In
this Issue: |
| VO Marketing.............getting
that first paying client. |
| Webmaster Wilco's Tips.........keeping
your VO web site tuned. |
| Ed Green wants you to
know.........about VO demo production and CD duplication services. |
| A few questions............a
subscriber seeks advice on audio editing software. |
| Your input..........feel
free to submit questions and concerns |
| Why join CV?.........
|
| |
| VO
Marketing
Last month we discussed marketing from scratch, we had no money
but lots of time. We also talked about registering your site and
introducing yourself to some prospective clients. Now we're going
to get a "real" client. Getting your
first client is one of the toughest parts of the business. First
we're going to give our talent away. Contact everyone in your "warm
market" which means friends, family, business acquaintenances,
people in your community who are involved in charities, just causes,
non-profit groups, blood banks, tree huggers, animal rights, etc
and let them know you need exposure and you are looking for a charity
or non-profit group to test your skills free of charge. Make a list
and do this all by phone and in your tuxedo voice.
Write a script (very important) and stick to it.
Keep digging, you'll find one, maybe two.
Next find a local studio who will donate their time or at least
drastically reduce their fee because you are doing charity work
and they will be getting credit as a contributor
to the project. Pay the fee yourself or ask your "charity client"
to foot the freight if necessary. The cost should be from 0 - $50,
assuming you are experienced and can get the job done in a few minutes.
Through this whole exercise my bet is that you will either find
a "real" paying client or one will approach you soon.
In donating your talent to a worthy cause, you have marketed yourself
to your warm market who will remember that and promote you whenever
the opportunity arises. You have introduced yourself to local charities
and to recording studios and consequently to pillars of the community
in offering your services. Somewhere along the line your first client
will come out of this mix and knock on your door.
top |
| |
Wilco's
Tips
Welcome to Wilco Cramer, webmaster
for Commercial Voices.com and also VoicesInternational.com You are
invited to contact Wilco for any of your web site needs. Discount
available for CV members.
Getting the most out of your business web site.
1. To improve your search ranking within Google
add a link on your website to CommercialVoices.com. The Google PageRank
not only looks at the quality of your content but also at the number
of high quality sites that are linked to and from your website.
Since CommercialVoices.com already has a link to your site, adding
a link will complete the process improving rankings for both. Make
up your own CV link or contact Rick for our logo.
2. How many clicks does it take for a visitor to
hear your voice? Most visitors come to your site to hear your voice,
so why do they have to click 3 or more times to hear your voice?
Offer a link on the home page to listen to one of your best voice
overs.
3. If your site is Flash based, offer alternative
ways to view the site. "Skip Intro" is the 2nd most
clicked words after your URL.
4. Try sticking to one font type and size through
out the whole site for your content. This will provide a consistent
look throughout the site and makes your content easier to read.
5. Create a colour scheme for the site and stick
with it. Having too many different colours on a web page makes
it hard on the eyes and looses its effect.
Wilco is Webmaster for CommercialVoices.com
Wilco@WilcoCramer.com
http://www.WilcoCramer.com
top
|
| |
Ed
wants you to know
Hi Rick,
Here's the info you requested:
A friend of mine has a company that can provide complete voiceover
demo production and cd duplication services. They'll discount
their costs for your clients as they have for my students. Their
prices are as follows:
Audio Production:
Mixing, eq, editing, music, etc. At a reduced rate of $90/hr.
(Normally $120/hr).
CD label design: They'll reduce the design charges from $100/hr
to $60/hr. They can also provide up to 48 different standard backgrounds
to choose from to keep the cost lower.
CD duplication: They'll include full size jewell cases, front
inserts, back inserts and spine with label on CD. At the following
rates:
300 CDs @ $2.75 each
200 CDs @ $3.25 each
100 CDs @ $3.75 each
There will be a one time set up fee of $25 and of course shipping
charges. But here's the interesting part...if your client orders
300 CDs and then wants to order 100-200 more at a future time,
they'll still only charge them the reduced rate of $2.75.
These prices beat CD duplication giants like Discmakers on short
runs by as much as $1.15 per CD and they include full size jewell
cases (their price is for slim jewell cases only).
Here's the contact info:
Integrity Productions
Mark D. Conklin (President)
(732)248-5976
markdconklin@aol.com
Hope this helps. Happy Holidays!
Ed
info@EdGreen.com
top
|
| |
| Questions
from one of our subscribers
Hi,
I am in the market for an audio editing program and am at a loss.
As far as I know there are a number of good quality software programs
out there but most are over kill for my purposes. I have been advised
that 4 tracks would be sufficient for me right now.
There is Cool Edit or it is now known as Adobe Audition, Sound Forge
by Sonic Foundry, Cakewalk and Pro Tools, have a free version but
I don't think it will work with Windows XP, and the prices vary
widely.
Would someone please point me in the right direction? Are there
other programs available that I should consider that won't break
my bank?
Thank you in advance for your input.
Regards, Ted
(Please forward your advice here
for publication next month .........thanks Ed)
top
|
| |
Your
input
Your questions, concerns and comments are very important to us at
CV. Whether you are a client wishing you were a Producer or a Producer
looking for VO talent, contact us at your convenience and we will
point you in the right direction. Many of our VO talents wear Producer
hats, script writing hats and marketing hats, so questions in just
about any category are welcome. Send us an e-mail and watch for
the reply in our next Newsletter. Your query will be answered by
one of our top VO talents. E-mail
us here.
Top |
| |
|
Top
|
|
|
| Contest
Congrats to: Thurman Ergenbright
our December contest winner of a professional VO demo production.
The package consists of a max of 9 pieces comprised of your choice
of liners, sweepers and portions of two promos that the winner provides.
This production retails at $179.99.
Troy will contact you shortly! |
|
|
The
CV Newsletter is distributed monthly to: Subscribers, CV Members,
Producers, Clients and Manufacturers in the Voice-Over Industry.
To unsubscribe click here.
We recognize the importance of your electronic privacy, thus our
privacy policy ensures that your name, address, telephone number,
email address and other personal details that CommercialVoices.com
may have will not be shared with any other third party. Thank you. |
