Don't hide your past. It’s your biggest asset. I get asked this question almost every week... "Tom, should I make a separate LinkedIn profile for my voice over business? I don't want to confuse people with my background in accounting/nursing/IT." I understand the impulse. You want to be seen purely as an artist. You want a fresh start. But from a business perspective? Absolutely not. Unless you have a very specific legal reason (which we will get to in a moment), creating a second LinkedIn profile is a massive strategic error. It dilutes your brand, doubles your administrative workload, and robs you of your unique selling proposition. Who You Were Is Who You Are In the voice over world, we talk a lot about "finding your niche." Your previous career is  your niche. Every job you have done before you stepped behind the microphone is an asset. It is a collection of skills, knowledge, and vocabulary that makes you a more valuable voice actor. If you spent 10 years as a nurse, you are a medical narration specialist . You know how to pronounce "myocardial infarction" without stumbling. You understand the context of patient care. A casting director for a hospital explainer video will hire you over a generic voice talent in a heartbeat if they know you have that background. Get it? Heartbeat? Worked in HR? You are the perfect voice for corporate training and e-learning. Worked in construction? You are the authentic voice for industrial On The Job (OJT) modules. The Opportunity of a Fresh Start When you create a new LinkedIn profile, you start with zero connections. You have zero social proof. You are an unknown entity. However, your existing profile likely has hundreds of connections from your past jobs as well as schools you attended. Those former colleagues, bosses, clients, and alumni? They are your first potential leads. Don't ghost your existing network. Leverage it. The Only Exceptions (The "Risk Management" Clause) There are three scenarios where a separate profile (or hiding your VO work) may be necessary: Contractual Prohibition:  Your current employer has an explicit policy forbidding moonlighting or outside employment. Conflict of Interest:  Your day job is in a highly sensitive field (like intelligence, journalism, or high-level politics) where a public media presence creates a conflict. The "Stealth Mode" Strategy:  You simply aren't ready for your current boss to know you are building an exit strategy, and you fear retaliation or termination. If you fall into one of these categories, you have to prioritize putting food on the table. Embrace the "And" You can be an accountant AND  a voice actor. You can be a Teacher AND  an eLearning Narrator. Clients love subject matter experts. When you combine your voice skills with your life experience, you stop being a commodity and start being a specialist. Update that headline. Rewrite that About section. Let your history be part of your story on LinkedIn. Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Navigating the Union Maze Few topics in the voice-over world can start a holy war faster than the discussion about joining SAG-AFTRA as a voice actor. For some, SAG-AFTRA is the protector of the realm, the only thing standing between professional talent and low-balling clients. For others, it's an outdated gatekeeper in a rapidly changing industry. Then there’s the Fi-Core option, which gets its own special brand of vitriol. The conversation is often packed with emotion, assumption, and a whole lot of confusion. My goal here is not to tell you what to do. It’s to give you a strategic, business-focused breakdown so you can make an informed decision for yourself. What IS SAG-AFTRA? The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was formed in 1933, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) in 1937. They were created for the same reason most unions are: to protect workers through collective bargaining, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions. They merged in 2012 to form SAG-AFTRA, which today represents over 160,000 performers. Their purpose is to negotiate and enforce contracts (or "agreements") that set minimum pay rates and working standards for its members. Understanding Your Union Status Your relationship with SAG-AFTRA comes down to one of three statuses: Union (SAG-AFTRA Member):  You've officially joined. You pay an initiation fee and annual dues. You are obligated to follow all union rules, most notably Global Rule One (see the definition below). Non-Union:  You are not a member. You are free to work for any client, union or non-union, but you must negotiate all your own terms and rates. Financial Core (Fi-Core):  This is a legal status, not a union one. Through a loophole in national labor laws, you can resign from the union but continue to pay fees for the union work you do. This allows you to work both union and non-union jobs, but you lose all rights and privileges of membership. Key Terms You MUST Know The union debate is filled with jargon so here are some common terms... Global Rule One:  This states that no SAG-AFTRA member can work for an employer who hasn't signed a union contract. In simple terms: once you're in, you can only do union work (with a few exceptions we'll cover). The Taft-Hartley Act:  This law allows a non-union performer to accept their first union job without immediately joining. You get "Taft-Hartleyed." After this, a 30-day window opens during which you can do more union work. Once that window closes, you become a "must-join," and you cannot do another union job until you become a SAG-AFTRA member. Right-To-Work States:  In the 25+ states with "Right-to-Work" laws, you cannot be forced to join a union as a condition of employment. This means you can theoretically keep getting Taft-Hartleyed and never become a "must-join." However, if you voluntarily  join SAG-AFTRA in a Right-to-Work state, you are still bound by Global Rule One. Converting & Non-Jurisdictional Work:  Can a union member do non-union work? Sometimes. You can sometimes convert a non-union job to a union one using a signatory paymaster service. More importantly, there is a whole category of non-jurisdictional work —voice-over genres not covered by any SAG-AFTRA agreement (like radio imaging or some narration). Union members are free to do this work without violating GR1. Pros and Cons for Voice Actors There is no universally "best" choice for voice actors joining SAG-AFTRA. Each path comes with significant trade-offs. Being a SAG-AFTRA Member Pros:  Access to union-only jobs, minimum guaranteed rates, residuals on some contracts, health and retirement plans (if you meet the earning threshold), and a powerful organization to ensure you get paid on time. Cons:  A hefty initiation fee (around $3,000), annual dues, and being unable to work with non-union clients due to Global Rule One. FYI only about 20% of voice over work these days is union work. Being Non-Union Pros:  Total freedom. You can work with anyone, anywhere. You are the CEO of your own business and keep 100% of your revenue (after taxes, of course). Cons:  You are on your own. You must find your own health insurance, fund your own retirement, and chase down every invoice. You have to be disciplined in setting and maintaining fair rates for yourself. You're also responsible for your own legal protection when things get weird. Going Fi-Core Pros:  The ability to work both union and non-union jobs, which can seem like the best of both worlds. Cons:  You lose all member benefits—voting rights, discounts, workshops, etc. More importantly, you will be viewed as a "scab" by many union members and producers, which can have reputational consequences. My Non-Union, Pro-Union Perspective I believe in the power of collective bargaining. I believe every worker deserves a living wage and access to benefits. I am pro-union in principle. I am also, for strategic reasons, a non-union voice actor. My career evolved in the non-union world. If I were to join SAG-AFTRA today, the business math is simple but brutal: I would pay a $3,000 fee with zero guarantee of getting a single union job. I would instantly lose nearly every client I have spent over three decades cultivating. I would still have to pay for my own health insurance and retirement plans, because making the union's earning threshold for benefits (over $26k/year from union work) would be an uphill battle. What Are Your Assumptions? The choice to join the union, stay non-union, or go Fi-Core is not just about money or politics. It's about examining your assumptions. Do you assume joining the union guarantees high-paying work? Do you assume being non-union means you're undercutting the industry? Do you assume going Fi-Core is a magic bullet with no consequences? Non-union does not necessarily mean anti-union. Non-union does not necessarily mean unethical. And non-union does not necessarily mean cheap. I charge fair rates based on the GVAA Rate Guide and turn down low-paying work all the time. Meanwhile, some union members quietly violate GR1 every day because they have bills to pay. Don't believe me? Read this section of the NAVA 2025 Survey. Your path depends on your career goals, your target genres, where you live, and your personal values. Do the autopsy on your own assumptions, weigh the opportunity costs, and build the career that makes sense for your  business. Helpful Links SAG-AFTRA Main Site:   www.sag-aftra.com SAG-AFTRA Voiceover Page:   sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/voiceover Understanding Fi-Core:   www.sagaftra.org/financial-core The Taft-Hartley Act:   www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/who-we-are/our-history/1947-taft-hartley-substantive-provisions List of Right-To-Work States:   www.upcounsel.com/right-to-work-states Keep Going - Watch this next: Control Your Time Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Stop Worrying About doing 'Funny Voices' and Start Building a Business I get asked "how do I get started in voice over?" almost every single day. It's usually followed by some version of, "My friends say I do great impressions," or "People tell me I have a great voice." Umm... Impressions and "funny voices" are party tricks. They're fun! They make your friends laugh! But they are not a career. Being an effective, hirable, professional voice actor is not about mimicry. It's about storytelling. It's about being an actor who can interpret a script, connect to an audience, and serve a client's needs. If you really  want to know how to get started, you have to stop thinking like a hobbyist and start thinking like a CEO. Step 1: Evaluate your Talent (or lack thereof) Before you spend even one dollar on a microphone, a website, or a class, you need to answer one critical question: Do you have the raw talent? And no, your friends and family don't count. They love you but they're terribly biased judges. Your first step is to book a session with a reputable, working voice-over coach. This is non-negotiable. Think of it as essential risk management. You wouldn't invest $100,000 to open a restaurant without knowing if you can cook, right? A good coach won't just give you a "yes" or "no" answer. They will tell you if you have the foundational skills of an actor . They will also help you identify which genres of voice-over your natural style might be right for. (If you're looking for a coach you can trust, check out my coach recommendations .) Step 2: Get Training The coach said, "You've got potential." Great. Now the real  work begins. That "something" is just raw material. You need to refine it. You need training. Doing one or two workshops isn't enough. This requires ongoing, professional development in acting, improv, and specific VO genres. You have to learn the craft. You have to learn how to take direction, how to break down a script, and how to be vulnerable and authentic behind the mic. Your talent gets you in the door. Your training is what keeps you in the room. Step 3: Build your Business While you're training, you also have to build your business infrastructure. This is the part everyone wants to skip, and it's why so many talented people fail. If you are serious, you will need, at a minimum: A Professional Website:  This is your digital storefront. A Home Recording Studio:  This is your factory. It must be able to produce clean, professional, broadcast-quality audio. A Professional Demo:  At least one, specific to a genre. This is your business card. A Business Plan:  This is your map. It's how you'll find clients, what you'll charge, and how you'll manage your finances. ( I can help with that, it's what I do! ) If this is starting to feel overwhelming, that's because it is! This is a real business, not a get-rich-quick scheme. Your Next Step: Get the Full Blueprint This blog post is the 10,000-foot view. You need the ground-level plan. I created a free How-To video called " The World of Voice Overs "  specifically to answer this question in detail. It’s designed to give you an actionable framework for building a sustainable career from the ground up. We'll cover what I call the "4 Pillars"  you must construct for a professional presence (Training, Demo, Website, and Studio) and the "3 Portals"  you must navigate to find work (Agents, Online Casting, and Self-Marketing). You'll also learn the craft of performance, the business of getting paid (including AI clauses), and the mindset you need to be the CEO of "You, Inc." After watching, you won't just be inspired. You'll be equipped  with a realistic plan. It’s free. It’s strategic. It's the "what next" you've been looking for. WATCH THE FREE "WORLD OF VOICE OVERS" HOW-TO VIDEO NOW Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

When you’re starting out in voice over, or even when you’re going through a rebrand, the temptation to get "creative" with your website URL is strong. You book a few big promo gigs, and suddenly you think, "I’m going to buy ThePromoPowerhouse.com."  It sounds catchy. It sounds cool. It sounds like a brand! It’s a mistake. As the VO Strategist , I see voice actors fall into this trap constantly. They build a "brand" based on where they are right now  while completely forgetting that their career, and the industry itself, is going to look very different five years from now. The "Genre Pigeonhole" The biggest risk with a descriptive URL is that you paint yourself into a corner. If your URL is EducationalVoiceMom.com, you are going to have a tough time convincing a casting director that you are the right choice for a conversational automotive spot. You have created a cognitive disconnect before they even press Play on your demo. Voice actors evolve, and the market evolves right along with them. Remember when the "In a world..." movie trailer read was king? If you branded your URL around that style in 2005, your website and its branding would be a relic. Your name is agnostic.  It fits Commercial, Corporate, e-Learning, Video Games, and whatever the next big genre turns out to be. The SEO Reset Button (And Why It Hurts) This is the boring technical part, but it affects your wallet, so listen up. Google loves longevity. The longer your domain exists and provides helpful content, the more "authority" it has. When you have TomDheere.com  for 20+ years, Google trusts you. If you get bored and decide to change your URL from CoolVoiceDude.com to ProfessionalNarrator.net, do you know what happens? You hit the reset button.  To Google, you are a brand new website with zero trust. You break your links.  Every directory, social media post, or client bookmark that pointed to your old site is now a dead end unless you are a wizard with 301 redirects. You are effectively throwing away years of digital reputation build. The "Who Are You?" Factor In the age of AI voices and faceless content mills, clients are craving E-E-A-T . Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Hiding behind a generic brand name like TopTierVoices.net creates a barrier. It feels corporate and impersonal. But JaneDoe.com is different. That’s a person. That’s a human being I can direct. That’s someone I can trust. ⚡️ Rapid Fire - The Questions You’re Asking Google I know you have specific "Yeah, but..." questions popping up in your head. Let’s answer the ones I hear most often. "What if my name is already taken?" You don't need to change your name. Just add a modifier. Good  - TomDheereVO.com Good  - TomDheereVoice.com Good  - VoiceOfTom.com Not Good - Tom-Dheere-Voice-Actor.com  (Too many hyphens look spammy) "My name is hard to spell!" If your name is difficult to spell, you have two solid options. You can use your first name and last initial i.e. www.TomD.com. You can use a simplified stage name. Many actors use their first and middle name, such as SarahJaneVO.com. Tip - Buy the misspellings of your name if they are cheap and forward them to your main site. "Should I use a .com or a .voice/.audio extension?" Always aim for .com  first. It is still the gold standard for trust and memory. If .com is taken, .net is a decent runner-up. Extensions like .voice or .audio are fun, but some corporate firewalls still block "non-traditional" domains. Plus, clients might instinctively type .com anyway, landing on someone else's page. "Can I buy a brand name and just forward it?" Yes! This is the best of both worlds. If you really love ThePromoPowerhouse.com, go ahead and buy it. But set it up to redirect  to a genre-focused landing page like www.tomdheere.com/genre/promo . This way, you can use the catchy name on a postcard or in a specific marketing campaign, but your SEO "juice" continues to build on your permanent home—your name. The VO Strategist Verdict In an industry where you  are the product, hiding behind a clever brand name is a marketing no-no. Brands have shelf lives, but your name is your legacy. Don't force yourself to rebuild your SEO house every time you want to paint the walls a different color. Keep it simple. Keep it real. Keep it you . Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Make Black Friday a Strategic Investment We're about to be hit by a tidal wave of Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails. Every company you've ever even thought  about is going to be screaming at you to "BUY NOW!" It’s overwhelming. And if you’re not careful, it’s an opportunity to waste money. There’s a difference between spending  and investing . Spending is reactive. Investing is proactive. This year, I don't want you to just buy  stuff. I want you to invest in the one thing that guarantees a return: your business strategy. I've structured my Black Friday offers into three different strategic levels. Forget the one-size-fits-all approach. Let's find the one that actually fits your  voice over business right now. Option 1: The "No-Risk" Investment (A Free Giveaway) This is the "I'm-not-sure-what-to-do-and-cash-is-tight" option. I’m giving away one FREE Voice Over Business Diagnostic ($175 value) . This isn't just a quick peek. I’ll critique your demos, give honest feedback on your website, review your social media and casting site profiles, and much more. It's a full-on business autopsy to find out exactly  where you should focus your energy. This is for you if:  You feel stuck or overwhelmed and don't even know where to start  fixing things. This giveaway is happening only  on Instagram. It's free to enter, so what have you got to lose? Here's How to Enter on Instagram: Follow me   @dheeretom Like & Save   the giveaway post Tag 2 friends  in the comments For an extra entry , put the post on your story (and tag me!) The winner will be selected Tuesday, December 2nd at 12 noon ET. Go enter! Option 2: The "Strategic Sampler" (15 Minutes for 15% Off) Maybe you're not in the "stuck" phase. Maybe you're in the "I-know-I-have-a-problem-but-I'm-not-sure-which-one" phase. That’s what the "15 for 15" offer is all about. For all of November, when you book a free 15-minute consultation  with me, you’ll automatically get a promo code for 15% off any single service  you choose. This isn't just a sales call. This is our chance to do a quick diagnostic together . We'll use those 15 minutes to pinpoint your single most pressing challenge, and then  you can apply your 15% discount to the service that will actually solve it. You can use that discount on any  of these: Voice Over Website Diagnostic Voice Over Demo Diagnostic Voice Over Business Diagnostic 30-Minute Strategy Session 60-Minute Strategy Session AI Strategy Session This is for you if:  You know you need an expert eye, but you want to identify the right  problem before you commit to a solution. Option 3: The "All-In" Commitment (Big Discounts on Long-Term Growth) This is the classic Black Friday deal, but with a strategic twist. These aren't quick fixes; they are commitments to doing the work. Mark Your Calendar (Friday, November 28th) To Claim Your Black Friday Deals Don't Just Spend. Invest! So, which is it? The no-risk giveaway  to get a free diagnosis? The strategic sampler  to find the right problem to solve? The all-in commitment  to build long-term systems? Don't let the Black Friday noise push you into buying another microphone you don't need. Take a hard look at your business and make a strategic investment. Your future self will thank you. Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

You Have a Great Demo. Now What? I see it all the time. A voice actor spends thousands on coaching and demos, bursts into the industry with a ton of passion, and then... throws marketing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something sticks. They bust out 15 auditions on a P2P site, send a "Hey, I'm a voice actor!" email to a generic info@ address, and post their demo on LinkedIn with no context. Then they wait like, twenty minutes and become despondent because they haven't booked anything yet. That's not a marketing plan. That's a lottery ticket. Passion is fantastic, but it's not a business strategy. To get the clients you want, in the genres you want, you need to stop reacting  and start building . You need a strategic marketing campaign. To help you build one, here are some tips for building your first voice over marketing campaign. What Is a Real VO Marketing Campaign, Anyway? A real VO marketing campaign isn't just one tactic. It's a series of thoughtful, deliberate actions designed to achieve specific goals. What goals? Generate Leads Develop Relationships Get on Rosters Get Auditions Get Bookings Get Regular  Clients Your campaign is the engine you build to create and nurture leads, communicate your Value Promise, and demonstrate your professional progress. Auditioning is part of that, but it's not the whole story. Feed the Robots & Charm the Humans Your marketing has two distinct jobs. If you only do one, you'll fail. Feed the Robots:  You must understand and feed the algorithms on search engines (your website SEO), online casting sites (your profile optimization), and social media platforms. We're even seeing "data scraping" where producers use bots to find VOs based on keyword search. If your website text doesn't say "Warm, deep, authentic male voice for corporate narration," how will a robot (or human) ever find you for that gig? Charm the Humans:  At the end of every algorithm, there's a human. This is where your brand, your humanity, and your authentic casting potential come in. Are you a real-life nurse? A veteran? An IT pro? That's not just a fun fact; it's a powerful marketing differentiator that casting directors are actively  seeking. My Marketing Results I'm a data guy so I live for this stuff! I did an autopsy on my 2024 revenue, and here's how it broke down: Representation:  9% Free Online Casting Sites:  10.3% Pay-to-Play Sites:  30.3% Direct Marketing  (Email, networking): 28.2% Indirect Marketing  (SEO, social media, blogging): 22.1% Note: This is the result of 30+ years of building all kinds of marketing campaigns. If you're earlier in your journey, your pie chart will—and should —look very different. But it shows that a diversified marketing portfolio is what creates a resilient business. Crawl, Walk, Run "But Tom, I wanna start voicing anime characters RIGHT NOW!!! Why can't they just find me and give me the gigs of my dreams?" I get it. The good news is, you don't do all of this at once. Think of it as a "Crawl, Walk, Run" approach: Crawl (Years 0-2):  Focus on your Product . Master the P2P sites. Get your workflow, tech, and performance skills down. Walk (Years 2-5):  Focus on your Platform . Expand your website and start one form of direct marketing, like a newsletter or an email campaign. Run (Year 5+):  Focus on Proliferation . Now you're ready to scale with multiple, targeted marketing campaigns and seek national representation. You can't sprint to the "Run" phase. You have to build the foundation first. Watch the Full Blueprint This blog post is just the appetizer. My How-To video, " Building Your First Marketing Campaign" is the main course. In the video, I break down the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)  to know if your campaigns are working, how to market your unique humanity , and a deep dive into the "Three Portals"  (Representation, OCS, and Self-Marketing). Stop guessing. Start building. Click here to watch "Building Your First Marketing Campaign". Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Key Takeaways from the Audition Grind 7,000. That’s the number of auditions I’ve submitted in the last five years. That breaks down to about 1,400 a year, or an average of over five auditions every single weekday . When you work at that volume, the "grind" itself becomes a masterclass. You learn things that no workshop or coach can ever fully prepare you for. You see the patterns, the pitfalls, and the profound truths of the voice over industry in high def. I boiled down 7,000 voice over auditions into five core lessons—with a bonus one that holds it all together. 1. All Audition Sources Are Valid Lead Generation Tools My auditions came from everywhere: my manager, multiple agents, various free casting sites, Pay-to-Play sites, and leads generated from years of direct and indirect marketing. It taught me that all audition sources are valid if  you know why you're there and what you want to get out of them. Every source is just a lead generation tool, each with its own merit. You must evaluate them on multiple levels: monetary, genre, marketing, and even project management. Don't overvalue some (like an agent) and undervalue others (like a P2P). They are all paths to potential clients. Cultivating & curating these sources, as well as understanding what each one is good for, is critical to maintaining a full pipeline of quality leads. 2. Your Home Studio Is as Important as Your Performance This is a lesson you learn the hard way. You can be the most talented actor to read for a part. You can deliver a performance that perfectly captures the client's vision. But if your home studio isn't up to snuff, they will not book you.  Period. Almost every voice over gig you audition for will be recorded in your home studio. Your audition audio file is  your demo. If it has echo, hum, buzz, or sounds like you're in a tin can, you’ll be axed before you even finish your first sentence. Your technical quality is the second hurdle (right behind a properly-labeled audio file), and if you can't clear it, your performance doesn't get a chance to compete. 3. The Ability to Self-Direct Is a Non-Negotiable Skill I live in Manhattan, and I haven't been to an in-person audition since before COVID. This is the reality for almost the entire industry. This means you  are the director. The ability to self-direct is crucial. You have to learn how to effectively read and analyze casting specs, internalize them quickly, and make strong, confident acting choices on the fly. You can't spend 30 minutes on a single audition—that's a colossal waste of time. You have to be fast, smart, and decisive, all while acting as your own engineer and quality control. 4. Knowing What Not  to Audition For Is a Superpower Just as important as what to audition for is what to not  audition for. Screening your auditions is one of the most important skills you can develop. Obviously, you’re looking at the rate to make sure it's industry-standard. But it goes deeper. In today's market, you're also screening for scams. Will your audition be stolen? Is this booking an AI scam? You have to learn to notice potential red flags in the specs : vague company names, unusual requests (like "read the full 5-page script for this audition"), or rates that seem too  good for the work described. Beyond that, you're looking at the genre, the usage terms, and exclusivity. Does this gig for a local car dealership prevent you from auditioning for a national auto brand for the next two years? Learning to spot bad deals, potential conflicts, and scams saves you from future headaches and ensures you're only spending your valuable time on opportunities that respect your business. 5. Most Scripts Are the Same. You Can't Treat Them That Way. After 7,000 auditions, I saw a lot of the same scripts. The "warm, conversational, and friendly" e-learning module. The "high-energy, upbeat" local car ad. But you can't treat them like they're all the same. It’s your job as a professional storyteller to find the spark. You have to find the life in the copy, identify the specific audience, and discover the patterns you can use to make their  project sound special. This is what separates a professional from someone who just reads lines. Your job isn't to read the script; it's to solve the client's problem. Bonus Lesson: It’s a Numbers Game The more you audition (and, just as importantly, audition well ), the more opportunities you create for yourself. Volume alone isn't the answer. But consistent, high-quality, strategically-chosen auditions? That’s the engine of a successful career. Every audition is a rep, a lesson, and a lottery ticket. 7,000 auditions taught me that the more tickets you buy, the better your odds of winning. Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Trading the Hamster Wheel for Measurable ROI As the VO Strategist, a guy who literally teaches voice actors how to use social media, I did something that sounds like career suicide. I walked away from most of my social media profiles. I didn’t just stop posting on Twitter. I parked it. I didn’t just leave my Facebook Group to wither. I’m shutting it down. My Instagram? It’s basically just for hobbies now. My Discord server? Gone. Sounds crazy, right? It might even sound a little hypocritical. But it was one of the most powerful, data-driven, and mentally freeing business decisions I’ve ever made. It wasn't quitting. It was a strategic firing. And it’s a lesson every voice actor needs to hear. The Freelancer's Myth of "Being Everywhere on Social Media" As voice actors, we think we have to be everywhere. We need a Twitter presence, a Facebook page, a slick Instagram profile, a YouTube channel, a TikTok blah blah blah. We spend hours crafting posts, finding the right hashtags, and engaging with content, all because we’re terrified of being invisible. The problem is that we get so caught up in being present  that we forget to ask if we’re being effective and relevant . Does doing all this nonsense on social media actually move our business forward? I looked at the hours I was pouring into these platforms and realized I was just doing busy work, administrivia. I was shouting into a digital void, and the analytics proved it. Most of my posts were getting a handful of views, almost zero meaningful engagement, and—this is the kicker—they were not leading to business. I was on a hamster wheel, running faster and faster just to stay in the same place. It was exhausting, and it wasn't moving my career forward one inch. The Data That Forced a Change If you don't measure it, you can't manage it. So, I did a cold, hard audit of my social media ROI. The results were…illuminating to say the least. Exhibit A: The Ghost Towns My Facebook Group, with 1,500 members, was a ghost town. A good post might get 30 views. That's a 2% reach. Over 9 months, my videos had a grand total of three  1-minute views. Three! All that effort for a level of engagement that was statistically zero. It was the same story on Twitter and many other platforms. All effort, no reward. Exhibit B: The Thriving Hub Then I looked at LinkedIn. The contrast was night and day. Some of my more popular content was getting tens of thousands of impressions. I had hundreds of comments throughout this year—real conversations with potential clients and colleagues. And most importantly, this year I have over 200 high-intent clicks leading directly to my websites. It was a place where my efforts were being rewarded with measurable results. The Verdict Was Clear Looking at the data, the decision was simple. My time and energy on these other platforms weren't assets; they were liabilities. They were draining my most valuable resource—my time—for absolutely nothing in return. So, I fired them. Your 3-Step Guide to Strategic Quitting This isn't just my story; it's a lesson for you. You have my official permission as the VO Strategist to stop doing things that don't work! Here’s how you can run your own social media audit... Step 1: Track Your Time For one week, be brutally honest about how much time you spend creating content for and (doom)scrolling on each platform. The number will probably shock you. Step 2: Check Your Analytics Don't just look at Likes. Dive into the numbers. Look at meaningful metrics: Reach/Impressions:  Is anyone actually seeing your stuff? And if so, it it actually voice seekers or just other voice actors and your friends form college? Comments:  Are you having actual conversations? Website Clicks:  Is the platform helping you drive traffic to your website? Step 3: Ask the Hard Question Look at the data from steps 1 and 2 and ask yourself: "Is the time I'm investing in a social media platform generating a measurable return in conversations, leads, or auditions?" If the answer is no, you have a choice. You can keep running on the hamster wheel, or you can reallocate that time to something that works, whether that’s doubling down on a platform that is  working, doing more direct marketing, or doing more auditions on casting sites. Stop Chasing Popularity, Start Driving Profit The goal of social media for voice actors isn't to be popular; it's to build connections that lead to paid gigs. By cutting the dead weight, I haven’t become less effective. I've become more  effective. The time I used to waste on platforms that ignored me is now invested in LinkedIn, where I’m building real relationships, and in creating high-value content for my blogs. I'm not saying all of you should quit every other social media platform and flock to LinkedIn. That's what's working for ME right now. Look at your own social media strategy, if you have one. Are your platforms working for you, or are you working for them? It might be time for you to do some strategic quitting of your own. Your voice over business—and your sanity—will thank you for it. Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. Keep Going - Watch this next: Unmute Yourself: A Voice Actor's Guide to Social Media Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Time Management: The Freelancer's Curse You ended your day completely exhausted. You answered what felty like a thousand emails, tweaked an audition file seventeen times, chased a new lead on LinkedIn, and put out a fire with a client. You were busy . But as you look at your to-do list, the big, important items—the ones that actually move your voice over business forward—are still sitting there, staring back at you. Maybe they have grandchildren by now. If you've ever felt the sting of a day spent sprinting on a hamster wheel, you're not alone. This is one of the most common cautionary tales in the world of freelancing. We escape the 9-to-5 for freedom, only to find that total control over our time can quickly devolve into total chaos. Effective time management isn't about working harder; it's about working smarter. An Autopsy of a "Busy" Day Let's look a voice actor's typical "busy" day. What does it usually contain? Reactive Tasks:  The day starts with digging out your email inbox, and suddenly, other people's priorities become your priorities. You're reacting, not acting. Urgent-But-Not-Important Fires:  A minor client request that feels like an emergency. A social media debate you just have  to weigh in on. These tasks scream for your attention, but their ROI is practically zero. The "Productivity" Mirage:  You spend an hour organizing your file folders or researching a new microphone you don't need yet. It feels  like work, but it isn't moving the needle on your income or your client roster. I’ve had days—more than I’d like to admit—where I was incredibly busy being an unpaid assistant for my own business instead of its CEO. This isn't a moral failing; it's a strategic one. The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything For years, I operated under the assumption that the solution was to cram more work into less time. I tried every app, every hack, every system. But the problem wasn't my schedule; it was my decision-making process. I was thinking like an employee, not a CEO. An employee is given a list of tasks and is expected to complete them. A CEO is given a set of goals and is expected to invest their resources—including time—to achieve them. Stop asking, "What do I need to do  today?" Start asking, "What is the most strategic use of my time right now ?" That single shift from "doing" to "investing" is the foundation of taking back your day. It’s the difference between ending the day with a completed checklist and ending it with a tangible result. Ready to Stop Being Busy and Start Being Effective? Recognizing the problem is the first step, but a full-blown strategic framework is what creates lasting change. Commiserating is great, but a plan is better. I’ve consolidated the exact systems I use to manage my time and priorities into a comprehensive How-To video, " Control Your Time ."  We go far beyond simple to-do lists and dive into the core of choice  management. You’ll learn: How to apply the 80/20 Rule  to your marketing so you're not just making noise. How to use strategic frameworks like Covey's Quadrants  to instantly know what to work on next. How to allocate your time effectively between the 5 key roles  every freelancer must play. Keep Going - Watch this next: Control Your Time Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

It’s Not About Speed, It’s About Strategy We’ve all gotten that email. You nail the audition, the client is thrilled, and then they hit you with the big one: "This is great! When can I have this back?" Your gut reaction, especially when you’re hungry for the gig, is to be the hero. You want to type "ASAP!" or "How about in an hour?" Stop. Right. There. Giving a knee-jerk answer to the turnaround question is one of the fastest ways to destroy client trust and torpedo your own business. I’ve conducted this autopsy more times than I can count, both on my own projects and for my students. Quoting your turnaround time isn't a guess. It's a calculation. It’s a core part of managing client expectations, and it's just as important as your rate. Here are the variables you must  consider before you ever type a delivery time. What’s the Genre? A 500-word script is not just a 500-word script. The type  of voice over dictates the time. Commercial:  Is it a high-energy, hard-sell read? That’s going to take way more takes, energy, and vocal strain than a calm, conversational read. E-Learning/Narration:  This is often a steadier, more measured pace, but it requires absolute consistency in tone and pacing over a long period. Medical/Technical:  This requires prep time. You can’t just "wing it" on complex terminology. Grab that Dorland's Medical Dictionary! Video Game/Animation:  Are you voicing one character or five? Does one of them involve screaming for 10 minutes? Exertions are a thing. Don't just count the words; consider the performance  required. What’s the (Actual) Length and Format? This may seem obvious, but this is where the landmines are. A client saying "it's a 10,000-word project" is hiding the real question. Is that one 10,000-word file? Or is it 100 individual 100-word files? The second one isn't a single VO job; it's a massive post-production and file management project. The opportunity cost  of spending 3 hours just saving, naming, and QC-ing 100 tiny files is huge. You must clarify the format  of the deliverables, not just the total length. Is Editing Required? (The "Hidden" Time Suck) This is the big one. You must  define what "finished" means. To quote my Voice Over Service Guarantee : ● “Uncut” - completely untouched audio, warts & all ● “Raw/Dry” - I remove the big breaths, boo-boos, burps, and curses 🙂 ● “Processed/Wet” - In addition to making it Raw/Dry, I apply a custom “rack” (FFT Filter, Automatic Click Remover, Dynamics Processing, Tube-modeled Compressor, Parametric Equalizer, Hard Limiter) This "post-production" work can easily double or triple your time on a project. If you're using a DAW like Adobe Audition to clean up and master 50 separate files, you're not just a voice actor anymore; you're an audio engineer. That’s a different service, it takes significant time, and you must account for it in your timeline (and your rate!). Does a Directed Session Need to be Scheduled? The second a client says "great, can we book a 1-hour directed session?" your personal timeline just went out the window. A "1-hour session" is never 1 hour. It’s: 15 minutes of tech setup, checking your connection, and getting levels. The 1 hour of the session itself (which often runs over). 15-30 minutes of editing, file conversion, and delivery after  the call. Most importantly, it’s a 2-hour block of time on your calendar that you cannot  use for anything else. Your turnaround time is no longer "2 hours from now." It’s "When can we both find an open slot on our calendars?" How Much Prep Time Do You Really  Need? Rushing in cold is for amateurs. Professional strategists build in prep time. Do you need to read the full 30-page e-learning module to understand the context? Do you need to research the company's brand voice? Do you need to warm up your voice for that character role? This is the unseen, unpaid work that is critical  to delivering a paid, professional product. I always build in at least a 15-30 minute "strategic buffer" to review the script, get a cup o' tea, and get my head in the game. You should too. Your Turnaround Is Your Promise It is always better to under-promise and over-deliver. It’s better to promise a 24-hour turnaround and deliver in 20 hours (making you a hero) than to promise 4 hours and deliver in 5 (making you a failure). Your turnaround time is a key part of your brand. It communicates reliability, professionalism, and that you are a serious business partner, not just a flaky starving artist. Stop guessing and start calculating. That’s how you build a business that lasts. Want More Tools In Your Voice Over Toolkit? Stop guessing which microphones, hardware, software, and books are worth your investment! I’ve built a curated resource page with the professional tools I trust to save you time and help you make smart decisions for your business. Please note: As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Get my curated list of essential VO tools here. AND Check out my VO How-To Library! Want to stream as many How-To videos as you want? Get a Video Subscription - use code FORWARD  for 20% off your first month! Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the entertainment industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... As the VO Strategist , Tom Dheere has provided voice over business & marketing coaching since 2011. He's also a voice actor with over 30 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voice over you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Guest blogger! Guest blogger! That's right! My dear friend and fabulous voice actor Carin Gilfry is here to talk about the 2022 Voiceover Survey . Take it away, Carin...! Data is the most powerful tool we have. We need data to make change. For years, people gave their anecdotal evidence of how the voice over industry operates. You’d see people say, “80% of the work out there is non-union!” But was that really true? How many people are making a full living in VO? What percentage of voice actors are union, non-union, or Fi-Core? Are people really making money on pay to play sites? Through direct marketing? Through agents? These are some of the questions we set out to answer with the State of Voiceover in 2021 Survey. And we did! Last year we ended up with 1244 responses to our big VO Survey, and the results were amazing. You can check them out here: www.voiceoversurvey.com Some interesting highlights from 2021 include: -Almost 53% of voice actors live outside of LA and NYC -Only 2.5% of voice actors DO NOT have a home studio - Commercials are the most common genre of VO , followed by the non-broadcast genres of corporate narration , e-Learning, and corporate explainers. -48% of voice actors earned less than $8000 from voiceover in 2020 -Around 25% of all voice actors earned more than $40,000 in 2020 And so much more. So… we decided to do it again! What is different about the 2022 VO Survey? Lots! First, we narrowed down the income brackets. We included an option which says “I did not earn income from voiceover in this year,” and separated the lower-earning options so we can get more specific. We also really wanted to figure out if people are doing VO full-time, part-time, or as a hobby. So, we added that too. We took away the questions about building home studios during the pandemic. (We crossed that bridge sometime in June of 2020! We’re not going back!) But to figure out how much in-person recording has started happening again, we included a question about how many in-studio sessions voice actors have been to in the last 12 months. To figure out how voice actors are spending money on their business, we included questions about what business-related services and applications they use. The rest of the questions on the 2022 Survey are largely the same as the 2021 Survey, so we can compare answers from year to year. We hope these insights will help voice actors far and wide! Tip Of the Week Take the State of the VO Industry in 2022 Survey Send it to your voiceover friends and ask them to tell their voiceover friends Send it to your clients and ask them to send it to the voice actors on their roster Send it to your agents and ask them to send it to the voice actors on their roster Quote of the Week Join me at an upcoming event Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Study on your own time - download & watch VO How-to Videos Use Promo Code GETMORE for 20% off 3 or more videos! Paid Links Grab Studio Gear VO Strategist Book Club This week's recommendation: Before You Quit Your Job! To quote the blurb: Before You Quit Your Job asks: Do you have a million-dollar idea? Are you afraid of failing? Are you tired of making other people rich? Are you sick of taking order from your boss? Are you tired of working hard and not getting ahead? Are you ready to take a leap of faith and change your life? Learn about the B-I Triangle and the 8 Integrities of a Business—before you quit your job! Want more studio gear & reading recommendations? VIEW ALL As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Keep Going - Work with Me Book a Strategy Session and get your VO business together! Tom Dheere is the VO Strategist , a voice over business & marketing coach and demo producer since 2011. He is also a voice actor with over 25 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voiceover you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, he produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.

Subscribe on YouTube for the latest... eLearning Rules! I've super lucky to have found true success in the e-learning voice-over industry. I did my first e-learning gig in 1997 and have been working with the same client for almost 26 years. E-learning is the most stable form of voiceover work compared to other genres like cartoons, video games, and commercials. With e-learning, I almost never have to audition as I've been working with most of my clients for 5, 10, 15, or 20+ years. They just hire me for the job because they know I can get the job done. FYI you can hear my eLearning demos & samples here . Why Do I Love eLearning? I enjoy e-learning because it provides a stable form of income. It's important to remember that all voice over work involves storytelling, which requires acting skills, performance, engagement with the audience, and understanding their needs. This applies whether the audience is listening to an executive summary, choosing insurance benefits, or learning fractions. Anyone who says otherwise is either bad at e-learning or doesn't do it. For more information on what eLearning narration is, how to market yourself, narration techniques, and rate structure, check out my "Learning to do eLearning" video available at the VO Strategist Shop . Takeaways: all voice acting is storytelling and eLearning is no different What draws you to the voiceover industry may not necessarily be what keeps you in the voice-over industry. eLearning may be your way in! If you're looking for a great eLearning coach/demo producer, check out my Coach Recommendation Blog Keep Going - Watch this Next: Learning to do eLearning Interested in eLearning voice over? Tom takes you through the basics of what it takes to get started, and teaches you performance techniques, rate structures, and how to market your voice within this genre… Upcoming Events & Appearances Here's what I've got going on in the next few months - register to attend and add your voice to the mix! Looking for help navigating the voice over industry? Check in and Stay on Track... Don't know where to start? Let's chat. Grab 15 minutes free - let's see what your business needs... He's the VO Strategist , a voice over business & marketing coach and demo producer since 2011. Tom Dheere is also a voice actor with over 25 years of experience who has narrated just about every type of voiceover you can think of. When not voicing or talking about voicing, Tom produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.