thinking and Newsletter in the same sentence now there's something I never thought I'd do.

Rognog · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject:

This formula works for me...

I send out a quarterly newsletter to about 300 contacts and in the three years I've been doing it I think I've gotten a grand total of four unsubscribe requests.

I postcard my agent, casting director, and personal manager contacts every other month.

Once in a while I send out major announcements (landing a big gig, equipment upgrade) but I keep those to a minimum.

My Nextcat & Yahoo Group Good Karma Network contacts get a weekly update along with casting notices and other juicy tidbits.

You just need to find what works for you!
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject:

billelder · Guest

I don't know if I've posted this here or not, but a great way to tell clients your schedule is to use e-mail with Bcc. That stands for "Blind Carbon Copy." When you put everyone's e-mail address in the To: section that leaves the e-mail addresses open to be spammed. But Bcc: hides them.

So, you write your e-mail
Hi folks!
I'll be out this morning and perhaps some of the afternoon because I'm having a labotomy. Any work sent will be done but it may be later in the afternoon. The great news is, I'm hoping to fraggle the flavomeal to baaathhpppwwweeee.
Colon!
Pzzzzzzzz

In the To: section, put your own e-mail address. In other words, mail it to yourself.
Then put all the others in the Bcc: section and "Send!

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:28 pm Post subject:

Not much these days-- but remember, I've got work already.

I've always used very short e-mails, a rare postcard.
A couple of sentences and a link.

I am a stickler for brevity.
Newsletters from talent usually get the heave-ho out of my inbox after a glance.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks DB. I'm more partial to the K.I.S.S. route as well.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

glittlefield · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject:

Brevity is your friend, for updates, morning show bits, posts Laugh

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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject:

I've posted my Quarterly eNewsletter before - and try to keep it short and visual (lots of white space) for the reasons stated.

What I've discovered is that very few people have ever asked to be removed and that I have gotten work from it - just this past month as a matter of fact. Someone who I "found" on the net a couple of years ago doing some regular searches for production companies and then sent a copy of the newsletter with a personal note.

I also include testimonials with links to client's sites (with prior approval of course).
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