VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Jason Huggins]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I have made thousands of cold calls, and the vast majority are received with a great attitude. I've only had maybe 2 of out thousands that have been upset with the call. From these calls, I made some great contacts with long-term clients. I personally think it is all about who you call, and how you present yourself. You aren't selling encyclopedias to someone who doesn't want them, you are revealing yourself as a useful resource to people who WANT to know you exist (if you are a good talent). Media producers (as far as I have seen) are always looking for good talent. You are just helping their search.

If you just email, it is easy to be ignored, and easy to get caught in a spam filter. I do both, but definitely don't think cold calls are bad. They are a long term investment on most cases though. I have only had 3 clients that needed something immediately. Most came back after 6 to 18 months. I always ask if I can add them to my newsletter when we talk. This makes sure they don't forget I exist in a year when they need me.

[Neil K. Hess]

[jsgilbert]

The first few years I played the v.o. game, I mixed in a lot of "cold-calling", although actually never quite cold - it was "referral prospecting". Even a cold call had to have some sort of "connection" for me to make it.

Lately I have found that all too often, when I drill down and get to the nitty and gritty, it turns out that somebody in the shipping department has taken a few v.o. classes and the powers that be simply can't say no, or the producer, writer, owner is dong the v.o's or it's their brother, sister, husband, wife, niece or stepson.

I have however been able to meet and develop working relationships with a number of people via social media.

I also attend professional functions in the Bay Area and have sponsored open bars at events, etc.

In the past, when I did a lot of casting and producing, occasionally somebody would cold call me at just the right moment and may talk their way into a gig. That also happened to me a couple of times. But usually when you throw spaghetti at the wall, you just wind up having to clean it off.

I used to love when a voice talent would send me a demo and then call me a week or so later. It might go something like this:

Them: Did you get my demo?
Me: Yes
Them: Oh, er, um did you listen to it?
Me: Yes.
Them: Did you like it?
Me: Do you know who I am?
Me: Do you know what type of things I hire talent for?
Me: Why did you send me your demo?

To those of you who say you are picking up significant work cold-calling, my hat's off to you. I've worked with the best of them, and I don't see how it's done. But there's a lot that I see and hear on this old internet thing that I don't understand.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[Jason Huggins]

Great point JS. It is imperative that you research a company before you call. I always try to know what the company does, has done, and the name of the person that I'm looking for. I have had more than one occasion where I liked a specific video or commercial they did, mentioned it, sparked more discussion, and led to a decent relationship. I try all avenues I can find, and try to pursue each one with wisdom...though it doesn't always work out that way.

[Scott Pollak]

[Jen Gosnell]

[Scott Pollak]

Jen, you may be right, and I don't think we're in a 100% right-or-wrong, black-or-white discussion here. Some things work for some people, some don't.

I DO believe (rightly or wrongly) that people - ALL of us - are too busy to sit and read, on a regular basis, all of the crap that comes to us.

Now if I'm a producer who uses voices, I may hear a voice I like, make note of it and file it away for future reference. But personally, if I get monthly or even quarterly newsletters from someone, I just ditch them. And I DO, with some regular 'newsletters' I get from other v/o folks, and even relatives who are in businesses such as Pampered Chef, etc. I am not interested and don't have the time. I simply can NOT help but believe that producers, whose backs are constantly against the deadline wall, really don't even look at generic marketing newsletters, blogs, etc. that purport to 'help' the client, but in reality are merely high-visibility marketing tools.

I'd enjoy hearing from clients or producers to get their perspective on it, and again.... this is my .02 worth, and we know what that's worth.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[Mike Harrison]

Whether it's thought-provoking quotes, handy-dandy helpful hints, links to resources or outright promotion, it's a mind-boggling amount of stuff on the various social media sites. And in many cases, the originators repeat their messages and/or use an a that automatically spits the stuff out every couple of minutes to "keep their name out there."

I picture what social media has become as the biggest container one can imagine, completely filled with those wind-up novelty chattering teeth.

It has become a deafening cacophony.

"Everybody's talkin' at me... I can't hear a word they're sayin'..." ©Fred Neil, 1966
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[Scott Pollak]

Oh man, Mike, in my mind you just hit the nail on the head.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[Jason Huggins]

And everyone on this board does (or is trying to) make a living at it Just find what works for ya, and evolve when necessary.

Marketing is marketing...it has a goal of keeping your brand in the clients or potential clients mind so that when their need becomes great enough to buy, you are the first brand they think of. A newsletter is just one way to do it. I personally don't think repeating others content is very effective, but I'm no marketing guru. I just know that every month since I started my newsletter, I've had past clients say, "Hey, you know what? I have something that you might be great for. " So, if I can reignite a relationship with one client every month, and become the answer to their need...it's worth it to me.

[DougVox]

[heyguido]

[Lee Gordon]

And so what, if half the people throw them into the trash, unread. What are they going to do, send a hit man after you?
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[Scott Pollak]

All of this is good food for thought, and a nearly 50% 'open' rate sounds good.

My question is: How much of this leads to work?
I don't know, that's why I'm asking.
Certainly anything that DOES lead to a job is good.
I guess the bottom line is: what types of marketing are the MOST effective and best use of our time?

For me, cold-calling sure ain't it.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[DougVox]

First, let me say that I'm really NOT trying to sound snarky with these answers, but I know that they might be perceived that way. Hence the disclaimer.