Information Overload hits me most days, but lately I’ve been accumulating kernels of factoids that deserve to be shared, but don’t merit a blog article unto themselves.  Hence Info O’lo.

Factoid #1:  Word2Wav founder and wizard Hervé Chain has added some handy new functionality to his already-unique software program. Now you can select any audio-editing program you want from within W2W interface to complete your project.  Chain says:  “…Simply chose the DAW of interest in the Set-up window and Word2WAV will pass the active file in the Recording window directly to this DAW for editing instead of using the built-in editor. Word2WAV takes care of backing up the file before passing it to the DAW, so you just have to edit and save. No navigation required… “ Download the latest version if you already own it.  It will uninstall the old, and install the new with your preferences and registration key intact.  Don’t own it?  Try it fully-functional for a while, then you must purchase to continue. For a general explanation of W2W, and what it can do, see this blog from September of last year.

Factoid #2:  VOICE2012 is practically on top of us considering how fast time flies these days.  More and more great speakers, and panels, and coaches and seminars are being locked-in.  For the latest announcement, try clicking on this VOICE2012 newsletter…fresh off the matrix.

Factoid #3: Another reason it’s been worth EVERY CENT to hire Brett Bumeter as my guide on maximizing my blog reach.  He came to me with the idea of using FaceBook as the preferred platform for hosting comments to my blog articles.  If you look at the bottom of this very article, you’ll see a place to comment through my FaceBook page, and below that, the traditional input method I’ve been using for years on this WordPress blog.  The old version will eventually go away, probably.  Why the change?  SEO.  Exposure.  Social Media. FaceBook has hundreds of millions of potential visitors…my blog does too, I suppose, but more likely I’ll be found on FaceBook, actually…and the back ‘n’ forth linking raises the level of my profile on the internet.

Factoid #4:  Speaking of FaceBook…to see how to maximize one’s new FaceBook Timeline VO Brand page, check out Derek Chappell’s The Voice of Your Business.  He’s worked to add some  nice features, including the posting of his demos.

Factoid #5: Something you can now add to your FaceBook functionality is an embedded VOKLE player right on your page.  Not familiar with VOKLE? It’s in the same family as UStream, JustinTV and other “broadcast-yourself” sites.  Here’s a short tutorial on how to do that.  The word “broadcaster” takes on a whole new meaning!

CourVO

Some of it is just the expectation of the promise and familiarity of online technology.

But most of it has to do with adapting tried and true relation-building principles to this “New Media”.

In that sense, there’s not much new under the Sun.

As trite as it sounds.  It all begins with a conversation.  Kinda like hitting on a prospect at the dance or in the bar, there’s gotta be an opening line (cold call), and the best opening lines are delivered after gauging your prospect (warm call).  There’s also the distinct chance of rejection.

If they don’t answer your email, or respond on LinkedIn…is it that different from not getting a reply to your letter or phone call?

The basics of human interaction in the dance to dollars, as I see them, in a side-by-side comparison old v. new:

.
Hmmm….that’s interesting…the final three points are exactly the same!

That’s great, Dave…you say…but I’m much better writing a letter or talking on the phone than spending my time (usually stated as “wasting my time”) on Twitter or FaceBook.  Writing on New Media platforms is actually much more economical and brief.  It’s not hard!  Honesty and good content are never wasted.  Be yourself, in either medium…that’s the trick.

Like a phone-calling, or letter-writing campaign, the key to remember with Social Media is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  You will gain the other party’s confidence and trust first BEFORE you even mention what it is you do.  By that time, the deed is done…the sale is made!  You’ve made a friend first, and then a client.

Among the key concepts I’ll be sharing at VOICE2012 with Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi is the idea of capitalizing on relationships, and building new ones using tried and true principles as old as humankind ON A NEW PLATFORM.  Don’t get hung up on whether it’s Google Plus or FaceBook.  People are people!

For starters, take a quick look at this article from Social Media Today, written by a kid named David Johnson (well, he LOOKS like a kid to me!)  LinkedIn, 5 Ways to Turn Casual Connections into Financial Windfall.

It’s pure gold as far as I’m concerned.

CourVO

That’s not something I’ve kept secret, nor is it something that keeps me OFF FaceBook.

FaceBook is not what I would call an “intuitive” interface.  Also, its privacy policies are a little high-handed, and they’re constantly CHANGING their rules.

The latest change is one I actually like, though.

FaceBook Timeline is now available to all subscribers (it’s been in “beta” for a while).  Like all the rest of FaceBook, it’s free.

You will not be affected by Timeline unless you visit this link:  FACEBOOK TIMELINE, and initiate the feature.  But then the clock starts ticking.

7 days.

7 days to review TimeLine — which is in effect a scrapbook of every post, every picture, and every comment you or anyone else has ever placed on your wall — ordered chronologically.

And it goes wa-a-a-a-ay back.

That’s why you’ll want to take those 7 days and make good use of them for editing out all the stuff you previously deleted, ’cause you didn’t want it on your FaceBook page in the first place.  (remember what I said about FB’s privacy policies being a little high-handed?  They’ve been keeping all your “stuff” whether you deleted it or not!).

Now you get to delete it all over again!

WHY TIMELINE IS WORTH IT

Aside from that (not so minor) inconvenience, FaceBook Timeline is in my mind the FaceBook that FaceBook should’ve been all along.  The layout is visually compelling, easy to digest, and (finally) intuitive.

And…as my social friend Terry Daniel is always fond of pointing out:  “…FaceBook is FREE marketing…”!!!  It is indeed.

Only now, it’s also a lot more engaging, customizable, and you can control the feel, look, and content of your site.  As FaceBook’s tutorial site says:  “…Only the people you originally shared a post with can see it on your timeline. If you want, you can go back and change who sees a post, delete it or just hide it from your timeline.”  But you can also arrange, rearrange, and change elements of the page (within limits).

My 7 day clock is ticking, and I must confess I have not fully dissected the new TimeLine features yet.  But I think VO’s will be happy with the new look and feel of FaceBook timeline…and this IS the direction Social Media is going, evidence Twitter’s new look recently in the same vein.

Given this eventuality, my advice is to embrace and take advantage of the new possibilities here…’cause like everything else in this helter-skelter pace of online change…there’s no looking back…or sitting still.

CourVO

I’m still on the fence about this service known as “FaceBook’s Answer to LinkedIn”.

It’s just an app!  But I must admit it’s made a splash.

I’ve connected with a few heretofore unknown friends…written a few endorsements…gotten a few endorsements…and I’ll admit…I really haven’t TRIED to make it work as a marketing tool for me, yet…so no judgements here.

BUT.

The other day someone on BranchOut sent out an email with this acronym:  JJDIDTIEBUCKLE.  As a mnemonic:  “JJ DID TIE BUCKLE”.  Each letter is meant to remind you of “…fourteen leadership traits and they are true and effective whether you are a marine, a choir teacher or anything in between.”

At the risk of sounding like a chain email that you’re supposed to pass on to 10 other well-meaning apostles, I’m reprinting the list of 14 traits below.  Call me a sentimental sap, but I actually think they nicely summarize an ethical standard that will serve you well as a business leader.

JUSTICE
Justice means being fair. Treat others equally. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and so forth.

JUDGMENT
Judgment is the ability to effectively assess the situation. You must be able to accurately understand the implications of the situation you are in so that you can make good decisions. Judgment is also known as common sense.

DEPENDABILITY
Dependability is nearly self explanatory. People must be able to depend on you to provide support, accurate information, guidance and motivation. People must be able to trust in your honesty as well as your competence.

INITIATIVE
Initiative is your tendency to approach your responsibilities in a proactive manner. A leader with initiative will not wait for direction before taking action. If you see something that needs to be done, do it.

DECISIVENESS
Decisiveness is the ability to make solid decisions quickly. With sound judgment, you will have enough information and with confidence in your information, you can make the decision now without hemming and hawing about.

TACT
Tact is a skill that enables you to communicate with people in a direct and effective manner without spurring conflict. This goes back to people skills. You need to be able to give direction without making people angry. Tact will help you inspire confidence in your leadership abilities and gain trust and loyalty.

INTEGRITY
Integrity is essentially honesty, which is crucial to being able to lead people effectively. Without honesty, there is no trust. Without trust, others will not truly follow you and support you’re motives or efforts.

ENTHUSIASM
Enthusiasm deals directly with your ability to motivate. It is about maintaining and putting forth a positive attitude. Enthusiasm expects success and drives us closer to achieving it. It fosters optimism and inspires others to follow your lead.

BEARING
Bearing is a trait that is often not discussed in civilian organizations but is none the less critical for good leadership. Bearing is the way you conduct and control yourself. It is your appearance, your posture and your manner that reflects self confidence and self control. Stand straight and exude a demeanor of leadership and authority. Bearing lets people know that you take your role seriously. Do not slouch about or goof off. These things do not inspire confidence in others that you can lead them.

UNSELFISHNESS
Unselfishness is another that is self explanatory. A good leader is looking out for the good of the team. A leader is not selfishly seeking his or her own best interest. Leaders have no ulterior motives.

COURAGE
Courage is the trait that is paramount in all good leadership. You must first have the courage to lead, to expect success, to accept responsibility and to face challenge. Leaders do not fear failure, they embrace it and learn from it in order to minimize its impact and the likelihood that it will occur again. Look fear in the eye and grin. Courage is the chariot that carries us to victory.

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is another important component of good leadership. You must have the experience, training and information necessary to see the operation to a successful end. Without knowledge, we are merely guessing our way through life. Without knowledge, there can be no judgment or sound decision making.

LOYALTY
Loyalty involves being devoted to the task or the goals of the organization that you are a part of. It means that you make the goals of the team your own. The loyal leader stands behind his people and supports them. He truly believes in what he is doing. Loyalty in leadership promotes a loyal following.

ENDURANCE
Endurance what keeps us going when the going gets tough. Endurance encompasses our dedication and tenacity to see the job through to completion regardless of obstacles or challenges along the way. It embodies both our mental and physical stamina as well as our will power.

As a leader, carry these ideas with you wherever you go. Commit them to memory and put them to action. People will notice and your leadership skill will improve tremendously. You will be well on your way to being the best leader you can be.

(posted on FaceBook by Lalit Ranka)

CourVO

Terry & Trish in better times

‘Hope you were able to catch Terry Daniel‘s webinar on FaceBook for VO’s last night on VoiceOverXtra’s “Super Socials” series.

Tonite, Trish Basanyi takes the stage, and she’ll be sharing some great tips for finding work using Twitter.

Then, next Wednesday, I’ll be bringing up the rear, talking about YouTube, LinkedIn, Google +, Blogging, and I’ll be interviewing Zurek live.  He’s the founder/sustainer of the highly popular Voice Over online community VU, or VoiceOverUniverse.

There’s still all the time in the world to sign-up, and if you are a SaVoa member, please tell John Florian at the VoiceOverXtra site, and you’re eligible for some SaVoa promotional materials as an extra incentive.

Click here to see all the details of the 3-part “Super Socials” webinar series.

I, for one, am so lookingn forwrard to Trish’s webinar tonite.  Not only does she have more Twitter followers than any VO I know, but she knows how to make hay out of her contacts.  If you’re like a lot of people, and Twitter has you scratching your head, then this webinar is for you.

CourVO

Even the most cantankerous naysayer has to pay homage to Mark Zukerberg’s creation if they want to keep up with trends…and keeping up with trends could mean the difference between an enterprising, innovative voice acting business or one that feels a little more “left behind” with passing time.

For this reason, VoiceOverXtra‘s 3-part “Super Socials” webinar series puts FaceBook right out front.  Furthermore, this topic gets treatment from the guy who bends FaceBook to his will:  Terry Daniel.

Terry may not have ALL the answers, but he’s so doggone good at covering the essentials, the ever-changing rules, and the savvy VO uses of FaceBook, that you’ll wonder why you don’t spend more time there (like Terry does!).

Monday, Trish Basanyi (who will oversee Part II on Twitter, Thursday, August 18th), Terry, I, and John Florian (VoiceOverXtra’s founder) had a skull session to go over the final “Super Socials” details.  I got a glance at Terry’s presentation and I gotta tell you, it’s a doozie!  You’ll find out how and why to set up a FaceBook business page, how to post your demo’s on FaceBook, and he’ll share a long list of absolute “do’s” and “don’t's” of FaceBook etiquette.  And that’s just for starters!

Each of our sessions run an hour-long with an additional half-hour of Q & A.  If the questions run long and involved, we might even go over that!

Terry will show you how to make FaceBook work in favor of your VO business.   We hope you’ll consider signing up for the entire 3-part webinar…or any one part.

See the “Super Socials” sign-up and information page here.

CourVO

When John  approached me to join my VO friends Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi in a 3-part webinar covering all aspects of Social Media, I jumped at the chance.

Terry Daniel and I presented a General Session seminar at VOICE2010 on the topic of Social Media, and earlier this year, Trish and I teamed up to present at FaffCon2 on the same topic.

I consider Terry and Trish to be my mentors and associates in this trending area of marketing potential.  They are both experts in Social Media, and I’ve learned tons from their daily approach.

Here’s how this triple-threat “Super Socials” set of webinars will break down:

Wednesday, August 17, Terry Daniel will explain the intricacies of FaceBook…no small feat as this platform continues to evolve.  It is the 800-lb-gorilla of Social Media, though, so it’s good we start here.  If you’re not on FaceBook with your VO marketing, you’re missing out.

Thursday, August 18th, Trish Basanyi steps into de-mystify Twitter.  I know of no other voice actor than Trish who’s translated her Twitter presence into more VO work.  Since this is at once a challenging and fruitful social networking platform, you’ll want to hear what Trish knows about it.

About a week later, Wednesday, August 24th, I close the gap with a wealth of information about the social media platforms that should round-out your VO marketing plan.  I’ll cover LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ (a newcomer in Social Media), along with blogging and a few surprises.  I’ll also be conducting an engaging live interview with Zurek, the founder of VoiceOverUniverse…one of THE MOST succcessful VO forums of all time.

So there you go.  Who would want to miss all that?

You can attend all three for the reduced price of $99…or any one for $39.  But here’s the incentive to sign-up:  You are automatically enrolled in a drawing to have your tuition refunded if you spread the word, and then cc: John Florian with your message.

See all the details of this upcoming series of webinars.

I hope to see you on the call, I’ll be there for Terry and Trish’s presentations because I KNOW I’ll learn something.  I can promise you I”ll do my level best during my webinar to present material you’ve never heard before, and open your eyes to new possibilities for marketing your VO business in Social Media.

Please pass the word around, and possibly win a free pass to the webinar!

CourVO

Is BranchOut really the LinkedIn of Facebook?…and what exactly does that mean, anyway?  I’m skeptical, but also interested in any legitimate and well-orgainzed online site that allows me to market my services.

Disclaimer:  I’m on Branchout (I guess)…but I really have no idea what that means, so I set out to find some resources that can help you and me decide if it’s worth it to invite others, fill out the recommendations, and whether it can actually help you find work.

When you log into the BranchOut website, you enter your Facebook log-in, and alla sudden you find yourself on the FaceBook BranchOut page (it’s a FaceBook app).  Alternatively, you can just search for BranchOut while you’re on FaceBook, and end up at the same place.  I find that confusing…but it’s a non-issue, really.

BranchOut (the service just celebrated it’s one-year anniversary) is one of those online sites that requires you to build your own profile by hooking in other people.  The easiest way to do that is to open up one of your email addresses and start sending wholesale invitations.  BranchOut makes this easy, and that’s why you’re getting so many mentions in your email.  Once the buzz gets going, people are like lemmings, joining ’cause it’s easy, free, and they don’t want to miss out.

Then, to “complete” your profile, you need to offer recommendations (endorsements) of others, and collect badges.  The reward system urges you to make it to 100% completion of your profile.  Great!  Now what?

BranchOut claims to be: “… the largest professional networking service on Facebook. Hundreds of thousands of people use BranchOut to accomplish one of the following important tasks:

1.  Create a safe and professional profile.
2.  Search 3 million jobs and 20,000 internships.
3.  Get sales leads, top candidates, and interviews.
4.  Build a powerful network of professional connections.”

You can find their helpfiles on the site itself.  BranchOut’s FAQ Page.  BranchOut also has its own blog.

OK, all find and good, Dave, but what does it DO??  I was afraid you’d ask that.  So I did some more digging, and found a pretty good, recent article by someone who writes for entrepreneurial women.  Among her discoveries…BranchOut has: “…A super cool new feature allows Facebook Business Page owners to add a jobs tab from BranchOut that shows jobs you are running ads for on the site.  Great connection tool.”  OK, that’s legit, I guess.  See the rest of the article, complete with a YouTube video on Decisive Minds.

What else?  I went looking some more and found lots of other articles…but all were part of the BranchOut website or help files. 

In fact, most of the 3rd-party articles about BranchOut start out like THIS blog…wondering exactly what BranchOut does.  The Next Great Generation website actually comes closest to offering a fairly objective summary.

THE BOTTOM LINE

BranchOut is a nascent FaceBook app with a nebulous idea, and a slick interface, trying to decide what it wants to be in the competitive world of online business relationships.  Whoever’s running the show keeps tweaking (not a bad thing), and obviously people ARE making connections there.  Can you get VO work from this site?  Probably, if you work it long and hard enough.

My advice.  Once you get signed-up and complete your profile, start clicking on every last thing you can find on the page.  In other words, do a discovery for yourself.  You may be pleasantly surprised, or you may find you’ve wasted your time.  Like most other Social Media sites…you need to find your threshold of participation to determine your Return-On-Investment of time.

Let me know what your experience on BranchOut has been like.

CourVO

You know how sometimes you want to pull a quote, or even a whole tweet from Twitter, but capturing screen shots just isn’t doin’ the trick?  Or even a FaceBook post?

Storify takes care of that.

With the Storify interface, you write your story, and pull in the Twitter or FaceBook post you want. Then write some more.  It also lets you pull in links, AudioBook posts, YouTube Videos, Flickr photos,  RSS feeds and a lot more, then puts in narrative or storyboard form.  When the story is done, you can share it in any number of ways, and also embed it in other platforms.

Go back, now, and look at Part IV, Your VO Social Media Plan, and Part 5, Your VO Social Media Plan on this blog.  Both were composed with Storify.

As a voice-artist, you may find yourself in need of a tool like this in getting out newsletters, blogs, or emails.  It can come in mighty handy!

CourVO