How to Choose a Domain & Email Address for a Voice Over Business

Okay, so, uh, let’s talk about ineffective voice over URLs, domains, and email addresses. 

So a voice actor called me and said, “David check out my demos at Marks voice to you . com.”

… So I went to www.MarksVoiceToYou.com but nothing came up.

… So I tried www.MarksVoice2U.com but nothing came up.

… So I gave up.

(Curious? Well sometime later I learned that “Marc” is with a “C,” “to” is the digit “2,” and “you” is spelled out.  Yep it was too late for Marc to get the job.)

So here are 8 common domain/URL mistakes … and 5 steps to choosing your own voice over URL.

8 Domain Mistakes

1. AMBIGUOUS CHARACTERS

If your URL is www.lOvoice.com (with a lowercase “L” and capital “oh”), clients may visit www.10voice.com (with the digits for “ten”).

2. ALTERNATE SPELLINGS

If your URL is www.VoiceOver2U.com, clients may visit www.VoiceOverToYou.com.

Or if your URL is www.JayDoesVoice.com, clients may visit www.JDoesVoice.com.

Or if you’re trying to be clever and have www.KidzTrax.com, clients may visit www.KidsTracks.com.

3. ALTERNATE TENSES/PLURALITIES

If your URL is www.VoiceOverForYou.com, clients may visit www.VoiceOversForYou.com (with an “s” in “Overs”).

4. ALL CAPITAL / all lowercase / Or Title Case

Which is easier to read: www.christieinthebooth.com or www.ChristieInTheBooth.com?

5. EXTENSIONS

If your URL is www.YourLuckyVoice.org, clients may visit www.YourLuckyVoice.com (with a “.com” extension) because studies indicate that people reflexively go to “.com” extensions.

6. PROFESSIONALISM

Which looks more professional www.CableCompany.FreeWebsite.com/FranksVoice or www.FranksVoice.com? Spend the extra $ to get a dedicated URL.

While we’re on this, spend the extra $ to get a dedicated email address that matches, such as Frank@FranksVoice.com rather than FranksVoice@yahoo.com.

7. ALTERNATE PRONUNCIATIONS

If your URL is www.genitaliavoices.com, clients may question your integrity. This is actually “Gen Italia Voices.”
Or if your URL is www.voicesexchange.com, need I say more?  This is actually “Voices Exchange.”
Or if your URL is www.penisland.com, need I say more?  This is actually “Pen Island.”

8.  SIMILAR-SOUNDING CHARACTERS

If you tell clients your URL is www.MBVO.com, they may visit www.NPVO.com. If you must have a URL like this, then clarify the characters – for example, say, “That’s M B as in Mother Boy.”

5 Steps to Choosing Your Own Domain

STEP 1. Find 10 URLs that are appropriate (as mentioned above) and available (visit a domain seller, such as www.GoDaddy.com, and use their on-line checker).

STEP 2. Show these 10 URLs to 10 people who will be candid with you. Ask them to quickly read each URL out loud. Cross out any URLs that two or more people mis-read.

STEP 3. Speak the remaining URLs to another 10 people. Ask them to write out each URL on a piece of paper after you say it. Cross out any URLs that two or more people misspell.

STEP 4. Speak all remaining URLs to another 10 people. Ask them which one(s) they would most easily remember. THE URL THAT MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER SHOULD BE YOUR URL.

STEP 5. Tell 10 people your new URL and ask them to tell you every way it could be misspelled, changed, misheard, or remembered incorrectly. THEN PURCHASE ANY OR ALL OF THOSE VARIATIONS.
  

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