Finding voice over work and effective marketing.
Updated: Jul 2
From agents to emailing and from auditions to ads, you should never stop marketing to get voice over work.
Some of the worst VOs (yeah, I said it) get the most work. Because they’re prolific marketers. Finding voice over work is not easy, so, I’ll say it again, because it’s important: you should never stop marketing.
Even when you’ve got loads of work.
Just. Keep. Doing it.
And then people will...
(NB. This isn't my hand. I have daily manicures.)
Below I’m going to list a bunch of different ways that you can market yourself.
Then I’ll move on to some specific places online you can find voice over jobs.
But for now, here's how to get voice acting work through marketing...
Ways to market your voice over business
Direct marketing (cold calling) It might sound old-fashioned and feel very awkward and uncomfortable, but direct marketing works. Before reaching out to someone, do your research on their business. When you get in touch, be complimentary and tell, don’t sell. Such is the ways of voiceover.
I’m a huge advocate for cold calling. You might not get hired for voiceover jobs immediately, but if you email one person today, that’s one more person than yesterday that knows about you.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. As mentioned, the likelihood of instant reward is low, but you’re setting the foundations for a long relationship.
EFFORT RATING: 10. It’s a slog.
Advertising Investing in advertising gets you in front of people you might not encounter otherwise. Think of it like passive cold calling. Platforms such as Google or Facebook have pretty comprehensive ad services which can help you reach a broader audience. I’ve done some Facebook ads and got some pretty nice traction through to my website.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. Although it’s more likely that you’ll simply be put on someone’s radar because of an ad and then they hire you further down the line.
EFFORT RATING: 5. Once you’ve put in the hours to create the ad copy, imagery etc, it runs by itself.
Social media presence Posting on social media can be a grind. But establishing a strong presence on those platforms keeps you front and centre for when the potential client is ready.
READY FOR VOICEOVER.
You can share your work, your processes or take a more light-hearted, fun approach, allowing people to get to know the person behind the mic. By engaging with potential clients and having meaningful discussions, social media can serve as a powerful marketing tool. I’ve had work through LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube and… Soundcloud.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. It’s a slow burn though.
EFFORT RATING: 8. Constantly churning out content to attract your ideal clients can take a lot of time. Use tools like Canva to become more efficient.
Networking Attending industry events, conferences, and workshops to network with potential clients and fellow voice actors is a must. Freelancing can be a lonely gig, so growing your connection base can make it feel less solitary and like you have a wall of support behind you.
Building relationships within the voiceover industry can lead to referrals and project opportunities. Most weeks I pass work to other VOs when a client asks for a referral. Why wouldn’t I? I’m yet to master a female Scottish accent.
You should also network with other types of business or even businesses in your own sector. Some of my closest “colleagues” work in sectors far removed from the creative world, but they are still running businesses. Also, every business has a telephone – professionally recorded voicemail messages hint hint.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. Remember to forge relationships instead of going in with the hard sell.
EFFORT RATING: 8. It depends what sort of networking you do. Online networking is much more time efficient. Face to face networking is VERY GOOD for meeting people but when you factor in travel time etc, then it can quickly become “OMG I’VE LOST HALF A DAY”.
EFFORT RATING FOR EARLY MORNING EVENTS: 10. If meeting other business people at 6am scares you, get up earlier all the time. It will revolutionise your life! Sounds a bit fluffy and hippy. I agree. But read about the advantages of getting up before everybody else and see if it changes your mind.
Auditioning Lots of voiceover artists find work through auditioning on online platforms. There’s loads of them. Most are tripe and only serve to line their own pockets by taking ridiculous cuts of fees (mainly from the VO).
That said, it’s an easy way to get your voice out to hirers and directors quickly.
Later, you’ll also find yourself getting auditions sent direct to you (away from those platforms) once you start to make a name for yourself.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. It’s a numbers game though. You could do the best audition in the history of auditions, yet if you’re not like the voice the hirer has in their mind, you won’t get it. Move on. Fast.
EFFORT RATING: 0 – 10. It depends how many auditions you do and how long you spend on them!
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Get a website. Then optimize it.
Search engines allow you to be found by businesses looking for voice artists. I won’t tell you how to do SEO here, just know that it’s REALLY important. And don’t try to learn loads and do it yourself – it’s impossible to keep up with while trying to launch your career.
If you can afford to pay someone to do it, amazing. I’ve had lots of work through my website, which is an incredible feeling. SEO works. Hey, you found me, right?
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. There’s no better feeling than having people hire you from your website. They’ve done all the legwork!
EFFORT RATING: 5-10. You can do a lot or a little of your own work on a website. But if you’re not an expert in web design and SEO, find someone who is.
Demo Reels A well-crafted demo reel can serve as a powerful marketing tool when clients want to hear samples of your voiceover work. Make sure they show off your range and versatility. Don’t make one too soon in your career though, it’ll likely be a waste of time.
Spend your money on getting good voice over coaching and spend your time on practicing.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. Think of this as your audio business card.
EFFORT RATING: 10+. Practice, practice, practice!
Email marketing No, I’m not repeating myself with the cold calling bit. This is about your own email list for the purpose of a newsletter. Send out regular updates about your work, services and any special offers or promotions. Email marketing is just another piece of the visibility pie.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. It will be very much a slow burn because you won’t be selling in it. Imagine getting a newsletter that was just “BUY MY VOICEOVER!” all the time. Infuriating.
EFFORT RATING: 6. Use free online tools like Mailerlite to help you.
Join online voiceover communities If you prefer hanging out online over real life, join some voiceover communities and forums. You’ll probably see industry professionals share voice acting jobs, discuss opportunities and thrash out issues they’re having. You can learn A LOT just by lurking and watching the conversations.
Be polite. I can’t stress that enough. But I will, by making it bold. Be polite.
Most communities are free and if you can’t find one you like, start your own! (Here, I talk about a book that can help with this).
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. Just get stuck in and make yourself known (in a good way). Eventually, things will start to happen.
EFFORT RATING: 8. Like social media but without the need to continuously create content.
Agent representation Lots of you will have skipped straight to this one. Yes, you could try and hook up with an agent. You can secure high-profile projects this way and the agent will negotiate on your behalf. You just have to do the work. Keep in mind that agents take a commission anywhere between 10%-25%.
Also keep in mind that many VOs, from beginners all the way through to 30 year veterans, don’t have agents – it’s not the be all and end all. At the start of your career you’d be better off spending time practicing, learning and making connections.
CAN YOU GET WORK DOING THIS? Yes. Obv.
EFFORT RATING: 10. Although it will be a 1 if you have an agent. The 10 is for hassling agents to put you on their books.
And now for the obligatory infographic that mentions all the above, but with a super awesome cool bonus idea at the bottom...
Podcasts CAN help you get voice over work
Yes, podcasts. You get practice in talking about yourself, which you have to do as a business. Plus, it's the medium you'll be working in - audio - so an amazing opportunity to get your voice out there. And you never know, the person whose podcast it is might end up hiring you for intros, outros, ads.
Marketing requires a combination of online and offline methods and is a massive time commitment. You don’t have to do it all, but the more, the merrier. The merrier in this case being £££.
The whole point is getting in front of as many people/businesses as possible. If you’re not being seen or heard, then you won’t be seen or heard.
Ok. Now for some places to find work away from the above marketing techniques. The sites below are full of voiceover talent jobs and opportunities.
In our weird world of voice over, work from home jobs are nearly the norm. So much of what we do is in our home studios. Take a look at the sites and you'll soon get a feeling for how they work.
The notes next to each of them are formed from either experience or research.
A few words about the websites below
Also... my hair is weird in this. Don't hate me. And I do a very odd head movement at one point. One take wonder, that's me.
Websites to find voice over work
Voices.com
Pros:
Large platform with a wide range of job opportunities.
Secure payment system and dispute resolution.
Cons:
High competition for projects.
The platform charges a commission fee.
They love those AI voices
Voices UK
Pros:
Focused on the UK market, which may offer niche opportunities.
Access to local clients.
Cons:
Limited job listings compared to larger global platforms.
May not be suitable for voice actors outside the UK.
Mandy
Pros:
Offers a variety of creative job listings, including voiceover work.
Networking opportunities with professionals in the entertainment industry.
Cons:
Not exclusively focused on voiceover work, so competition may be high.
Limited voiceover-specific features.
Unresponsive hirers
Bodalgo
Pros:
European-focused platform.
Transparent pricing with no commission fees.
Cons:
Limited job listings compared to some global platforms.
May not have as many international opportunities.
Huge amount of auditions submitted for every job
VoiceCrafters
Pros:
Offers a curated selection of voice talent.
Transparent pricing and no commission fees.
Responsive support
Cons:
Less job listings compared to larger platforms.
Limited opportunities for beginners.
Voicebooking.com
Pros:
Specializes in voiceover work.
User-friendly interface.
Cons:
May have fewer job listings compared to larger platforms.
Focuses primarily on European clients.
VoiceArchive
Pros:
Provides a platform for international clients.
Clear pricing structure.
Cons:
Limited job opportunities compared to some competitors.
Smaller community of voice talent (could be a pro too!).
VoiceBros
Pros:
Direct client interaction.
No commission fees.
Cons:
Smaller platform with fewer job listings.
Limited international opportunities.
VoiceFairy
Pros:
Focuses on the UK market.
Provides access to local clients.
Cons:
Smaller platform with fewer job listings.
May not cater to voice artists outside the UK.
VoiceGiant
Pros:
Straightforward platform with job listings.
No commission fees.
Cons:
Limited opportunities compared to larger platforms.
Primarily US-based clients.
Voquent
Pros:
Offers opportunities with international clients.
Transparent pricing.
Excellent staff / support
Cons:
May have fewer jobs compared to larger platforms.
More suitable for experienced voice actors.
The Voice Realm
Pros:
Specializes in voiceover work.
Provides a professional platform.
Cons:
Fewer job listings compared to larger platforms.
May have a more selective talent pool.
Voice123
Pros:
Established platform with a wide range of job opportunities.
Comprehensive profile and audition system.
Cons:
High competition for projects.
The platform charges a commission fee.
Lots of hirers want freebies
StarNow
Pros:
Offers a variety of creative opportunities, including voiceover work.
Networking opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Cons:
May have less specific voiceover job listings.
Website feels dated
VoiceJockeys
Pros:
User-friendly platform.
No commission fees.
Cons:
Smaller platform with limited job opportunities.
May have less exposure to international clients.
Casting Call Club
Pros:
Free to use.
Community-driven platform with various creative opportunities.
Great place to start out
Cons:
Limited voiceover-specific job listings.
May have fewer professional opportunities.
Upwork
Pros:
Large platform with diverse job opportunities.
Ability to set your own rates.
Cons:
High competition across all categories.
Fees and commissions apply to each project.
Lots of low-ballers
Frowned on by much of VO community
Fiverr
Pros:
Easy-to-use platform for setting up a voiceover gig.
Potential for a wide range of clients.
Cons:
High competition within the Fiverr marketplace.
The platform charges a service fee on each transaction.
Lots of low-ballers
Frowned on by much of VO community
This obviously isn’t an exhaustive list, there really are a lot to choose from. Just be careful not to blow loads of money on these before you do further research on them.
I'm hoping that after reading this blog, you'll no longer need to ask yourself "how do I find voice over work?" There's plenty here to get you started both offline and online. My preferred methods are very much through direct contact with (potential) clients through networking, cold calling and my website. This year I've been moving away from the casting sites and only doing auditions that are sent direct to me via email.
Don't get me wrong, I've had some great work through those places, but my time is better spent cultivating relationships and getting the sweet, sweet repeat business.
Ok, now you know where to look for voice acting jobs, you probably want to know how much money you'll make as a voice actor. And if you're really nosey, have a look at my voice over pricing sheet.