How many people do you come in contact with on a daily basis? 25, 50, 100? Out of those, how many do you interact with in a business capacity? Whether we are conscious of it or not, we live in a transactional society. Most of us are trading goods and services constantly. We may not hear the ringing of cash registers or feel the warmth of plastic in our hands after swiping our debit cards, but business is happening all around us. With that said, practicing common decency and being courteous to one another goes REALLY REALLY far!
Think about a time when someone asked you to do something. How long did you ponder on it? Did you accept immediately or took your time to deliberate? Does your relationship or how the person inquired have impact on that decision? Human nature always leans to us being nicer to those who are nice to us. I think the same can be said in business. If you are trying to market yourself, putting your best foot forward is never a bad idea. That encompasses being as prepared as possible, knowing your audience, and having awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses.
Above all else, honesty is the best policy. If someone is going to pay you for a service, do not try to bait and switch them or false advertise something that you cannot provide with confidence. Even if it costs you a booking at the moment, being honest and forthright still goes a long way to having a client for life. It is better to under-promise and over-deliver, than to over-promise and come up short. Remember that there will always be opportunities, but a bad reputation is something most people will never be able to shake.
If you are having problems booking jobs or going through a dry spell, don’t worry. Think of it as another opportunity to practice and get better. There is no such thing as wasted effort. If you are always ready, you don’t have to get ready when the time comes. Believe you me, once the door opens, the word will spread and it may not be just because of your talent, it will be because of your positive attitude and professionalism.
Do your best.
Be Transparent.
Communicate.
Follow up.
These four steps will take your far in life, not just in voiceover. I’m not just saying it, I know it for a fact. Everyone is somebody, treat them that way and you will never lose a customer. Word Spreads faster than you know and the world is much smaller than you think.
