Brand starts with a person.
What some actors don't quite understand is that their acting website is a tool, but the tool needs to be used properly in order to achieve success. You can't repair your laptop with a hammer, or hang up your flat screen TV using Velcro tape, but it doesn't mean that these are not essential tools. If you use them improperly though it might just not work or worse, it might backfire.
If you are branding yourself as an actor think of how you should build your actor website.
For a second there, forget the fact that you're an actor (or a person for that matter), and think of yourself as a product. Let's just compare you to a Hoover Vacuum. Now let's see how Hoover does their product website.
- First you'll see is a picture - yes, in your case that's a headshot
- Equally important, next to the picture there's the name of the vacuum, mention that it is indeed a vacuum, and few major features. If we were to replace it, we would put your name up there, the fact that you're an actor and either your attributes or skills - are you with me so far?
- There's a little divider there followed by a brief sales tagline - aha - that's that short bio that we make for you that says who you are, how much experience you have, what you're interested in and where you reside. Two paragraphs max.
- Then there's price - okay, that's tricky. Price is a quick decision contributing factor of whether you'll be a good match for the role. You know what that is in your case? Union membership. Yes, that little information right there can be a major contributing factor of whether the person says "okay, let's keep going" or, "nope, not for me"
- Below the price there's a review section. This translates to many things: your awards, your credits, news articles and... well, your reviews and testimonials.
- Last thing in the main section are the calls to action "Buy Now" and "Where to buy". In your case, your call to action would be either the contact me button or the social media icons that will allow that person to connect with you.
That covers you as a product. This is how you sell yourself, and it's the format that we recommend. If your page opens up to a blob of text, which is your bio, well, to that I'll say "at least they have a website" - but if you understand the concept of branding, then you will use the clearer approach that's been tested over and over. Before someone commits to reading your entire life story, they want a bit of an introduction so don't shove your story down they're throat. If they like what they see, they will continue to learn more.
