10 Voices Profile Mistakes to Avoid

Is your Voices profile generating enough audition opportunities for you?

Do you think you could be doing better on the site?

In this article

1. Updated Profile = More Opportunities
2. Why Have a Profile?
3. Not Using Keywords Effectively
4. Not Understanding JobMatch
5. Wrong Language Order
6. Putting Your Demos in Just One or Two Categories
7. Not Having Tag Words on Your Demos
8. Not Using a Professional Profile Headshot or Logo
9. Telling Everyone You’re a Beginner
10. Inconsistency Between your Voices Profile and other Marketing Materials
11. Not Enough Information Under the Studio Section
12. Not Enough Special Skills or Age Ranges Selected

If you want to get ahead of the competition, cozy up with a cup of coffee or tea and take some notes! The top ten profile mistakes voice talent makes are completely avoidable.

Updated Profile = More Opportunities

Whether you’re filling out your profile for the first time or giving it a fresh look with an update, you’ll want to review this article. Today, I will be giving you my best profile tips while explaining why it’s important to fill out your profile well.

Why Have a Profile?

Let’s start by giving some thought to the purpose of your profile. Here’s a short list for you to consider:

• To allow your demos to be found on Voices
• To tell clients about you, your voice and your business
• Stand apart from the competition
• To sell your services
• Build your brand
• Give a client confidence that you’re the right voice for their project
• To properly match up to job postings so that you get invited to the appropriate jobs
• Filling out your profile properly ensures your page is optimized for internet searches
• To make it easier for you to book work!

Now with that business and marketing point of view in mind, let’s continue. Over the years, I have noticed some common mistakes that people make when filling out their profiles. Let’s review these now and why it’s important to avoid them.

Not Using Keywords Effectively

Keep in mind that Voices is web-based, so everything is automated and based on written copy. If you don’t explain what your voice sounds like, the types of voice-over you’re interested in or even the celebrities you can sound like, then a client can’t find you based on those qualities. The best places to add keywords are the Highlights section of your bio and the description of each demo. Those areas are searchable for keyword searches and when matched to a client’s search, will bring up the matching demo.

Not Understanding JobMatch

The JobMatch score is out of 100 and puts a numerical value on how well your profile is matched to a job posting.

The important thing to know is that when a client reviews the auditions, they’re listed for them in order of JobMatch instead of the order they’re sent in. You can submit an amazing audition but if it doesn’t get listened to, then it’s a waste.

When you’re looking at the long list of auditions you can sort them in order of the JobMatch score to prioritize your auditions. More of them will be listened to and you’ll have a better chance of being hired. In #3 – #5, I’ll cover ways to help improve your JobMatch score.

Wrong Language Order

On your bio be sure to list the languages you speak in order of fluency. The order is important because you’ll get the highest JobMatch score for the first language and then five fewer points for each consecutive language.

You’ll notice that we have several categories with different accents for more popular languages like English and Spanish, so be sure to list all that apply. If you don’t have a language listed, you won’t see jobs posted in that language category.

Now, if you’re one of those talented people that can speak multiple languages it’s okay to have a less popular language towards the bottom of the list. If you have a lower JobMatch score for say, French, it’s okay because we don’t have as many French talent.

You don’t need to worry about being at the top of the client’s list because they may only have 10-15 auditions to choose from and will be more likely to listen to them all.

Putting Your Demos in Just One or Two Categories

Try searching for a talent yourself, and you’ll see that clients can do a category-based search. If you have all of your demos under “Radio,” then you will only be found in a search for a radio demo.

Another thing to consider is your JobMatch score. We assume that you’re more qualified and/or interested in a certain area when you have a demo in that category, gender, language and age range.

If you add demos to several categories you’ll see higher JobMatch scores for jobs in all of your areas of expertise. For each demo category that matches to the job posting, your JobMatch score will increase by 5 points.

Not Having Tag Words on Your Demos

You’ll notice when a client posts their job that it will include two tag words.

The job posting will say, “Sounds like: friendly and professional” and is meant to give you a better idea of the tone or style they’re looking for. When you post your demos on your profile, you get to choose from the same list of tag words from which the client chooses.

For each tag word that matches up to the client’s job posting, your VoiceMatch score will increase by 5 points.

Not Using a Professional Profile Headshot or Logo

Some people are more visual than others and may remember your picture instead of your name. I know what you’re thinking, “I’m a voice actor, why do I need to show people what I look like?”

A good profile picture is important for a couple of reasons, it builds trust, adds personality, helps with a connection and it’s just par for the course in the entertainment industry.

A neat fact for you to know is that when we did a click test to see where clients clicked the most on the website, they clicked more often on a portrait than anything else. It’s time to upload your picture! To read more on this topic and learn about what makes a great headshot, click here.

Telling Everyone You’re a Beginner

Please remember that you’re selling your services and want potential clients to have confidence that you’ll be easy to work with. I would never suggest that you lie about your experience, but let’s focus on something more positive.

Some examples would be, what your voice sounds like, your skills, what you’re interested in or other relatable experience. You want your clients to feel comfortable about working with you. Clients are always looking for a new voice, but they don’t need to know this could be one of your first recordings.

Check out this article called “Fake It Till You Make It” by Deborah Sale Butler for some more tips.

Inconsistency Between your Voices Profile and other Marketing Materials

Unfortunately, not everyone is going to remember your name and everything about you and your voice.

It’s important to help clients to remember you by making your website and your profile similar. Use the same pictures, logos, slogans and descriptions of your voice. That way when someone visits your profile and then later comes across your website, they’ll remember and recognize you.

Not Enough Information Under the Studio Section

Be sure to fill out the type of microphone, computer and software you’re using. This information can be very important for the client to know. They may be looking for someone who has a microphone that will match up with others that are being used for the same production.

Let the client know if you have an ISDN line, ipDTL, Source-Connect or a phone patch under “special equipment.” Be sure to list a quick turnaround time. It’s reasonable to offer a 24-hour turnaround time for a project under 1000 words.

Not Enough Special Skills or Age Ranges Selected

If you only have young adult selected for your age range, you will only see jobs posted under that age range. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to crossover into another range.

Why not open yourself up to the middle aged category? You’ll be able to see the details of the job and decide for yourself if it’s right for you. The same theory applies to the special skills areas. If you only have radio and television selected, you’re missing out on everything else. Business, internet and education are the most popular categories on Voices.

There you have it, my friends. Too many times do we hear from talent who are frustrated only to find out that a simple profile change would have made all the difference, so now it’s time to go fill out or edit your profile!