Ok, all my ducks are in a row.  Got a fab website, thanks to Biondo Studio Website Designers, and the perfect brand with Celia Siegel’s talents.  I will also brag about my voice coaches, Jim Alburger, Dan Friedman and Rob Marley who have and continue to make me marketable.  I’ve definitely been blessed with finding the best people and I’m proud to name drop shamelessly.  Any potential clients reading this? Check me out!

My demos are doing well and I’ve landed some gigs but here’s the deal. It takes INCREDIBLE effort, patience and endless DAILY auditions to land a job that pays as little as $100 up into the thousands.  The work is out there but so is extremely talented competition!  How can you possibly stand out using skills and talent alone?

I’ve decided to market my personality in phone calls and emails as I politely pester the companies I really want to work with.  One of my coaches suggested opening a conversation with a question and ending it with one, such as a request.  Oh, and I never talk about myself unless I’m asked to.  For me, its all about the client.  Most of my marketing work is the d r u d g e of research time before I even make contact. I’ve discovered the conversations that follow, even on  cold calls, can be fun.

No kidding!  Even on Voice 123 I like to add personal and goofy notes to proposals I’m sending.  With so much communication done digitally now, that human factor can be refreshing.  And one of the biggest challenges today is NO ONE wants to be on the phone.  You cannot reach anyone personally with the kind of screening processes being used.  So, you have to make your prospective client WANT to talk to you.  Short of stalking you have to get really creative.  Well, maybe it IS stalking.  I try to find out what their hobbies are, who we both know, common interests and who they’ve hired in the past.  If I can wrangle an office visit, I’m on cloud 9!

I still hate Zoom (you always have to be camera ready and mess with the lighting), but I’ve accepted this is the way of the world now.  I know I have to do whatever it takes to make their life and any challenges easier.

Another secret I’ll share:  Being shy when it comes to selling myself.  I still battle thoughts about my talent and ability, thinking I might really be a fraud.  The “fake it till you make it,” mantra can work but it is very stressful for me to employ.  I can make you believe I’m this confident CEO until you actually see me.  I’m 4’11” and can still wear clothes from the little girls department.  I  angst over being accused of “bait and switch” tactics.  (Ok I angst over lots of things).  That hasn’t happened but sometimes I almost undersell  myself just to be cautious.

In a nutshell, marketing involves psychology, sales tactics, tech skills and a sincere desire to provide an excellent service.  Then simply do it above and beyond what they expect.

Sounds easy, right?  Well, nothing like landing a gig and experiencing the panic that brings.  “What do I do now?!!!!” is common for me.  Being a “failure” in my own eyes is not as humiliating as being called out as a fraud.  Nightmares happen even considering the possibility!  I would have to change my name and hide under the bed, leave the country.  Yikes!

The fun in marketing comes from bonding with a client and being excited  with them about their projects.  Mutual appreciation and admiration is truly gratifying, as much or more than the paycheck.  So I keep stalking!  (I mean marketing!)