Branding is one of those terms that gets tossed around by a lot of people, some of whom know what they’re talking about. Others, not so much. I’d be in the latter category, at least most of the time. Tom Asacker, on the other hand, is one of the good guys. He’s just put out a very interesting thought piece he calls The Brand Identity Delusion (link is a PDF file) and I encourage you to read the whole thing. It runs to only a couple of pages and will be well worth your time.
And then think about how you can implement these ideas in your voiceover work. Here’s an example of what I mean. It’s my goal to leave what I usually call “a sweet taste in the mouth” of every one of my clients. I know I don’t succeed at that perfectly, but it’s my goal. I strive for this, for example, by doing everything in my power to help my clients understand that they’ve made a smart decision in hiring me to provide the voice for their project. I ask questions to be sure I understand what they need. I invite them to listen in on the phone or to direct the session live using ISDN or Source Connect. I guarantee their satisfaction by doing all needed updates and corrections at no additional charge. I can afford to make this promise because I’m not cheap. And needless to say, I suppose, I deliver their project on time.
These are just a few of the ways I’ve already put Tom’s suggestions into practice before even reading his article. I’m sure there is more I can do. And I’m going to keep thinking until I come up with at least a few of them.
(edited to fix typo)
Kara Edwards says
Bob,
What a well written article- thank you for sharing this! Branding is such a mysterious thing…I am still wading through it. I’ve learned it is much more than a picture…it is the feeling your clients get when they think of you. Very ‘all-inclusive’! Thanks again!
Kara
Bob says
Kara,
Thank you for the kind comment. I think your wading is going quite well. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Be well,
Bob
Jon Robbins says
Bob. As always I enjoy reading your blog. For those of us learning the craft and trying to soak it all up you are a wonderful resource in all things VO. Thanks for posting this article on Branding, a great read!
Bob says
Jon,
Thank you for the kind comments. I agree. A great read.
Be well,
Bob