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From Booth to Brand:
Building Buzz as a Voice Actor
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By Rudy Gaskins, June 13, 2025
One of the persistent disconnects between voice actors and their potential clients is that they rarely move in the same circles. Voice actors, especially those who are emerging or mid-career, have long relied on facilitators such as casting directors, talent agents, managers and online casting platforms to build bridges to buyers. But the traditional model is buckling under the weight of modern economics, AI technologies, and shifting cultural dynamics. Today, waiting quietly for someone to open a door is no longer a viable strategy. Voice actors are waking up to that truth in bold and creative ways.
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Social media, especially LinkedIn, is becoming the new audition booth.
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LinkedIn began as a sterile platform for conservative, corporate networking. For years, professionals treated it as a virtual handshake: respectful, buttoned-up, and cautiously transactional. But that culture has shifted. Tech disruptors redefined what “professional” looks like. CEOs now wear jeans and work in open-plan coworking spaces rather than corner offices. The platform itself evolved, becoming more creator-friendly and content-driven. At the same time, LinkedIn began monetizing access to decision-makers. As a result, we are seeing a full-scale shift in how professionals, including voice actors, use LinkedIn. And the shift is seismic.
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Today, voice actors are running dynamic, organic marketing campaigns that directly target the people who hire them. They are using storytelling, humor, video demos, and behind-the-scenes peeks into their recording lives. These posts do more than show what they do; they reveal who they are. The result is a flood of engaging content that aims to stop the scroll and earn a listen.
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This change isn’t just anecdotal. It is structural. As LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky puts it:
“We’re moving from a platform of profiles to a platform of productivity and expression.”
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That evolution means voice actors no longer need to wait to be discovered by a gatekeeper. They can be the gate themselves. They can reach out directly to creative producers, brand managers, casting teams, and content developers. These are the same people who are now accustomed to being marketed to in informal, emotionally resonant ways. In fact, 64% of B2B buyers say they are more likely to consider a product or service if the seller shares helpful and engaging content on LinkedIn (Source: Demand Gen Report, 2023).
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Some may argue that most voice actors are simply advertising to each other, that it’s a closed loop where no buyers ever really see the work. That criticism held more weight in the early days of digital self-promotion, but things have changed. Buyers are people first, and as people, they are online like the rest of us; scrolling, liking, bookmarking, and yes, discovering talent.
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In my own case, I’ve hired two voice actors who caught my attention through nothing more than bold, well-timed LinkedIn posts. I wasn’t looking for them. They found me by showing up authentically in my feed. And that is the game now: presence over perfection, initiative over polish.
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Still, visibility without vision can be risky. The urge to stand out can sometimes lead to posts that feel performative, overly salesy, or lacking in awareness of the marketplace. In some cases, eagerness or frustration can read as desperation or self-importance. To avoid this, voice actors should ground their outreach in research, empathy, and clear intention. Posting from a place of purpose, rather than pressure, makes the difference between attracting opportunity and repelling it. Confidence is magnetic, but it must be rooted in understanding, not just ambition.
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If this sounds chaotic, that’s because it is, creatively speaking. We are in a messy, inspiring, transitional phase. It is hard to define what works because everything is in motion. But what is clear is that voice actors are finally acting more like independent musicians: unfiltered, proactive, and unafraid to build an audience before they land the record deal. As marketing expert and bestselling author Seth Godin reminds us:
“You don’t need everyone. You just need someone: someone who cares, someone who shares, someone who listens.”
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Voice actors are finding those someones, one scroll at a time.
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Of course, strategy still matters. Smart voice actors are not just posting at random. They are thinking like brands. They are identifying niche markets, refining their messaging, and learning the rhythms of engagement. They understand that authenticity does not mean impulsiveness. It means knowing your value and sharing it with purpose.
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Perhaps most importantly, voice actors are leaning into the power of now. They are not waiting for someone else to validate their career or cultivate the next buyer. They are creating content that says, “I’m here. I’m good. And I’m ready.”
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To the fiery, clever, and outspoken voice artists redefining the landscape: keep going. You are not just promoting your talent. You are promoting a new way of being seen. And for the right buyer, that might be the most powerful message of all. ♦♦♦
