Voice acting is an art, but landing clients? That’s a science—and one that can feel like a unicorn hunt if you don’t have the right tools in your box.

Sure, word of mouth, referrals, and P2P and gig sites are all fine and well, but if you’re serious your business and about building a steady stream of clients, scalable lead generation and outreach is a strategy and skill you have to develop.

I’ve tried a lot of different lead generation tools out there. Some are better than others. Whether you’re new to generating your own leads or looking to level-up, in this post, I’m going to break down the top lead generation tools that can help you grow your business.

But this is not just a list—I’ll take you through their strengths, weaknesses, and why they matter in the context of your work. Let’s count them down.

#7. Nimble

Nimble is the kind of tool that doesn’t try to be everything to everyone—and that’s a good thing. It’s built for freelancers who rely heavily on social media for networking and lead generation. Think LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. It syncs seamlessly with your accounts, organizing your contacts and interactions into neat, searchable lists.

Where Nimble shines is its ability to build “smart contact lists.” For example, if you’ve been chatting with prospects on LinkedIn but lost track of who’s who, Nimble pulls it all together so you can focus on closing the deal. It’s also super affordable, starting at $25 a month.

The downside? It’s very social-media-focused. If you’re all about direct email outreach, which is where I believe you should be spending the bulk of your time, this isn’t going to be your best friend. But, if you’re super active and adept on social media, Nimble is a great tool.

#6. UpLead

It’s one thing to send super effective marketing email. It’s another to not have it delivered to the prospect’s inbox, and if it’s not delivered, it can’t be open, read, or clicked on and you’ll never get in front of that prospect to start a relationship.

UpLead solves this problem with a 95% accuracy guarantee on its contacts. It’s not flashy, but it’s super reliable.

The interface is straightforward, and the pay-as-you-go pricing model is a lifesaver for freelancers who don’t need a constant stream of leads. You simply search for contacts by industry, location, or role, and UpLead does the rest.

The downside? Its database isn’t as large as some others like Apollo.io, and heavy users might find the credits add up quickly. Still, if you care more about quality than quantity, UpLead is a strong choice.

#5. Dubb

Dubb stands out because it brings video into the lead generation game. Instead of sending another boring email, you can record a personalized video message and send it to a prospect. For freelancers in creative industries—like video editors, designers, or yeah, voice actors—this is a chance to showcase your skills in action.

Dubb also tracks engagement, so you’ll know if a prospect actually watched your video or just ignored it.

The downsides: recording videos takes time, and not everyone is comfortable on camera. It’s also a bit more technical to set up compared to other tools.

If you’re looking for a way to stand out, especially in competitive markets, Dubb is worth a shot. Just make sure your lighting and audio are on point.

#4. Mailshake

Mailshake is like the Swiss Army knife of email outreach. It automates everything—from sending cold emails to scheduling follow-ups—so you can focus on personalization and strategy. It’s incredibly user-friendly, which makes it a great choice for freelancers who are new to email marketing.

Mailshake also offers pre-built templates, so you’re not starting from scratch. And if a prospect doesn’t reply, the platform can automatically send a follow-up based on their behavior. It’s basically an assistant you didn’t know you needed.

The only downside? It’s not cheap, with plans starting at $58/month. If you’re working with a tight budget, this might not be the first tool you invest in. But for freelancers who rely heavily on email outreach, Mailshake is a good choice.

#3. Hunter.io

Hunter.io is a minimalist tool that does one thing exceptionally well: finding professional email addresses. If you’ve ever stared at a company’s website, wondering how to get in touch with someone beyond the generic “info@” address or the dreaded contact form, Hunter is here to save the day.

It’s simple to use. Type in a company’s domain, and Hunter pulls up all the associated email addresses. It even verifies them to ensure your emails won’t bounce. But don’t expect bells and whistles—Hunter doesn’t handle outreach or follow-ups. It’s just a starting point.

For freelancers who rely on email outreach, Hunter is fantastic. Pair it with a platform like Mailshake, and you’ve got a powerful combo.

#2. LinkedIn Sales Navigator

If you’ve ever used LinkedIn to connect with clients, Sales Navigator takes that experience to the next level. With advanced search filters, you can pinpoint leads based on their job title, company size, or even geographic location. It also lets you save leads and get alerts when they change jobs or share updates.

Sales Navigator isn’t cheap, starting at $79/month, but it can be worth it if your target clients are active on LinkedIn. The catch? You’ll need a polished LinkedIn profile to make the most of it. A half-finished profile with a blurry headshot won’t cut it.

Honestly, having been a Sales Navigator user for a long time, unless your LinkedIn and outreach strategy is really nailed down, you’re better off using LinkedIn free.

But for those targeting corporate clients, Sales Navigator is an investment that can pay off—if you’re willing to put in the effort to write personalized messages and nurture relationships.

#1. Apollo.io One Tool to Rule Them All

Apollo.io is a lead gen platform that truly does it all. What does that mean? It means it’s both a lead generation tool and an email outreach tool all under one roof. The database of verified contacts is massive, even larger than LinkedIn, it has better and more search filters than even Sales Navigator, and integrated email tools. Apollo is, quite simply, the shit.

What sets Apollo apart is its ability to manage the entire lead generation process, from finding contacts to tracking engagement. Whether you’re targeting small businesses or reaching out to enterprise-level clients, Apollo helps you refine your search and execute your strategy.

The downside? The free plan only allows 50 email credits per month, so you’ll likely need to upgrade if you’re serious about scaling.

I recommend the Pro Plan which comes with unlimited email credits. As of filming this video the Pro Plan runs $99/month and I can tell you from experience, it’s a steal at that price. Before I found Apollo, my system was cobbling together Sales Navigator, Hubspot, Hunter.io, and a couple of other tools and that system was costing me $550/month. And it wasn’t nearly as effective or easy to execute as Apollo.io.

Now while the platform is powerful, it can feel overwhelming for beginners. But it’s what we use and teach in the VO Freedom Master Plan because we provide a ton of Apollo support in the program.

For freelancers ready to level up their business, Apollo.io is the ultimate tool to get there.

The right lead generation tool can transform your freelance business, turning client hunting from a time- and soul-sucking chore into a streamlined process that actually gets results. But no matter how shiny the tool, success still depends on your strategy and effort. Are you sending personalized outreach? Are you following up consistently? And most importantly, are you targeting the right clients? These tools are here to make your life easier, but they can’t replace the strategy, tactics, and consistency you put into your approach.

When it comes to picking the right platform, think about your specific needs.

Above all, remember that tools are just part of the equation. Great outreach starts with knowing your audience. What pain points are they struggling with, and how can your services solve them? Once you’ve nailed that, these platforms will help you scale your efforts and get your message in front of the right people.

Lead generation and outreach doesn’t have to be a pain in the ass. With a little strategy and the right tools, you can build a steady pipeline of clients that keeps your business thriving.

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

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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.