This post may be intuitive to those of whom who don't actually know how to layout their services and what it is they do in terms of 'voice-overs'. In this blog, I'm firstly going to cover commonsense. If you walk into a shop and ask the managing director what a voice-over is? He most likely will not know or will give you the wrong answer.

Explaining your product
Keep it brief, and explain in short-terms! Over-elaborate explanations will most likely be throwing in the trash. For example, If you're sending out a demo, be sure to label it correctly, with a reason they should listen to it and keep it.

Contact Details
Providing phone numbers and other contact details, -- provide one of each. One contact number and your first name! Sending numerous contact methods will just confuse the person you're sending it to. If it's a must to have more than one contact method, for example: 1. Office Num... 2. Mobile/Cell num....be descriptive to why you need two numbers. I.e. Mobile for short-notice jobs only. Office for general inquiries and bookings.

Commonsense
As a marketing adviser, I know the common mistakes most talents will make prior to sending out their marketing materials. Be on the ball, and before you send it: would you be able to understand the instructions of your material and what you do? (Being the person you're sending it too)? Your material should be self-explanatory and written in 'English', and avoid big words and keep it simple. Don't write with 'IM Shorthand text'. Avoid elaborations if possible!

Name Your Material - (This is Wrong)
Name your material Properly: JohnDoe-CMD-09.mp3.
(Correct Method)
Most people won't know what the abbreviations mean. So name your demo: John-Commercial-Demo-2009.mp3

Make It Simple
A common mistake people make; and thats the use of explanations. Its hard enough to remember one name let-alone two. Why provide multiple contact numbers -- which one should they store? Storing both numbers is time-consuming and confusing. Market your material as a business name. Brief description of what you do: I am a voice talent and provide Commercials...TV ads and narration presentations...On-hold-messaging for answering machines and voices for telephone systems. Etc...

Know Your Title
If you voice for the above: Do not write it like: My name is John Doe and I am a voice-over artist. I provide voice-overs for Radio Imaging, Commercial Liner, Telephony voice-over support.

The person receiving your material still doesn't know what a 'voice-over' is! Secondly, you're not a 'voice artist' since you are not voice acting! Voice actors do Movie Trailers and Audio Books. For the above, you'd be considered a voice talent.

Your One And Only Introduction
Your introduction is the opening to why they might want to hire you. It should explain what your business does in brief. Clearly displaying your contact 'Name' and 'number', 'e-mail address' and 2-4 lines of an introduction. People don't have time to read articles and pages of descriptions. It's really all common sense....so keep it simple and short. Let your 'Demo' do the selling!

Do You Need Help Marketing Yourself As a Voice Talent?
If you need help marketing yourself as a voice talent. I can help you at a reasonable rate and I'll run through everything with you, right down to your websites and how, where, and when to submit your material.

Commonsense & Support
Remember, don't think like a voice talent! Put yourself in the persons shoes who'll be receiving your material. This is just a brief blog covering some of the main areas where your material will fail on presentation. For a further educated and intuitive elaboration on marketing yourself in the voice-over sector. I can be hired through my voice-over website @ www.voice-voiceovers.com for a live audio/video conference.

Part 2 of this blog will cover the do's and don't in a bulleted top 10 what to do and what not to do. I need more time before I can write it. Hang tight. :)