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MARKETING How To Ask Your Voice Over Clients For Info, Finished Production & Testimonial  By J. Christopher DunnVoice Actor Do you dislike asking for stuff?
JUST ASKING ... With a new client it might be billing, contact and delivery preferences. It could also be a request for a mailing address, a copy of the finished piece; and a testimonial. Getting a mailing address is simple and should be one of the primary pieces of information you request from your new client. The request for a copy of the completed production should be made in the agreement you have between yourself and the client. (You do have a written agreement, right?) Asking for a testimonial is probably the most uncomfortable request to make at first. Perhaps typical thinking is that when a client likes what they receive, a testimonial will follow, unsolicited, right? That seldom happens. It’s similar to when I read a blog that I like. If I have time and feel UN-rushed, I’ll leave a comment. When time is not a luxury, I tell myself that I’ll go back later and leave a comment. As with automatic, unsolicited testimonials, that seldom happens. GETTING WHAT YOU NEED ... Here are three examples that will help you get the information you need, the copy of the finished product you want and the praise you’d love to receive. Client Information. When I’m in the client setup phase, I send an email that details what I need for the project confirmation I’ll be sending for review and approval. I write the info request in such a way that one thing needs to be satisfied before another step can be completed. (Give me the information I need and I’ll write a project confirmation that will lock in the session time.) The words I use are along these lines: I’ll write a project confirmation that outlines the process, billing, delivery and associated followup processes. All I need are a few pieces of information from you. Once I receive the info, I’ll send the Project Confirmation for your review and approval and lock in your session time.Then I add what information I need. Final Production Copy. Asking for a copy of the produced video, spot, narration or whatever, should be straight forward. Most producers understand the importance of receiving a copy of the finished production. A collection of these will probably be great building blocks for your next demo. I call this out in my Project Confirmation and then remind them one week after delivery of my voice over. Thanks again for hiring me to do the Be persistent, and if it’s a piece of work that you know is amazing and clearly needs to be part of your next demo, call your client with your request. There is a fine line between being persistent and annoying, and that is something you’ll need to be sensitive about. Words of Praise. Asking for a testimonial from a client may feel a bit weird. Don’t let it bug you. When you get along well with a client and the project came together nicely, you owe it to yourself to get validation. I know it sounds very self-serving, and that’s because it is. Testimonials are useful to share with prospective clients, post on your website, and even use in your signature. They are valuable.
When you’re met with silence, contact them again. These tips should come in handy the next time you’re anxious about asking for something. I hope they work for you. ABOUT J. CHRISTOPER J. Christopher Dunn is a professional voice actor who lives in the Pacific Northwest close to Seattle. He voices commercials, web demos, podcasts, product demonstrations, telephony projects and documentaries. His voice is described as friendly, warm and trustworthy - the guy next door or the voice of high profile corporate presentations. He also spends time with the Penn Cove Players, a Whidbey Island, WA troupe that performs original audio dramas, as we all as recreates old time radio shows in front of a live studio audience. |
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It is always good to get great practical how to steps from those who do. This was good. Thanks for sharing it.
Roy Worley