So recently a big healthcare advertising agency reached out to me through my website and handed me a great non-broadcast project for a massive global pharmaceutical company. They handed me the project, no audition necessary. And there are more jobs already on the way.

It looks like, fingers crossed, they’re going to be a great partner and a recurring client.

So how did I get this primo client, you might ask. Did I market to them for months with snappy content and radically consistent follow up? Plot twist! No!

They found me using…. Google. They searched for medical narrators, found me, and dumped a bag of money on my doorstep.

The fact is your dream client is searching online right now for someone with your exact skills. Maybe they need a voice actor who can crush their e-learning project. They type a few words into Google. Boom—pages of results.

But where are you? Not page one. Not page two. You’re somewhere way down in the witness protection program of search results where no one ever sees or hears you.

That’s why SEO matters. SEO is Search Engine Optimization. It’s about showing up where your clients are already looking.

SEO isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies with teams of search nerds in dark rooms optimizing algorithms. It’s for you, the scrappy creative professional, the solopreneur making shit happen.

But you don’t need to spend hours every day on SEO or hire a full-time expert. With just an hour or two a week and a few smart strategies, you can start climbing in the Google rankings. And at the end, I’ll show you my amazing results after concentrating on SEO for less than a year.

So, let’s talk about the things you can do—simple, approachable strategies that even the busiest freelancer can tackle.

Start with Keywords—Your New BFFs

Keywords are the bread and butter of SEO. They’re how clients find you, plain and simple. Think about it. If someone needs your services, what words or phrases are they typing into Google? That’s your starting point.

Let’s say you’re a freelance voice actor specializing in explainer videos. Would your client be searching for “voice actor”? Probably not—it’s way too broad. But “explainer video voice actor fast turnaround”? Now we’re talking. These longer, more specific phrases—called long-tail keywords—are gold. They’re less competitive and more targeted, meaning the people searching for them are more likely to actually need you now.

Not sure where to start? Tools like Google’s autocomplete (just start typing in the search bar and see what pops up), Keywords Everywhere, or Ubersuggest can give you ideas. And don’t forget to think like your client. What are their pain points? What would they actually type when they need help? If you can answer that, you’ve got your keywords.

Give Your Website a Little TLC

Let’s talk about your website for a second. It doesn’t have to be a work of art, but it does need to be functional and optimized. Imagine your site is like a storefront. Is it welcoming? Easy to navigate? Or is it a cluttered mess that makes people want to run for the hills?

Start with your titles. Every page on your site needs a clear, unique title that includes your main keyword. For example, instead of a generic “About Me” page, try something like “About [Your Name]: Voice Actor for Explainer Videos.” This helps Google (and your clients) know exactly what you’re about.

Then there’s the meta description—the short blurb that shows up under your site’s title in search results. Think of it as your elevator pitch. Write something snappy and keyword-rich that makes people want to click. A meta description can be any length, but Google will typically only show 155–160 characters in search results. Longer descriptions will be cut off, but are still important for SEO. Try to keep it to no more than 400 characters.

And please, for the love of all things holy, make sure your site is fast. A slow site is like a bad first date—no one’s sticking around, and it will hurt you in SEO. Use free tools like GTmetrix or Google’s PageSpeed Insights to find out what’s slowing you down and fix it.

Content Is King—But Make It Count

I know, I know. You’ve heard it before. “Content is king!” But the reason you’ve heard it so much is it’s true. Regularly updating your site with fresh, valuable content is like a love letter to Google. It shows that you’re active, relevant, and worth ranking.

Now, you don’t need to blog every single week and churn out generic content for the sake of it. Focus on quality over quantity. Write about things that matter to your clients. Answer their questions. Solve their problems. Help them address their pain points.

That said, quality and quantity is better than quality alone.

If you’re a voice actor, for example, you could write a post like “How to Choose the Right Voice for Your Corporate Video.” A web designer might try “Five Mistakes Small Businesses Make with Their Websites.” This isn’t just about SEO—it’s about building trust and showing prospects that you understand them and their needs and you’re tailoring your content to that.

Remember, content doesn’t have to necessarily mean the written word. You could create a video, an infographic, or even a simple case study showcasing a recent project. The key is to keep it client-focused.

Think Local, Even If You’re Global

Here’s a sneaky little trick: local SEO. This is more important for creatives like photographers who are more tied to their geography, but even if most of your clients aren’t in your area, optimizing for local search can still boost your rankings overall.

Start by claiming your Google Business Profile, yes, even if you work nationally or globally. Fill it out with all the details—business name, location, services, and photos. Ask your clients to leave reviews there, too.

And don’t forget to sprinkle some local keywords into your site. If you’re a Tucson-based voice actor, mention Tucson on your About page or in a blog post. Even a subtle nod to your location can make a difference.

Build Links Like a Networking Beast

Let’s talk backlinks. In SEO, links back to your site are like endorsements. When another website links to yours, it’s telling Google, “Hey, this person knows their stuff.” The more quality backlinks you have, the more trustworthy you look to the search engines.

But how do you get them without being spammy? Collaboration is your best bet. Partner with other freelancers or creatives and share each other’s content. Offer to write a guest post for an industry blog in exchange for a link. And don’t be shy about asking for a link if you’re interviewed or featured somewhere.

It’s all about relationships—just like real-life networking, but without the awkward small talk.

Don’t Sleep on Social Media

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Does social media even matter for SEO?” Technically, no. Social media doesn’t directly impact your rankings. But it does amplify your content, and that does help.

When you share your blog posts, portfolio updates, or testimonials on social media, you’re driving traffic to your site. And when people engage with your content, Google likes that.

So, keep your social media game strong. Post consistently. Use keywords in your captions. And always, always, always, always include a link back to your site.

The Small Stuff That Adds Up

Finally, let’s talk about the little things that often get overlooked but can make a big impact over time. Alt text for images, for example. This is the text that tells Google what your images are about. It’s quick and easy to add, and it makes your site more accessible, too.

Then there’s internal linking. This is where you link from one page on your site to another. It helps Google understand your site’s structure and keeps visitors on your site longer. For example, if you write a blog post about your process, link to your portfolio page where they can see examples of your work.

And don’t forget to keep your site fresh. Update your portfolio regularly. Add new testimonials to relevant pages as soon as you get them. Refresh old blog posts with current examples. Google loves sites that evolve.

Here’s the deal: SEO isn’t magic, and it isn’t quick. It’s like planting a garden—you won’t see growth overnight, but with consistent effort, things will start to sprout.

I started concentrating consistently on my VO site this past January and you can see the effects on my organic search traffic. It has increased by a factor of about 6x in less than a year and clients are reaching out more through my website because they found me through search.

The good news is, you don’t need to be an expert or spend a ton of time on it. If I’m being honest, I haven’t even been doing all of these consistently.

Just an hour or two a week can make a difference. Tackle one strategy at a time. Start with your keywords, then optimize your site, then work on content. It’s all about taking small, incremental steps.

At the end of the day, SEO isn’t just about rankings—it’s about making sure the people who need your services can find you, and so yeah it is about rankings. I completely take that back.

So, go ahead. Start planting those SEO seeds.

Go to VOPro.pro to get my Move Touch Inspire Newsletter for Voice Actors every Thursday, for more information on the VOPro community, and the VO Freedom Master Plan.

If you found value from this video then help us spread the word to other voice actors by subscribing to the channel and sharing this video.

Thanks for the conversations we have here on YouTube, on the blog, in the VO Pro community and the VO community at large. The more we talk, the more we listen, the more we exchange ideas and information, the better, stronger voiceover industry we can have.

We’ll see ya again here soon. Thanks for watching.