Voice123 asks "What Would You Like To Know?"

Craig Burnett

They sent out a mass email asking "What Would You Like To Know" about the voiceover business, Voice123.com, etc. Theyasked, I answered. Because I KNOW there's no way this will be seen on their "blog," I've posted my response here. Enjoy.

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I'd like to know why I'm still getting tons fewer leads than I ever did before I "updated my profile."

I'd like to know why I'm paying $300 per year for a service that penalizes me for doing my job, which is auditioning (the more I audition for SmartCast, the fewer leads I get).

I'd like to know why I can't get a clear answer to the question, "If the system has identified that my profile matches a lead, and then sends me an email to tell me that dozens of leads matched my profile but weren't sent to me, why am I not being allowed to respond to these leads?" Your answer was that my profile wasn't specific enough. If that's the case, why did SmartCast SAY that the leads matched my profile? Your solution just doesn't make sense, especially since I always used to get almost more leads than I had time to audition for.

I'd like to know why I get leads for "African American voice" when those words aren't in my profile.

But mostly, I'd like to know why Voice123 is sending me fewer leads than ever before. I'd like to know how V123 justifies penalizing someone for giving you money. It just doesn't make sense to me.

It's like me, as a voiceover talent, telling my steady clients that the more they book me, the less I will be available for them, until I eventually won't do any VO for them at all. Think I'd be in business very long? I think not.

I'd MUCH rather have the first-come, first-served method that V123 used to use. Send out all the leads simultaneously. Then the folks like me, who are sitting in front of their computer waiting for leads, because this IS OUR JOB, will get the leads first. Then the less-dedicated people who come home from their job in insurance, WON'T get the leads because they're not dedicated to the profession.

Once Voice123 realizes that penalizing voice talent for using a service we paid hundreds of dollars for is NOT the way to do business, then you'll stop getting pain-in-the-ass emails like this.

Voice123 used to be a great service. I've acquired lots of repeat business from some really substantial clients. For that reason, I intend to stay with the service. I just wish you could address these issues succinctly, not keep repeating that "SmartCast is a computer program, you must tell it what you want." I'm telling YOU what I want. If the humans can't translate our desires to the "computer program," then we're all in a lot of trouble.

Thanks for your time.

-Craig Burnett
craigieb@aol.com
www.craigburnett.com

Scott Feighner

Maxine Dunn · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008, 21:51 (GMT) Post subject:

(Edited on June 26 ~ After looking at Craig's website and viewing his outstanding body of work, I have to say my comments here do not apply to Craig! His work is superb and his expertise and experience are something I aspire to have someday! Bravo Craig on your talent and success in the business, as well as your great website.
Max)

If you are a voice talent and you are "sitting in front of your computer waiting for leads because it IS YOUR JOB," you need a reality check on how to market your voice-over services effectively. Your job as a voice-over artist will never be to sit around and wait for opportunities to come to you. Effective, successful marketing of your voice-over services is not accomplished EVER by "sitting in front of your computer, waiting for leads." And yes Craig I know you’re not just glued to your monitor all day waiting for leads from V123, but your post gave the impression that you’re spending significant amounts of time waiting for leads from this venue. No one who is highly successful in ANY career ever got there by sitting around and “waiting” for anything.

The other comment about not getting leads because some people are working another job and thus are apparently "not dedicated to their profession..." to me, belittles every hard working insurance agent, waiter, and single dad that spends his lunch hours and evening hours cold-calling new clients, works hard teaching himself how to record and edit sound files, networks at every available opportunity, has made the effort to create a professional website and has professional business cards printed, and reads aloud to his kids in a myriad of different voices to perfect his character skills.

There are many talented people with "day jobs" that are hell-bent on being successful in voice-overs and they do far more than sit in front of their computer and wait for leads. I work with some of them and they work HARD. A talent should not be discounted just because he hasn't made the transition yet to full-time voice-over artist. And because he’s working hard all day to support his family and working on voice-over part time for now, does NOT mean that he is not dedicated to his profession and has a vision of his future.

That said, being dedicated to your voice-over profession is NOT:

1.) Waiting in front of your computer for leads to be sent to you.
2.) Using online voice-over marketing venues, (Voice123, Voices, VO Planet, etc.), as your primary source of voice-over marketing.
3.) Using "scattershot" marketing strategies to create success in your voice-over career. The voice-over industry now is all about NICHE MARKETING.
4.) Behaving as if you don’t need an organized, detailed, account management and marketing plan in order to grow your business.

And yes, auditioning for hundreds of public leads on Voice123 is scattershot marketing. This is just my opinion of course, but if someone is sending in literally hundreds of auditions to V123, then what else are they doing to further their client base? And how effective could their overall business strategy be, if they are expending so much energy on such diffuse marketing efforts?

And again, in my opinion, if someone is freaking out over not getting enough public leads through Voice123, it’s a definite sign that they should perhaps be refocusing their efforts on concrete marketing strategies, implementing a solid well-thought-out business plan, and not putting so much weight on a fickle venue such as this.

If you tremble at the thought of marketing yourself, here are a few books that will help you:

"The Ultimate Marketing Plan," by Dan S. Kennedy

"Cold Calling Techniques - That Really Work!" by Stephan Schiffman

"50 Ways To Close A Sale - And Keep The Customer For Life," by Gerald Michaelson.

Maxine

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008, 23:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott -- You are right. I just tried clicking on your Voice123 website and got a "Page Not Found" message. I would suggest you bypass cyberspace, skip the e-mails, and give them a call at 877-275-8642 and try to talk with a real person.

Craig Burnett · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 00:01 (GMT) Post subject:

Maxine,

Points well taken, one and all. And a really well-thought-out post. You shore do write purty. Smile

No, I don't sit in front of my computer waiting for leads from Voice123. I spend hundreds of dollars each month on various marketing avenues like pay-per-click, direct mail, etc. I've been in the business for 30 years, so I'm pretty clear as to which marketing techniques work, and which don't (although I'm always open to new ideas!).

My points in the post were simply to vent about V123 and the way they're treating those of us who have spent those hard-earned dollars on yet another marketing avenue (scattershot as you say it may be), only to be belittled, disrespected, and punished for simply doing what we do: answer leads.

And yes, I'm sure there are thousands of hard-working firefighters, postmen and busboys who are, or have the potential to be, great VO talent. I didn't mean to disrespect those fine folks. Before I went full-time, I spent my days editing Wal-Mart and Blockbuster Video commercials, wishing I could just be home working on the VO stuff. So believe me, I understand where they're coming from.

My comments were basically directed at Voice123 for dramatically changing the paradigm, effectively making their service less valuable. Perhaps it will encourage me to push a bit harder in the other areas in which I market.

Thanks again for your post. And your comment about my headshot.

You should see my etchings! Smile

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 00:06 (GMT) Post subject:

Speaking of headshots... Craig, yours reminds me SO much of "Janitor" in "Scrubs". That's a compliment.

Craig Burnett · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 00:11 (GMT) Post subject:

Wow...that's one I hadn't heard.

I love Neil Flynn, so I would've taken that as a compliment, even if you hadn't meant it that way.

But apparently, THIS is the Neil Flynn I was emulating when I wrote that post above.

I've simply GOT to wait two hours before I post (kinda like that whole sandwich/swimming thing).

Thanks, Scott!

Tony Pasquale · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 02:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Maxine - Such a well thought out dictation of what it takes to market - Bravo! I'm a big Dan Kennedy fan, and a bit of a business book geek. I just finished "The One Minute Sales Person" by Spencer Johnson. Quick read (because I have no attention span), and very motivating.

I watch posts like this and sometimes feel like an outsider because I don't contribute. Mostly I don't "pay-to-play" yet on V123. I weight my marketing options carefully, pay attention, and invest where I can. Reading this post and others (surrounding some tagging thingy Wink

)makes me a bit uneasy. So, I will wait to see what plays out and put my efforts elsewhere.

I think our buddy Dan said - “It's easier to find a new audience than to write a new speech.”

Maxine Dunn · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 03:37 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Craig ~

After "learning more about you," I fully realize my post should not have been directed at you. I hope you'll accept my apologies and I've only decided to leave it up in the hopes that it will perhaps help others that are spending too much time waiting by their computers for work.

Sheesh..... I WISH I had the experience, client base, and marketing expertise that you have! Excuse me now while I go and try to remove my foot from my mouth. And for the record you are WAAAAAY cuter than that janitor guy. My girlfriends that are over tonight, concur.

xoxox
Max

Greg Houser · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 05:15 (GMT) Post subject:

too easy to toss fuel on the fire here as I'm one of the folks with a day job. Now maybe it's my personality, but I've turned those contacts into regular VO clients due to the nature of my background and their specific needs.

I can understand where Craig is coming from, so it doesn't bug me.

But in regards to "what I would like to know." Here's one. Over the past year some interesting security issues have come to light on the site. When will those be resolved?

Craig Burnett · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008, 13:25 (GMT) Post subject:

Maxine,

Thanks for the kind words. But I needed the jolt you provided. I really think I need to wait a couple of hours before I post my diatribes. Typing it out really helps...but I think sometimes I forget about the power of the Internet, and how a few misplaced lines can ignite fires and hurt feelings. I'm just glad everybody understands I meant no harm, and that my venom was focused at Voice123 (who, by the way, is still sending me wonderful emails telling me about the dozens of leads that match my profile, which they're not sending me. lol But I digress.).

In addition, it never hurts to be reminded that no matter how much we're doing to market, we could always do more. That's a valuable lesson.

Along with that whole "my girlfriends think you're cute" thing. That never hurts.

Thanks, Maxine!

-Craig