Getting Started in VO, Part 7: Do You Need a Website?

Well, you are going to need somewhere for potential clients to listen to your work. Whether it’s audiobook samples or your demo(s) for commercials, games or animation you will want a way to let interested parties listen to work you’ve already done (think of this as a pre-audition audition).

Now there are several ways to go about this. You could simply upload your samples to a platform like SoundCloud. A few years ago, when I took an audiobook course from a terrific narrator and teacher named Ronnie Butler Jr., that was precisely what he suggested we do. At the time, it was his opinion that you did not need a website.

But when I recently took his advanced audiobook course he had changed his mind and now was firmly of the opinion that “Yes, you should have your own website.” And, in fact, in the interim he had put one together for himself.

Here is what I think the advantage of a website over just putting your music up on someplace like SoundCloud is. It gives you the chance to give the listener more information about yourself. In addition to your samples and demos, you can post a picture of yourself, possibly even several, but show you working . If you have a studio, you can show that to your potential clients, especially if it’s a little bit more advanced than just a closet. after all you want to convey just how professional you are and how any client would feel perfectly safe using you for a project.

Now the first decision you will need to make should you decide to put a website together on your own is which website builder do you want to use? There are any number of them that are available to you. Most will charge you something to use their templates and their building tools, but usually it’s not too terribly expensive.

Here are just some of the sites that you can turn to when it’s time to build your website:

Wix

Ideal for both beginners and seasoned website builders, Wix stands out with its user-friendly interface and an expansive library of templates. From bold, creative layouts to sleek professional designs, Wix offers something for every taste. Add to that its robust customer support, and you’ve got a platform that makes creating a stunning website a breeze.

Squarespace

Designed with creatives in mind, Squarespace is the perfect platform for showcasing your work in style. With its elegant, visually-striking templates, it provides the perfect canvas for photographers, artists, and designers. Plus, it’s loaded with powerful tools for managing orders, tracking inventory, and launching effective email marketing campaigns—all in one chic, seamless package.

GoDaddy

For service providers looking for a no-fuss solution, GoDaddy offers simplicity and value. While not as feature-rich as some competitors, its streamlined approach to website building makes it an affordable option for those who need to get online fast without overcomplicating things.

WordPress

When it comes to versatility, WordPress is hard to beat. Perfect for bloggers, writers, and content creators, it offers unparalleled customization options. Whether you’re launching a simple blog or a fully-fledged website, WordPress gives you the tools to scale and grow with ease.

Canva

If speed and simplicity are your top priorities, Canva is a fantastic choice. Known for its sleek, designer-made templates, this platform allows you to create eye-catching visuals and websites in minutes. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you don’t need to be a design expert to achieve professional-looking results.

Now, putting together your own website can be challenging, although it’s not nearly as difficult as it once was. In the past, I tried on several occasions to make a website and, invariably, threw up my hands in defeat.

But these days the process has been streamlined to such an extent it really is a case of drag and drop. In addition, any site that offers you the chance to build your own webpage is almost certainly going to include tutorials and forums in case you run into any problems. I really do believe you can do this on your own.

If you’re really skittish about your capabilities and just don’t trust yourself to do it, you can hire someone to do it for you. There are plenty of folks who are willing to help you out. The trick is to find someone you can trust.

And I have just the person for you.

I was one of those people who decided that I needed help and turned to a terrific lady named Christy Price. Here’s how she describes herself: “I’m a web designer working solely on the Squarespace platform. From creating custom websites for small businesses to building two-day websites for coaches, I love making the internet a better place, one website at a time. It's an honor to partner with these entrepreneurs and bring new life to their web presence.”

Christy offers you a chance to choose from among a number of different Squarespace templates. And once you’ve chosen one will then guide you step by step through the process of putting your website together.

That’s what I did and I have to say I had a great time. It helped enormously to know that if I found myself in a hole there was someone with so much more knowledge than I possess who I could turn to to answer any question I had.

If you are interested in checking out Christy’s offerings, may I suggest that you go to her website? Just use the link here.

I want to give my usual caveat here: you should always do due diligence before you spend a dime. Check out the website for any of the site builders above. See how they are rated by customers. Are they easy to navigate and use? Is there sufficient help from the company if you get in a jam?

DON’T ACCEPT ANYTHING BUT THE BEST! Remember, you’ll be living with this website for years to come.

That’s it for today. There’s one more blog article to come. Next time, I’ll talk about Agents and How to Go About Finding Work. I hope you’ll join me!