Throughout the long tenure of my voiceover career, I've had a lot of success finding clients through email marketing but it took a while to figure out the right words to put in the email. At first, I would try mass email programs, where every prospective client would get the same template. It was pretty formulaic and didn't have a personal touch. As a result, I wasn't getting a ton of positive results.
I started doing better research on the client to learn more about their business or product. Who they were targeting and what the marketing objectives were in their advertising. I began to personalize the emails with questions about their business. I made it more about them than me. That seems to stick! I started getting replies on how a voiceover could help their messaging. This method still works today!
The more important key is building rapport when they reply to your email. Get to know each other. Make sure the subject header of your email is a question. The same can be said of how you should close the email. For example in the subject header, use something like..."Are you looking for voice actors?" And in the email, you should close with something like, "Would you mind if I sent you an mp3 of my demo?" The client now feels compelled to respond. If you end the email with, "Thank you for your time," you've let them off the hook! This strategy has worked well for me and is most effective with production companies. With talent agencies, it's essential to follow their protocol as to how they want your demo submitted.
Once some rapport has been established, the next step is planning the phone consultation. Don't get too comfortable with bantering back and forth on email. I know it seems more straightforward, but eventually, you want to get the client on the phone to ask more questions and get to know them better. This could be there start of a life-long working relationship. Even if they don't hire you immediately, the fact they took the time to talk with you is a great sign. I still get booked from clients I chatted with years ago, who didn't book me at first.
Build up that client list. Keep a spreadsheet of your emails and calls. Add dates when you want to follow up with them or when they said their project would be ready. The more emails and calls you make, the more organized you need to get.
How many emails should you send a week? Start with a number that is manageable for you. Anywhere from 10-20 is a good start. You don't have to work around the clock sending 100 emails a week. Good luck and happy emailing!