Money Talks - but Can I Talk For Money?

[kenboss]

Ladies and Gentlemen: your expert input PLEASE. I am a professional actor and voiceover artist -- based in the UK – but my native accent is Canadian. I also do loads of character accents and cartoon-type voices. I am new to internet marketing but refuse to wear the badge that says NEWBIE. (mostly because it makes holes in my shirts)

Basically I want to know: How many different ways can I market my voice? I would be especially interested in short term quick cash suggestions, but certainly long term as well.

Strengths: my voice is very clear and confident– naturally warm and friendly, with a sense of personality and humour, and I pride myself in being able to explain things really clearly. I prefer not to produce the plastic, generic sound you hear so often in audio ebooks etc., unless that’s absolutely what the client wanted. (Of course, what Mr Client wants, he gets – who am I to tell him?)

I am already employing one obvious answer: I am currently composing a couple of products in the IM niche and plan to make audios of them as well to enhance their value.

And I already know about voice marketing sites like Voices.com – but I am looking for suggestions that perhaps don’t involve competing with the 100,000 others trying to sell their voices on the same site.

I already took one initiative a short while ago. When one Warrior sent me a review copy of his WSO (it was a 30 page report), I wrote back, sending (along with my testimonial for his product) a sample audio I made of his first 3 pages and offered to record the whole thing for free in exchange for a testimonial, that I could use later when offering my services to others. He happily accepted - loved the result, and I know he will provide the testimonial. But now I am not sure how to frame or target my offer.

For example: if I were to offer here on the Forum -thru WSO or Classified - to record for other internet marketers:
a) audio versions of their own ebooks, reports, courses, etc. to enhance product value, or use as opt-in enticements
b) podcasts :- i.e. if they knew what they wanted to say but just didn’t want to use their own voice
c) salespage/squeezepage messages or voiceovers
d) training audios
e) other audio content

Which, if any of those services do internet marketers pay for? (Preferably large numbers of them) If you were to see a WSO about this, what would you want to see, to make you feel inclined to buy from me?

I guess what makes me hesitate is I don’t see ANYBODY else offering these types of services on here, so maybe there is no market for it?

What do you think? Obviously I can just try an offer and find out. That in fact is exactly my intention, but before spending the 20 bucks I just wanted to throw the question out here first. Research the market.

Or any other ways my voice could make money that I haven’t thought of???

Cheers
Ken

[gianne2705]

Yeah,you can absolutely have money from your skills.As i know there are sites who needs freelancer artist like you.Just research the web.

[George Wright]

Ken,

Welcome aboard the IM train. I think that if you put some samples on a site and link to them from your Sig. file that would be a great step forward.

Also set your prices on your site and stick to them. When you run a WSO make it Special and I think you will get a lot of work.

Having said that, here is another way, get products with resell rights make audios for them and sell them yourself. (you might have to get permission to record them from the author just check the TOS)

If I think of anything else I'll drop back in.

George Wright

[Realdeals228]

I think you could have a decent market making audio versions of ebooks. I know I enjoy listening rather than reading and I would consider having some of my ebooks made into audio if it was priced well. I know some people like me can't make their own audio because of accents or speech issues. If you have any samples I would be interested in seeing them if you could set up a quick page.

[kenboss]

Excellent and encouraging suggestions, all! Setting up a page with samples, etc sounds like a good first step - at this moment of writing I don't know exactly how to do that but I'm 99% sure I've already got training stuff on my hard drive covering that very subject....

[marciayudkin]

And I already know about voice marketing sites like Voices.com – but I am looking for suggestions that perhaps don’t involve competing with the 100,000 others trying to sell their voices on the same site.

Ken,

You are on the right track, looking for a way to avoid head to head competition.

Here's how this principle could work for you.

If you want to test the IM niche for voice work, start with 3-5 things a successful Internet marketer (i.e., one who could afford to pay) could use you for and lead with each particular use rather than with your services in general. Educate them on why this would help them make more money.

What I mean is, don't say, "Hire me for my voice services." Instead, use any one of these:

- Here's how you can double the income from any nicely selling ebook [by having someone like you record it as an audio book]

- Are you turning away people who can't stand your voice? [when they should hire someone else like you to do the introductory audio at their site]

Etc.

Once you get a few testimonials in this niche that attest to higher conversion rates with your services, you will be on your way.

Good luck,
Marcia Yudkin, Marketing Mentor

[JaSunn]

How many times have you clicked into a website and received that annoying little voice of "Congratulations! You have just won a new iPod...Wii...iPhone.." ad? If you have a voice that you portrayed to us here, then I certainly believe you could easily jump into the market of advertising. Many people are looking for narrators for their PDFs, banners, YouTube videos and similar. If you could find the right source for finding these opportunities, I have no doubt that you could easily make a nice sum as many people who are persistently looking for these type services.

[kenboss]

Originally Posted by marciayudkin

Ken,

You are on the right track, looking for a way to avoid head to head competition.

Here's how this principle could work for you.

If you want to test the IM niche for voice work, start with 3-5 things a successful Internet marketer (i.e., one who could afford to pay) could use you for and lead with each particular use rather than with your services in general. Educate them on why this would help them make more money.

What I mean is, don't say, "Hire me for my voice services." Instead, use any one of these:

- Here's how you can double the income from any nicely selling ebook [by having someone like you record it as an audio book]

- Are you turning away people who can't stand your voice? [when they should hire someone else like you to do the introductory audio at their site]

Etc.

Once you get a few testimonials in this niche that attest to higher conversion rates with your services, you will be on your way.

Good luck,
Marcia Yudkin, Marketing Mentor

This is absolutely superb advice Marcia, generously provided by yourself. I've actually seen some of your posts before, and they are always razor sharp and to the point. And I feel honoured to have received such a detailed answer from you!
Yup - this has definitely inspired me : spelling out individual, specific uses/benefits is a brilliant strategy. Providing ready-made solutions not only to savvy marketers who already know exactly what they want, but also to those who would love to enhance their marketing by adding audio, but aren't yet sure how.
They can go to freelance sites, and hope to find a Voice that will understand what they need, or they can bump into me, standing in the pathway, saying "I KNOW what you're trying to achieve, and here's what I can do for you!"
Genius, Marcia

Originally Posted by JaSunn

How many times have you clicked into a website and received that annoying little voice of "Congratulations! You have just won a new iPod...Wii...iPhone.." ad? If you have a voice that you portrayed to us here, then I certainly believe you could easily jump into the market of advertising. Many people are looking for narrators for their PDFs, banners, YouTube videos and similar. If you could find the right source for finding these opportunities, I have no doubt that you could easily make a nice sum as many people who are persistently looking for these type services.

and thank you too, JaSunn, for pointing out still more potential uses. The ideas are really staring to churn!!

Anybody else???

cheers Ken

[debra]

I like Marcia's answer. Very solid and logical in suggested approach.

I have a more short term idea.

Voicing over a children's bedtime story...with the childs name in it.

Read a bedtime story and make one of the charactors a generic name like...Lisa.

At the end of the story...you can say something like...audio presentation by YOU...order your childs story at "really simple url".

I would buy one for each of my grandkids for christmas and birthdays.

[JamesPenn]

Originally Posted by kenboss

I already took one initiative a short while ago. When one Warrior sent me a review copy of his WSO (it was a 30 page report), I wrote back, sending (along with my testimonial for his product) a sample audio I made of his first 3 pages and offered to record the whole thing for free in exchange for a testimonial, that I could use later when offering my services to others. He happily accepted - loved the result, and I know he will provide the testimonial. But now I am not sure how to frame or target my offer.

It was my report that Ken did the audio for, and I must say it was absolutely fantastic.

It's added an incredible amount of value to my offer and I'd happily use Ken again. His voice was incredibly clear, made the report sound interesting and highly professional.

If you want someone to turn your report into an audio version and double the perceived value, then use Ken.

James

[kenboss]

Originally Posted by debra

I like Marcia's answer. Very solid and logical in suggested approach.

I have a more short term idea.

Voicing over a children's bedtime story...with the childs name in it.

Read a bedtime story and make one of the charactors a generic name like...Lisa.

At the end of the story...you can say something like...audio presentation by YOU...order your childs story at "really simple url".

I would buy one for each of my grandkids for christmas and birthdays.

A FAB idea, Debra - and it would be a simple matter to compose and record original stories especially designed for customization, smoothly editing in the child's name in all the appropriate places. Could even offer a deluxe version which would include street, town, siblings names, favorite toy - the mind boggles!!

Would just have to make sure I have all the correct pronunciations!

Thx again Debra - you rock - so pleased am I with this idea, that if and when I get it off the ground, I will do deluxe freebies for all your grandkids -will send you a friend request right now so as not to forget you.

Originally Posted by JamesPenn

It was my report that Ken did the audio for, and I must say it was absolutely fantastic.

It's added an incredible amount of value to my offer and I'd happily use Ken again. His voice was incredibly clear, made the report sound interesting and highly professional.

If you want someone to turn your report into an audio version and double the perceived value, then use Ken.

James

Speaking of people who rock, THANKS for that incredible testimonial James!! Bet you thought I'd given up on this idea - but like a typical thick newbie, I started to doubt myself and underestimate/undervalue what I had to offer, and began jumping around from one IM idea to another until the other day I stopped in my tracks and said "what the heck am I doing??? I've got a unique product here in my voice that no-one else can duplicate, and a vast number of supportive EXPERTS here in Warrior Land to help me figure out how to get it out there. So get focused and get going!"

Yup that's what I said.
I'm going to start implementing these ideas and advices right away, but folks, I sure wouldn't say no to a few more!!!

cheers
Ken

[Kamran]

If you are still at it, I suggest the non-English speaking world. There are many marketers who would pay good just to have a native speaker make their audio or video info product.

[Kevin Williams]

Some people - such as myself - hate their voice and would love to have someone else do videos for them. Simply reading what they want and adding some personality to it. Wouldn't be hard to find work if you paid $20 and started a Warriors for Hire thread.