* This post is part 3 in a a series. You can read post 1 here and post 2 here. *
The conversation went something like this: “Does a car salesman post a tweet or Facebook update each time he sells a car? Does a doctor tweet each time he completes a surgery? Does the grocery store clerk share an update each time to she rings through a customer?”
“Well, no. I suppose not.”
“Then why should a voice actor post a message, status update, tweet or anything else each time they book a job? Booking jobs is their job. And nobody else shares with the world every time they do their job.”
Do You Share Too Much?
There’s certainly a logical thought process there. It’s also quite true, or I assume it to be, that grocery store clerks do not tweet each time they ring through a customer. I don’t know that I follow any grocery store clerks to confirm this for certain, however. If you do, follow a grocery store clerk I mean, and can confirm this, I’d love to hear from you.
This is where we get into the bad of self promotion. That moment when you cross the line. Where your self promotion becomes self obsession. Where your actions are more of a nuisance to the masses than a benefit to them. This is the point where you’ll do yourself more harm than good.
Where your self promotion becomes self obsession.
I will be the first to confess that I get excited when I book a new voice over job. I get excited for good reason. I love my job! I love what I do. I love taking a script and giving it life. I love working with new clients from around the globe and helping them make their dreams and visions and concepts a reality.
When I’m excited about something, I tend to share. Joy, I believe, is contagious. I just try very hard not to share too much or too frequently.
He Has Enough Work Already
A person once told me that if I talk too much about the work I’m doing others will assume I’m busy enough, or too busy even, and as such they won’t contact me about their projects. “He has enough work already,” was this individuals thought process.
Such a notion was somewhat alarming to me at first. Could I really be turning off potential customers by being busy? Would they assume I have enough work? Or maybe too much work to the end that their project would not be a priority for me? Could my promoting my work be killing my business?
I tend to be a glass half full person. I looked at the idea from the other direction.
If a voice talent is busy doing work there must be a reason for that, would’t you agree? I would tend to think it would be an indication that they’re good at their job. That they provide great audio. They offer excellent customer service. As such, isn’t this exactly the kind of talent I’d want working for me, were I to be looking to hire one?
Everything In Moderation
I return to the point I made in the first post in this series. Even a sponge can only hold so much water before it reaches capacity. People are no different. If your entire purpose for being involved in social networking, be it through Facebook, Twitter or otherwise, is to promote yourself, you’re doing it wrong. You will wear people out! Your message will get lost or worse yet, ignored.
If all you ever do is sing your own praises people are going to find a new song! Yes, talk about what you’re doing. Yes, share your successes. Just make sure that’s not all you do. And make sure you don’t do it too much.
I always share projects I’ve completed. This is just as much about an added benefit for my clients as it is promotion for me. I also like to talk about the different companies, brands and individuals I’m working with because it builds credibility. Twitter, if you weren’t aware, is just another big search engine. Potential clients are looking there to see what you’re doing and who you’re working for or have worked with.
Avoiding Bad Self Promotion
The thing to remember is this; self promotion isn’t just telling people how great you, your voice or your services are. It’s just as much about engagement as anything. Celebrate the success of your fellow talents. Engage with your clients or potential clients. Like their pages. Retweet their content. Talk with people. Not just to people. That’s when self promotion becomes bad.
…self promotion isn’t just telling people how great you, your voice or your services are. It’s just as much about engagement as anything.
Don’t be afraid of promoting your voice over business. As I said yesterday’s post, if you don’t, who will? Just don’t be a broken record. Be proud of your work; but don’t be boastful. Celebrate your success; but don’t be arrogant. Tell people what you’re doing; but share what they’re doing as well. Find a balance between being a broadcaster (talking about yourself) and being an engager (talking with others).
If you do these things I believe there’s no place for your business to go but up!
Recommended Reading
If you’d like to do some reading on personal branding and self promotion for your business I strongly recommend Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
QUESTION: Where do you stand on self promotion? Are you good at it? Do you avoid it? What are your thoughts?
