Eric Smith

Monday VO Tip: The mic doesn’t care how cool your voice sounds. What matters is how well you tell the story. In this business, it’s not about having a “voiceover voice”—it’s about your ability to act, interpret, and bring meaning to a script. This will always outweigh vocal tone alone. Want to stand out? Learn to listen, take direction, and deliver truthfully. That’s what gets you hired. And the best way to get there? Coaching. A good coach won’t just teach you how to read a script—they’ll train your instincts, sharpen your delivery, and help you sound like you… only better. #voiceovers

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As the asset management industry matures, new research reveals a seismic shift: it’s no longer enough for firms to simply meet ESG compliance. Authenticity is now at the forefront of client expectations, with firms needing to integrate clear, consistent values into their identities. 🌱 The 2025 Responsible Investment Brand Index highlights a growing divide between leaders and laggards, with an increasing number of firms embedding ESG principles deeply into their strategies. However, the gap is widening, and those simply reacting to trends risk falling behind. 💡 As geopolitical tensions rise, particularly around tariffs, and ESG scrutiny intensifies, the spotlight is on asset managers truly committed to responsible investing. I spoke to Jean-Francois Hirschel, Ophélie Mortier of DPAM, Philippe Le Gall of Pictet Asset Management and Amy Muska O'Brien of Nuveen, a TIAA company, about this. 🔗 https://on.ft.com/3GeTBi7 #ResponsibleInvestment #ESG #SustainableInvesting #AssetManagement��

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Your audience doesn’t need a ‘brand voice’—they need a real face. Should CEOs Be on Camera? Most CEOs are behind the business.  That’s the problem. They hire agencies.  They build decks.  They craft messaging.  But they never show up. And then they wonder…     “Why aren’t people trusting our brand?”     “Why isn’t this converting?”     “Why does the competitor with less experience keep winning?” Because people buy from people.  Not logos.  Not mission statements.  Not stock footage and animations.   We’ve tested this.   Same offer.  Same script.   Two versions of the video:    Version A: Product visuals + voiceover    Version B: CEO on camera, looking straight into the lens Result? CEO version crushed:     3x longer watch time     2.7x higher conversion rate     Higher trust = lower friction in the funnel Why? Because a real person builds trust faster than a brand asset. Want to build trust on camera as a CEO? Here’s how:  Be seen, not perfect.    You don’t need polish. You need presence.    Speak to the pain, not the product.   Your job is to say what your customers are feeling—out loud.  Repeat your message like a human, not a robot.   It’s not about going viral. It’s about building trust at scale.               If you’re the face of the company, be the face of the company. Because the fastest way to close the trust gap  …is to show up. #videomarketing #ceomarketing #trustbuilding #contentstrategy #b2bmarketing #founderbrand #leadershipvisibility #SocialMotion

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Gil Bivens presents a straightforward approach to leveraging social media for business growth. The video highlights a simple formula coupled with three essential elements, designed to help businesses amplify their reach and impact. For businesses aiming to harness the power of social platforms, understanding these core principles can be transformative. #SocialMediaMarketing #BusinessGrowth #DigitalStrategy #MarketingTips

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In around 10 years as a newsroom leader, I've approved somewhere in the region of 10,000 videos. Here's five things I've learned. 1) ▶️ I always watch a video twice when I can. On the first watch, I don't pause at all. I watch as a viewer would - to check it has the right entry point for the viewer, that it's not too long, and that it has the right information in the right order. I ignore little things like copy edits or post-production issues - I just make sure that the structure is right. Most importantly of all, I try as hard as possible not to send any notes until I've viewed the full piece. 2) ⏸️ On the second watch, I pause a bunch. If there's graffiti in the background, I pause to check there's not an expletive or racist symbol. If there's a screen in the background, I check there's no personal information up. Ditto if there's a fridge - there's always something accidentally caught on the fridge. Viewing 2 is about watching those little things that I missed when watching for structure. 3) 😮‍💨 On both watches, I listen to my body. If I find that my eyes are hovering up our down, I note that, and I think about whether it needs cutting. If I find that the script sounds off to me, then I read it back, and pay attention to my own breath, knowing that will help us find the right line. I know which parts of my body hold discomfort, and I notice that if I think a piece of content is too distressing relative to the editorial justification. I know that my body will give me clues that my brain can answer. 4) ✍ I then divide the written notes into two sections - overall feedback, which is essentially about what outcome I think we need for the video with reference to structure and feel, and then things to change, which are simple edits with time-codes. If I have no structural feedback, I just put them straight in frame dot io. But I never give structural notes in frame - as I find they just don't land the same way in that platform. 5) 👀 Once the video's published, I'll re-watch it on one of our platforms as a viewer would experience it. While I need the big screen to make sure I don't miss small details, that position of empathy with the user's experience is crucial to me. Remembering that there may be a pre-roll that we need to motivate the viewer past, thinking about how the headline and thumbnail work together to do this, and seeing how it appears on a feed on a cell phone screen, are all important parts of the process. What techniques do you use? I would love to know.

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Technology can enhance creativity, but it’s the human touch that makes it meaningful. Jason Sievert, Video Agency Founder of Profusion Media LLC, reflects on how AI shapes the future of storytelling while reminding us that authentic emotion can’t be replicated. The heart, empathy, and lived experiences behind every human story still set us apart. Tune in to the episode of AI Tools Can’t Replace Human Storytelling with Jason Sievert. https://lnkd.in/gBw-DjvM #StorytellingTips #HumanConnection #AuthenticContent

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Kevin K. Holzbog and Matt Runnels at Decatur Economic Development Corporation show effective Video Marketing by opening with strategic location, then moving through business parks, available rail, and only the metrics that matter. Their concise, cinematic structure helps site selectors and developers see fit and move forward. Why should Economic Developers shorten their story while keeping the right data? Because clear, focused facts help prospects understand value fast and remember it longer. What creative ideas are you using to get the right data in front of your prospects? #econdev #economicdevelopment

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Every business needs a funnel, because random activity isn’t a strategy. That's how you move from scattered marketing to a repeatable system that builds trust and growth. Here’s a simple 4-step framework to turn strangers into loyal advocates #MarketingStrategy #SmallBusinessGrowth #LeadGeneration #SalesFunnel #EntrepreneurTips #CustomerJourney

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Video Tip 🎥✨ Keep it short and engaging! Aim for videos under 2-3 minutes to capture your audience's attention and deliver your message effectively. Short, snappy videos keep viewers watching and help drive your point home without losing their interest. #VideoTip #ShortAndEngaging #VideoMarketing #KeepItSimple #ContentCreation #TheVideoLab

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Think you need a fancy voice or radio background to start voiceovers? Think again. Here are some voiceover myths that have been stopping too many people from taking that first step. Which of these surprised you the most? Drop a comment below, save this for later, and tag someone who needs to see this! #VoiceoverTips #VoiceoverMyths #DazaVoiceover #VoiceoverTraining #NigerianVoiceover #VoiceActorsUnite #VoiceoverJourney #StartYourVOJourney #VoiceActing101

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