12 Ways to Get More Voiceover Jobs Using Your Demo Reel

Keep Dreaming Creative
Aug 25
6 min read

You recorded your voiceover demo — great. So... now what? Below are 12 practical, no-fluff ways to turn that reel into paying voiceover work, whether you’re chasing commercial spots, animation, union gigs, or local clients. These are tactics I use with actors all the time — realistic, repeatable, and designed to get responses.

Host your demo where people actually listen
Make your demo easy to stream and share: one clean page on your website, a short share link (no autoplay), and a labeled MP3 ready to attach. Agents and producers hate hunting for audio. If you don’t have a site, get one and keep it simple: demo, short bio, and contact.
Cut a 15–30s sizzle for social and email
People scroll fast. A tight, attention-getting sizzle (your best line, brand-appropriate) gets ears to click the full demo. Use that clip in Instagram reels, LinkedIn posts, and the top of outreach emails.
Pitch local businesses directly — start small, get paid
Local shops, dentists, gyms, and restaurants need short social ads and voicemail greetings. Send one clean email: who you are, one sentence about what you offer, a one-line sample link, and a clear lowish price. Deliver fast. Local credits build credibility quickly.
Target production houses and indie studios
Small post houses, explainer shops, and indie game teams hire regularly. Send a short, specific note: mention a recent project of theirs you liked and offer a tailored two-line sample. Small studios value reliability over star power.
Use casting platforms selectively (and set minimums)
We LOVE CastVoices! Voquent and Upwork can work if you’re picky. Sites like Fiverr can bring quick income but demand strict minimum rates (set a strong base price and charge more for usage)! Avoid getting swallowed by lowball sites; don’t race to the bottom. If you try bigger marketplaces, filter projects and set firm minimums. We are not fans of sites like voices(dot)com that have very steep subscription fees and also take high commission off the jobs you book.
Separate commercial and animation reels (DO NOT mash them)
Commercial demos sell subtlety and brand-readiness; animation reels sell character, range, and stamina. Agents and casting directors expect genre-specific reels — give them what they want.
Show usage awareness when you quote
Always ask: where will this run, for how long, and in what territory? Usage = value. Local social post vs. regional radio vs. national broadcast are different animals. Even as a newbie, quote with usage in mind or ask for guidance. Check out the GVAA Rate Guide for more information!
Hustle for referrals and grassroots networking
One referral from someone on an agency roster or a casting director beats sending 100 cold emails. Do trade feedback, help other actors, and follow up with people you meet in communities — genuine relationships lead to intros. Read: What Are Voice Agents Looking For In Talent?
Follow submission rules and personalize everything
Read the agency or studio’s submission page. Send to the listed email, name the agent, and include what they asked for (link vs. attachment). A personalized submission will lift you out of the pile. Read: How Voice Actors Can Land A Great Voice Agent
Use targeted cold outreach templates (brief & human)
Short pitch idea: “Hi [Name], I’m [Your Name], a [description of your vocal qualities] voice who specializes in [specialty #1] and [specialty #1]. I made this 30s sample for your brand: [link]. If you need a quick, professional read, I can deliver in 48 hours.” Keep it short — that’s all they’ll read.
Track submissions and follow up cleanly Use a simple sheet: who, email, date sent, follow-up date, result. Follow up once after 3-6 months with a brief note and any new credit. One polite touch — not a daily ping — is the sweet spot.
Keep building credits and update your demo often
A few real paid credits will change how agencies and producers see you. Use initial gigs to improve your demo, then swap in the best new clip and retire the weakest piece. Your demo should evolve with your work.

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Things to Remember

Put your demo everywhere it belongs (and nowhere it shouldn’t)

Make your demo easy to find and easy to listen to:

Host it on your one-page website (yourname.com). If you don’t have a site, we build them here: Voice Actor Websites
Stream it — don’t autoplay. Keep a clean link and a properly named MP3 ready (Last_First_Demo.mp3).
Add a short 15–30s sizzle for social. People scroll fast; hook them in the first three seconds.
Put the demo link in your email signature and in your LinkedIn intro.

Where to submit and who to pitch (beyond agents)

Yes: submit to agents. Do that. But agents are only one lane to access voiceover jobs.

Local businesses — do this first

Your local coffee shop, dentist, yoga studio, real estate office, or tech startup needs short social ads, voicemail greetings, and website narration. These are real paying gigs and they’ll often want a local voice. Pitch one clear deliverable (30–60s social ad or 3 voicemail prompts), give a fair price, and deliver fast. Local clients are a great way to build credits without getting lost in the casting site swamp.

Production houses & smaller studios

Email or DM the indie production houses, small animation shops, explainer video companies, and local post houses. They hire regularly and appreciate reliable local talent. Offer to send a small custom sample tailored to one of their projects — that often gets replies.

Casting platforms — pick wisely

We LOVE CastVoices!
Recommend: Voquent — solid for many actors.
Use Upwork and Fiverr very carefully — they can get you paid gigs but expect lowball offers. Be strict about your minimum rates.
Caution: Voices.com and Voice123 — some actors do well there, but they can also eat your time and push you into a race-to-the-bottom. We are not a fan of their subscription fees and high commissions. If you try them, have strict filters and track your income carefully to gage whether or not it is worth the time and effort!

Communities and networking

Hang out in VO groups on Facebook, Discord, and industry forums. Ask for honest feedback (not from friends/family). Swap samples. Making one good connection can get you further than a hundred cold submissions ever will.

Commercial vs animation — different markets, different moves

Commercial/Corporate/Explainer

Clients: marketing teams, ad agencies, local businesses, e-commerce brands.
Approach: email marketing managers, message creative agencies, and send targeted samples that sound like their ads. Ask about usage (where, how long, territory) before quoting. Usage = value.

Animation/Games/Character Work

Clients: indie game studios, animation houses, casting directors.
Approach: show range, acting chops, stamina. You need an animation or video game demo reel for this type of work. Build relationships with casting directors and indie producers — they often won’t post jobs publicly.

Union vs non-union voiceover jobs - what you need to know

Non-union: easier to take gigs, build credits, and be nimble. Great for local work and indie projects.

Union (SAG-AFTRA / ACTRA): better protections, clearer pay structures, and stronger residuals — but rules to follow. If you want union work, aim to have “agent-ready” demos and some credits before you make the leap. Understand the contracts before accepting union gigs.

Pitch templates you can steal (short & usable)

Local business pitch:

Subject: Quick idea for [Business Name]’s social ads

Hi [Name], I’m [Your Name] — a local voice actor. I help businesses create short, friendly voiceovers for social and web. Here’s a quick sample I made for you: [link]. If you have 30–60s spots or voicemail prompts, I can produce and deliver within 48 hours. Want to chat?

Production house intro:

Subject: Loved your recent [campaign / project]

Hi [Name], I’m [Your Name], a voice actor who does [type]. Your recent [project] really caught my attention and would be thrilled to work with you. I can send a tailored sample — demo here: [link]. Looking forward to collaborating!

What to avoid (so you don’t waste time or harm your brand)

Don’t accept cash-in-hand, forever-use deals for pennies. Know your floor and stick to it.
Don’t spam agents or production houses. Targeted outreach is 10x more effective than blasting everyone.
Don’t use one demo for everything — keep commercial and animation reels separate.
Don’t give away broad usage rights without payment.

Keep track and follow up like a pro

Spreadsheet columns:

Follow up once after 6–8 weeks with a single, polite hit:

“Hi [Name], circling back as I’ve added a recent credit: [link]. Would love to collaborate!”

Use your demo to build momentum — not to pretend you’re finished

A demo is a starting point. Use it to get paid clips, get coached, and prove you can deliver. Local paid gigs show agents you’re business-ready. A handful of real credits beats a dozen speculative submissions.