Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for VO Hardware/Software/Tools / Social Media/Networking

Finding VO Clients Using Social Media

April 5, 2013 By 2 Comments

MsmallerIn a few short weeks, my friends Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi will be leading a social media discussion at FaffCamp.

As a frequent presenter with Terry and Trish on the stage, I can confirm that you will walk away from their session with a head-full of ideas.  Both of them are living proof that prospects can be turned into paying clients using social networks correctly.

Using Social Media,though, is like a demo that always needs to be freshened-up.  Whatever you think you know about VO marketing using social media is already changing to something else.  Not that you’ve wasted time, talent, or momentum to this point, just that you must keep after it.  Social Media continues to morph.DSC01897a

The good part is, the opportunities continue to grow.  All the big networks:  FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube are gaining members right and left.  However, the growth, and the sophistication of those online populations means  finding opportunities requires you try new approaches.

For one thing, the nature of every one of these networks demands that the services MUST change to stay with trends.  Facebook is the poster child for this concept.  LinkedIn just had a big facelift.  Google keeps tampering with YouTube, and so on.

Ya gotta remember though, all these services are free, and once you’re in the swing of things, it can be fun…even almost addictive to be on them.  In that sense, you can grow your relationships, learn a lot, AND find prospects at the same time.

Let me share with you a link to an extremely helpful article on mining social media for leads by John Jantsch.  John writes an unbelievable blog called DuctTapeMarketing.  Bookmark this site, and visit often.  Its’ written in general marketing terms…so not specifically for VoiceOver, but all the concepts apply.

Here’s the article you should read:  THE GOLDEN AGE OF SOCIAL LEAD TARGETING HAS ARRIVED FULLY.

As you read, please take the time to follow the link to one of his most visited articles from 2010 that is still relevant:  7 Insanely Useful Ways to Search Twitter for Marketing.

…and BTW, it’s not too late to sign-up for FaffCamp.  I wish I could go, but I can’t.  Say HI to Terry and Trish for me!

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Managing Mail ‘n’ More

April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

nutshellmailEverywhere people talk about losing the email battle.

A little nonsense post on the Voice-Over Friends FB group yesterday brought this response from a VO friend:  “…I get around 500 emails per day. Checking them to just figure out what I want to deal with and what not is laborious enough, but then having to reply or take some sort of action… I think I spend an aggregate of about 4 hours or more per day dealing with email, and I’m still not as on top of  it as I’d like…”

I so agree.  Even my recent blog post about email (Seriously? Unimaginable!) brought plenty of assent that email is an essential part of the freelance VO day…but businesses and people eager to be noticed somehow keep finding a way to clutter-up things.  Social Media notices alone probably make up half of my email list.

Not a replacement for email management… but when I really need a digest of my brand/name exposure on Social Networks any given day, I depend on NutshellMail.

NutshellMail is a Constant Contact product.  Many of you are familiar with ConstantContact.  It’s one of the most-recognized newsletter, CRM, survey-tracking, Social Media marketing, and now event-planning online sites around.

Some time ago, ConstantContact acquired NutshellMail.  The service sends you updates from social networks through an email digest.  You can manage and interact those updates right from the NutshelMail interface.

Here’s the best part:  FREE!  You don’t have to have a ConstantContact subscription to get NutshellMail.  You WILL have to sign-up with an email address and password.  Then you’ll have to grant permission for NutshellMail to access whichever Social Networks you’d like to monitor.

Many is the day NutshellMail saves my bacon (bacon!) by showing me other people’s mention of my name or brand.  In fact, sometimes NutshellMail is the ONLY means of getting that information.  It’s pretty amazing what it can pick up.  You can reply, retweet, post, and respond right from the NutshellMail report that comes to you by (ack) email.

Check it out.  The service can be customized in many ways to meet your needs.

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FaceBook NewsFeed Changes Today

March 7, 2013 By 3 Comments

Thumb Up Like ButtonThe social network we all love to hate, and CAN’T STAY AWAY FROM is changing again.

In a sense (and as they say) change is good.  With today’s frenetic innovation, and super-short attention spans, there’s bound to be plenty of trial-and-error tinkering…even with a product as ubiquitous as FaceBook.

Mark Zuckerberg’s baby favors new products.  Remember FB Questions?…Checkins?  FaceBook has to take risks on new ideas.  Even a network with a billion members needss to remain as agile as possible.

But “shares” and “likes” are down.  Facebook has admitted as much.  People are posting more (according to Zuckerberg’s law), but these days, reading less.  Not only that, but a lot of critics are noticing that FaceBook is inserting a lot more ads, and higher up, than it used to.  Visitors see that as a grasping, even desperate move to make more money.  Also, the cherished teen demographic is not so enamoured of FB anymore.

So, FaceBook is changing again.  Today.

There will be a big news conference, and the typical hype.  FaceBook is playing their cards close to the vest, but the best pundits expect a significant change to the look.

Mashable is saying “…we could see multiple news feeds based on categories, such as Instagram photos and music your friends are listening to and artist updates…”  TechCrunch claims, “…in addition to several news feeds, we’ll be seeing larger photos and image-based ads.”

A new look for Timeline is already underway in New Zealand (New Zealand!!!???)

Regardless, we don’t really get a vote, and I just didn’t want you to wake up and wonder what the heck had happened to your cherished FaceBook.

CNET probably said it best:  “…If News Feed were a window, the frame would be dilapidated and the glass distorted after years of wear and tear…”

Wanna read more?  Check out these links:

LA Times

TechCrunch

Yahoo News

Boston Globe

CourVO

 

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking, Technology Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Finding Your Way Through the InfoNoise

February 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

infooverload-aYesterday, word spread fast that Scott Fortney had a heart attack.  Scott is known to us all as a helpful voice actor who often posts Adobe Audition tutorials on YouTube, and started the Adobe Audition FaceBook group.  His wife had just emerged from an illness, and now this.  Prayers needed.

On the same day, a wonderful video was circulated about Audio Engineers, which was a take on the Dodge Ram commercial with the Paul Harvey soliloquy  on farmers.  It’s called 9th Day, and it was composed by my vo friend Zak Miller. Nice work, Zak!

More is coming out about the destructive behavior of VoiceJockeys (VOICEJOCKEYED…which I just blogged about) in this blog, posted by the BenzTown Blog: A Pay-to-Play Site You Should Avoid.

I could go on.  There are anywhere from 10-20 influential VO blogs…probably 50-100 VO forums on all the Social Media platforms.  There are newsletters, Twitter lists, and Google +communities. I admit I contribute to the info overload.  I’m a news junkie at heart, and I relish the free exchange of info.

But many have raised the question of whether all this shared stream-of-consciousness has a measurable return on investment of time.  Just yesterday, my Social Media maniac VO friend Terry Daniel lamented that there was yet another VO FaceBook group being launched.  Long and vociferous are the debates on these very groups about the over-proliferation of such forums.  Such are the challenges of an open, democratic society.

Not that there’s any easy answer, but here’s my analysis of the pros and cons:

THE UPSIDE

  • Professions that come of age experience this knowledge explosion.  It’s a good sign that we’ve arrived.
  • There is no such thing as “too much” knowledge.
  • The sharing of information benefits everyone.
  • You wouldn’t want the opposite of a free exchange of info.  Think North Korea.
  • Your contribution matters, and is rewarding to you.
  • Some of those information nuggets directly benefit your business and its implementation.

THE DOWNSIDE

  • Information distribution streams are chaotic and unreliable.
  • There is almost no way to measure your return on investment for time spent on data/info mining.
  • Being an info bon vivant can be addictive.
  • Your marketing or information contribution easily gets lost in the noise.
  • A lot of repitition and reduncancy appears.
  • Not all information can be or has been verified/vetted.

BEST PRACTICES

  • Find the handful of reliable sources you know and trust through experience over time, and  stay loyal to those.
  • Don’t extend beyond those sources unless you see a direct benefit to your business (but keep an open mind –  but if you add a source, maybe drop another?)
  • Set a time limit per day to be online.  I could be a half hour 3 times a day, or once in the evening for an hour, etc.  Stick to your “time promise”!
  • Contribute when you have unique content you find valuable, and don’t see it anywhere else.
  • Pay it forward on forums, groups, and communities (share links, info, or tidbits with no expectation of reward).
  • Share info on other sites, keeping in mind that the more you do, the closer you get to the threshold of spamming.

In the foreseeable future, the laws of a free market culture will determine who survives this info onslaught (MySpace?).  Until then, the part you play helps to determine those who will succeed in this competitive milieu.  Choose wisely!

CourVO

Filed Under: Connecting, Ruminations, Social Media/Networking, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seeking VO Talent

January 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

millsjamesA LinkedIn posting tipped me off to the following announcement from Mill-James Creative Media:

Mills James is proud to announce the creation of a database which will allow our producers to search and audition voice over talent at their desktop. We would like to invite you to register through the attached link and upload a demo of your work. Our goals for creating the data base are to consolidate all of our talent files in one location and make it easier to identify talent for up coming projects. As production timelines compress, the speed in which we need to respond to clients increases. We intend to create a fast and easy experience for producers to navigate through the talent pools. It is important that you attach a demo file to this registration. The system will not allow registration without a sample of your work.

We look forward to receiving your information and working with you in the near future.

HERE IS THE LINK

http://millsjames.com/home/voiceover-talent-registration
Voiceover Talent Registration | Mills James millsjames.com

Yes, I certainly asked to be in their database.  The online form is neither daunting nor confusing.
No, I am not particularly familiar with Mills-James, but their website states the following:  “Mills James is among the nation’s most comprehensive creative media companies. Headquartered in Columbus (OH), we’re the largest independent production company in Ohio and surrounding states. We’re an EMPLOYEE OWNED and CLIENT FOCUSED service business with a diverse team of more than 150 people of enormous talent and creativity.”
This strikes me as one of those “can’t lose” propositions, and one of the reasons why I enroll in many diverse online sites seeking voice talent resumés.  It comes under the “nothing ventured, nothing gained” category, and costs nothing.  I also applaud a production company that is honest and organized about gleaning voice talent from the available pool.

I also understand by posting this, I’m increasing the odds against me…but if it’s on LinkedIn, nothing much I do here is going to ripple the waters much more, and besides, that’s what this blog has been about since day 1…passing along useful information to my voice acting peers.

CourVO

Filed Under: Jobs, Social Media/Networking, Subscription Services Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Holy Grail of Geekdom…

January 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ces-b…is in Las Vegas this week.

The annual Consumer Electronic Show (CES) started Tuesday.  Roughly 150,000 people are attending from all around the globe. It’s not open to the public, but any working journalist can get in, and it doesn’t hurt that the Las Vegas convention center is a 3-block walk from the TV station where I work.

News stories usually focus on all the new gizmos and gadgets.  The exhibit hall IS certainly something to see, and you can’t minimize the impact of these new wares on the market.  But like many successful conventions, the REAL story is in the expensive evening parties….er…uh…I mean the many seminars, meetings, and side-bar mini-conventions and related professional associations that throw THEIR meet-ups at the same time.

For instance, the New Media Expo is over at the Rio Resort during CES.  This gathering used to be called Blog World Expo.  Regardless, it’s the epitome of real-time networking for people who usually network online for a living.

I haven’t had the chance to go to either event (that’s coming Thursday), but when I do, I’ll post about my experience here.

In the meantime, some worthwhile reminders about your online presence have already been uttered by Amy Jo Martin, author, speaker, founder, CEO of Digital Royalty.  Her main points:

  • Humans communicate with humans. Not logos.
  • The goal to to connect with people who believe what you believe.
  • [Social media] is a dialogue, not a monologue.
  • Deliver value when, where, and how your audience want to receive it.
  • Everything is trackable online… everything’s accountable.

See the complete article on Martin’s comments.  You’ll find a further link to her full speech in that article.

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking, Web/Tech Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Facebook Voice Recordings

January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

facebookI’m back.

‘Was lucky enough to get two weeks off from the TV news job while all 3 daughters were home for the holidays.  On top of that, (as can be seen by the pictures posts earlier this week), we were able to spend some time around the Truckee/Donner area of Tahoe.

But enough of that…

It’s a new year!…with all sorts of new opportunities and possibilities!  {Ahem..uh…I’m not actually that enthusiastic in real life…but I take on this posture, ’cause I know I KNOW January to traditionally be my most downer month…so I try hard to start on a high note, charging out of the gate…’cause if I don’t..it’s only gonna go downhill in a hurry.}

So, in keeping with this trendy, energetic 2013 enthusiasm, let me tell you about a new feature JUST BEING ANNOUNCED in the FaceBook fold:  Voice Recordings available in FaceBook Messenger.

This is an upgrade for both Android and iOS for it’s standalone Messenger app.  The new functionality lets you send a message of up to a minute.

Why worth a mention?  Well, like me, you understand the importance of staying abreast of technological trends that may enhance your voice acting business…while at the same time appreciating the value of social media to that end…right?

FaceBook is still the 800lb Gorilla in this arena, and when they add this sort of feature, one must consider the VO possibilities.  If you can’t get a voice-sample to a prospect in any other way…yes…even the lo-fidelity sample of a FB voice-recording may suffice.

Also ANY feature like this offered by such a hi-profile service adds yet another outlet to your VO toolkit for having your voice heard.  Even casual samples of your voice may catch someone’s ear who has the potential to hire you.

Here are some articles explaining this new FaceBook service that is rolling out TODAY.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/03/facebook-voice-messaging/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/03/facebook-adds-voice-recording-to-messenger-testing-voip-service/

http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/01/03/facebook-updates-messenger-app-with-voice-messages-voip-calling-in-testing

http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2013/01/03/facebook-updates-ios-and-android-messenger-apps-adds-voice-messaging-and-voip-calls-but-only-for-ios-users-in-canada/

http://www.mobileburn.com/21090/news/facebook-messenger-adds-voice-messages-for-ios-and-android-voice-calling-coming-soon

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fixing Your Demos on the “New” LinkedIn

December 12, 2012 By 7 Comments

linkedin-logoMost of you know I’m a big LinkedIn fan.  Of all the social networks, LinkedIn offers the most rich feature set for searching and researching your business prospects.  Oh, and they’ve got hundreds of millions of members, too.  ;-}

One of the nice things about LinkedIn (until now) was the association it had with Box.net.  Using the Box.net LinkedIn “app”, you could store your Demos on Box, and they would appear in your LinkedIn profile.

Not any more.

LinkedIn is rolling out a  major overhaul of its interface…both cosmetically, and under the hood.  Gone is the Box.net app, and your demos.

Luckily, LinkedIn had the foresight to offer a really decent alternative, and I’ve got the links to show you how to do it.  By the way, my thanks to Tom Dheere for bringing this to my attention.  Seeking an answer to his question of how to replace the Box.net demos led me to finding the work-around.

LinkedIn now lets you post links to all sorts of media right in your profile.  To be able to post your demos, then on your LinkedIn site, you’ll have to have your soundfiles stored in an online service like AudioBoo or SoundCloud.  Actually LinkedIn accepts many more audio, video, image and presentation files than ever before.  Go to their PROFILE MEDIA LINK PROVIDERS page to see all the media they accept.

Got it?

OK, now go to LinkedIn’s page explaining how to add your files to your profile: ADDING MEDIA LINKS ON YOUR PROFILE.  A crucial point here, is that you can only add these media links to the following sections of your profile: Summary, Education, Experience.

It works like a charm, and I’m not so sure it isn’t better than the Box.net arrangement.

Below is a screen capture of my demos, now added to the “Summary” section of my profile.

 

LinkedIn

Let me know if you need any help!

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking, SoundCloud Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

X-Ray Searches on LinkedIn

December 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

People give me too much credit.  I admit I’m a social media geek, and a strong apostle of LinkedIn , but I felt like a novice when I read an article recently on  an eclectic site  called BOOLEAN BLACK BELT SOURCING/RECRUITING.

I don’t expect you to read it all, but I will say it appears to be the Holy Grail of LinkedIn search articles.  That, of course, is what the word ‘boolean’ (pronounced boo’-lee-uhn) refers to…a type of specialized search language utilizing certain  ”switches” and syntax.

Here’s the article:  What’s the most effective way to X-Ray search LinkedIn?

Even without all that’s presented in this exhaustive article, I still maintain that LinkedIn, with its native free-subscription search functions far supersedes any mechanism available on any of the other social media sites.  Add to that the fact that LinkedIn is populated by more serious, business-minded members,and I think you will find a convincing argument for spending more time on this network.

Voice actors everywhere can take advantage of the LinkedIn groups feature, especially…and the access those groups give to people who are in a position to hire.

I’ve written about LinkedIn extensively over the years…just type “LinkedIn” into the search box at the top of my blog home page, and you’ll see how many.  I personally like:  Eleven LinkedIn Leads.

Another of my favorite LinkedIn resources:  The LinkedIn Blog, and How to use  LinkedIn Signal.

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pinterest’s new “Secrets” for VO’s

November 15, 2012 By 2 Comments

Online Social Media darling Pinterest recently stepped up their service to include two new features:

1) Secret Boards
2) Business Accounts (just announced yesterday)

This is a natural progression for Pinterest.  Although it’s one of the hottest social network phenoms, it is still playing catch up with especially Facebook in providing more features, and finding ways to monetize that traffic.

Each user will be able to create 3 secret boards with the option to make them public at any time.  Users will not be able to make secret their current public boards, though.  The secret boards can be formed and used from Pinterest apps on  mobile devices, too.

Anyone can create a Secret Board from the Pinterest website. Go  to the bottom of your profile and click “Create a Secret Board”. Alternatively, just click Add+ on the top right-hand corner of Pinterest.  Select ‘Create Board’ and switch the Secret button on.

More on how to use this feature for your VO business, below.

Business accounts are available for individuals and… well… businesses.  Their Business Page offers guides and examples of how this works, and the Pinterest Blog provides a quick overview.  They also offer a site with “best practices” on how to build your business page.  There is a verification process, but no mention of cost (yet).   You’ll get a new verification badge, and there are new buttons and widgets for your business account.Your current account can be converted into a business account.

Why create a Pinterest Business page for your Voice Over business?  Get in on the ground floor of Pinterest’s new big thrust.  This is just the start.  Watch it grow. Basically, the business accounts capitalize on the potential to make money by advertising.  Making relationships with brands allows them to advertise on your site, and you create a buzz around your business.

It took me all of 9 minutes to create a brand new Pinterest Business page, with verification.  There’s a lot of work to do on my page, yet, but I’m jus’ sayin’.  It’s easy.  http://pinterest.com/courvoice/

Now, how to use SECRET BOARDS to boost your VO business:

  • Extend and expand your brand, filling out all the corners of your VO house with the stuff that makes your business unique.
  • Make it a place to meet your clients and show ‘em what you got,  You can’t post sound files on Pinterest, but you can post links to your SoundCloud demos.
  • Create a community built around FaffCon Stand-Up groups, or VO MasterMind groups.
  • Store your great ideas, business plans, prospective purchases, evaluation software, or make it your event planner.
  • Store ideas for long-range business planning.
  • cCollaborating with team members on projects, sharing documents, pictures, and ideas.

Let me know if you have any ideas for making Pinterest work better for you “in secret” or as a business site.

Here are some further resources:

7 Ideas for Your First Pingterest Secret Board

How to Use Pinterest’s Secret Boards for Your Startup

Pinterest Now Allowing Businesses to Create Accounts

3 Smart Business Uses of Pinterest’s New Secret Boards

5 Ways to Use Pinterest’s New Secrets Boards for Brand Marketing

CourVO

Filed Under: Social Media/Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Next Page»