How To Get Your First Paying Voice Over Clients (Step-by-Step)
If you’re still waiting for that “big break” in voice over, you’re already losing.
The harsh reality is that no one gets “discovered” and the voice actors who land their first clients and eventually go full-time aren’t always the most talented.
They’re the ones who treat their VO journey like a business from day one. If you’re ready to stop hoping and start booking, this is your wake-up call.
The Myth of the Magical First Client
No one is walking through that door to discover you.
I learned this the hard way.
When I started, I had the shiny new demo, a website I was proud of, and a head full of dreams. I thought, “If I just keep auditioning, someone will notice me.” Weeks turned into months. My inbox stayed empty. My confidence started to crack.
Then I realized: The first clients don’t find you. You find them.
Why Most Part-Time Voice Actors Stay Stuck
The Audition Trap
Most new voice actors fall into the same trap: audition, audition, audition.
It feels productive, but it’s a numbers game stacked against you. For every 100 auditions, you might book one job if you’re baseline competitive.
The odds are brutal, and the competition is insane.
The “Talent Is Enough” Lie
You’ve probably heard, “If you’re good, the work will come.” That’s a comforting lie. Cuz’ not always.
Clients hire the voice they know, not just the voice they like. If you’re invisible, you’re unemployed.
The Blueprint: How I Landed My First VO Clients (And How You Can Too)
Step 1 – Treat Your VO Like a Business, Not a Hobby
The day I stopped thinking of myself as just a side-hustling voice actor and started acting like a business owner, everything changed.
I set office hours. I scheduled my day.I put together goals and a strategic plan to get there. I tracked my outreach. I invested in marketing, not just gear.
Action Step: Block out time every week, ideally every day, for business development. If you don’t, you’ll always be “too busy” to grow.
Step 2 – Build a Client-Ready Foundation
You don’t need a Hollywood agent or a $10,000 studio. But you do need:
Solid baseline training. You need to be competent and competitive. You’re competing with actors who have trained for years and decades.
A professional demo (not a DIY hack job)
A simple, clean website with your demo, contact info, and a short bio
A real business email address with your domain (a Gmail address tells everyone you don’t take this seriously)
Pro Tip: Your website doesn’t need to be uber-fancy. It needs to be findable and functional.
Step 3 – Identify Your Ideal First Clients
Not all clients are created equal. When I started, I wasted time chasing big-name brands who only hired established talent. My first breakthrough came when I targeted:
Businesses needing explainer videos
Audio and video production houses
Corporate clients
E-learning companies
Action Step: Make a list of 50 potential clients in these categories. Research their contact info. This is your first lead list.
Step 4 – Master Voice Over Client Outreach
Here’s the uncomfortable part: You have to reach out. Cold emails. LinkedIn messages.
My first client came from a cold email. I introduced myself, linked my demo, and offered a free sample read. They replied within a day. That job led to a referral.
Pro Tip: Need help writing great marketing emails? Try VO ClientConnect+, our AI powered email draft generator which uses the same proven marketing principles taught in the VO Freedom Master Plan.
Action Step: Send 10 personalized emails a day. Track your responses. Follow up after a week, then every quarter.
Step 5 – Leverage Voice Over Marketplaces IF YOU HAVE TO (But Don’t Rely on Them)
Sites like Voices.com, Voice123, and Fiverr can be an absolutely shitty starting point. Don’t build your business on them. Use them as an audition source if you must, but always be building your own client list.
Warning: These platforms are oversaturated and price-driven. Stand out by being ultra-responsive and professional.
Step 6 – Network Like Your Career Depends on It (Because It Does)
Your network is your net worth. Join VO Facebook groups, attend online meetups, and connect with other creatives. My third-ever client came from a referral in a Facebook group.
Action Step: Join three online communities this week. Introduce yourself. Offer value and ask smart questions. I might recommend VO Pro.
Step 7 – Turn Every Job Into a Referral Engine
After every gig, ask for a testimonial and a referral. Most clients know other people who need voice work. One happy client can lead to five more.
Script:
“If you know anyone else who needs a voice like mine, I’d be grateful for an introduction.”
Voice Over Marketing Strategies That Actually Work
Build a Simple Marketing Funnel
Top of Funnel: Social media posts, blog articles, YouTube samples
Middle of Funnel: Email outreach, LinkedIn connections, free sample reads
Bottom of Funnel: Direct pitches, follow-ups, closing the deal
Action Step: Pick one platform (LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube) and post weekly samples or behind-the-scenes content.
Email Marketing Isn’t Dead
Build a simple email list of past clients and leads. Send monthly updates, new demos, or special offers. Stay top-of-mind.
Mindset Shifts for Booking More Voice Over Work
Embrace Rejection
You will hear No way the fuck more more than Yes. That’s absolutely, inescapably normal. Every no is one step closer to a yes. Track your outreach and celebrate the effort, not just the results.
Stop Comparing, Start Creating
It’s easy to get discouraged by other actors’ highlight reels. Focus on your own progress. Every client you land is a win. The only comparison that serves you is vs. you yesterday, you last week, you last year, etc.
Invest in Yourself
Take courses on marketing, business, and performance. The best investment is in your own growth.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances (And How to Avoid Them)
Waiting for Perfection
Don’t wait until your demo is perfect or your website is just right. Start now. You can always improve as you go. Perfectionism is to be avoided at all costs.
Spamming Instead of Connecting
Personalize every outreach. Show you’ve done your homework. Clients can smell a copy-paste pitch a mile away. Understand just who your buyer is in detail.
Ignoring Follow-Up
It takes between 8 and 13 touches to engage a prospect. If you don’t hear back, follow up after a week, then every quarter. Persistence pays.
Your First Client Is Closer Than You Think
I’ll never forget the email that changed everything: “We’d love to book you for our project.” It wasn’t a national commercial. It was a local business explainer. But it was real money at pro rates from my own marketing efforts, validation, and the start of my full-time VO career.
You don’t need luck. You need a plan and the guts to execute it.
Ready to Book Your First Voice Over Client? Here’s Your Action Plan
Set up your business foundation (demo, website, email)
Build your lead list (50+ potential clients)
Send 10 personalized emails a day
Leverage marketplaces for early gigs
Network and ask for referrals
Track your outreach and follow up
Invest in your growth
The Only Thing Standing Between You and Your First Client Is Action
Most part-time voice actors never go full-time because they wait for permission. Don’t be most actors. Be the one who takes action, learns from every no, and keeps showing up.
Your first client is out there, waiting for you to reach out. Will you answer the call?
Ready to stop dreaming and start booking?
If you want step-by-step guidance, proven outreach tools, and a community of VO pros cheering you on, check out my Work With Me page for programs designed to help you land your first (and next) clients faster.