How to Build Relationships in the Voice Over Business

“Relationships are a big part of this business, and can last throughout your career.” – Steve Zirnkilton, voice over for Law & Order

Networking is one of the most effective ways to grow a business. This includes the voice over business. Without the skills to build a relationship with clients and colleagues, you will have a difficult time gaining gigs and making your mark in the industry. Knowing how to establish and sustain relationships with people will help you achieve the success you’re seeking for your voice over business.

Start Online

You need an online presence to tell people who you are, what you know, and what you can do. A website and social media profiles on LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter are important since most people search for voice over artists online first.

You can start relationships online by emailing people who inquire about your services from your website. You can message people in your industry on social media networks. Once you’ve established a connection to these people, suggest taking discussion offline to find out how you can work with them.

Tip: Do not advertise your services all of the time on social media. People want to be social on these networks, not read ads the whole time. Engage with people by getting into conversations about interesting topics you have a lot of knowledge about. This will set you up as an industry leader and people will want to turn to you.

Attend Networking Events

Networking events for professionals in the media industry are great to attend because you’ll be able to speak with them about their needs and wants. Not only will you gain knowledge, but also you’ll be delivering information. This makes you look good, and usually, people will want to connect with you after the event to learn more about what you can offer them.

Just remember – networking has a lot to do with giving before getting. Offer to help people, and some of them will want to help you with referrals and work.

Hold a Networking Event

If you can’t find a networking event in your area, you can host one. It’s a great way to meet people in your local area that may need your services.

The first step in holding a networking event is to find a location. You then have to market the event. You can do that by letting people know about it online, in your local newspaper, visiting businesses in your area, and posting flyers.

You should market your networking event for at least two weeks, but no longer than three weeks. When you advertise for too long, people may forget about it or end up scheduling other activities in its place.

Starting relationships with people in your industry isn’t as difficult as you may believe. You just need to place yourself in situations in which people will want to get to know you and what you do. The Internet and networking events are excellent ways to do that, so get started today to grow your business.