Lies
Your website is lying about you
That’s a pretty bold statement, I know. Your website is lying about you. But…not on purpose. It might be showing people a version of you that doesn’t exist anymore. An older sound or an earlier vertical you had some success in. And I’m guessin’, you haven’t really touched it since you hit publish.
I get it. Building the website felt like the finish line. You picked the template, you uploaded the demos, you wrote the bio, you told people about it. You maybe even spent a chunk of change paying someone to built it and manage it. Boom. Done. Box checked. Moving on.
HOWEVER, my li’l moonbeams, your website didn’t stop working just because you stopped working on it. It’s runnin’ 24/7 whether you like it or not.
And buyers don’t experience it you the way you experience yourself.
They don’t know about the coaching you’ve done. The sessions you’ve directed from your booth at 6am. The demos you’ve recut. The niches you’ve figured out. The version of you that exists RIGHT NOW.
They land on your homepage. They scan it. They listen. They decide. And that decision is made before they even press play. Your layout, your messaging, your demo structure, your perceived focus… all of it is quietly communicating something about you. At all hours. Even when you’re asleep. Even when you’re in session. Even when you’re doing literally anything else. Your website is either advocating for you or confusing people about you.
There’s not really a middle ground.
Portfolio brain vs. reputation brain
Most actors think about their websites like a portfolio.
“Here’s what I’ve done. Listen to me. Like me. Hire me, PLEASE DEAR GOD HIRE ME.”
But buyers aren’t hiring your past. They’re hiring their own imagination of what you could do for them next. I know this is where it can get hairy because almost everyone who has any kind of authority in this space talks about your credits/resume. BUT THINK ABOUT IT. Who cares, literally WHO CARES what your resume is if you can show someone that you can do the job RIGHT NOW TODAY regardless of whether or not you’ve done ANYTHING before this moment??
Portfolio brain says: build it, show it, move on.
Reputation brain says: this is a living thing, and it needs to reflect who I am RIGHT NOW.
The difference between those two mindsets is the difference between a website that generates opportunities and one that just…exists. Between an actor who books a few times based on luck, skill, and timing and an actor who books because of skill, positioning, and thoughtfulness.
Your career has evolved but has your website?
Voice actors grow in phases. Your sound matures. Your booking patterns shift. Your interests sharpen. You figure out what you’re actually great at versus what you just listed because it seemed safe. How you’re marketable and what you most often book.
But a lot of actors’ websites are frozen in the identity they built when they were just trying to prove they belonged. What felt like a solid, neutral presentation back then can start to feel generic now. Or unfocused. Or like someone else entirely. When I know an actor IRL and I go to their website, my expectation is that it will be a reflection of who I know them to be. And when it’s not, that’s confusing AF.
I had a moment recently where I looked at some of my own materials and thought: does this even still sound like me? And the answer was…kind of? Which is not the answer you want.
Updating your website isn’t about chasing trends or doing a full redesign every six months. It’s about asking yourself honestly: does this still reflect who I am and what I want more of? Who is this for?
A static website waits. A strategic one guides.
Here’s what I mean. A website that hasn’t been touched in two years is just waiting. Waiting for someone to stumble across it. Waiting for interest to build slowly. Waiting for casting to dig. (Spoiler, they usually will not)
A website that’s been intentionally maintained does something different. It highlights your current strengths. It creates a clear listening path. It reduces the mental effort it takes for someone to decide to hire you. And in a competitive industry, simplicity is power. The easier you make the decision, the more likely someone is to make it.
So here’s what I want you to actually do with this information:
Do a website audit. Right now. Like this.
Open your homepage like you’re a buyer who’s never heard of you.
Ask yourself:
Does this tell me what I do in under five seconds? Not generally. Specifically.
Does this sound like where I am now or where I was three years ago?
Do these demos reflect what I actually want to be hired for? Or did I just leave the old ones up because re-recording felt like a lot? Or because I wasn’t sure what to record or update?
Is there anything on here that I’d be embarrassed to show a major client today?
That last one is the gut-check question. If something makes you wince, it’s costing you.
So what should you update and how often??
You don’t need to redesign your site constantly. But you do need a maintenance rhythm, the same way you have one for your recording setup, your outreach, your technique. Here’s a loose framework:
Every 6 months: Read your homepage copy out loud. Does it still sound like you? Does it still point at the work you want?
Every year: Revisit your audio. Are they still your best work? Are they still aimed at the right market?
After a significant career shift: New vertical, new agent, new direction, new market? Update immediately. Don’t let your website tell an old story while you’re trying to start a new one.
Anytime you wince: Trust that instinct. Something on your site is out of alignment. Find it and fix it.
The thing nobody says out loud is that your website is a confidence signal. When it’s current and clear and intentional, buyers feel that. Not consciously, necessarily, but it registers. This person has their shit together. This will be easy and fun, hopefully.
When it’s outdated or vague or trying to be everything, buyers feel that too. I’m not sure. Let me keep looking.
You’re building a reputation digitally before anyone ever hears your voice. Before the audition. Before the booking. Before any of it. The question isn’t whether your website exists. It’s whether the version of you living on that website is actually the one showing up to do the work.
When’s the last time you really looked at your site? I mean really looked like a stranger would. Drop your honest answer in the comments. No judgment, I promise!!
If reading this made you realize your website might not be reflecting the level you’re actually working at… you’re not alone.
In my upcoming live training, Build a Voice Actor Website That Actually Converts, I’ll walk you through exactly how buyers experience your site, what signals create trust (or hesitation), and how to structure your pages so hiring you feels like the obvious next step.
Because your website shouldn’t just exist. It should be actively supporting the career you’re trying to build!!!
LOTS ON THE CALENDAR THIS MONTH:
💻 Build a Voice Actor Website That Actually Converts Masterclass, MARCH 23rd 730PM EST Is your website helping you…or hurting you? In this masterclass we will look at real actor websites, break down what works and what doesn’t, and give you tips on how to optimize your website TODAY.
$5: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/voice-actor-website
🎙THE AUDITION EXPERIENCE SPRING COHORT IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! In this 2 week role-playing experience, you will be exposed to various types of copy from commercial to interactive, medical to political and more. You’ll receive 3-5 auditions a day and feedback at the end of the two weeks. Grab your spot now! https://www.astoriaredheadvoiceover.com/the-experience/p/the-audition-experience-spring-cohort
🎪 Performance Roulette Free, MARCH 30th 730PM EST: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/performance-roulette-march
🎙Accents + Characters, MARCH 26th 730PM EST In this class, we will focus on putting on accents for interactive characters. You don’t have to be an “accent pro” to learn how to use your voice in this way! Let’s play!
$20 to audit: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/offers/xgQzieLV/checkout
💌 EMAIL MARKETING FOR VOICEOVER ACTORS: If you’re not sure who to target and how to speak their language, these THREE email courses will help you scale your business through direct marketing.
🌟For Agents: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/offers/wh3UQzLL/checkout
🌟For Entertainment Clients: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/offers/YxaCyFEH/checkout
🌟For Cold Leads Outside of Entertainment: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/offers/p87wxWS4/checkout
🚨 FREE: Ask Us Anything, March 25th 730PM EST. Join Casting Director Peter Pamela Rose and myself for a fun Q and A!
Grab your spot here: https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com/ask-us-anything
And of course, enrollment for THE VOICEOVER ACTOR ROAD MAP is open. If you’re ready to kick your career in gear, then please, join me for business coaching!! I can’t wait to help you craft the career you want to have. (Reach out to me for a 15% off coupon)