Who Cares About Awards?
- Anne Ganguzza
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 10
Who Cares About Voice Acting Awards? You Shouldwith Tom Dheere
BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza and Tom Dheere dive into a lively and often debated topic for voiceover professionals: industry awards. Prompted by Anne's multiple Award nominations, they explore whether these accolades are simply vanity projects or powerful marketing tools. This episode delves into evolving perspectives on awards, the true meaning of a nomination, and practical strategies for leveraging any recognition to propel your voiceover business forward. They emphasize understanding the subjective nature of awards and how to use them for credibility, even beyond winning.
In this episode of the VO BOSS Podcast, Anne Ganguzza and Tom Dheere tackle the hot topic of voiceover industry awards. Are they just about ego—or can they actually boost your brand? Tune in as they unpack the value of nominations, how to turn recognition into opportunity, and why awards may matter more than you think.
Chapter Summaries
The Award Season Debate: Pro vs. Anti
(01:04) Anne kicks off the discussion by acknowledging the perennial debate surrounding awards in the voiceover industry. She states her support for awards, viewing them primarily through a marketing lens, and invites Tom to share his perspective.
From Anti-Awards to Marketing Advocate
(02:15) Tom reveals his past skepticism towards awards, initially viewing them as vanity exercises and money grabs. He explains his evolution, now seeing awards as legitimate marketing tools that celebrate excellence and contribute to industry recognition, much like awards in any other field.
Awards Are Subjective: A Crucial Understanding
(03:28) Anne emphasizes the inherent subjectivity of awards, drawing parallels to major entertainment industry accolades. She stresses that winning or losing an award has no bearing on a voice actor's worth or quality, reminding listeners that nominations themselves are a significant win.
The Purity of Voice Over Awards: Anonymity in Judging
(05:25) Tom and Anne discuss the unique "purity" of voiceover awards like the One Voice Awards, where submissions are judged anonymously. Anne confirms, as a former judge, that entries are isolated and the judges do not know the identity of the submitter, lending a higher degree of impartiality compared to other industry awards.
The Marketing Power of a Nomination
(06:48) Anne highlights that simply being nominated is a powerful marketing tool, akin to being "award-nominated" in film or other industries. Both a win and a nomination can significantly enhance a voice actor's credibility and attract potential clients.
The Cost of Entry & Business Aspect of Awards
(08:16) The hosts address the common concern about submission fees. Anne asserts that paying to enter awards is reasonable given the costs associated with running award shows, judging, and overall production, viewing it as part of the broader marketing ecosystem.
Awards and SEO Value: Boosting Your Online Presence
(10:42) Tom, the VO strategist, delves into the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) value of award nominations and wins. He explains how incorporating terms like "award-winning voice actor" into your website content and descriptions can improve search rankings and enhance online credibility.
Awards as Testimonials and Credibility Builders
(11:58) Anne likens an award nomination or win to a powerful testimonial or endorsement. She explains how an award signals quality, professionalism, and industry recognition to potential clients, influencing their buying decisions, much like product reviews or star ratings.
Winning Isn't the Only Goal: Inspiring Confidence
(13:18) Anne clarifies that while clients may desire an "award-winning demo," the primary goal is always to produce work that gets them booked. She shares how encouraging students to submit for awards boosts their confidence and pride, regardless of the outcome, emphasizing the inherent value of believing in your work.
Strategic Marketing Beyond the Win
(15:46) Tom and Anne provide concrete steps for marketing your award nominations and wins. This includes optimizing your website, social media, and profiles with SEO-rich descriptions, creating blog posts, and importantly, expressing gratitude and promoting the production companies and collaborators who contributed to the winning piece.
Top 10 Takeaways
Awards are Marketing, Not Just Vanity:
See awards as a legitimate and powerful tool to promote your voiceover business and gain recognition.
Nominations Are Wins:
Even a nomination offers significant marketing value and demonstrates external validation of your work.
Subjectivity is Key:
Remember that awards are subjective; not winning doesn't diminish your talent or worth.
Embrace Anonymity:
The anonymous judging process in many voice over awards adds a layer of purity, focusing solely on the performance.
Boost Your Credibility:
Awards and nominations lend professionalism and trustworthiness to your brand, influencing client decisions.
Leverage SEO:
Integrate "award-winning" or "award-nominated" terms into your website, profiles, and content for better search visibility.
Create Content Around Awards:
Write blog posts or social media content that highlights your achievement, but also focuses on the project or collaborators.
Thank Your Collaborators:
Share the credit with production companies, engineers, and clients. It's not just gracious, it's good business and further marketing.
Invest in Submission Fees (Wisely):
Understand that fees cover the cost of running award programs and are part of the marketing investment.
Find Confidence in Submission:
Even if you don't win, the act of submitting, or being encouraged to submit, builds confidence and validates your hard work.
Referenced in this Episode
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More from Anne Ganguzza
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