Business Planning

This is me. Kicking myself.

Why?

Because I should’ve started using a CRM (CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management, and a CRM is a tool/database that helps you keep track of your customers and potential customers) a long time ago.

I was a brat, and “diiiidddddnnnn’t wwwwaaaannnnnaaaa!!!”

I remember having a consult with Marc Scott, oh, about three years ago, I guess, and literally said to him, “Yeah, that’s not for me.”

At the time, I was killing it on the pay to play voice casting web sites. Plus, the thought of cold emailing people made me cringe.

It still does. I do not want to be that annoying vo talent.

But, the pay to play voice casting web sites are not working very well for many talent these days. (PS: If you are a #creativedirector and cast #voiceover via a casting web site, I’d recommend you look at other avenues, b/c they’re not doing talent any favors, just taking loads of our money. I’m hoping that tide will turn, but until then…)

I’m in the initial baby steps of using a CRM, just sending emails right now to select people. It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be. The key is creating emails that aren’t the same as what everyone else would send… be unique! I like to take the honest approach, myself.

I sent 20 emails the other day, and received one reply that there might be a job for me next week.

That’s success right there!

So glad I’m doing this!

Get on it. Put the brat in timeout and do what you gotta do to build your business. Everyone’s doing it, why shouldn’t you?

#marketing #CRM #videoproduction #advertising #commercialproduction #voiceover

If you were anywhere on social media this past holiday season, you were probably pummeled with ads for #MasterClass.

I’d always been intrigued by MasterClass but I just wasn’t sure I’d use it.

After seeing ad after ad on #Facebook with #MarthaStewart in hair rollers, drinking her green juice, and letting us know she “… started her first business at the age of 50…” I just couldn’t resist any longer.

I subscribed to MasterClass.

I don’t regret it one single bit. It’s probably hands down the best $100+ I’ve ever spent, and I’m saying this only after having it a week.

First I watched the Martha Stewart MasterClass, and am so completely in awe of her confidence. She has built empire upon empire, and lost a few, too. She does everything with grace and confidence,  both the wins and the losses.

Next up, I watched a MasterClass by Goodby Silverstein and Partners, founders Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein. Holy smokes, y’all. Anyone in any facet of the advertising industry needs to watch this one. It is chock full of their experienced insight. They are amazing complements to one another – it’s no wonder they’re good business partners. I will likely watch this one again, for sure.

The most recent class I watched is Amy Poehler’s Prepared to be Unprepared. It’s about improvisational skills, but how they relate to leading a fulfilling life. So, it’s both applicable to acting, and life in general. It is so incredible and a little mind twisty to think about improv prompts and how they apply to life. It’s true though, they do.

A theme I found in all of these classes, that each teacher mentioned, was LISTENING. Jeff Goodby, Martha Stewart, and Amy Poehler – they all emphasized LISTENING to your client, the people in your life, your employees.

Listening is so very important in order to be respected, and for success in life and career.

It really gave me pause to consider, do I listen well? Do I listen enough? Do I listen to my clients’ needs? Are the advertisements we voice listening to the people they’re being created for? In improv, for example, listening is vital. We have to listen to follow along to what our fellow actors are saying, so we can help to create the story to keep it going.

Trust is an important part of business, and of relationships, both client relationships and audience relationships, in the realm of advertising. We have to gain the audience’s trust in a mere :30 seconds, for them to understand that the solution we’re presenting is the solution for them… THE one they NEED.

Trust is built by listening.

It shows you care. You respect them. You understand them.

When you build trust, you build loyalty. You build loyalty, you have a customer for life.

Next time you’re in a conversation with a friend or colleague, focus on being a good listener. Don’t interrupt (make notes if you have to remember what you want to say), don’t interject your ideas or thoughts about what you think they should do, but rather, think about what the person is saying, and truly relate to what they’re telling you. See how you can solve their problem, or maybe you can’t, and they just need you to listen.

Their phone!! Everyone’s phone has voicemail, and many businesses utilize a phone tree menu, along with marketing messages for when people are on hold.

If someone is calling your business, it’s because they’re interested in doing business with you in some way…. oorrrrrr maaayyyybbbeee they’re a bill collector… sorry, I can’t help with that! LOL. The voice who answers the call is the FIRST THING your potential and current clients hear to get to know you and your business personality and brand. This voice is THE REPRESENTATION of your business’s brand. It sets the tone for the business’s image and the relationship they’ll have with the client going forward. Think Monorail system at Disney Parks – iconic, right? Your business brand should be iconic, too!

The phone message of any business is the most important piece of marketing representation a business has, and it’s probably the least expensive and quickest marketing to implement! So let’s do it!

Smile and welcome your customers and clients through the phone! From assistance with writing, production, and voice over (both male and female voices), my team can produce phone messaging that represents you and your business. Give me a call at 239-634-5039 if you’d like to chat about how I can help you!

#phone #phonemessaging #messageonhold #phonesystem #voiceover