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How To Ask Your Voice Over Clients
For Info, Finished Production & Testimonial

By J. Christopher Dunn

Voice Actor

Do you dislike asking for stuff?
  • Do you get all wigged out and feel it’s self-serving to ask for something you need or to a lesser extent, want?
  • Would you rather receive that thing you want without asking?
You are not alone. Working with clients every day provides several opportunities to ask for something.

JUST ASKING ...

With a new client it might be billing, contact and delivery preferences. It could also be a request for a mailing address, a copy of the finished piece; and a testimonial.

Getting a mailing address is simple and should be one of the primary pieces of information you request from your new client. The request for a copy of the completed production should be made in the agreement you have between yourself and the client. (You do have a written agreement, right?)

Asking for a testimonial is probably the most uncomfortable request to make at first. Perhaps typical thinking is that when a client likes what they receive, a testimonial will follow, unsolicited, right?

That seldom happens. It’s similar to when I read a blog that I like. If I have time and feel UN-rushed, I’ll leave a comment. When time is not a luxury, I tell myself that I’ll go back later and leave a comment. As with automatic, unsolicited testimonials, that seldom happens.

GETTING WHAT YOU NEED ...

Here are three examples that will help you get the information you need, the copy of the finished product you want and the praise you’d love to receive.

Client Information. When I’m in the client setup phase, I send an email that details what I need for the project confirmation I’ll be sending for review and approval.

I write the info request in such a way that one thing needs to be satisfied before another step can be completed. (Give me the information I need and I’ll write a project confirmation that will lock in the session time.)

The words I use are along these lines:
I’ll write a project confirmation that outlines the process, billing, delivery and associated followup processes. All I need are a few pieces of information from you. Once I receive the info, I’ll send the Project Confirmation for your review and approval and lock in your session time.
Then I add what information I need.

Final Production Copy. Asking for a copy of the produced video, spot, narration or whatever, should be straight forward.

Most producers understand the importance of receiving a copy of the finished production. A collection of these will probably be great building blocks for your next demo.

I call this out in my Project Confirmation and then remind them one week after delivery of my voice over.
Thanks again for hiring me to do the voice over. I would like to consider using the work I've done for you on an upcoming demo reel. Would it be possible to get a digital copy of the finished video? A link to a file that I can download might be the easiest. If you prefer, feel free to send me a CD or DVD copy. If you choose to send a copy, my mailing address is ___. I really appreciate you taking time for me and I look forward to receiving a copy.
If you don’t hear back from them after a week, you may have to reach out to them again.

Be persistent, and if it’s a piece of work that you know is amazing and clearly needs to be part of your next demo, call your client with your request. There is a fine line between being persistent and annoying, and that is something you’ll need to be sensitive about.

Words of Praise. Asking for a testimonial from a client may feel a bit weird. Don’t let it bug you.

When you get along well with a client and the project came together nicely, you owe it to yourself to get validation. I know it sounds very self-serving, and that’s because it is.

Testimonials are useful to share with prospective clients, post on your website, and even use in your signature. They are valuable.
Could you help me out with a small favor? I'm in the process of collecting material for my next website update and I wanted to ask if you would consider writing a testimonial for me. It can be as short as a sentence or a whole paragraph about your opinion of working with me or what I've created for your client.

What would be especially helpful is to mention the benefits of working with me. But really, anything at all you'd like to say. I would love to be able to put a quote from you on my website. If you'd like to see some great examples of what other clients have written, check out the testimonial section on my website at ___.

To keep the process simple, you can type your testimonial into the body of an e-mail and send it my way. Then, I'll copy and paste it into a document and send to my web designer when the time comes. Thanks so much, and please let me know if there's any way I can return a similar favor.
Send this one as soon after delivery of your voice over as possible. Clients will be the happiest about your work right after delivery - that’s why I suggest not waiting any longer than a few days.

When you’re met with silence, contact them again.

These tips should come in handy the next time you’re anxious about asking for something. I hope they work for you.
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ABOUT J. CHRISTOPER
J. Christopher Dunn is a professional voice actor who lives in the Pacific Northwest close to Seattle. He voices commercials, web demos, podcasts, product demonstrations, telephony projects and documentaries. His voice is described as friendly, warm and trustworthy - the guy next door or the voice of high profile corporate presentations. He also spends time with the Penn Cove Players, a Whidbey Island, WA troupe that performs original audio dramas, as we all as recreates old time radio shows in front of a live studio audience.


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Comments (2)
Elizabeth Spence
9/6/2013 at 12:21 PM
Thanks so much for the practical suggestions---and samples of wording to use while making requests! I'm a little squeamish about asking for testimonials, even when I know I've done a good job, but your suggested protocol is wonderful.
Roy Worley
8/31/2013 at 1:27 PM
Hey Christopher
It is always good to get great practical how to steps from those who do. This was good. Thanks for sharing it.
Roy Worley
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