[VO Skeptic]

I posted this under the wrong heading, so please excuse the double posting.
VOS.


As both a voracious consumer of all things “voiceover” and a slow adopter of new technology, I was eager to get the Internet Marketing Plan for Voice Actors, from Voices.com. That enthusiasm was severly dampened thirty minutes later after going through the skimpy 32 pages of content.


Over ½ of the material is basic knowledge that anyone already using a computer or in voice overs for more than a day knows. “In recent years, cost effecting manufacturing of digital recording equipment has allowed you as a freelance voice-over talent ot invest in high quality recording equipment at a reasonable price. Be sure to serve both your local market and companies abroad using the internet to produce professional recordings and quick turn around at a reasonable price.” Okay… isn’t that why I plunked down $1.00 a page? Tell me how?

Here’s another nugget “Most voiceover businesses provide three complementary services: Professional voiceover recordings, music production and copywriting services”

Much of the “Plan” looks as if it was adapted straight from a Business Plan software package, with little or no detailed explanation after a headline. Here are some examples

2.5 Key Enablers. There is no explanation as to what the concept key enabler means just insightful sub heads like “ Offering value-added services”, “Adapting to change, developing new skills”

3.8 Emerging Market Trends – E-recruiting. “The world’s largest companies are looking to the web for their recruitment and placement needs.. The worldwide market for eRecruiting services is expected to generate nearly $15.7 Billion in revenues by 2006.” Oooookay…so exactly how does this relate to seling my v/o on the web?

But here’s my favorite:

3.11 Competitive Advantage – “Competitive Advantage is a direct result of quickly establishing exclusive partnership agreements with complementary businesses and web services. Consider engaging into discussions with key players within the industry. “

And what industry would that be? Advertising, Voiceover, Web services….and how about giving some specific examples of what an “exclusive partnership” is and how to approach a “complementary business”.

Frankly, I doubt that “exclusive partnerships” work in voiceover, anyway. If a client wants a voiceover by a bubbly 10 year old kid… I’m not going to be the right vo for them.




All in all the Internet Marketing Plan for Voice Actors seems little more than a breezily put together outline. This would have made a great newsletter article, but offers little in the way of real gems to justify it’s pricey cost. For those of us paying to be on Voices.com’s website, this should have been a freebie to entice us to re-up. Not a way to dig deeper into our pockets.