It seems that spring has sprung, Voiceover Achievers. This month has been full of incredible events, starting with VO Atlanta. It was so wonderful to connect with old friends, make new ones, and see each other outside the parameters of our Zoom meeting screens. We wished it didn’t have to end, but we are excited it will return next year, thanks to the hard work of J. Michael Collins and Anna Collins, who have acquired the conference and will continue its legacy.
After VO Atlanta, we returned to work feeling fresh and inspired. And most recently, we honored Earth Day. It got us thinking– Earth Day is a day of learning and remembrance, about how to protect and preserve the planet we live on by adopting sustainable practices. It’s a day, more than any other in the year, where we hear the word sustainability– and it’s stuck with us.
Sustainability is more than a buzzword, it’s a way of life, and most importantly, it’s a way of conducting business. Creating a sustainable business means creating a brand that works for you. Here’s how you can do it:
How to Create a Sustainable VO Business
Creating a brand that can work for you–even while you’re sleeping– is one great way to strengthen your voiceover career.
Discover. The first step to creating a sustainable VO business is to discover your brand. Your brand is the piece of yourself that you want to share with the world, and having a strong brand gives you a solid foundation upon which you can build your business. You can discover your brand in many ways– by examining what parts of yourself you want to share, crafting your origin story, or even by calling in experts who know how to build a brand from the ground up.
Define. After you’ve discovered your brand, you’ve got to define your audience. I’ve said it before but it’s worth mentioning again– a great brand repels as many as it attracts. Your brand isn’t for everyone and that’s okay! Instead of focusing on who you don’t relate to, you want to define the audience you do resonate with and focus on building those connections. Defining your audience is a powerful step in sustainable brand building because it allows you to grow your audience authentically and intentionally.
Direct. Now that you have an audience with whom your brand resonates, you need to keep directing them back to you. Building strong and lasting connections is a great way to keep business coming in again and again. Digital marketing tools like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are a great way to remind your audience of who you are while also maintaining the relevance of your brand. Directing your audience back to your brand is a great way to sustain and even grow your VO business.
Sustainable Brands We Love
We’re all about creating long-lasting brands, but in light of Earth Day, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out some of our favorite brands using sustainable methods.
Patagonia has always been focused on its impact on the environment, and today they are practicing ethical and responsible production more now than ever. Their efforts are evident in their actions, as 94% of Patagonia’s lines use recycled materials of some kind and donate 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
Reformation is a hugely popular clothing brand today that’s known for its effortless feminine silhouettes made from sustainable fabrics, such as rescued old stock materials and repurposed vintage clothing. Their tagline, “Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We’re #2.” says it all.
ALOHAS refers to itself as a slow-fashion brand. They promote sustainable production and responsible shopping. Their on-demand schedule allows you to pre-order next season’s must-haves at a discount, thereby avoiding any wasteful overproduction. They are committed to the sustainable fashion movement, and they oversee all production in Alicante, Spain — where every piece is hand-made. This allows them to guarantee the quality of their products, decrease their carbon footprint, and ensure fair labor practices.
Too Good To Go is an app that’s connecting hungry clients with greatly discounted delicious food that would otherwise be wasted. When you use the app, you won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up, but that’s all part of the surprise. The app is leading the fight against restaurant food waste in order to create a more sustainable food system now.
Misfits Market works directly with farmers and makers to rescue any organic produce or grocery items that might otherwise go to waste. They then deliver those groceries straight to your door in eco-friendly packaging, at a discounted price.
We Want to Help You Succeed
At CSM, we are constantly asking ourselves what we can do to spark you to move your joy forward or how we can make you more successful. The way we see it, success and joy are synonymous. Because of this, we want to do everything in our power to lift you up and lead you to success.
We know you’re passionate about what you do, and we’re just as passionate about helping you maximize your potential by creating a sustainable, long-lasting VO brand. We can’t join you in the booth– that’s your area of expertise, but we can help you manage everything else.
If you are looking for help with branding, outreach, writing, or social media, we’re here for you. Our team of branding and digital media specialists are eager to help you grow your brand and your business.
You can email Caitlin at caitlin@celiasiegel.com to get a free social media consultation and learn more about the social media and PR department or Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me to start developing your own personal brand.
Also, check out my book Voiceover Achiever to get moving on your own branding journey with my expert guidance and tried & true methodology. We will be holding a few workshops to get direct feedback throughout the new year so keep your eye out for those!
–Celia Siegel
