You’ve been working really hard all year on building your voice-over career: auditioning hot and heavy, marketing, attending conferences, workshops, invoicing and bookkeeping, staying organized… You name it! Whether this is your first year as a working VO professional or if it’s your twentieth, one thing that is crucial to your business is maintaining relationships.
You might think, “But I’m already doing that through my regular marketing.” Well, there’s more to it than just that. Every other pro voice-over talent is also marketing regularly. You’re not the only one, but there are a number of ways to build, cultivate, and maintain business relationships. I find that the best way is to be genuine – people can sense a phony, or a suck-up, a mile away. Don’t be that person.
Ask yourself, “When was the last time that I reached out to a client, but not to ask for work?”
During your last live-directed session, your client mentioned that their dog had to have surgery soon. Did you check in on your client to see how things went and if their dog is feeling better post-surgery?
People tend to remember kind sentiments like that. You didn’t contact them to ask about any upcoming projects that they think you might be a good fit for, but you sincerely asked about something personal that they shared with you.
Keep it short and to the point; don’t drag it out. Simply mentioning the event is usually meaningful enough. Another way might be to send a short email just to say hello, or to ask how their recent holiday was. Maybe you go above and beyond on a project and deliver a little more than they expected. Offering discounts from time to time is another way to help maintain business relationships.
Another scenario might be that your client, whom you’ve worked with on multiple occasions, just doesn’t have it in their budget this time to meet your usual rate. Offering to adjust your rate in this instance to help meet their budget may be a good idea. Who knows, they may remember your generosity and recommend or push to have you on a project in the future.
People tend to prefer working with those they like and get along with easily, and by developing a closer professional relationship, even better.
Now, I’m not saying that by doing these things it will guarantee you more job opportunities, but it’s a good way to do business in general. People appreciate personal connections. Let’s take Starbucks, for example. Most people, whether they admit it or not, like the fact that they write your name on your cup of coffee or drink, along with a smiley face. It’s a gesture and statement that says, “We appreciate YOU, specifically”. Like Starbucks, we should also have a way of showing our clients that they are appreciated.
It’s pretty normal for businesses to show gratitude to their valued customers during the holiday season by sending them small gifts. Now, how are you going to convey this to your clients?
If you’re just getting started, you might not have built a budget to be able to purchase small gifts to send to your clients. Don’t sweat it! There are ways to show them that you care that are completely free. One way is to create a nice holiday card with kind sentiments. Don’t be afraid to be unique. Customize it to reflect who you are. If you’re humorous by nature, perhaps come up with a funny holiday card. Most people will appreciate the humor.
Once you’re able to set a budget for end-of-the-year client gifts, you may want to send out some personalized merch with your company name and/or logo. Try to think of something they may actually put to good use. Perhaps a nice pen, a calendar, or a screen cleaner. There are many options out there, but remember not to break the bank by spending a tremendous amount on client gifts. A small token of appreciation will suffice. It’s the thought that counts. You’re thinking of them, and hopefully they’ll also think of you in the near future.
As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and evaluate your progress, check in with clients, review finances, and set new goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this end-of-year reflection can provide valuable insights to help you elevate your voice-over career in the coming months. Here’s how to wrap up the year on a productive note.
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