Progress Beats Perfection

How I'm trying to stay consistent with direct marketing as a voice actor

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So, 'big announcement' - as a voice actor, direct marketing can feel like a chore. To be honest I moved back into the world of performance because I love performing, not because I enjoy writing emails and networking like a corporate sales rep. But here’s the thing: if I want to book more work and build long-term relationships, then I have to put myself out there.

The problem? Procrastination. Distraction. The never-ending cycle of "I'll do it later" followed by "Oh no, I still haven't done it." And, honestly—sometimes it’s the fear that people don’t actually want to hear from me. That nagging voice that says, "What if they find me annoying? What if they don’t reply? What if I sound unprofessional?" Yep, lots of brain noises getting in the way!

A slightly dramatic representation of me thinking about direct marketing!

The thing is I've slowly realised that I'm definitely not the only one that struggles with this. In fact, the very people I’m reaching out to—producers, video production companies, ad agencies—are likely going through a similar process. They’re trying to find new clients, maintain relationships, and put themselves out there just like I am. I keep trying to remind myself that when I reach out, I might actually be making their job easier by offering a service they need. Re-framing things in this way has taken a huge weight off my shoulders and helped me see marketing as a two-way street, not just me asking for something.

And so...I’ve come up with a few actionable things that might just help me stay consistent with direct marketing and I hereby release them into world with this blog!

1. Making It Part of My Routine

If I wait until I ‘feel like’ doing direct marketing, it’ll never happen. So, I’m going to start treating it like my warm-up exercises—something small but necessary that I just do rather than debate. My plan is to block out a specific time each day (or a few times a week) and stick to it, no excuses.

2. Keeping It Simple

One of the biggest reasons I put off marketing is overcomplicating it. I feel like every email has to be perfect. Well, maybe it doesn’t. A short, friendly message introducing myself and my services might work just as well. My goal is to focus on being authentic and professional, rather than worrying about making it perfect or super entertaining.

3. Using a Template & Personalise

Writing every email from scratch? Nope. I’m going to create a simple email template that I can then tweak to personalise. This should save so much time and make the process feel less like a mountain to climb.

4. Setting Smaller, Achievable Goals

Instead of saying, "I need to send out 50 emails this week," I’m going to start setting bite-sized goals like "Send five emails today." Smaller goals feel more manageable and are easier to accomplish, which should help me keep the momentum going.

5. Silence the Doubt—People Do Want to Hear from Me

This is the mindset shift I've already mentioned, but its something that I really need to keep working on. I tend to assume that clients or producers will be annoyed by my emails. But the reality is, they need voice actors. They want to work with talented professionals. And if I reach out in a polite, helpful way, I’m not being annoying—I’m offering them a solution. Plus, they’re probably in the same boat, reaching out to potential clients themselves. If they can do it, so can I.

6. Make It Fun?

For me, marketing doesn’t exactly spark joy, but what if I find ways to make it less painful? My plan is to put on my favorite background music, make a nice cup of coffee, or even break it up a bit by a 10 minute walk after I've done my planned emailing tasks for the day - rewards help me - I'm definitely a carrot not a stick person!

7. Accountability

I’ve decided to tell my voiceover accountability budddies about my marketing struggles, and suggest a regular check-in to share how we're all getting on. Just knowing other people are expecting an update should make me way more likely to actually do the work.

8. Use Automation Where I Can

I’m going to sort out my current CRM struggles. I simply haven't gelled with my current CRM, but will be changing to a simpler one (Voiceover View or One Page). This will help me keep track of who I’ve contacted and when and avoid that awkward "Oh, I already emailed them last week" moment.

9. Remember Why I’m Doing It

At the end of the day, direct marketing is just another way of creating opportunities to do what I love—voice acting. Keeping that in mind should help me push through the discomfort and just get it done.

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Final Thoughts

I can’t pretend I’ve got this all figured out. I'm sure I will still have days where I procrastinate. But these are the things I’m going to try to make marketing more manageable, and hopefully, they’ll help me build consistency.

I think the key will be to stop overthinking and just start. Progress beats perfection every time.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some emails to send!

Got any marketing tips of your own? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear what works for you!