Greetings, all, and happy new year! When I began my voice-over career in 1999, one of my friends suggested that I start a journal. She said that when Biography or Intimate Portrait wanted to highlight me in a show, I would have all of this great background material to share with them about how I progressed from voice-over newbie to superstar. 🙂
Initially, I only focused on writing my voice-over activities in my journal. Over time, though, I found it more helpful and interesting to write almost daily about everything in my life. I often look back at my journals and find answers to current problems along with treasured memories.
I highly recommend writing in a journal as a way to clarify your thinking. It’s important to me that I hand-write my entries as the act of writing will slow down my thoughts. Long-time readers also know that I love writing with fountain pens.
Tip #1: Â If you aren’t writing in a journal, what better time to start one than a new year!
After transcribing parts of my journals in previous entries, I’ve decided to create an on-going series here on the blog of things I’ve written in my journals. I hope that you may also find answers to problems and learn from some of my mistakes!
This Date in My History: Elance
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Saturday 1/5/02 10:00pm
I lost another bid on eLance. This is the one where the guy said “great bid”. He chose someone else who is a professional talent but only bid half of my bid. My unwillingness to literally sell myself short sure hasn’t gotten me any jobs on that system.
Tip #2: You won’t know if a marketing channel works for you until you try it.Â
For more thoughts about on-line casting sites, you may want to read this article.
I look forward to sharing more of my journal entries with you!
Karen Commins is a professional audiobook narrator who has given voice to over 50 audiobooks. In addition to earning a BA in broadcast journalism and MS in computer information systems, Karen has completed extensive specialized training in voiceover and audiobook narration technique, as well as digital audio production.
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I have submitted SO many bids on eLance over the past couple of years and have come up empty. Some of the offers from clients wanting work done are outlandishly low. Unbelievable.
Greetings, Ed! Thanks for the comment; I apologize for my delay in seeing and adding it to the site.
Obviously, you have proven point #2 of this article. You now know eLance is not a good fit for your time and marketing dollars. The key is to take this knowledge and use it in revising your marketing plan. How could you better use that time and potentially money to attract your ideal clients?
If the answers to that question aren’t immediately forthcoming, I recommend 2 things:
1) Start keeping a journal, which is point #1 in the article. When I started writing a journal, I only focused on those things I did toward my voice-over career. I would summarize each week in terms of contacts made (calls, emails, direct mail, etc) and results. I also wrote ideas about companies to contact, direct mail campaigns to create, etc.
2) Create a 28-day marketing plan using the worksheets in C. J. Hayden’s fabulous book GET CLIENTS NOW!. Every time I have created and then followed one of these 28-day plans using the tactics presented in the book, my business has moved forward.
I hope these thoughts are helpful. Thanks for stopping by my site!
Karen