Post a JobImportant Update: New Features, Benefits & Pricing at Voices.com
Every so often I write about updates to the Voices.com membership service on VOX Daily.
Today, I'd like to share some information about new features and benefits for Voices.com members, as well as new pricing effective after March 31st, 2008.
To learn more about how this change may affect you, read this article.
First, let me say thank you for taking a moment to read this important article.
It took a lot of thought and the information is of special significance to all voice talent members of the Voices.com web service.
Secondly, everyone will continue to enjoy the full suite of services that we offer, and there are no large technical changes to how Voices.com operates.
OK, moving forward!
There are many new features and benefits that we're pleased to announce to you today as part of our Spring '08 Release, and I'd like to get into those with you now. Let's start with the new features and benefits.
NEW FEATURES
Google Search Engine Optimization
After months of strategic search engine optimization techniques, Voices.com has received Google's blessing with the coveted Site Links, a list of short cuts right from Google's search results. You'll see these links by Googling "Voices.com".
Search Engine
Recently, we've positioned the search box at the top of each and every page on Voices.com ( over 50,000 pages ) to give clients a single starting point when they are looking to find a professional voice talent.
The search engine has been rebuilt to include better caching, a technique to remember popular searches and recent searches that helps deliver results faster.
Search Engine Results
The search engine results pages have been completely redesign for simplicity. From client feedback and usage statistics, we've found that clients want to conduct a search, listen to the demo and move ahead with the voice talent of choice.
Your name links to your personal Voice.com website, and the large Flash player makes it easy for clients to start playing your demo immediately. A large "Request a Quote" encourages clients to take the next step in hiring you for the job.
Responses
In the client's view, the responses page has been redesigned after reviewing, analyzing and implementing recommendations from a survey.
Similar to the search results, clients want to focus on your demo, then your quote for the job. To allow clients to move quickly through the auditions and ensure that each and every audition is heard ( the average job receive 100 auditions ), we've decided to hide the proposal from view, then show it when the "Read Proposal" link is clicked.
In the two weeks since making these changes, we've witnessed a 400% increase in the number of SurePay transactions at Voices.com.
Bottom line is that the improvements we've made, and continue to make, are generating more job opportunities for you.
ENHANCED FEATURES
Featured Talent Directory Listings
Premium members will receive unlimited category listings in the Featured Talent Directory, and Preferred members now have 5 listings.
Storage for Audio, Videos, Graphics and Documents
Storage has also been increased to 100MB for Premium members and 50MB for Preferred members.
NEW BENEFITS
Premium members will now receive expedited support tickets. This means that any queries submitted by Premium members to Voices.com will be automatically escalated and answered first before all other support inquiries.
PAYMENT SUBSCRIPTIONS
There are changes in pricing effective after March 31st, 2008 for all newly purchased membership subscriptions. Please read this carefully as it may affect you.
Current Paid Subscribers
If you have automatic payments set-up, including payments for an active subscription originally made by credit card over the phone, you'll continue with the old pricing until your subscription is cancelled.
To break it down, someone who has a subscription at the current rate, so long as they don't cancel it, continues to receive service at that price going down the road so long as they keep renewing it.
If you have made a one-time payment, you can extend your membership by one year at the current rate. To do so, simply call us toll-free at this number (1-888-359-3472) or send sales@voices.com an email and we'll send you an invoice.
Here's an example. If you are a Premium member at present, you could continue to receive all of those features and benefits for $199 regardless of the price change -- so long as you maintain your automatic subscription. This process is known as "Grandfathering".
So, unless you have a credit card that expires thus canceling your subscription on you, it wouldn't happen any other way unless you decide to cancel it with the understanding that your account would be purchased at the new price in the future.
ALL NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS AFTER MARCH 31st, 2008
Before we change the membership subscription fees, we want to give you the opportunity to secure your membership at the present rates for your desired membership subscription level.
- Premium rates will be raised from $199 per year to $299 per year.
- Preferred rates will be raised from $99 per year to $199 per year.
- Premium Lite will be raised from $29.95 per month to $39.95 per month.
- Preferred Lite will be raised from $19.95 per month to $29.95 per month.
Subscribe before March 31, 2008 to secure your membership at the present rate and maintain that membership rate until your subscription is canceled or your credit card expires.
VOICES.COM COACHES NETWORK
As part of the Voices.com Coaches Network that will be rolling out in the next few weeks, we're introducing group pricing. Keep your eyes on this one.
AGENCY PACKAGES
Also, if you have an agent, ask them to contact us about special pricing for their agency. We've developed a package for agencies as well.
SPECIAL OFFER TO FREEZE YOUR RATES
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Save 55% |
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Learn More |
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All of these changes will be effective after March 31st, 2008.
We look forward to serving you!
Best wishes,
Stephanie, David, Carol, Laurynda, Erica and Lin
Comments
Great stuff! Good work. Still a bargain.
~James
Posted by: James Herron | February 22, 2008 12:46 PM
Great changes, and thank you for being so informative about them!
Posted by: Dana Detrick-Clark from Serious Vanity Music | February 22, 2008 12:55 PM
Hey guys!
All looks good; thanks for the info! One point not mentioned -- you mention "...maintain that membership rate until your subscription is canceled or your credit card expires."
In my experience, ALL Credit cards expire; what you don't mention is if we can simply go to our account and update the credit card info to then keep the Grandfathered rate locked in(?)
Posted by: Ari | February 22, 2008 1:07 PM
Thanks for the info about the spring release of services and changes, particularly about the rate changes. James, I agree, still a bargain. I have two vo friends who are considering membership. Your info allows me to let them know to get a move on it.
Thanks.
Elinor
Posted by: Elinor Bell | February 22, 2008 1:38 PM
Stephanie and crew!
You guys are to be congratulated for work well done! I have been with you for several years and find the fee for membership a mere cost of doing business, compared to the return. Voices dot com is a bargain at the new rate. I recommend you to any voice folk I know looking to expand.
But, just so I understand, as a premium member, I am "grandfathered" (I LOVE being a grandfather!) and will not see an increase in my membership as long as I am current. Correct?
Thanks again for the great service. It has improved as you have grown and I am proud to be a part!
Posted by: Larry Wayne | February 22, 2008 2:18 PM
Hi James, Dana, Elinor, Ari and Larry,
Thank you very much for your kind words and support. We truly appreciate it.
Ari, good eyes! That, or you could fax in your authorization.
I've included a link to one here:
http://www.voices.com/documents/Voices.com-Order-Form-Premium.pdf
Yes, Larry, you are right, your subscription is grandfathered as long as it stays active. If you made a one-time payment, ( which we can check ) you'll need to send in an authorization form.
The link again is:
http://www.voices.com/documents/Voices.com-Order-Form-Premium.pdf
Best,
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie Ciccarelli | February 22, 2008 2:39 PM
Because of personal issues at the moment, I was going to let my membership lapse until I felt ready to resume. However with the retaining of the fee for members, I will renew now, even if I must wait until my conditions resolve. Thank you for all the help you have aways given.
Myra
Posted by: Myra Fooden | February 22, 2008 3:14 PM
Fabulous updates to an already great service! I refer Voices.com to all my students!
All the best!
Bettye Zoller
Voicesvoices.com
Posted by: Bettye Zoller | February 22, 2008 5:41 PM
Awesome enhancements, Stephanie. Technologically and interpersonally you and the entire voices.com team add value to our relationship every day. Thanks!
Dave Cook
Posted by: Dave Cook | February 23, 2008 8:48 AM
Great changes and info! My prayers are with you in the office as the influx of membership comes in this month. I was just cleaning up my page, having just set up my studio in my new apartment, getting ready to re-enroll with renewed vigor. It's nice to see we were all doing some house cleaning together, it shows me I'm moving in the right direction by again becoming a paid member of Voices.com. This is a wonderful, supportive family to be a part of, thank you :)
Posted by: Elisa Weller | February 23, 2008 10:09 PM
Hi Stephanie and crew!
Much appreciated on the heads up on the new up and coming rates:)
I am not currently on an auto top-up on my credit card, however if I pay my yearly subscription by other means and pay prior to my expiration date, can I maintain my current rate?
Keep up the fantastic work!
Cheers!
Blair
Posted by: Blair Wilson | February 25, 2008 8:24 AM
Hi Blair,
Thank you for your comment and question.
To secure the current rates, all you need to do is create a new PayPal subscription or fax in a credit card authorization form before March 31, 2008. Any unused portion of your membership will be credited back to. Carol Mroz will be emailing you directly with a more thorough response.
Posted by: Stephanie | February 25, 2008 7:45 PM
Thanks for the post and info. I'm excited about Voices getting ever better!
God Is Love-
-Jesse
Posted by: Jesse Springer | March 5, 2008 1:34 PM
400% increase on Surepay! Thats fantastic.
Thank you for constantly being proactive and keeping us in the loop.
Cheers,
Julie
julieanndean.com
Posted by: Julie-Ann Dean | March 14, 2008 12:06 PM
I truly appreciate your efforts, particularly with SEO.
Now I hope you will strongly consider multiple web servers, load balancing, and faster DB performance. A balance of form and function is critical in our industry, and if you can speed things up, I will voice far more auditions on your site.
Cheers!
-Erv
Posted by: Dick Ervasti | March 14, 2008 12:09 PM
Erv,
Thanks for adding your comment and highlighting the importance of system administration and server performance.
In the past year, we've migrated to Rackspace, generally considered the most secure and scalable web hosting provider. These guys are awesome and monitor our servers 24/7/365 and alert us the instant our servers need further attention.
We do have multiple web servers and dedicated servers for the applications, mail, file storage and administrative systems.
As we continue to grow, we'll be expanding our infrastructure to improve performance.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Posted by: David Ciccarelli | March 14, 2008 12:28 PM
I think the only comment I'd make, is that I would love to know when and if the potential client opened my audition. We all certainly try to not be late to the audition. As you said, there can be 100 talent responding, and no one wants to be number 97. Speaking from experience, I've asked for auditons on Voices.com (all wonderful talent responding of course, and will come back again) - and I know that by the time I get to 50 or 60, I'm a bit blurry eyed, and may not go further. So, it'd be nice to know where one is on the list of responders, whether I'm getting in early enough, whether the client actually opened my audition. All a part of making sure, as a talent, I'm realistically responding in a way that makes me a contender for the job. Just a thought on my part. Gary.
Posted by: Gary Joy | March 17, 2008 7:18 PM
I agree with Gary's suggestion, it would be great if we could know what number audition we were, and if our auditions were opened. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to making a 'Who's got the Gig' entry one day very soon!
Posted by: Stefania Lintonbon | March 29, 2008 6:11 AM