Caryn Clark

In a previous post, I wrote about a connection I’d made on LinkedIn, who contacted me to voice a project for him.

A few days later, I received an email from a colleague of his. Client #1 referred new Client #2 to me!

I was so grateful. Earning someone’s trust is what business is all about. I’m appreciative for the business.

I think it’s important to say Thank You. But not because you to get something like more business or another referral, but simply because… you’re thankful.

Here are a few ways I say thank you to clients:

• a handwritten thank you note that is mailed to them (snail mail is cool again!) – and if I have time, I’ll go get a gift card to put in the thank you card
• a gift card to Starbucks via email
• an Amazon gift card
• a phone call

I particularly like things like Starbucks gift cards these days because they are so immediate. I just go in to the app, type in the info, and voila, a gift card shows up in the person’s inbox. Starbucks will even let you know when they’ve opened it, so you’re assured they received it.

Note: I do worry that some people don’t like Starbucks. I get it. But I figure, if they don’t use it, they use it with their kids, or give it to someone. I don’t mind them re-gifting! It’s helping them in the long run, and that is the point.

Sending notes  or gift cards doesn’t have to be just for business received. You can send thank you’s, or a little note to say, “Hey, I was thinking of you, hope you’re doing well!” to your agents or clients. People like to know others are thinking of them. It shows we care about each other.

That’s what relationships are all about.

It works!

What am I talking about?

Ok, so we’re on LinkedIn (and social media in general )for a specific purpose, right? To see how we can help others given our talents we use in our careers. We’re here to connect, get to know each other to build a relationship, and hopefully, be of assistance to one another.

I connected with someone on LinkedIn, who contacted me to do some voiceover work for them last week. Such a pleasant surprise! Did the job, everyone’s happy!

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I received an email from another person, who said the new client told him about me, and now, this other person has a job for me! A referral!!

Gaining work by connecting on LinkedIn AND a referral? I feel like I hit the jackpot, all in the span of a couple of days!! I am so grateful for this new client’s trust in me.

Takeaways:
– do a good job for your clients – listen to their direction, understand their needs
– have a quality recording studio
– be quick to respond to emails and requests

The next day, I received this email from the referral:

Hi Caryn,

Thank you for the excellent reading of the <XYZ project>. I’m sure we’ll be working together again for future projects.

Making my clients’ jobs easier makes me happy.

Surround yourself with people who support you and help you develop your best self.

Last week, I walked into my husband’s man cave to find him completely enthralled while watching this video about Sam Witwer voicing Darth Maul. Clancy Brown being in the video was a happy bonus, as that’s one of my husband’s all time favorite actors and voice actors. He was all like, “This is so cool…” He was impressed by the character development aspect, and their focus.

I’m like, “Hey, you realize this is what I do, in that studio right down the hall here in our house?” (and ahem… it’s why if I get interrupted and lose my focus while I’m working, my unhappy side comes out LOL… yes, a #WFH hazard.)

Ok, ok, I’m not voicing Darth Maul, but the sentiment in the video is truth for all voice actors. Witwer explains he has always been a huge Star Wars fan, and was intimately familiar with the character already. He and his friends would discuss and strategize various outcomes for the character should he come back.

It’s no wonder he embodies it so well, and as he said, “… feels a tremendous sense of responsibility for getting it right.”

When voicing ANYTHING, be it a sci fi character with a twisted and broken history, a commercial for a retail product Moms would purchase, eLearning for chemical engineers, promos for a TV show kids watch, and everything in between, the voice actor has to relate to the story written and get it right via the voice – passion and emotion and energy, and the more technical aspects of tone, volume, and pacing. Yep, even a 30 second commercial holds a story, and it’s vital the voice actor connect and convey the message to tell the story to be relatable and believable.

It’s an interesting journey to see what people are passionate about, and how that relates to their ability to provide voiceover for certain products or services better.

What are you passionate about? If you’re a voice actor, those just might be the products/entities you will be drawn to and be most confident voicing.

Writers and creatives… we see you. As a voice actor, it’s my greatest happiness to give voice to your words to tell the story you’ve written.

www.CarynClark.com

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www.CarynClark.com