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'Quick - Get Me A Voice!'
Internet Search Vs. Referral
January 26, 2011
 
(VOXtra) - Two powerful ways to get voice over jobs are 1) referrals from happy clients and 2) having an effective website. 
 
Of course, your marketing action plan needs both. But is there a way to tell which works best?
 
Voice talent and social media explorer Dave Courvoisier recently used an Internet service to poll 100 people about this, and found that 60% of the respondents would key an Internet search for voice talent, compared to 40% who would prefer a referral from a trusted source.
 
What's it mean for you?
 
1) Dig deeper into SEO (search engine optimization) to get your website higher on the list in an Internet search, and
2) Keep your clients happy.
 
(See SEO For Voice Over Websites by Nikki Saco - a voice talent and Internet consultant- to learn how SEO works apply it to your website.)
 
THE SURVEY
 
Courvoisier's survey didn't handpick respondents.
 
Rather, his question was posed through Pickfu.com, a market research website which says it offers "quick opinions and insights from an unbiased group with similar demographics."
 
How the respondents are chosen is not stated. Their written responses indicate that they are not necessarily involved with the voice over industry, but could potentially be - or become - voice over clients. 
 
And the survey report includes detailed demographics about the respondents, and can include applicable charts and graphs.
 
Also, in this poll, Courvoisier's Internet search option referred to "search engines" rather than online voice over marketplaces.
 
WHAT RESPONDENTS SAID
 
Respondents gave Courvoisier their reasons. For instance, three people who'd rather search the Internet for voice actors said:
  • "I would expect ... better choices via the internet."
  • "I would use a search engine because it would have more leads than a friend. I would probably ask a friend after I did some searching."
  • "The search engine is the best idea, because I personally do not know anyone who knows anything about this topic."
On the other hand, those preferring a referral said:
  • "Think I could get a better price through a friend, especially someone in a Department of Communications."
  • "It would be easier to get in contact with the referral than to try to contact someone online."
  • "I have friends who work in, or at least with, VO talent and firms to get them. I'd imagine most people probably at least know somebody who is in the same situation. Since anybody with a microphone can claim to be a VO talent, SEO gaming and other trickery would lead me to be skeptical of any particular unknown VO."
 
HOW PICKFU WORKS
 
For quick market research, Pickfu is simple to use. Courvoisier explains:
 
"You pose one question. Add two choices: A & B, then pay $5 for 50 responses or $9 for 100 responses, and sit back and wait.
 
"My survey took about two days to get the full 100 responses, but a healthy number started coming in almost immediately.

"And not just the hard numbers and the percentages. Pickfu breaks down the exact demographics of your results in bar charts, pie charts, AND provides verbatims from each respondent as to why they replied the way they did."
 
ABOUT DAVE ...
 
Courvoisier is also an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, writer, producer, voice actor, and the main weeknight news anchor on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, the Las Vegas CBS affiliate. To contact him:

 

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Comments (5)
Roy Wells
3/24/2011 at 7:46 AM
The people who respond to these kind of surveys have answered an ad saying, "make big money answering surveys." Their responses are not worth two cents. You don't know who they are or where they're coming from. Why would you trust them to evaluate your business?
Linda Ristig
1/27/2011 at 1:07 PM
Thanks for sharing the Pickfu.com survey information, Dave. The 60/40 data was interesting. I would say that a blending of referrals with follow-up, web and social media presence are the keys to my voice over career.

From my experience, some of our local businesses are too busy running their own business to be on the social media sites, yet production houses/ad agencies and even a talent agent has found me by internet searches.

Didn't I just listen to Terry Daniel and you on a Voices.com podcast this morning? Great job working the SEO, Dave!
Amy Taylor
1/27/2011 at 8:12 AM
Dave,

Interesting slice of the buyer's perspective. A decent percentage of my voice work comes from referrals. I agree that some voice seekers are still skeptical of trying their luck with the internet. That said, I think as voice talents we need to have both a strong web presence and keep those referrals flowing as much as possible.

Thanks for doing the survey!

Amy
John Florian
1/27/2011 at 8:05 AM
Bob,
At the Pickfu.com website, I couldn't find a good explanation of exactly how the respondents for their polls are chosen. But based on the individual comments, the respondents seem to come from the general public.

So what's that indicate for us? (It's how our potential clients in local businesses think.) Would you agree?
John
VoiceOverXtra
Carl
1/27/2011 at 3:13 AM
Dave,
Just so I understand this correctly. The survey is based on people who know nothing about the VO industry?
Best wishes,
Carl Bobb
Strasburg, CO
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