Category: Blog

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What’s Your One Thing?

Everything isn’t a priority.

Repeat that phrase. Out loud.

“Everything isn’t a priority.”

When you allow your task list to continue to grow, eventually you begin to feel overwhelmed. Once you feel overwhelmed, you end up getting stuck.

“Where do I start?”

When you don’t have an answer to that question, you end up not starting at all. You get paralyzed. Stuck.

Are you nodding your head in frustrated agreement right now because I just summarized your current state?

The best way to overcome it, is to figure out The One Thing.

What’s the MOST important thing you need to be doing right now? No… for the record… they aren’t ALL important!

Pick the one thing.

Take the first step.

Task lists can be great tools when they’re used properly. That includes prioritizing them.

Everything isn’t a priority.#vopreneur
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What’s Your One Thing?

What NEEDS to be done and what you’d like to do aren’t always the same thing.

Do what NEEDS to be done.

What is it?

  • Finding some new leads?
  • Sending some follow up emails?
  • Making a few marketing touches on social media?
  • Chasing down a couple of invoices?
  • Finally booking a session with that performance coach?
  • Reaching out to those past clients?
  • Writing and mailing a couple postcards?
  • Posting that new demo on your website?
  • Getting that website built?

One of the reasons I’m able to stay so productive is because I know what’s important and what isn’t. I plan out my week for success by choosing just a few goals that will get accomplished and not worrying about the rest.

Prioritize and take action.

Even small action.

Any action is better than no action.

Yes… you’ve got a million things that need to get done. They don’t all need to get done today.

Figure out your one thing and get started. Deal with the rest tomorrow.

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How to Fail at Marketing

The week before I go away on any kind of trip, whether it’s a vacation, a conference or otherwise, I do very little marketing for my voice over business.

Although I always teach that marketing takes time, and very seldom will you generate work based off the first email, it does happen. Not very often, but it does happen. The last thing I want is to market my voice over services to someone, talk with them about my quick turnaround times, and then have them book me while I’m away.

How’s that for a first impression?

Yes, I can deliver your audio in 24 hours or less… except this week… because I’m away… and you’ll need to wait five days.

That’s an impression I never want to make; so to avoid it, I just don’t reach out to new leads a week before my trip.

If a new client reaches out to me, I want to deliver fast. I want to wow them with that first project so they’ll be more likely to come to me with the second. Third. Fourth. Twenty-second.

The Wrong Way to Market

Recently, I found myself in need of a freelancer. I was looking to get some work done that I didn’t have time for and I was comfortable with outsourcing. I inquired in a few places and put out a few feelers to see what kind of names would turn up.

One particular person responded to my query via social media… which was great.

This same person did not tell me how to actually contact them… which was bad.

Normally, I’d use that practice as a filter to eliminate unqualified candidates. If you can’t even give me your contact information, after all, you must not want to work with me very badly!

In this case, I chose to look past the error. I was able to find the individuals website and sent them a message.

It’s been two weeks.

Crickets.

After expressing an interest in taking on my project – for which I would’ve paid them an hourly rate – they first failed to give me contact information and then failed to respond to my message when I reached out via their website.

This person just lost the opportunity to work with me.

If you fail to follow through on your own marketing attempts, you’re going to lose more clients than you’ll ever book.
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What Kind of First Impression Are You Making?

If you can’t even be responsible enough to run your own business, why in the world would I trust you with part of mine?

I don’t market to new leads before I go away, because I know if one of them did decide to book me right away, I wouldn’t be able to deliver the very service I would be pitching them in my email.

This person offered me a service, and then failed not once, but twice, to follow through with their offer.

That’s how you fail at marketing!

Whatever it is you’re selling on your website. Whatever the copy is in your marketing emails. Whatever you’re offering on social media. You better be ready, willing and able to deliver.

If you’re making a bad first impression, you likely won’t receive a chance to make a second.

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Try This Motivation Technique

“I don’t feel like it today.”

How many times have you uttered those words? Or, maybe you didn’t even say the words. You just kind of felt them. Thought them. No matter how they were communicated, they became the accepted reality for your day.

Another day wasted.

Another day you procrastinated on something you know you should be doing.

Another day where you let your feelings control your life. Business. Destiny.

Another opportunity squandered.

We’ve all been there at least a time or two. Some more than others, of course. Too often, we let our feelings dictate our actions and the cost is often far greater than we realize.

One quote you’ll hear me say often in presentations is, “successful people make decisions based on goals, NOT feelings.”

It’s true.

A New Approach to Motivation

This week I’ve started reading a new book. It’s titled, “The 10X Rule” by Grant Cardone.

I’m only about 15% of the way into it, but I’ve already been inspired, challenged, motivated and encouraged.

If you’re one of those people that find yourself giving into your excuses and feelings, this book is going to kick your butt and make you feel differently about things. I’m not even that guy. I’m generally pretty good about getting things done. But wow… Grant has definitely placed his foot firmly on my butt more than a few times within the first several chapters.

Of all the quotes I highlighted, there’s one that has spoke to me more than any other. Perhaps because in the last year, my life circumstances have changed. Last summer I got married, and with that marriage, I also took on the responsibility of two daughters. One 5 and one 10.

Here’s the quote.

“Pretend you’re being recorded as a model by which your children and grandchildren will learn how to succeed in life.” Grant Cardone
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BOOM!

Tell me, how do you feel about your excuses now?

After reading that, are you more or less likely to give into your feelings? Or will you be making decisions and taking massive action based on your goals.

Now that I’m a father, that spoke to me powerfully.

Teaching my kids to succeed is one of my most important goals. Modeling it for them is one of the most effective ways to get it done.

Your kids are watching… are you going to crush it today?

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5 Ways to Stay Top of Mind Without Being Annoying

Touches.

You’ll hear me use this term a lot when I speak about marketing. It’s a term you need to be familiar with. For the record, it has nothing to do with getting physical. Definitely NOT that kind of touch!

Touches is the term I use for connecting with your voice over leads, prospects and clients to keep yourself top of mind.

When it’s time for them to book their next voice over recording, you want to be the first name they think of.

Inevitably you’re now proclaiming, “but Marc, how do I do this without being annoying?”

I’m glad you asked.

Stop Thinking You’re Annoying

The first thing we need to address is this HUGE elephant in the room. The notion that by reaching out to people you’re annoying them. Going into any marketing effort with that mindset is NEVER going to pay off for you. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that mindset has probably kept you from doing a lot of marketing.

Am I right?

I figured as much!

Here’s the fact you need to accept before we go any further. You offer a valuable service to people. Your professional narration is going to enhance their video. Tell their story. Effectively deliver their message. Give life to their commercial. Engage their audience.

You’re not reaching out to annoy people. You’re reaching out to add value to their work!

Repeat that last statement for me.

“I’m not reaching out to annoy people. I’m reaching out to add value to their work!”

This is fact, and I’m glad we cleared that little misconception up. Now we can move on.

5 Ways to Stay Top of Mind Without Being Annoying

The key to making effective touches is to remember it’s not about constantly selling or pitching. You’ve already made contact. They already know who you are and that you’re a professional voice actor. Now your objective is to simply remind them, from time-to-time, that you’re here and available if they need you.

Vacation Notice: ‘Tis the season for summer vacation and this brings about an amazing opportunity to bring yourself top of mind. Let your existing clients know the dates you’ll be out of the office and that you’re making yourself available to accommodate any of their voice over needs before you go. Planning on traveling with gear? Let them know that too.

This isn’t annoying because it’s offering value. It’s giving them a heads up so they can get their projects done before you go, rather than leaving them stuck waiting for your return. Or, worse yet, having to book another VO. Once you lose a client for that reason, it might be hard to get them back.

Your Project: A few weeks after you deliver a voice over recording to your client, look for the project online. Granted, not every project is going to make it to the interwebs, but many do. If you can find it, you now have a reason to reach out and get top of mind. Let them know you saw the project. Tell them they did a great job on the production. Ask them if they mind if you share it on social media. Get permission to use it for demo purposes.

This isn’t annoying because you’re complimenting their work and offering to spread the word via your network. When you share the project via social media, don’t share it by saying, “look at this VO I did.” Rather, share it as a fan telling your friends about a great service or brand.

Thank You: When the cheque arrives, the PayPal notice comes in, or the invoice is otherwise cleared, say thanks. This is especially convenient if you’re on 30 day terms with clients. It’s been a month since you completed the project, and now you just got back on their mind again.

This isn’t annoying because, well, quite frankly, it’s just polite!

What’s New: Has it been a while since you last connected with a prospect or client because you just haven’t been able to find a good reason to reach out? One of my favorite emails for this exact situation is simply to send a note asking if they’re working on anything new. Remember, you’re not selling. You’re just connecting.

This isn’t annoying because you’re simply showing interest in them and their work, and let’s be honest… we all love to talk about cool projects we’re working on.

Get Social: Did they share something on Twitter? Reply. Did they post something on Facebook? Comment. Did they write an article on LinkedIn? Share it! All of these social triggers are simple, effective ways to bring yourself top of mind.

This isn’t annoying because it’s how social media works!

Want to get in touch with your #voiceover prospects and clients without being annoying? Check out these five tips!
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Just Do It!

All five of these simple tips offer you convenient ways to get back in front of your prospects and clients without selling, pitching, or otherwise annoying. These are just relationship building techniques that all add value and serve a purpose.

The most important thing you can do to grow your database and convert leads to prospects and prospects to clients is to make those touches every week.

How many? That depends on the size of your database, but I always say if you’re reaching 50 new leads each week, then you should have a large enough database to make 50 touches each week too.

Get a system in place, like a CRM, and start holding yourself accountable to making those touches and staying top of mind. The success of your business depends on it!

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5 Must Subscribe Podcasts For The VOpreneur

How you spend your “spare time” is a really good indicator of your success trajectory. If you’re reading books, blogs, articles and listening to podcasts instead of sitting around watching TV and playing video games for hours a day, as an example, you’re on a solid trajectory, in my opinion.

Listening to podcasts has become one of my favorite “hobbies” in the last year or two.

When I’m driving in my truck… podcasts (unless the Red Sox are playing, of course!)

When I’m riding my bike… podcasts.

When I’m on the treadmill… podcasts.

When I go for a walk… podcasts.

All of that time each day can total up to a couple hours. Guess what… you can learn a ton in a couple hours. Do it a few days a week and you’re in even better shape!

The question, then, becomes, which podcasts should I listen to?

My answer might surprise you.

You might be surprised to find that none of the podcasts on this list are voice over related podcasts. Just to be clear, I have nothing against VO podcasts at all. There are some really great ones out there. In fact, I’ve had the privilege of being interviewed for a few of them. That said, they’re often the obvious choices. That is to say, the first ones people turn to.

I’m going to give you some options to expand your horizons. All of these podcast choices are designed to help you become a better VOpreneur!

Add These Podcasts To Your List

Building a StoryBrand – Subscribe Here
Don is one of my favorite authors. I’ve also traveled to Nashville to attend the StoryBrand Live Workshop. This is, hands down, one of my favorite business/marketing/entrepreneurship podcasts. If you only choose one from this list, it’s the one I’d recommend most.

Online Marketing Made Easy – Subscribe Here
This is the podcast I’ve been listening to the longest, and I give Amy full credit for inspiring me to launch my first course a few years ago, Blueprint to Voice Over Success. Everything I learned about how to create it and release it, for the most part, came from this podcast. She’s a brilliant online marketer and interviews fantastic guests regularly. Plenty of great tips for social media in this one as well.

Tony Robbins Podcast – Subscribe Here
Tony doesn’t post a podcast as often as the above two folks. That said, whenever he does, it’s typically filled with gold! You’ll always walk away inspired, motivated and challenged to take some kind of action that’s going to positively impact your life and business. As a side note, if you haven’t watched his Netflix documentary I’m Not Your Guru yet… make it a priority!

Entreleadership – Subscribe Here
From the folks at Dave Ramsey comes a brilliant podcast for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs filled with interviews from brilliant entrepreneurs. In other words, if you want to get better to running a business, get this podcast on your list. You’re going to learn something every week. No joke!

Mind Your Business Podcast – Subscribe Here
Mindset matters, and James Wedmore teaches this from an entrepreneurial perspective. I’ll be straight with you. Sometimes this show is a little “out there” for me. But I love that it challenges me to think differently. To evaluate my beliefs on certain things. To consider fresh perspectives. Your attitude is going to have a PROFOUND impact on every aspect of your business. From auditions to recording to marketing. This podcast will help you get it right.

Check out these 5 Must-Subscribe Podcasts if you want to become a better #vopreneur
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Always Be Learning New Things

Let me be straight with you. I enjoy watching some TV as much as the next guy. Sometimes I come down on it, but only because it can be a HUGE time-sucking vampire, and we don’t even realize it. How many times have you plopped down on the couch, turned on Netflix and suddenly lost six hours?

If you even took back one of those hours to listen to a podcast it would change your business.

The other thing about podcasts is they’re so accessible. I mean, if you’re going to be in your vehicle anyway, why not?!

Heck, I’ll even throw on my headphones and listen to a podcast while I’m mowing my lawn… that’s 45 minutes of learning time right there while I’m doing a task that needs to get done.

There are so many ways to invest in your learning that don’t cost you a dime.

These five podcasts are a really great place to start!

Got any other ones you’d suggest? I’d love to hear about them. Leave them in the comments are send me an email. I’m always looking out for great new shows to listen to!